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Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
1 day ago CHICAGO (AFP) - Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on federal corruption charges alleging "pervasive fraud" after he purportedly tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. Blagojevich, 52, was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents, the Justice Department said. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald alleged that Blagojevich used his office to obtain money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others "in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments." Five other close associates of the governor also were charged as co-defendants, including his brother, a former chief of staff, a lobbyist and two campaign fundraisers. The indictment expands on charges filed when Blagojevich was first arrested in December, including the allegation that Blagojevich tried to sell Obama's former Senate seat. The Illinois state legislature ousted Blagojevich from office for abuse of power in a unanimous vote January 29. The indictment traces the conspiracy to use the governors office for private gain to 2002, when the six co-defendants and a former Obama supporter, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, agreed to divide up the money they made after Blagojevich left office. In 2003, they allegedly directed the refinancing of billion dollars in state pension bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to pay Rezko hundreds of thousands of dollars to be split with Blagojevich and two other associates. After it became known that Rezko was under investigation, Blagojevich continued using his office to extort funds, prosecutors allege. They said he held up a state grant for a publicly funded school while trying to get an unidentified congressman or his brother to hold a fundraiser for him. The indictment includes previous charges that Blagojevich threatened to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company unless it fired editorial board members who were critical of him. The other defendants were John Harris, 47, Blagojevich's former chief of staff; Alonzo Monk, 50, a lobbyist who managed his gubernatorial campaigns; Robert Blagojevich, 53, the governor's brother; Christopher Kelly, 50, a fundraiser; William Cellini, 74, another fundraiser. Harris, who served as chief of staff from 2005 until his arrest in December with Blagojevich, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the Justice Department said. "As part of the racketeering conspiracy, Blagojevich allegedly permitted Kelly and Rezko to exercise substantial influence over certain gubernatorial activities, as well as state boards and commissions, knowing that they would use this influence to enrich themselves and their associates," the Justice Department said. "In return, Kelly and Rezko allegedly benefited Blagojevich by generating millions of dollars in campaign contributions and providing financial benefits directly to Blagojevich and his family." |
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#2
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Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
Ian St. John wrote: Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges 1 day ago CHICAGO (AFP) - Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on federal corruption charges alleging "pervasive fraud" after he purportedly tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. Blagojevich, 52, was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents, the Justice Department said. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald alleged that Blagojevich used his office to obtain money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others "in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments." Five other close associates of the governor also were charged as co-defendants, including his brother, a former chief of staff, a lobbyist and two campaign fundraisers. The indictment expands on charges filed when Blagojevich was first arrested in December, including the allegation that Blagojevich tried to sell Obama's former Senate seat. The Illinois state legislature ousted Blagojevich from office for abuse of power in a unanimous vote January 29. The indictment traces the conspiracy to use the governors office for private gain to 2002, when the six co-defendants and a former Obama supporter, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, agreed to divide up the money they made after Blagojevich left office. In 2003, they allegedly directed the refinancing of billion dollars in state pension bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to pay Rezko hundreds of thousands of dollars to be split with Blagojevich and two other associates. After it became known that Rezko was under investigation, Blagojevich continued using his office to extort funds, prosecutors allege. They said he held up a state grant for a publicly funded school while trying to get an unidentified congressman or his brother to hold a fundraiser for him. The indictment includes previous charges that Blagojevich threatened to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company unless it fired editorial board members who were critical of him. The other defendants were John Harris, 47, Blagojevich's former chief of staff; Alonzo Monk, 50, a lobbyist who managed his gubernatorial campaigns; Robert Blagojevich, 53, the governor's brother; Christopher Kelly, 50, a fundraiser; William Cellini, 74, another fundraiser. Harris, who served as chief of staff from 2005 until his arrest in December with Blagojevich, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the Justice Department said. "As part of the racketeering conspiracy, Blagojevich allegedly permitted Kelly and Rezko to exercise substantial influence over certain gubernatorial activities, as well as state boards and commissions, knowing that they would use this influence to enrich themselves and their associates," the Justice Department said. "In return, Kelly and Rezko allegedly benefited Blagojevich by generating millions of dollars in campaign contributions and providing financial benefits directly to Blagojevich and his family." |
#3
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Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
Ian St. John wrote: Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges 1 day ago CHICAGO (AFP) - Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on federal corruption charges alleging "pervasive fraud" after he purportedly tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. Blagojevich, 52, was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents, the Justice Department said. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald alleged that Blagojevich used his office to obtain money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others "in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments." Five other close associates of the governor also were charged as co-defendants, including his brother, a former chief of staff, a lobbyist and two campaign fundraisers. Damn, what a bunch of scumbag turds. The indictment expands on charges filed when Blagojevich was first arrested in December, including the allegation that Blagojevich tried to sell Obama's former Senate seat. The Illinois state legislature ousted Blagojevich from office for abuse of power in a unanimous vote January 29. The indictment traces the conspiracy to use the governors office for private gain to 2002, when the six co-defendants and a former Obama supporter, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, agreed to divide up the money they made after Blagojevich left office. In 2003, they allegedly directed the refinancing of billion dollars in state pension bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to pay Rezko hundreds of thousands of dollars to be split with Blagojevich and two other associates. After it became known that Rezko was under investigation, Blagojevich continued using his office to extort funds, prosecutors allege. They said he held up a state grant for a publicly funded school while trying to get an unidentified congressman or his brother to hold a fundraiser for him. The indictment includes previous charges that Blagojevich threatened to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company unless it fired editorial board members who were critical of him. The other defendants were John Harris, 47, Blagojevich's former chief of staff; Alonzo Monk, 50, a lobbyist who managed his gubernatorial campaigns; Robert Blagojevich, 53, the governor's brother; Christopher Kelly, 50, a fundraiser; William Cellini, 74, another fundraiser. Harris, who served as chief of staff from 2005 until his arrest in December with Blagojevich, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the Justice Department said. "As part of the racketeering conspiracy, Blagojevich allegedly permitted Kelly and Rezko to exercise substantial influence over certain gubernatorial activities, as well as state boards and commissions, knowing that they would use this influence to enrich themselves and their associates," the Justice Department said. "In return, Kelly and Rezko allegedly benefited Blagojevich by generating millions of dollars in campaign contributions and providing financial benefits directly to Blagojevich and his family." |
#4
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Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 10:46:22 -0700, "Ian St. John"
wrote: Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges 1 day ago CHICAGO (AFP) - Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on federal corruption charges alleging "pervasive fraud" after he purportedly tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. Blagojevich, 52, was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents, the Justice Department said. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald alleged that Blagojevich used his office to obtain money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others "in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments." Five other close associates of the governor also were charged as co-defendants, including his brother, a former chief of staff, a lobbyist and two campaign fundraisers. The indictment expands on charges filed when Blagojevich was first arrested in December, including the allegation that Blagojevich tried to sell Obama's former Senate seat. The Illinois state legislature ousted Blagojevich from office for abuse of power in a unanimous vote January 29. The indictment traces the conspiracy to use the governors office for private gain to 2002, when the six co-defendants and a former Obama supporter, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, agreed to divide up the money they made after Blagojevich left office. In 2003, they allegedly directed the refinancing of billion dollars in state pension bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to pay Rezko hundreds of thousands of dollars to be split with Blagojevich and two other associates. After it became known that Rezko was under investigation, Blagojevich continued using his office to extort funds, prosecutors allege. They said he held up a state grant for a publicly funded school while trying to get an unidentified congressman or his brother to hold a fundraiser for him. The indictment includes previous charges that Blagojevich threatened to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company unless it fired editorial board members who were critical of him. The other defendants were John Harris, 47, Blagojevich's former chief of staff; Alonzo Monk, 50, a lobbyist who managed his gubernatorial campaigns; Robert Blagojevich, 53, the governor's brother; Christopher Kelly, 50, a fundraiser; William Cellini, 74, another fundraiser. Harris, who served as chief of staff from 2005 until his arrest in December with Blagojevich, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the Justice Department said. "As part of the racketeering conspiracy, Blagojevich allegedly permitted Kelly and Rezko to exercise substantial influence over certain gubernatorial activities, as well as state boards and commissions, knowing that they would use this influence to enrich themselves and their associates," the Justice Department said. "In return, Kelly and Rezko allegedly benefited Blagojevich by generating millions of dollars in campaign contributions and providing financial benefits directly to Blagojevich and his family." And this is posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent because? |
#5
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Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges
On Apr 4, 12:46*pm, "Ian St. John" wrote:
Former Illinois governor indicted on corruption charges Don't you just love Chicago politics???? |
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