International   

Illinois Governor indulged in “corruption spree”

Chicago: Hours after his arrest for trying to sell U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was released by a judge for a fine of $ 4,500, to face an apparent ostracisation from U.S. politics.

It was not the happiest birthday for Mr. Blagojevich, who turns 52 on Wednesday, as he has been slapped with number of federal corruption charges for trying to sell Mr. Obama’s vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder in return for kickbacks or a lucrative job.

Mr. Blagojevich, who was arrested on Tuesday along with Chief of Staff John Harris, is also accused of pushing to have a Chicago Tribune Editor fired in return for state financing of its parent company, which has declared insolvency. According to the paper, investigators believe Mr. Blagojevich also intended to withhold funding of a children’s hospital if he did not receive political contribution from one of its executive officers. However, in the court, Mr. Blagojevich denied any wrongdoing. His arrest has thrown question mark over the process of replacement of Mr. Obama as experts say that unless Mr. Blagojevich is convicted, impeached or admits guilt, he will continue to retain power. Labelling charges against Mr. Blagojevich as a political “corruption spree,” U.S. Attorney Patrick J Fitzgerald said the complaint had made no allegations about the President-elect or his conduct. Mr. Blagojevich and Mr. Harris were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and solicitation of bribery.

Meanwhile, Mr. Obama said he was not aware of allegations that Mr. Blagojevich was trying to find the highest bidder for the Senate seat. “I had no contact with the Governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening,” Mr. Obama told reporters. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Illinois Governor indulged in “corruption spree”
We must stay on the offensive: Bush
Reconstruction work in liberated areas: Colombo
Nearly 1 billion people going hungry: U.N.
Pressure LTTE to free citizens in war zone: TULF
British troops to leave Iraq by June 2009
Swraj Paul becomes Lords’ Deputy Speaker
Flutter over release of JI activists in Malaysia
Israel mourns Mumbai attack victims

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu