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Governor Blagojevich Affidavit

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by LSUMASTERMIND, Dec 9, 2008.

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LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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What a stupid SOB.

Politico's Ben Smith reports on some rather colorful language used by Gov. Blagojevich with regard to President-elect Obama:

The tapes reveal a two-term governor who no longer wants his job, badly wants cash and is determined to leverage a financial benefit out of his appointment powers.
He also appears to think little of the president-elect, whom he calls a "motherf***er" at one point.
"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."

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Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions - both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.

Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois' U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich 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; and
A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might "get some (money) up front, maybe" from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: "We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know, he'd raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."
On November 7, while talking on the phone about the Senate seat with Harris and an advisor, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and that he is "financially" hurting, the affidavit states. Harris allegedly said that they were considering what would help the "financial security" of the Blagojevich family and what will keep Blagojevich "politically viable." Blagojevich stated, "I want to make money," adding later that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 a year, the complaint alleges.
On November 10, in a lengthy telephone call with numerous advisors that included discussion about Blagojevich obtaining a lucrative job with a union-affiliated organization in exchange for appointing a particular Senate Candidate whom he believed was favored by the President-elect and which is described in more detail below, Blagojevich and others discussed various ways Blagojevich could "monetize" the relationships he has made as governor to make money after leaving that office.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "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 added.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald told a news conference prosecutors make "no allegations" Obama was aware of any alleged scheming
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Guy should spend some time in jail, imo.:dis:

LSUMASTERMIND, Dec 9, 2008

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OkieTigerTK Tornado Alley

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LSUMASTERMIND said: ↑

What a stupid SOB.

Guy should spend some time in jail, imo.:dis:
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i agree on both points, but it should be more than "some".

OkieTigerTK, Dec 9, 2008

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red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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Apparently there is no provision for an acting governor in Illinois. He's in federal custody right now and can still appoint Obama's position and act as governor.

red55, Dec 9, 2008

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LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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red55 said: ↑

Apparently there is no provision for an acting governor in Illinois. He's in federal custody right now and can still appoint Obama's position and act as governor.
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Yea but the republican and democrats in Illinois are talking about impeaching him as early as next week.

LSUMASTERMIND, Dec 9, 2008

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TheDude I'm calmer than you.

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red55 said: ↑

Apparently there is no provision for an acting governor in Illinois. He's in federal custody right now and can still appoint Obama's position and act as governor.
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You stay classy Illinois. Kind of reminds me of La now that I think about it. Didn't Uncle Earl keep the party going even after being committed and locked away in TX?

TheDude, Dec 9, 2008

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Bengal Buddy Founding Member

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If stupidity were a crime he would get life.

Bengal Buddy, Dec 9, 2008

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1 person likes this.
Bengal Buddy Founding Member

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red55 said: ↑

Apparently there is no provision for an acting governor in Illinois. He's in federal custody right now and can still appoint Obama's position and act as governor.
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Technically, yes. But not practically.

Bengal Buddy, Dec 9, 2008

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mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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red55 said: ↑

Apparently there is no provision for an acting governor in Illinois. He's in federal custody right now and can still appoint Obama's position and act as governor.
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That's absurd! Do they think they're in Louisiana?:lol::lol: Seriously, though, they don't hand off authority to a Lieutenant Governor or some such state official in a situation like this?

mctiger, Dec 10, 2008

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red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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The CNN expert said that he governor could appoint himself to the Senate legally. But the Senate would be unlikely to seat him.

red55, Dec 10, 2008

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LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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Apparently Rahm Emanuel drop the dime on the governor from 3 months ago, when the Gov vetoed an ethics bill that Obama was pushing.

LSUMASTERMIND, Dec 10, 2008

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