Blagojevich's conduct audacious, raises questions about filling seat
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald accused Gov. Blagojevich today of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President elect Barack Obama “like a sports agent,” auctioning it to the highest bidder.
The stunning criminal complaint filed against Blagojevich raises the question of just how the seat can be filled, with the process now so contaminated it is an open question if anyone picked by the tainted governor would accept.
Blagojevich’s conduct is audacious, especially since he has been in the scope of federal investigators for years. Usually in Illinois, politicians know how to walk right up to the pay-to-play line and not cross it. Based on this complaint, it looks like Blagojevich, a runner, leaped across the line in a variety of schemes to try to leverage the appointment.
Maybe there is an innocent construction here, but the various angles Blagojevich was working is jaw dropping, even for Illinoisans who have a high tolerance for hanky panky.
The stakes are even higher, since Blagojevich was trying to wrangle a high-level appointment from Obama in the process.
“The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” said Fitzgerald.
The complaint says the governor was trying to “sell the Senate seat” and lays out the various deals: millions of dollars in funding for a non-profit he would run; a job running a labor union political organization, fund-raising assistance; a cushy board spot for wife Patti; even an ambassordorship or Cabinet post if he picked an Obama pal.
The complaint says that on Nov. 3, Blagojevich said "if he is not going to get anything of value for the open Senate seat" himself, "then I might just take it," and use that possibility to "drive a hard bargain.”
On Nov. 5, the complaint alleges that Blagojevich said “‘I’ve got this thing and it’s f------ golden and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f----- nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there.’”
What’s hard to believe is that Blagojevich thought that Obama would appoint him to any slot in his administration. Blagojevich was under a cloud during Obama’s entire presidential campaign, and the Obama team kept him at a distance. The Illinois governor never stumped for Obama — they did not want him — and unlike other Democratic governors, he did not play any significant role in the campaign.
Ironic. Blagojevich wanted to use this Senate pick to help rehabilitate his reputation. What a backfire.
What to do? Let the Senate opening sit for now. Blagojevich is under no timetable to pick. Illinois will loose a little seniority if a new junior senator is not in place in a few weeks, but that’s minor compared to the mess the state is in right now.