Obama Citizenship

Chicago Politics: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Allegedly Conspired to Sell Obama?s Senate Seat

By Phil

Another story from theobamafile.com; this one has been brewing for several months, as federal officials have been investigating what many of us have already known about Chicago politics: It’s a dirty machine, and now it’s arrived at the federal level:

Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper’s editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if “they’re not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it.”

But the Politico reports that it gets even better. A recorded conversation Blagojevich had include the following choice comments:

?F**k him,? Blagjoveich says of Obama during a lengthy call with top aides and his wife recorded on November 10th, ?For nothing? F**k him.?

In another section of the complaint, Blagojevich expresses exasperation that Obama and his team aren’t willing to offer him an inducement in exchange for appointing  an aide, apparently Valerie Jarrett, to the Senate.

Blagojevich “said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but ‘they?re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k them,’” says the complaint.

theobamafile goes on to say the following; I couldn’t have said it better myself:

Obama and Blagojevich should both be in jail for this, but watch for Blagjoveich to spill the beans on the Obama/Rezko deals.  This is just the beginning.

Update: Fox News is reporting that Illinois First Lady Prominent in FBI Affidavit Charging Governor.

Update: InvestigatingObama has a great run-down as well.

-Phil

Full post as published by The Right Side of Life on December 09, 2008 (boomark / email).