Update at 9:53 a.m. ET: Here’s the formal complaint [.pdf] and news release that we received from the Justice Department.

Update at 9:47 a.m. ET: USA TODAY’s Judy Keen has confirmed with prosecutors that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning on federal corruption charges.

The U.S. attorney’s office says the Democratic governor and his chief of staff, John Harris, are accused of soliciting bribes and committing wire fraud.

“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public’s interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions,” he adds.

More to come, no doubt.




  1. Digby says:

    Well well well. Nowhere anywhere is there ANY mention whatsoever that this guy is a DEMOCRAT. A DEMOCRAT!!! Gee. Wonder why that sort of escaped the news media’s attention? Anybody wonder any more how incredibly biased the media is???

  2. gquaglia says:

    If he was a Republican, there would be about 50 posts here by now. All the libatards would be out in full force slamming this guy, connecting him to Bush, blah, blah blah. As he isn’t, if I see 15 posts here, I will be surprised.

  3. relazar says:

    Rod’s corruption isn’t really news, what’s really sad is that the Illinois GOP is so pathetic they couldn’t unseat this guy.

  4. Nolimit662 says:

    Anyone think the timing of this is just fishy? Funny how yesterday Illinois announced they would no longer do business with Bank of America until they restored the cash flow to that Window and Door Company. That will show him to mess with BOA. Trust me, any political figure that crosses a big company like BOA will be found guilty of something. All politicians have dirt. They’re all scumbags.

  5. JWS says:

    Humm, guess reading is secondary to ranting. “The U.S. attorney’s office says the Democratic governor…”

  6. Mr Diesel says:

    Corruption in Illinois? By a Democrat?

    Ha ha ha ha!!!!! Now that’s funny.

    Almost as good a Jeri Ryan not keeping her mouth shut and we ended up with Obomba…..

  7. jescott418 says:

    It does not matter if he’s a Democrat or a Republican. He is just a crooked politician. I live in Illinois and am sick of corruption in government in this state. Hell, we just got Ryan taken care of, now we have another one!

  8. gquaglia says:

    Aside from selling Obama’s Senate seat, here are the other things this scumbag is charged with:

    Blagojevich is alleged to have discussed obtaining:

    a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

    placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

    promises of campaign funds — including cash up front;

    a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself

    The statement also alleges that Blagojevich and others tried to illegally obtain campaign contributions.

    This guy is the true poster child for the sad state of politics in America. Its not about serving, its all about power and money. Sad part is this is not an isolated incident and goes on all the time in both parties.

  9. Sinn Fein says:

    Arresting any politician in Illinois on corruption charges is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.

    The Demorat boy obviously didn’t understand the concept of being Daley’s lap dog. Rod was not mindful of his instructions that if he wanted to jump, he’d have to get permission from Chicago first with further instructions on how high he could jump and IF he could come back down!

  10. Nolimit662 says:

    People are surprised there’s corruption?? LMFAO!! Look at the banks taking our money. Look at the auto industry taking our money. It’s a corrupt free for all. Last one out turn off the lights.

  11. Sinn Fein says:

    Mr. Diesel…yeah, IF Jerri Ryan could have kept her yap shut BUT, if Mrs. Mike Ditka had given “Da Coach” da green light to run for Senate (as an OVERWHELMING shoe-in) as was almost the case, Prez-elect Obamanation would have been relegated to third-tier Illinois community organizing for the rest of his career.

  12. Paddy-O says:

    Another day, another corrupt politician. With the incoming US Atty Gen being proven to already be corrupt, it’ll only get worse.

  13. chuck says:

    It’s hilarious. Didn’t this guy realize that the appointment process was going to be followed very closely by everyone?

    He’s going to appoint a Senator to fill the seat made vacant by the next President!! Nah, no one will bother covering that story!

    Maybe Obama will pardon him (and Rezko).

  14. Mr Diesel says:

    #12

    At least that saves time by being corrupt going in…..

  15. Mister Mustard says:

    #6 – Mr. Diesel

    >>Almost as good a Jeri Ryan not keeping her
    >>mouth shut and we ended up with Obomba…..

    What, it’s Jeri Ryan’s fault that her ex-husband is a sex pervert, and then the guy wants to run for public office? Haw!

    And we didn’t “end up” with Obama. We were privileged to have an electorate that recognized Obama as the man of honor and intelligence that he is, and that recognized that four more years of Dumbya-esque bullshit wasn’t going to do the trick (or in the WORST possible scenario, McBush croaked and we got stuck with Caribou Barbie as POTUS).

  16. gquaglia says:

    And we didn’t “end up” with Obama. We were privileged to have an electorate that recognized Obama as the man of honor and intelligence that he is

    Bullshit. It was the lesser of 2 evils.

  17. Angel H. Wong says:

    #2 gquaglia

    “All the libatards would be out in full force slamming this guy, connecting him to Bush, blah, blah blah. As he isn’t, if I see 15 posts here, I will be surprised.”

    If he were Republican he would have been indicted for either soliciting gay sex at a public restroom of for hitting on teenage boys.

  18. Mister Mustard says:

    #16 – quag

    >>Bullshit. It was the lesser of 2 evils.

    Po-tato, po-tahto. If it was the lesser of 2 evils, it was lesser by a shitload. No politician is ever going to be perfect, but comparing McBush to Obama is like comparing Dumbya to Albert Einstein.

    A sort of comparison of po-tahtoes and to-mahtoes, if you will.

  19. Paddy-O says:

    # 17 Angel H. Wong said, “If he were Republican he would have been indicted for either soliciting gay sex at a public restroom of for hitting on teenage boys.”

    Hmmm, having sex or selling Senate seats… I wonder which is worse for the Republic?

    That’s a tough one. LOL

  20. gquaglia says:

    If he were Republican he would have been indicted for either soliciting gay sex at a public restroom of for hitting on teenage boys.

    No, I think you’re talking about Catholic Priests here.

  21. Mr. Fusion says:

    I’ll wait until the US Attorney actually presents a case before I jump all over this guy. All we have so far is an accusation.

    BTW, I don’t think Ryan deserved what he got either.

    *

    gq,

    get over it. the effen Republicans lost the election. If you voted then just accept the result. If you didn’t vote (which I suspect) you don’t get an effen right to bitch.

    When will these retarded right wing nuts get over the fact the election is done?

  22. Angel H. Wong says:

    #19 Patrick

    Well, Republicans know that the best anonymous sex is the gay one ’cause there’s no male escort jumping “Yes! Yes! I had sex with that senator and I’m going to write a book about it while my televised profile suits perfect for Gloria Allred!”

    #20 gquaglia

    Wrong, I was thinking about Family Values man Larry Craig and the biggest example of why text messages were created Mark Foley.

  23. LibertyLover says:

    If it was the lesser of 2 evils, it was lesser by a shitload.

    3% is a shitload?

    When will these retarded right wing nuts get over the fact the election is done?

    When the definition of “shitload” means what it is supposed to mean.

  24. Erik Blazynski says:

    Meh, just another politician on the take. Nothing new here.

    -Erik

  25. James Hill says:

    For those wanting a meaningful conversation: A populist leader elected by a corrupt political machine leaves quite a wake behind it.

    For those wanting an opportunity to worship me: Angry liberals fail at the “sales” part of any transaction.

  26. gquaglia says:

    #22 – I’m well over it, trust me. I’m not the one still crying after 8 years on how Bush supposedly stole the election twice.

  27. Mister Mustard says:

    #24 – L-Loser

    >>When the definition of “shitload” means what it is
    >>supposed to mean.

    OK, how about this: “Obama may not be perfect, but he’s a fuck of a lot better than that demented Dumbya sycophant, serial adulterer, warmongering dickwad who calls his wife a cunt in public, McBush”?

    Does that do it for ya?

    Now get over it, will you? You’ll have your chance again in ’12. Maybe Sarah can memorize the names of enough newspapers that she doesn’t look like a complete nincompoop when asked which ones she reads.

  28. Mister Mustard says:

    #26 – quag

    >>I’m well over it, trust me.

    I’d like to trust you. But why do you keep bitching and moaning about Obama, 41 days before he even takes office?

  29. Mr Diesel says:

    Well, at least the thread hit more than 15.

    I’m conservative and you could ask my wife, I have been in a great mood since the election so I do not give a shit that Obomba won.

    I have my guns and ammo and before Obomba bans them I will buy more. We have several properties and houses all without mortgages but with the land to live off of so when the big sorrow comes I’ll be ready.

  30. LibertyLover says:

    #28, Again you assume because I don’t like Obama, I liked Bush or McCain or Sarah.

    I would say to think outside the box, but in your case I have to say think outside the square. Your thinking is two dimensional.


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