Gov discloses federal grand jury subpoenas

Ending a long dispute, Gov. Blagojevich has disclosed federal grand jury subpoenas issued to his administration in 2006.

The subpoenas sought state hiring records dating to Jan. 1, 2003.

In 2006, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald indicated his office was investigating "endemic hiring fraud" in the Blagojevich administration -- a probe that has taken a back seat to "pay-to-play" allegations that led to the governor's Dec. 9 arrest.

The subpoenas were released to the Better Government Association, which sued in 2006 and won their release in a state appeals court ruling last month.

"Some of the intervening events -- impeachment, the federal criminal complaint against the governor -- may have changed their thinking on our FOIA litigation," said Jay Stewart, the BGA's executive director. "It doesn't change the fact they were wrong, and their ridiculous behavior will cost the taxpayers in excess of $200,000."

Two law firms hired to fight the release of the subpoenas -- Bell Boyd & Lloyd and Londrigan Potter & Randle -- have been paid or are under contract with the state for a total of more than $2.5 million the past two years.

Contributing: Natasha Korecki