Blago Scandal

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June 2009
- I'm a Celebrity Voters Boot Patti Blagojevich
  
  Chicago Tribune | Jun 23, 09 9:56 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Patti Blagojevich survived 23 days in the Costa Rican jungle, but she won't be a reality TV champ, reports the Chicago Tribune . Viewers voted Blagojevich off the NBC series I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here tonight. The wife of Illinois' notorious ex-governor took her husband's place on the show after a judge refused to let him travel to Costa Rica. The show's finale will be broadcast tomorrow. More »
- Blago to Appear in Rod Supersta r Spoof
  
  Chicago Tribune | Jun 10, 09 1:48 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Second City revue's harshly critical musical send-up of Rod Blagojevich's rise and fall will have a special guest onstage Saturday: Rod Blagojevich. Producers of Rod Blagojevich Superstar say the impeached former Illinois governor will be on hand to announce the hit spoof's extension through August, and will join the improv session afterward, reports the Chicago Tribune . More »
- Mrs. Blago Thrives in the Jungle
  
  New York Times | Jun 6, 09 6:10 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Patti Blagojevich is proving to be more popular in the Costa Rican jungle than in Illinois, the New York Times reports. Blagojevich's fellow D-list celebs on reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here voted to make the wife of disgraced ex-governor Rod Blagojevich immune from elimination by viewer vote after the first week, although many viewers in her home state aren't impressed by her antics. More »
- Blago Toyed With Giving Rival's Daughter Senate Seat...
  
  Associated Press | Jun 2, 09 7:40 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich considered nominating his rival's daughter to the US Senate in exchange for concessions on pet projects, the AP reports. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the state's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, was in contention for the spot, according to aides to Sen. Dick Durbin. In turn, Blagojevich wanted capital spending projects and a health care bill stuck in the legislature to move forward. More »
May 2009
- Pinning Burris for Perjury Difficult: Experts
  
  Politico | May 28, 09 9:11 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Controversy surrounding Roland Burris' appointment to the Senate has heated up after the release of his conversations with Rod Blagojevich’s brother, taped by the FBI, but a criminal case against him is still iffy, Politico reports. The possibility of perjury charges over inconsistencies in Burris’ statements is slim, experts say, because they leave room for debate. Indeed, Burris told reporters yesterday he was only trying to "placate" Blago's brother by discussing, but not committing to, a fundraiser for the cash-strapped governor. More »
- Burris Offered Blagojevich a Personal Check
  
  Chicago Sun-Times | May 26, 09 7:32 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Senate Ethics Committee will have an interesting conversation to ponder as it considers whether Roland Burris engaged in any shady business before being appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, reports the Chicago Sun-Times . In an exchange secretly taped by the FBI between Burris and Blago's brother before the gubernatorial scandal broke, the future senator offers to write a personal check to the governor—even as he wrestles with how it would look. More »
- Blago Brother's Talk With Burris Fair Game for Inquiry
  
  The Hill | May 26, 09 1:32 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - FBI recordings of a conversation between Sen. Roland Burris and the brother of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich can be released to the Senate Ethics Committee, a judge ruled today. The committee is investigating Burris’ appointment by the now-impeached governor, made after Blagojevich was indicted, the Hill reports. The taped conversation occurred before the impeachment and the appointment. More »
- Reality-Show Brothel Offers Drew Peterson a Pimpin' Job
  
  WBBM 780 | May 5, 09 2:24 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Moonlite Bunny Ranch—the legal Nevada brothel featured in HBO’s Cathouse —seems desperate to play host to a Chicagoan with reputation problems, WBBM-AM reports. After Rod Blagojevich turned down a job offer as an apprentice pimp, owner Dennis Hof has now made entreaties to murder suspect Drew Peterson—who uses the same publicist as the disgraced Illinois governor. More »
April 2009
- Blago Mulls 'Apprenticeship' at Nev. Reality-Show Brothel
  
  Gawker | Apr 29, 09 4:31 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A Nevada brothel featured on an HBO reality show is offering Rod Blagojevich the chance to recoup some of the cash he missed out on by being barred from leaving the country to film for NBC, Gawker reports. The former Illinois governor’s PR flak is taking “very seriously” the offer from the Moonlite Bunny Ranch of an “apprenticeship.” More »
- Blago Plugs Reality Show He Can't Film
  
  Associated Press | Apr 24, 09 9:28 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may not be allowed to leave the country, but that didn’t stop him from promoting I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! —and tousling his famous hair in the process, the AP reports. While “parachuting” in front of a green screen and wind machines for a promotional spot on NBC, Blago theorized, “perhaps I can play some other role in the show” without traveling to Costa Rica. More »
- Burris, Unsure on '10 Election Run, Faces Cash Crunch
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 21, 09 2:27 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Roland Burris says he hasn’t decided if he’ll run for election to his Senate seat in February 2010, but an aide says he has begun fundraising efforts, the Chicago Tribune reports. The “very aggressive” push to raise money “as quickly as possible” can’t come soon enough: Burris took in only $845 in contributions for the first quarter, while racking up $111,032 in debts from unpaid consultant fees. More »
- Blago Can't Hit Costa Rica for Reality Show
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 21, 09 12:46 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A federal judge has barred Rod Blagojevich’s bid to leave the country to join a reality-show cast, the Chicago Tribune reports. The ex-governor’s lawyers hoped he’d get permission in court today to travel to Costa Rica for NBC’s I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! , which would be “a way to earn a living and support my children,” he said, though "it's not my first choice." More »
- Cubs Manager Shrugged Off Blago's Lineup Advice
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 17, 09 2:07 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Rod Blagojevich sought to extend his influence beyond politics and media during his tenure as Illinois governor, the Chicago Tribune reports, sending Cubs manager Lou Piniella lineup suggestions in 2007. “I’ve talked to him, baseball-wise,” Piniella said of a note from Blagojevich during a rough patch. “He’s a big Cubs fan. Obviously we didn’t heed his advice.” More »
- Reality TV Show Seeks to Dump Blago in Jungle
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 15, 09 7:07 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - NBC wants to pluck Rod Blagojevich from the political wilderness and dump him in the Costa Rican jungle, the Chicago Tribune reports. The ex-Illinois governor, who pleaded not guilty to corruption charges yesterday, has been offered a spot on a new season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! —pending court approval. More »
- Blago Pleads Not Guilty in Criminal Case
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 14, 09 12:06 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Rod Blagojevich and his brother pleaded not guilty to corruption charges today in a 10-minute US district court hearing, the Chicago Tribune reports. The former Illinois governor’s lawyer spoke for him as he faced several questions from the judge, including one on his education. “Mr Rod Blagojevich would waive reading of the indictment and enter a plea of not guilty,” the attorney said. More »
- Jackson Jr. Says He's Clean of Blago's Dirt
  
  The Hill | Apr 8, 09 2:54 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Jesse Jackson Jr. said today he is fully cooperating with a probe by a House ethics panel into his relationship with Rod Blagojevich, the Hill reports. "As I said when the Blagojevich scandal first broke back in December, I have done nothing wrong and reject pay-to-play politics," the congressman said in a statement. He expressed confidence “the new ethics office will be able to conduct a fair and expeditious review and dismiss this matter." More »
- House Ethics Watchdog Investigating Jackson Jr.
  
  Chicago Sun-Times | Apr 8, 09 9:47 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A House ethics panel has launched a “preliminary review” of Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr's bid for President Obama’s vacant Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Office of Congressional Ethics, formed last year as an “investigative entity” of private citizens, will look at communications between Jackson’s camp and that of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich appears to have thought he could get $1.5 million from Jackson for the seat. More »
- Blago, Top Aides Indicted; 'I'm Innocent,' He Says
  
  Chicago Tribune | Apr 2, 09 5:27 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A federal grand jury today indicted Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges, the Chicago Tribune reports. Indicted along with the impeached Illinois governor were his brother, two former chiefs of staff, and two businessmen. Blagojevich, accused among other things of trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, issued a statement saying he's "saddened" but not surprised, and he vowed to clear his name. "I am innocent," he said. More »
- Feds Set to Indict Blago —and He's at Disney World
  
  Chicago Sun-Times | Apr 2, 09 10:21 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A federal grand-jury indictment against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could come today, but if it is, he’ll have to wait to see it. That’s because Blago took his family to Disney World, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. A coincidence? Probably not. But there’s no reason he needs to be in town for the indictment for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat—a court date will be set for him. More »
March 2009
- Blago Singled Out Senate Contenders for Cash
  
  Chicago Sun-Times | Mar 29, 09 5:51 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - In his race to build a $2.3 million campaign war chest last year, Rod Blagojevich listed four possible candidates for President Obama's vacated Senate seat as prospective donors, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. A list of 150 names in all shows that Rep. Luis Gutierrez, billionaire J.B. Pritzker, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky were targeted for money—as was Roland Burris, who ultimately landed the seat. More »