No allegations against Obama in Illinois governor case
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said this afternoon that a federal corruption case against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich makes no allegations of wrongdoing by President-elect Barack Obama.
"We make no allegations that he was aware of anything," Fitzgerald said of Obama.
Fitzgerald called the case a "political corruption crime spree," with the "most appalling" allegation that Blagojevich attempted to sell the US Senate seat vacated by Obama to the highest bidder.
It would "make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said there would be further investigation of people, who are not mentioned in wiretaps cited but not named in the complaint, to make sure there was no wrongdoing. Those people include potential candidates for the Senate seat, including some close to Obama.
"If other people did wrong, we'll deal with that," the prosecutor said.
Obama said he was "saddened and sobered" by the arrest and had no knowledge of Blagojevich's alleged attempts to sell the seat.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening. But as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don't think it's appropriate to comment," Obama said in a brief press availability after meeting in Chicago with former Vice President Al Gore about global warming.
UPDATE: Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, appeared to contradict Obama last month. "I know he's talked to the governor, and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them," told Fox News Chicago on Nov. 23
But this evening, Axelrod issued a statement disavowing that statement: "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."
The other US senator from Illinois, Richard Durbin, told reporters in Washington that the state's legislature should order a special election to fill the seat. "No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement," Durbin said, according to the Associated Press.
"This is a sad day for government," Fitzgerald said at a Chicago news conference. "This is a very sad day for Illinois government."
Blagojevich, arrested at his home this morning, also was charged with threatening to withhold state aid to the Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, unless members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.
The criminal complaint said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat for benefits for himself and his wife, Patti. Blagojevich allegedly tried to drive a harder bargain by considering to appoint himself.
Obama, who kept his distance from the governor during his campaign, has not commented on the allegations.
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This does not mean that Obama is not implicated. He certainly is. Just read Evelyn Pringle's Curtain Time articles online.
Obama's indictment will come soon.
The very idea that Obama knew nothing about this leaves one to wonder how someone so intimately involved in politics in his own state failed to discover anything scres the hell out of me. If, as president, he has the same level of ignorance, we are indeed in trouble.If he DID know, we are in bigger trouble.
Delicious!!!!
Served up with a BIG portion of Hopenchange (That we've ALL been waiting for). Nice to see that in some other states, "D" after a pol's name = "Dishonest" (or maybe "Degenerate")
NEW GLOBE HEADLINE: No Allegations of Obama Wrongdoing YET
Thank goodness it appears that Obama was not at all involved in this corruption, and that, in fact, it appears that Blagojevich was frustrated with the Obama team because there was not even the prospect that they would "play ball" with him and his demands. We need Obama's intelligence, competence, and integrity now more than ever.
Blagojevich must be told by everyone involved that he must step down as Illinois governor immediately in order to avoid further taint to the Senate seat appointment and everything else regarding Illionois government with which he was involved.
I do take exception to Fitzgerald's comments about the level of corruption in Illinois exceeding that of any other state--Texas, Florida, and Lousiana certainly are in the running and might be declared winners...
This makes for the fourth out of the last seven elected Illinois governors to be indicted since 1960 (Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich).
Nice little pool of slime that the Obamessiah floated to the top of.....
Change you can buy into !!!!
Shockah !!!!
Get a clue, Obama haters! It was Rahm Emanuel that dropped the dime...
Let's see... if I called Blagojevich and offered him two jobs at $150,000 each in exchange for placing my cousin in Obama's vacant senate seat, that is an attempted bribe by any definition.
Now... reread the transcripts.
But you will look into it? Will you ask the questions with Blago under oath?
Remember, Obama is not a communist, racist, terrorist, criminal - he just hangs out with them.
If Blago thinks this will garner him an appointment in Obama's administration, he has another thing coming. He needs to step it up to the level of pardoning terrorists for political gain ,and pardoning tax evaders and drug dealers for straight cash. When Obama promised "change", I didn't think he meant he would make Wqashington even more corrupt.
Sadly for the wingnuts, Fox News in Chicago is reporting that Team Obama is the one that blew the whistle on Blago.
Cry, wingnuts. Cry.
Stop getting your "news" from blogs. Opinions aren't facts. A US attorney says Obama isn't implicated. Blagojevich didn't go to Obama looking for favors, he went to a union.
The same people who were talking about Rezko and corruption are now talking about Blagojevich and Obama. I think rather than hoping to be saved from Obama you start to think how you can align your thinking with that of the rest of us. Come up with some ideas and find a leader with intelligence and an understanding of the times we live in.
Blagojevich needs to step down. To get him to do it, it will probably take a bribe because I am assuming there are too many crooks in the legislature to just kick him out. The governor seems to be a real piece of work and probably will be convicted of multiple crimes. I am glad to know that it is Fitzgerald as the Fed Attorney rather than some Gonzalez transplant so that we can be sure that these are crimes as opposed to what happened to the Governor of Alabama.
Blagojevich is more disgusting than Ryan was. If found guilty less than a decade in prison would be too light a sentence.
Obama "I have had no contact with the governor or his office about the senate seat"
Axelrod "Obama has discussed the senate seat with governor Blagojevich"
When Obama was elected, and then started selecting his Chief of Staff, advisors, etc., I got the image of King Tut, or really any too young, naive ruler of the past. When these rulers ascended to the throne, there was a Regent or Regents appointed to conduct everyday business. The "ruler" would then issue a decree about whatever the business was. Some folks like to use the words "Puppet" and "Handlers" when addressing the upcoming administartion. Try thinking in terms of a young, inexperienced, lad ascending to the throne, with the Regent(s) calling the shots. I wonder how deep this pack of Regents goes? I certainly do not want an elected President to fail. I'm just afraid that the roots of his connections go far too deep for there NOT to be an administration that may cause/allow more harm to be done than good. God help us!
Yeah, we need Obama's "intregrity." Meanwhile, the Justice Dept. is handing down grand jury subpoenas looking into the Rezko-Obama land deal. Also, check what Judicial Watch has to say about Mr. Hopeandchange's corrupt earmarks while in the Illinois legislature. Obama wasn't one of the Reform Democrats in Illinois - he was one of the Democrats in the corrupt Daley-Blagojevich machine. He didn't stop his corruption when he went to the US Senate, where he broke records for taking money from Freddie/Fannie. He's a lying cheat, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him indicted soon.
So that means that Kerry and Kennedy know about everything that is happening on Beacon Hill? Doubtful, since they, like Obama, spend most of their time in DC. In case you hadn't noticed, Obama has been, among other things, running for President for the last two years. Sorry, Redumlicans ... and if you are so enraged by corruption, how have you managed to survive the past eight years of George W. Dumb? Buh-bye.
"That's not the Rod Blagojevich that I know"....
God, I swear reading these Comment sections is worse than being subjected to medieval torture techniques.
Does anyone think it's possible to let Fitzgerald and his staff proceed with this case and let's see what emerges before jumping to conclusions on who exactly is implicated in what and how deeply?
I don't suppose so. It's much more satisfying, it appears, to sling potentially damaging BS around as if this were some junior high school cafeteria food fight.
MERRY CHRISTMAS OBAMA!!
Pre Presidential Scandal #1. Even Keith Olberman said it....
Strategery you are one angry woman.
Some of you Obama-haters just love to make stuff up, don't you. He knew this guy was bad news and he kept him at arms length. The report states:
"In fact, Blagojevich was overheard complaining... that Obama's people are 'not going to give me anything except appreciation.' He added: '(Expletive) them.'"
Obama didn't get where he is by being naive, he's as tough as they come and he'll play the political game when he needs to, but he had nothing to do with lining the pocket of this slime ball governor.
NoNoNobama, you wouldn't happen to be an angry white man?
Can't wait for this to trace back to Obama. And guess what, the electoral college hasn't met yet.... Hello President McCain and VP Palin! This is exactly what the electoral college is for... fix the mess the people (moonbats) got us into. It's hilarious to watch the Obamaniacs self-distruct before setting foot in the white house. Whole house of cards is coming down. Indite, baby, indite!
OK so WHO did NOT see this coming?
OH anyone with the Blago Blinders on I am sure.
Now all we need is Stroker, AKA Stroger, and Palaye, AKA Dailey, to get the same treatment.
OH what a GREAT early present Santa sent me YEA YEA YEA!!!!!!!!!!!
For our country's sake, I hope Obama isn't involved...but it doesn't look good! Maybe next time, the media will do their job and vet these characters before they get elected! I can hardly wait to see all the political crimes that were committed in Obama's receipt of millions of dollars in illegal overseas political contributions. Obama makes Clinton look like a light weight! I hope they nail Obama's and put him in prison where his won't need to hide his homosexual conduct!
i due not care if he tried to sell a senate,or tried to have some un-friendly newspaper writers sacked.what is galling is that he was shaking down a children,s hospital for pay-ola. he should be taken to jail and left there until he dies!
Wow, all of you haters are having a field day! I think you are all crazy! Nothing better to do with your time than spread hate, huh? By the way, MMMoz, #25, I can see how well-educated you are! The word is "indict", not "indite". But that figures, you are just an ignorant republican! Go back to school and learn something worthwhile.