Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris were arrested in Chicago this morning and are being charged with two counts each of mail/wire fraud and soliciting a bribe.
Blagojevich and Harris have been under investigation by the FBI for three years for corrupt activities up and to including selling the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (the same guy who prosecuted "Scooter" Libby) said Blagojevich engaged in "pay to play politics." According to a FBI wiretap, Blagojevich said, "It's a f#&$ing valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing."
The Nixon tapes were never like this.
Although President-elect Obama was not the target of this investigation one can only wonder what, if any, effect it will have on him. After all, Blagojevich's activities concern several of Obama's associates including Tony Rezko. But unless there's a videotape of Obama taking money or an audiotape of Obama asking, "What's in it for me?" I believe Obama wears a coat of teflon.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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