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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Blago Scandal

Started by K Schwartz; Last updated by K Schwartz

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Blago Scandal

The Land of Lincoln took a hit when yet another politician was arrested on corruption charges.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on wide-ranging corruption charges in December 2008, with questions swirling over whether  “pay-to-play politics" practices were involved in the selection of a senator to replace President-elect Obama.

Stories

Stories 181 - 193 of 193

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  • December 2008

    • Blago Scandal Will Test Obama's Cred

      Politico  |  Dec 10, 08 9:50 AM CST

      Blago Scandal Will Test Obama's Cred

      (Newser) - Barack Obama’s first test was supposed to come from somewhere like Iran. Instead, write Charles Mahtesian and Jonathan Martin at Politico, it sneaked up from his home turf in the form of Rod Blagojevich—not to mention blossoming charges against Rep. Charlie Rangel. If Obama wants his change message to be taken seriously, he has to get serious. “Within hours he’s got to make a public statement,” says a watchdog group head. More »

    • Tribune Bankrupt One Day, Engulfed by News the Next

      Wall Street Journal  |  Dec 10, 08 9:32 AM CST

      Tribune Bankrupt One Day, Engulfed by News the Next

      (Newser) - What a difference a day makes for the Chicago Tribune , which yesterday broke the story of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest, and was itself an object of his alleged corrupting intentions—just a day after its parent company declared bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal notes. “It’s pretty electric right now,” a top editor said of the newsroom atmosphere. More »

    • Illinois' New Eliot Ness Bags Another Scalp

      New York Times  |  Dec 10, 08 8:12 AM CST

      Illinois' New Eliot Ness Bags Another Scalp

      (Newser) - With the arrest of Rod Blagojevich, federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald notched up his second indictment against an Illinois governor in five years. But it's just another scalp for the US attorney who's brought down everyone from World Trade Center bomber Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman to media mogul Conrad Black, not to mention Scooter Libby. "People see him as the only ally we have against political corruption," one activist told the New York Times . More »

    • A 'Shady' Guv Is Brought Down by Vanity

      Salon  |  Dec 10, 08 6:54 AM CST

      A 'Shady' Guv Is Brought Down by Vanity

      (Newser) - Of the six Illinois governors who preceded Rod Blagojevich, three have gone to prison—a 50% conviction rate that makes dealing crack on Chicago’s West Side look safe. Still, writes Edward McClelland in Salon, nobody was prepared for the breathtaking scale of Blagojevich's corruption. "Illinoisans have always had a sense that Blagojevich was shady," he writes, but they underestimated his soaring vanity. More »

    • Obama's 'Pull' on Ethics Bill Helped Spark Gov. Case

      New York Times  |  Dec 10, 08 1:59 AM CST

      Obama's 'Pull' on Ethics Bill Helped Spark Gov. Case

      (Newser) - Barack Obama isn't as distant from the scandal surrounding the indicted governor of Illinois as he has let on. The president-elect used his pull in the Illinois senate to get an ethics bill passed that contributed to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's indictment on corruption charges, reports the New York Times . While scrambling to get state contractor contributions before the law took effect, Blagojevich tipped off federal investigators to his ways. More »

    • Even for Chicago, Blago Scandal 'Jaw-Dropping'

      Chicago Tribune  |  Dec 9, 08 6:47 PM CST

      Even for Chicago, Blago Scandal 'Jaw-Dropping'

      (Newser) - Even in the context of Illinois' sleazy political standards, it's hard to find the right words to describe the Blagojevich allegations, writes Eric Zorn in the Chicago Tribune . He tries "eyepopping, gobsmacking, jaw-dropping, appalling," and "unprecedented in their alleged brazenness." He also notes that a Chicago pol called the governor a "madman" and "insane" in a magazine profile a year ago. "That struck me at the time, as over the top," writes Zorn. "Today it strikes me as brave and prescient." More »

    • Obama: No Dealings With Blago

      Chicago Tribune  |  Dec 9, 08 3:47 PM CST

      Obama: No Dealings With Blago

      (Newser) - President-elect Barack Obama today denied having any dealings with Rod Blagojevich over his Senate replacement, and said news of the Illinois governor’s alleged corruption “saddened and sobered” him, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich, meanwhile, walked out of federal court on a $4,500 bond after hearing that he could face 10 years in prison for trying to sell the political seat. More »

    • Arrest Will Ripple Beyond Illinois Politics

      Washington Post  |  Dec 9, 08 1:40 PM CST

      Arrest Will Ripple Beyond Illinois Politics

      (Newser) - Rod Blagojevich’s arrest will reverberate well beyond Illinois, Chris Cillizza writes in the Washington Post . Most immediately, it drastically reshapes the race to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat, which the Illinois governor still has power to fill. If he even makes a pick, it’ll have to be a caretaker with unimpeachable ethics; Dick Durbin, Illinois’ other Democratic senator, wants a special election instead. More »

    • Blago Charges Go Beyond Obama Seat

      Chicago Sun-Times  |  Dec 9, 08 1:22 PM CST

      Blago Charges Go Beyond Obama Seat

      (Newser) - In addition to bartering over President-elect Obama’s vacant Senate seat, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought campaign contributions in return for government action, and attempted to influence the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune , the Sun-Times reports. The FBI released transcripts of incriminating conversations today. “The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said. More »

    • Blagojevich Sought Cabinet Post for Obama's Senate Seat

      Politico  |  Dec 9, 08 11:53 AM CST

      Blagojevich Sought Cabinet Post for Obama's Senate Seat

      (Newser) - Rod Blagojevich had said he wanted “something real good” in exchange for his choice of a replacement for the president-elect in the Senate, Politico reports. Otherwise, he said in FBI tapes the day before the election, “I’ll just send myself.” A Senate seat is a "fucking valuable thing," the Illinois governor said. "You just don’t give it away for nothing.” More »

    • Illinois Guv Charged With Corruption

      Chicago Tribune  |  Dec 9, 08 9:10 AM CST

      Illinois Guv Charged With Corruption

      (Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested at his Chicago home today, and taken into federal custody on charges of “pay-to-play politics,” the Tribune reports. Amid questions over whether such practices were involved in the selection of a senator to replace President-elect Obama, a federal probe had been recording the governor with the aid of a confidant. More »

  • November 2008

    • Obama Vacates Senate Seat, Effective Sunday

      Chicago Tribune  |  Nov 13, 08 3:02 PM CST

      Obama Vacates Senate Seat, Effective Sunday

      (Newser) - President-elect Obama will resign from the Senate effective Sunday, the Chicago Tribune reports. Illinois state law makes Gov. Rod Blagojevich responsible for choosing Obama’s successor, but states no deadline on the appointment. That could be problematic, with a vote possible during Congress’ lame-duck session on pressing economic issues; the Senate is currently divided 49-49 between Republicans and Democrats. More »

    • Politicos Jockey for Obama's Senate Seat

      Time  |  Nov 5, 08 10:42 AM CST

      Politicos Jockey for Obama's Senate Seat

      (Newser) - Now that Barack Obama is officially headed for the Oval Office, Illinois’ political class has turned its attention to his Senate replacement, Time reports. The choice rests with unpopular Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich, who is no doubt looking for a pick that will save his own political skin. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr has been frequently mentioned. More »

Stories 181 - 193 of 193

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In this courtroom artist's drawing, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich stands before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jan Nolan in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
In this courtroom artist's drawing, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich stands before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jan Nolan in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Verna Sadock)
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, right, arrives at his home after federal authorities arrested him.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, right, arrives at his home after federal authorities arrested him.   (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
The Tribune broke the news that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested.
The Tribune broke the news that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested.   (Chicago Tribune Media Group)
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald talks about the criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges during a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald talks about the criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges during a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
In this Feb. 12, 2003, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks to reporters at Abraham Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield , Ill.
In this Feb. 12, 2003, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks to reporters at Abraham Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield , Ill.   (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
A Nov. 5, 2008 file photo shows Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference in Chicago.
A Nov. 5, 2008 file photo shows Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference in Chicago.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich takes the oath of office as his wife, Patricia, looks on.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich takes the oath of office as his wife, Patricia, looks on.   (AP Photo)
Mr. and Mrs. Blagojevich attend the Illinois State Fair.
Mr. and Mrs. Blagojevich attend the Illinois State Fair.   (AP Photo)
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich celebrates with his wife, Patricia, in Chicago after winning the Democratic nomination for governor.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich celebrates with his wife, Patricia, in Chicago after winning the Democratic nomination for governor.   (AP Photo)
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