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FEDS INDICT EX-GOV. BLAGOJEVICH
Disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is on a resort vacation in Florida, was indicted today on a host of federal corruption charges dating back to 2002 even before he was sworn in as governor.
Several aides were also charged in the 75-page indictment filed late Thursday afternoon in federal court.
"Since 2002, even before he was first elected governor ... Governor Rod Blagojevich and a circle of his closest aides ... engaged in a scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government,'' the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Blagojevich, 52, was indicted on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.
He allegedly abused his office in numerous matters to seek money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to appoint a United States senator, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement.
"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent," Blagojevich said in a statement. "I now will fight in the courts to clear my name."
Fizgerald decided not to hold a news conference to announce the indictment, unlike in Decmember when Blagojevich was arrested.
Also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment are:
John Harris, 47, of Chicago, Blagojevich's chief of staff from late 2005 until last December after he was arrested along with Blagojevich. Through his attorney, Harris, who is charged with a single count of wire fraud, has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution of this case;
Alonzo Monk, 50, of Park Ridge, a lobbyist doing business as AM3 Consulting, Ltd. He is a long-time Blagojevich associate who managed his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, was his first gubernatorial chief of staff from 2003 through 2005, and later chairman of his campaign fund;
Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tenn., Blagojevich's brother, who became chairman of his campaign fund in August 2008;
Christopher Kelly, 50, of Burr Ridge, a businessman and a principal campaign fundraiser who also served as chairman of Blagojevich's campaign fund from early 2004 until August 2005. The indictment alleges that with Blagojevich's knowledge and permission, Kelly at times exercised substantial influence over certain activities of the governor's office; and
William F. Cellini, Sr., 74, of Springfield, a businessman who also raised significant funds for Blagojevich, in part through his role as the executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Cellini had longstanding relationships and influence with trustees and staff members of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS), and he was associated with Commonwealth Realty Advisors, a real estate asset management firm that invested hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of TRS, the indictment alleges.
Blagojevich is accused of plotting to trade or sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other crimes. Among the others are an alleged threat to withhold state help in the Tribune Company's attempt to sell Wrigley Field if certain editorial writers weren't fired, and an alleged attempt to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital.
There were several new allegations, including:
That Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and previously convicted Blagojevich associate Tony Rezko agreed to use the governor's office for financial gain and would spilt the proceeds after Blagojevich left office. They agreed to a scheme in which they would split fees after directing state pension business to a certain company whose lobbyists agreed to pay Rezko for the business. Rezko then agreed to split the fees with the group; and
That Blagojevich lied to FBI agents when he said that he never mixed politics with state business nor did he track campaign contributions.
The feds are now seeking to seize the former governor's house, D.C. condo and $3 million campaign fund.
Blagojevich was out of town when the indictment was filed. He is in Orlando, Fla., area, staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista. He reportedly plans to take his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World.
No one answered calls to the room where Blagojevich was registered.
Patti Blagojevich, who had appeared before the federal grand jury, was not indicted.
The indictment does accuse the former governor of directing Harris to find a paid state board position for her after Patti Blagojevich's real estate dealings were the subject of critical media coverage.
Publicist Glenn Selig said Blagojevich isn't in Chicago and wouldn't say when Blagojevich will return.
It was not necessary for Blagojevich to be present when the indictment was handed down. A court date for all the defendants will be set later.
The charges are part of "Operation Board Games,'' an investigation that began in 2003 into "pay-to-play" schemes. It has resulted in charges against 17 defendants.
"Today is a very sad day for our state,'' said Gov. Pat Quinn, who succeeded Blagojevich when he was convicted in his impeachment trial.
Disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is on a resort vacation in Florida, was indicted today on a host of federal corruption charges dating back to 2002 even before he was sworn in as governor.
Several aides were also charged in the 75-page indictment filed late Thursday afternoon in federal court.
"Since 2002, even before he was first elected governor ... Governor Rod Blagojevich and a circle of his closest aides ... engaged in a scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government,'' the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Blagojevich, 52, was indicted on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.
He allegedly abused his office in numerous matters to seek money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to appoint a United States senator, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement.
"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent," Blagojevich said in a statement. "I now will fight in the courts to clear my name."
Fizgerald decided not to hold a news conference to announce the indictment, unlike in Decmember when Blagojevich was arrested.
Also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment are:
John Harris, 47, of Chicago, Blagojevich's chief of staff from late 2005 until last December after he was arrested along with Blagojevich. Through his attorney, Harris, who is charged with a single count of wire fraud, has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution of this case;
Alonzo Monk, 50, of Park Ridge, a lobbyist doing business as AM3 Consulting, Ltd. He is a long-time Blagojevich associate who managed his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, was his first gubernatorial chief of staff from 2003 through 2005, and later chairman of his campaign fund;
Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tenn., Blagojevich's brother, who became chairman of his campaign fund in August 2008;
Christopher Kelly, 50, of Burr Ridge, a businessman and a principal campaign fundraiser who also served as chairman of Blagojevich's campaign fund from early 2004 until August 2005. The indictment alleges that with Blagojevich's knowledge and permission, Kelly at times exercised substantial influence over certain activities of the governor's office; and
William F. Cellini, Sr., 74, of Springfield, a businessman who also raised significant funds for Blagojevich, in part through his role as the executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Cellini had longstanding relationships and influence with trustees and staff members of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS), and he was associated with Commonwealth Realty Advisors, a real estate asset management firm that invested hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of TRS, the indictment alleges.
Blagojevich is accused of plotting to trade or sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other crimes. Among the others are an alleged threat to withhold state help in the Tribune Company's attempt to sell Wrigley Field if certain editorial writers weren't fired, and an alleged attempt to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital.
There were several new allegations, including:
That Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and previously convicted Blagojevich associate Tony Rezko agreed to use the governor's office for financial gain and would spilt the proceeds after Blagojevich left office. They agreed to a scheme in which they would split fees after directing state pension business to a certain company whose lobbyists agreed to pay Rezko for the business. Rezko then agreed to split the fees with the group; and
That Blagojevich lied to FBI agents when he said that he never mixed politics with state business nor did he track campaign contributions.
The feds are now seeking to seize the former governor's house, D.C. condo and $3 million campaign fund.
Blagojevich was out of town when the indictment was filed. He is in Orlando, Fla., area, staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista. He reportedly plans to take his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World.
No one answered calls to the room where Blagojevich was registered.
Patti Blagojevich, who had appeared before the federal grand jury, was not indicted.
The indictment does accuse the former governor of directing Harris to find a paid state board position for her after Patti Blagojevich's real estate dealings were the subject of critical media coverage.
Publicist Glenn Selig said Blagojevich isn't in Chicago and wouldn't say when Blagojevich will return.
It was not necessary for Blagojevich to be present when the indictment was handed down. A court date for all the defendants will be set later.
The charges are part of "Operation Board Games,'' an investigation that began in 2003 into "pay-to-play" schemes. It has resulted in charges against 17 defendants.
"Today is a very sad day for our state,'' said Gov. Pat Quinn, who succeeded Blagojevich when he was convicted in his impeachment trial.