BREAKING NEWS: Grand Jury Indicts Former Illinois Governor, Rod "BLAGO" Blagojevich, On 16 Felony Counts.
Read more about BLAGO's troubles, or these excerpts:
Also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment are:
John Harris, 47, of Chicago, Blagojevich's chief of staff from late 2005 until last December after he was arrested along with Blagojevich. Through his attorney, Harris, who is charged with a single count of wire fraud, has authorized the government to disclose that he has agreed to cooperate with the United States Attorney's Office in the prosecution of this case;
Alonzo Monk, 50, of Park Ridge, a lobbyist doing business as AM3 Consulting, Ltd. He is a long-time Blagojevich associate who managed his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, was his first gubernatorial chief of staff from 2003 through 2005, and later chairman of his campaign fund;
Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tenn., Blagojevich's brother, who became chairman of his campaign fund in August 2008;
Christopher Kelly, 50, of Burr Ridge, a businessman and a principal campaign fundraiser who also served as chairman of Blagojevich's campaign fund from early 2004 until August 2005. The indictment alleges that with Blagojevich's knowledge and permission, Kelly at times exercised substantial influence over certain activities of the governor's office; and
William F. Cellini, Sr., 74, of Springfield, a businessman who also raised significant funds for Blagojevich, in part through his role as the executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Cellini had longstanding relationships and influence with trustees and staff members of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS), and he was associated with Commonwealth Realty Advisors, a real estate asset management firm that invested hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of TRS, the indictment alleges.
Blagojevich is accused of plotting to trade or sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other crimes. Among the others are an alleged threat to withhold state help in the Tribune Company's attempt to sell Wrigley Field if certain editorial writers weren't fired, and an alleged attempt to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital.
There were several new allegations, including:
That Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and previously convicted Blagojevich associate Tony Rezko agreed to use the governor's office for financial gain and would spilt the proceeds after Blagojevich left office. They agreed to a scheme in which they would split fees after directing state pension business to a certain company whose lobbyists agreed to pay Rezko for the business. Rezko then agreed to split the fees with the group; and
That Blagojevich lied to FBI agents when he said that he never mixed politics with state business nor did he track campaign contributions.
The feds are now seeking to seize the former governor's house, D.C. condo and $3 million campaign fund.
Blagojevich was out of town when the indictment was filed. He is in Orlando, Fla., area, staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista. He reportedly plans to take his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World.
Wanna read the indictment?
Check it out here.
I do NOT believe the Feds will let him have that hair in prison, do you?
Labels: Crime, Democracy for sale, Keeping them honest, Punishment
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