Nothing but sunshine . . .
FSBO No Mo’ Blagojevich Sales Inc. got shut down today with the arrest of its two principals, Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich (Blah-goy-eh–vitch) and his Chief of Staff, John Harris. The federal charges laid are tantamount to accusing the Governor of trying to sell the entire state of Illinois, without permission. Today, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald – the man who said “gotcha” to Scooter Libby and to the previous Illinois governor, George Ryan – filed the 76 page federal indictment (here in its entirety) to prevent continuance of what he labeled a “political corruption crime spree” that would cause Abraham Lincoln to “roll over in his grave.” The actual charges against the Governor and Mr. Harris are conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Of course, the most visible bribery charge against Blago relates to his alleged attempt to sell Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. The phone surveillance described in the complaint revealed that Blago
said he [Blagodevich] knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 [apparently Valerie Jarrett, Chicago attorney/businessperson Chair of Obama’s Transition Project] for the Senate seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k them.”
“F**k him,” Blagojevich says of Obama during a lengthy call with top aides and his wife recorded on November 10th, “For nothing? F**k him.”
In addition, the Governor is charged with pressuring the owner of the Chicago Tribune to fire members of the paper’s editorial board who were critical of him before Blago would
provide state assistance in the paper’s sale of Wrigley Field. Filling out the government’s complaint were the “routine” alleged workings of the Blagojevich administration, not unlike those of previous inhabitants of the Illinois Governor’s mansion. The governor preceding Blago, Republican George Ryan, is now serving a prison sentence.
From the U.S. Attorney’s full press release:
The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.
If convicted, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while solicitation of bribery carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
The Governor was arraigned and released on $4,500 bail. His attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, said the governor will be vindicated and has no plans to resign. “He didn’t do anything wrong . . . A lot of this is just politics.” Blagojevich should be in the office Wednesday, Sorosky added. Legislators, both state and federal, have other less sanguine hopes for the Governor’s immediate future, from resignation to impeachment. Certainly, no one would expect him now – but remember, he’s still Governor – to actually choose a replacement for Obama’s Senate seat, and, if he did, who would accept such a tainted appointment? And – but remember, it’s still Illinois – even should some haplessly clueless politico accept the appointment, the Senate, under Article 1 of the Constitution, may determine its own membership.
I’d expect that the Guv will be more interested in negotiating his future with Mr. Fitzgerald than engaging in mundane day-to-day thievery. And resigning the governorship is a first step that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will surely advise.
Nothin‘ but Sunshine Hangin‘ Over Me. The day before his arrest, Blago appeared in Chicago to support the laid-off Republic Windows and Doors employees who are conducting a sit-in to demand severance pay. When asked if he thought there was “a cloud hanging over him,” he replied “I think there’s nothin‘ but sunshine hangin‘ over me.”
But remember, Guv, just as sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train . . . that sunshine you’re feeling is more likely the heat of a white hot laser focused on your Gubernatorial head . . .
(To hear more of Atmosphere’s music, check out this You Tube list.)
