Wednesday 10 December 2008

Breaking News - FBI: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich conspired to sell or trade Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for benefits.

Report: Blagojevich taken into custody
Scandal-tarred Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) might not be making that Senate appointment after all.
From the Chicago Tribune:
A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information.
A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. "Haven't heard anything -- you are first to call," Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail.
NBC News has since confirmed the Trib's report.

via 'Politico'

Updated at 9:17 a.m.:

Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end.

Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.

The complaint repeatedly references conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.
The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.

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