Illinois state politics have long been considered a breeding ground for ill-intentioned politicians. Indeed, I think it was Abraham Lincoln who famously said of Chicago, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) was arrested by the FBI this morning along with his chief of staff John Harris as the result of a major corruption investigation. Firstly, let me breathe a sigh of relief that I won't have to spell that name again in a political context any time soon. Secondly, I noticed that CNN this morning pointed out the oddity of the FBI coming and arresting the governor rather than allowing him to turn himself in. One reporter actually considered that the move may indicate that the FBI thought Blagojevich was a flight risk. I think we can all picture a high-speed highway chase with news copters overhead following an unmarked black limo driven by the governor and his chief of staff. Actually, I think this is probably how this was more likely to end:
So, what exactly did the honorable governor do wrong? Well...
--> Federal prosecutors allege that Blagojevich, holding sole power to appoint President-elect Obama's successor to the U.S. Senate (a perk he considered "f-ing golden"), planned on selling the seat to the highest bidder, in exchange for contributions to his personal finances, or government/private-sector job offers. Apparently, Blagojevich initially approached the Obama transition team, offering to appoint aide and close friend Valerie Jarrett to the seat, if Obama in turn would make him Secretary of Health and Human Services. Team Obama told him "no chance," and Jarrett was appointed to a senior White House position.
The governor didn't take too kindly to rejection, and spewed a stream of expletives in Obama's direction in a conference call with top aides and his wife on November 11th, complaining, "But they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F—k them."
--> The investigation revealed that Blagojevich was actually more interested in money than power. He had grown weary of his government position, and was concerned about his personal finances more than anything else. He even planned on attempting to rope Warren Buffett and Bill Gates into this plan in order to get money from them to fill his pockets.
--> Blagojevich also threatened the Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs, to withhold state financial assistance for their sale of the Cubs unless the Tribune fired members of its editorial board that had criticized the governor in recent months.
If you want to read the entire federal complaint, enjoy our open system of due process here.
Also, here's a great article on how his mind works (or doesn't). Ben Smith notes that, through all of this, Blagojevich still had designs of running for President in 8 years. What a nut...
Speaking of which, on this case is United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Political aficionados already know of Fitzgerald for his vocal role in the Scooter Libby trial. His press conferences are always a joy, and this one was no exception. A highlight reel of his statements this morning include:
- "a political corruption crime spree"
- "The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave"
- "a truly new low," as Fitzgerald explained that Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal."
On the state of Illinois, FBI special agent Robert Grant said: "If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor. Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."
--> As a nice touch on this story, it would appear that Rahm Emanuel himself may have been behind the tip that led federal investigators to step up their inquiry into Blagojevich's corruption.
--> One would assume that Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn will eventually take over the governorship. In the mean time, the Illinois state constitution mandates that the sitting governor still has the sole authority to appoint a Senate replacement.
However, that could change. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones have both called for the state legislature to pass a law allowing a public special election to fill the seat instead. If this happens, it opens up Republicans to compete for Obama's old seat as well, something that many Democrats probably won't be too happy about. However, given the strength of the GOP's last competitor for the seat, we should be fine.
Actually, I'm going on record as supporting this special election idea - mostly because I'd love to see Alan Keyes run a campaign again. Here's why. And here. Also here, as he gets arrested trying to break into a primary debate to which he wasn't invited. By the way, that second one is my personal favorite, largely because it seems to run against the McCain campaign assertion that Obama is Christ.
--> And just to continue our running series on ridiculous stupidity on the part of elected officials, our favorite Staten Island Republican Vito Fossella was sent to jail for five days. Don't remember who he is? EDC has you covered.
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