Chicago, IL -
FBI agents have arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal charges this morning at his home in Chicago. He's being charged with 'selling' the US Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election as President and attempting to shake down the Tribune Co. on the sale of Wrigley Field.
A 76-page affidavit reveals that federal agents tapped the governor's conversations and caught him attempting to gain financially from the Senate appointment.
Blagojevich was also charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field.
In exchange for state assistance, the 51-year-old Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a released statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a for sale sign on the naming of a United States senator," Fitzgerald said."
Complete coverage at: www.chicagotribune.com
A 76-page affidavit reveals that federal agents tapped the governor's conversations and caught him attempting to gain financially from the Senate appointment.
Blagojevich was also charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field.
In exchange for state assistance, the 51-year-old Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a released statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a for sale sign on the naming of a United States senator," Fitzgerald said."
Complete coverage at: www.chicagotribune.com
