Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Arrested

[FSTargetDrone]

Breaking news, being updated quite a bit:

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrested on corruption charges

Agents served a search warrant on the governor's office in the Thompson Center

By Jeff Coen and Rick Pearson

Tribune reporters

11:00 AM CST, December 9, 2008

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a "staggering" level of corruption involving pay to play politics in Illinois' top office.

Blagojevich is accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, including alleged attempts by the governor to try to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. Blagojevich also is accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

FBI agents served a search warrant on his office at the Thompson Center this morning, said Frank Bochte, an FBI spokesman.

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning—one day shy of his 52nd birthday.

A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. "Haven't heard anything—you are first to call," spokesman Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail. Blagojevich, who has maintained he committed no wrongdoing throughout his 5-year tenure as governor, said Monday that any discussions he has had were "always lawful."

The stunning, early-morning arrest came amid revelations that federal investigators had compiled secret recordings of the governor with the cooperation of a longtime confidant. In recent days, the focus of federal investigators turned to the possibility that Blagojevich's appointment to the Senate had become tainted by pay-to-play politics.

The Democratic governor has said he expects to make a decision on the state's next senator within weeks.

Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes about 6:15 a.m., the FBI said. They were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago. Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today, said Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.

On the issue of the U.S. Senate seat that Obama resigned Nov. 16, federal prosecutors said they had numerous recorded conversations of Blagojevich discussing the merits of potential candidates, including their abilities to benefit the people of Illinois as well as the financial and political benefits he and his wife, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich, could receive.

Ald. Dick Mell (33rd), Blagojevich's father-in-law, said it was a "terrible day." Mell, who often feuded with Blagojevich, said, "My main concern right now is for my daughter and my grandchildren."

Mayor Richard Daley, reacting at a news conference, said today is "a sad day. If it's true, it's very, very sad because the selection of a U.S. senator is vitally important."

Prosecutors also alleged Blagojevich expressed feeling "stuck" as a sitting governor and spent a large amount of time weighing whether he should appoint himself to the vacancy—possibly to avoid impeachment and help remake his image for a potential 2016 run for the presidency. A recent Tribune poll found Blagojevich with a record low 13 percent job approval rating.

Under state law, the governor has the sole, unfettered discretion to name Obama's appointment.

Prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as secretary of Health and Human Services, secretary of the Energy Department or to an ambassadorship in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.

Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list—made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or have received taxpayer benefits—from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end when a new, tougher law on campaign donations, prompted by the governor's voracious fundraising, would take effect.

Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged. The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, [expletive] 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.

Blagojevich and Harris also allegedly conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.

In addition, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."

The governor's (allegedly) been a busy boy!

[Lord MJ]

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared- ... ab_newstab

Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe
By MIKE ROBINSON
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.
(enlarge photo)
In this Dec. 2, 2008 file photo, President-elect Barack Obama, right, greets Illinois Gov. Rob Blagojevich, left, at the Bipartisan meeting of the National Governor's Association in Philadelphia. Federal authorities in Chicago have arrested Blagojevich, and they've accused him of attempting to benefit financially from his position to appoint a Barack Obama's Senate replacement. Looking on are Gov. of Indiana., Mitch Daniels, left center, and Gov. of Ohio, Ted Strickland, right center.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it."

"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain," Blagojevich allegedly said later that day, according to the affidavit, which also quoted him as saying in a remark punctuated by profanity that the seat was "a valuable thing — you just don't give it away for nothing."

The affidavit said Blagojevich also discussed getting a substantial salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.

It said Blagojevich also talked about getting his wife placed on corporate boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

He also allegedly discussed getting campaign funds for himself or possibly a post in the president's cabinet or an ambassadorship once he left the governor's office. He noted becoming a U.S. senator might remake his image for a possible presidential run in 2016, according to the affidavit. And he allegedly said a Senate seat would also provide him with corporate contacts if he needed a job and present an opportunity for his wife to work as a lobbyist.

"I want to make money," the affidavit quotes him as saying in one conversation.

The affidavit said Blagojevich expressed frustration at being "stuck" as governor and that he would have access to greater resources if he were indicted while in the U.S. Senate than while sitting as governor.

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement that "the breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering."

"They allege that Blagojevich put a for sale sign on the naming of a United States senator," Fitzgerald said."

Messages left for Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero and at the governor's press office were not immediately returned Tuesday morning.

Among those being considered for the Senate post include U.S. Reps. Danny Davis and Jesse Jackson Jr.

The affidavit outlined a Nov. 10 call between Blagojevich, his wife, his chief of staff — John Harris, who also was arrested Tuesday — and a group of advisers in which Harris allegedly suggested working out an agreement with the Service Employees International Union.

Under the plan, Blagojevich would appoint a new senator who would be helpful to the president-elect and in turn get a job as head of Change to Win, a group formed by the union. The union would get an unspecified favor from Obama later.

Nothing in the court papers suggested Obama had any part in the discussion. In fact, Blagojevich allegedly said in the same conversation that Obama most likely would not appoint him as secretary of health and human services or to an ambassadorship because of the negative publicity that has surrounded the governor for three years.

One day later, according to the affidavit, Blagojevich allegedly told an associate he knew Obama wanted a specific Senate candidate but "they're not going to give me anything except appreciation." He finished the remark with an expletive.

Blagojevich also was charged with using his authority as governor in an attempt to squeeze out campaign contributions.

Corruption in the Blagojevich administration has been the focus of a federal investigation involving an alleged $7 million scheme aimed at squeezing kickbacks out of companies seeking business from the state. Federal prosecutors have acknowledged they're also investigating "serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" under Blagojevich, who has a $177,412 salary, though it's unclear whether he accepts the total.

Political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko who raised money for the campaigns of both Blagojevich and Obama is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of fraud and other charges. Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, Christopher G. Kelly, is due to stand trial early next year on charges of obstructing the Internal Revenue Service.

According to Tuesday's complaint, Blagojevich schemed with Rezko, millionaire-fundraiser turned federal witness Stuart Levine and others to get financial benefits for himself and his campaign committee.

Federal prosecutors said Blagojevich and the chairman of his campaign committee have been speeding up corrupt fundraising activities in the last month to get as much money as possible before the end of the year when a new law would curtail his ability to raise contributions from companies with state contracts worth more than $50,000.

According to the affidavit, agents learned Blagojevich was seeking $2.5 million in campaign contributions by the end of the year, with a large part allegedly to come from companies and individuals who have gotten state contracts or appointments.

The affidavit also outlines Blagojevich conversations related to Tribune Co., which has been hoping to sell Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs which the publishing giant also owns.

Blagojevich was quoted in court papers as telling Harris in a profanity laced Nov. 4 conversation that his recommendation to Tribune executives was to fire the editorial writers "and get us some editorial support."

Harris is quoted as telling the governor Nov. 11 that an unnamed Tribune Owner, presumably CEO Sam Zell, "got the message and is very sensitive to the issue."

The affidavit said Harris quoted a Tribune financial adviser as saying cuts were coming at the newspaper and "reading between the lines he's going after that section," apparently meaning editorial writers. Blagojevich is quoted as saying: "Oh, that's fantastic."

"Wow," Blagojevich allegedly replied. "Keep our fingers crossed. You're the man. Good job, John."

Harris allegedly told Blagojevich in his conversation with the financial adviser he had singled out deputy editorial page editor John McCormick as "somebody who was the most biased and unfair."

After hearing that, Blagojevich allegedly stressed to the head of a Chicago sports consulting firm that it was important to provide state aid for a Wrigley Field sale.

Blagojevich took the chief executive's office in 2003 as a reformer promising to clean up former Gov. George Ryan's mess.

Ryan, a Republican, is serving a 6-year prison sentence after being convicted on racketeering and fraud charges. A decade-long investigation began with the sale of driver's licenses for bribes and led to the conviction of dozens of people who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state and governor.

FBI spokesman Frank Bochte said federal agents arrested the governor and Harris simultaneously at their homes at 6:15 a.m. and took them to the Chicago FBI headquarters.

He did not have any details about Blagojevich's arrest, only that he was cooperative with federal agents.

"It was a very calm setting," he said.

The governor was to appear later Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan to answer the charges. The time was not immediately set.

Posted Without Comment... For Now

[LadyTevar]

Similar posts Merged.

[KrauserKrauser]

Well assuming Obama had nothing to do with this, which he probably wouldn't, he doesn't strike me as that desperate, this just looks like a good ole bit of Chicago politics brought into the limelight.

This guy gets to join the long line of governers that fucked up and get kicked out of office. Any bets on whether he will actually have to serve any time if convicted?

[The Original Nex]

This is STUNNING corruption, and good riddance to him. Hopefully Obama has had no first hand knowledge of this or any other of the litany of corrupt schemes Blagojevich had going. Clearly this guy is an ass who will hopefully get what's coming to him in a court of law.

EDIT:

Apparently the good Governor didn't think too highly of the President-elect:

He called him a motherfucker...

[Broomstick]

Amazing. Blagojevich has topped Ryan's corruption!

I mean, Chicago/Illinois corruption is legendary, and if I recall only one of the most recent 7 Illinois governors has not been accused/arrested/convicted/served jail time (that would Jim Thompson), but up until now they've avoided arrest until after they left office.

Everyone knew Blagojevich was so dirty even Mike Rowe couldn't clean him up, but auctioning off a US Senate seat?! Holy fuck, that's bad even by Chicago standards!

The question of how much and what Obama might have known about this is not off-base - Obama comes from the same Chicago politics background as Blagojevich. That doesn't mean he's corrupt, but clearly the rot is extensive and this spreads far beyond just the governor. I don't think Obama is mired in this, I hope he's not, but I have no doubt the FBI will look into any possible connection. The question will certainly come up.

This guy gets to join the long line of governers that fucked up and get kicked out of office. Any bets on whether he will actually have to serve any time if convicted?

Oh, most certainly if convicted he will do time - his predecessor George Ryan is currently cooling his heels behind bars.

[SCRawl]

Assuming for the moment that these assertions are truthful, then this guy is a grade-A douchebag. Selling the vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder? Did he really think he could get away with this stuff forever? They've been investigating this clown for three years, and he still has the cojones to conduct his "business" like this. Does this make him arrogant or just mind-bogglingly stupid?

[KrauserKrauser]

Now, I believe that Obama is more than likely not involved in this clusterfuck, but the consequences if he is found to be complicit in this is interesting to say the least.

Were he to be brought up on charges of conspiracy to auction of a Senate seat, would he still be sworn in? Would there be an impeachment before the inaguration? Vote of no confidence at least?

I have some faith that Obama will be an acceptable president, Joe Biden, on the other hand, I do not share those feelings for.

[TC Pilot]

Does this make him arrogant or just mind-bogglingly stupid?

The man's a complete idiot. He's good at staying on a script, but beyond that he's just plain stupid. Just last month he was interviewed right before Obama gave his victory speech, and he was utterly incoherent.

If it weren't for the whole issue of George Ryan being a convicted felon, his reelection in 2006 would have been downright miraculous.

[Civil War Man]

Yeah, even my Dad, who's an old-school free market Republican (as opposed to the fundamentalist fascist Republican) that likes to blame Democrats for everything, responded with, "Yeah, it's Chicago. What can you expect?" when he saw this story. (He grew up in Rockford, IL, and was a teenager at the beginning of Daley's reign in Chicago, so I imagine he speaks from experience)

[Oscar Wilde]

Selling the vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder? Did he really think he could get away with this stuff forever?

But he was sitting on that wonderful fucking thing and should get something for it.



In seriousness, ding-dong, this bitch is dead. The fact that he wasn't told to GTFO when he was flying back and forth between his home in Chicago and the capital EVERY DAY at taxpayers expense is mind-boggling.

[Broomstick]

If anyone is interested in the actual criminal complaint court document (PDF warning) here it is, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune which I'm sure is quite gleeful at the chance to smear this guy, seeing as it was a target of some of his schemes. It's about 75 pages.

There's mail and wire fraud, demanding the firing of Chicago Tribune employees who had authored editorials critical of him, attempting to sell president-elect Obama's US Senate seat to the highest bidder, retraction of funding of a children's hospital because the hospital CEO didn't give him a $50,000 campaign contribution fast enough, and a bunch more stuff.

There are already calls to impeach his ass and calls for him to resign. Although he could, under the Illinois constitution, remain as governor until actually convicted it's unlikely he will since, to be blunt, no one will want to do business with this jackass and he will therefore be impotent. Should Blagojevich be either thrown out or resign Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will take over.

Reportedly, the head of the Chicago FBI office called the governor at his home around 6 am this morning and told him there were two agents at his door with a warrant for his arrest, to please come quietly, and don't make a scene as they wanted to keep disruption to his family and the neighborhood at a minimum. Reports are that the governor's wife was still in bed when they put the cuffs on him and drove him to the Chicago Loop, and he was cooperative. Blaogojevich posted bond today and is now free on his on recognizance. He was reported to have gone back to his home.

[Ender]

My neighbor back home went to high school with the guy. She said he tried asking her out and that he was a little skeevy fuck back then. Apparently it hasn't changed a bit. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy as far as I am concerned.

[Ender]

Does this make him arrogant or just mind-bogglingly stupid?

The guy knew they were tapping his phone and told them to go ahead, they wouldn't find anything. As the article says, they caught him by listening in over the phone he knew was tapped.

You make the call.

[Davis 51]

This I didn't expect.

Delicious Irony: Judge Who Nixed Blagojevich's Game Law approved FBI Wiretap of Crooked Illinois Guv
December 9, 2008

Pop Quiz - the following line is from:

1. A Grand Theft Auto cut scene
2. The potty mouth of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

I’ve got this thing and it’s f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f***in’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.

The answer, as you might have guessed, is Rod Blagojevich.

The foul-mouthed Guv was picked up on FBI wiretaps trying to figure out how to trade his constitutional ability to name a replacement for Barack Obama's remaining term in the Senate for something of value to himself. The chicanery over the Senate appointment is but one of several corruption charges against Blagojevich.

And, in a yummy twist of fate, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly, who ruled in 2005 that Blagojevich's video game law was unconstitutional, was one of two federal judges who authorized recent FBI wiretaps that led to Blagojevich's downfall.

In fact, a reading of the FBI's complaint against Blagojevich shows that both the Guv and his wife have a penchant for dropping the F-bomb. And this is the guy who was so concerned about the mature content in GTA?

In still more LOL-type Blagojevich news, GP reader amuler1 reminds us that - at least according to Jack Thompson - Blagojevich asserted that violent video games were behind February's shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University. In a February 16th press release, Thompson wrote:

Today at 3:55 pm, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was interviewed on the Fox News Channel about yesterday’s massacre at Northern Illinois University. When asked why these school shootings are occurring, the Governor stated, “A lot of people smarter than I can be asked that question, but I believe we have to look to the violent entertainment that glamorizes and motivates and trains people to engage in these behaviors, most especially video games.”

The Governor echoes what Miami attorney Jack Thompson said on Fox News this morning at 10:15 am this same day, as he noted that the Virginia Tech and other school shooters have been immersed in these murder simulators.

Governor Blagojevich signed into law an act prohibiting the sale of adult video games to minors two yeas ago, and the video game industry lied to a federal court, claiming that there was no evidence that such games lead to more aggressive behavior in teens, to make sure the law was struck down.

We were never able to confirm Thompson's assertions regarding Blagojevich's linking NIU and games, although we have no reason to doubt that Thompson is correct concerning what the disgraced Guv may have said.

[Rogue 9]

Good riddance to bad fucking rubbish; may the rest of the Chicago establishment soon follow.

[Enigma]

Trying to shakedown a children's hospital out of $50,000. He's lower than scum.

[TC Pilot]

You misread. He wasn't withholding $50,000 from a children's hospital. He wanted that in campaign contributions from the hostpital's chief executive in exchange for an $8 million dollar fund to the hospital. It's still pretty bad though.

[Enigma]

You misread. He wasn't withholding $50,000 from a children's hospital. He wanted that in campaign contributions from the hostpital's chief executive in exchange for an $8 million dollar fund to the hospital. It's still pretty bad though.

retraction of funding of a children's hospital because the hospital CEO didn't give him a $50,000 campaign contribution fast enough, and a bunch more stuff.

Sounded like trying to get 50 grand from the hospital CEO. It is a shakedown.

[CmdrWilkens]

Some of the transcripts have him literally stating that he would appoint himself if he didn't get enough cash or a juicy enough appointment out of the deal. The same transcripts indicate that Obama had expressed a preference for a certain candidate but jackass decided that he would only appoint the person if a) they gave him money or b) Obama gave him a position in the administration. Dude is corrupt on an 1870s level.

[Broomstick]

Actually, Blago wanted BOTH money AND a position in the Federal government.

Also, it seems this story has gone international. Kinda glad I moved out of Illinois 10 years ago, rather embarassing all around.

[Rogue 9]

Well now he can have a position in a federal prison. Which is run by the government, so I suppose it technically qualifies.

How the fuck did he think he could get away with this? Seriously, did he not expect anyone to ever say anything? Or fuck, for the feds to never investigate all those transactions even if everyone he tried this shit on went along with it?

[Broomstick]

The city of Chicago once published an official list of what bribes were required for what. As I said, the corruption is legendary. Yes, he actually thought he could get away with it. Why not? Both Chicago city and Illinois state governments have flaunted the law off and on for a century or more. George Ryan (the guy Blago replaced) sold commercial driver's licenses in exchange for campaign contributions which lead to at least six deaths on Illinois highways (and still he says he did nothing wrong). Mayor Daley bulldozed an airport one night and, although fined, got away with destroying it. Yes, absolutely Blago thought he could shake down businesses, including hospitals, for campaign contributions (which the the current mechanism for bribery) because that's been business as usual for decades.

The new and creative thing he attempted was selling a US Senate seat. As he said himself, it's a valuable thing and you just don't give it away - he wanted to profit from it, pure and simple, and thought that yes, he could get away with it. The Feds have been chasing Chicago politicians since William Hale Thompson who, among other things, was heavily supported by Al Capone.

Blago's early career included a clerkship with Chicago alderman Ed Vrdolyak - a man invariably referred to as "Fast Eddie" in print and TV. When they cleaned up Chicago city council too much for Fast Eddie's taste he went to Cicero, Illinois - whose recent mayor is now a convicted felon sitting in jail. Blago was also an assistant prosecutor under States' Attorney Richard M. Daley - the man who is now mayor of Chicago and has also been under investigation by the Feds for several years. Blago was elected to the US House as a replacement for Dan Rostenkowski after Rostenkowski was convicted of mail fraud (a charge Blago now faces himself).

Obama and Rahm Emmanuel were both involved in Blagojevich's first run for governor in 2002, so there is a connection, but that's hardly a wonder given both Obama and Blago were involved Chicago politics and Illinois state politics. It's not that many people, they all know each other, and party loyalty is a feature of politics in Illinois.

One thing that Blago did that his predecessors did not was alienate the Democratic party machine. A lot of shit has gone on and continues to go on because the political parties in Chicago and Illinois close ranks and protect their own. Blago alienated the party, pissed off a lot of people, and the party stopped protecting him. Apparently he pissed off at least a couple people close to him enough that they agreed to wear an FBI wire and participate in phone taps.

But it should be obvious from just this short list of shame that both Chicago as a city and Illinois as a state has a long, sorry record of incredibly corrupt, slimy politicians who go from public office straight to jail. There's a very real possibility that Illinois will shortly have TWO former governors in jail simultaneously. Rumor has it that the Feds want to take down Daley next, the trick is to catch him in the act or get evidence that's bulletproof in court. That will be difficult, as the current Daley was groomed and trained by his father, Richard J. Daley, who was corrupt as fuck but slippery enough to never get caught (the elder Daley dropped dead while in office - literally, he died in his City Hall office). Both Daleys apparently never had any higher ambition than being Lord -- er, mayor of Chicago so while they're ambitious there ambitions had limits of sorts which may have kept them from the overwhelming arrogance and over-reach of the likes of Blagojevich.

It wasn't a secret that Blago was nuts, overambitious, amazingly corrupt even by Chicago standards, and sooner or later was going down. As of October of this year his approval rating was 4% (and you thought President Bush was hated!). It's really hard to comprehend just how badly he has pissed on the powerful members of his own party, not to mention the citizens of Illinois, and, to a somewhat lesser degree, those of us who are near-neighbors to the state. He's pissed off everyone even more by being SO amazingly corrupt that this shit is now an international story. How fucking embarrassing.

Really, I could go on and on, but it's just fucking ridiculous.

[Guardsman Bass]

What the fuck is wrong with that state's politics? Is it just the fact that the parties protect their own from investigations?

More importantly, what would it take to clean it up? Mass arrests?

[Adrian Laguna]

Oh man, I think I figured out why I like Chicago so much. It's like being back home except the public services actually work, and the stupider corrupt fucks get caught. Even though I've been expecting his indictiment for most of the year, I'm still finding it extremely amusing. He tried to sell a Senatorial seat, you can't make that shit up.

Rumor has it that the Feds want to take down Daley next, the trick is to catch him in the act or get evidence that's bulletproof in court.

I should hope not, I kind of like Prince Richard.