Obama's Senate Replacement Up in the Air With Blagojevich Arrest

A big ole' wrench has been thrown into Barack Obama's smooth operation - in a way.

Federal authorities in Chicago have arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of attempting to benefit financially from his position to appoint the president-elect's Senate replacement. His chief of staff John Harris was also arrested. And yes, Tony Rezko is involved. Reading the almost 80-page complaint against him, you get a sense that, if guilty, Blagojevich is a power- and money-hungry politician abusing his power who never should have been elected to anything in the first place. Chalk this one up to another (alleged) corrupt politician in Illinois.

So what does this mean for the selection of a yet-to-be-named replacement for Obama in the Senate?

"This puts a big cloud over it," Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet said on MSNBC Tuesday. "He [Blagojevich] wanted to try to use this appointment to clean up his image ... this puts a cloud over the appointment."

But Blagojevich said Monday: "I don't think there's any cloud over this opening ... I think there's nothing but sunshine over me." He also made comments about taping devices (in reference to the investigation he knew was focusing on him), sarcastically welcoming anyone to tape anything he was saying, although "it kinds of smells of Nixon and Watergate."

Obama himself said Tuesday he hadn't had any contact with the governor, but wouldn't say too much else.

"I am saddened and sobered ... but as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment," Obama said during a press conference with Al Gore (too bad, Al. Nobody cares about climate change today.) "I had no contact with the governor or his office. So I was not aware of what was happening," Obama continued. "It's a sad day for Illinois."

Blagojevich is also accused of threatening to withhold state assistance to the Tribune Co. in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of editorial board members who have been critical of him.

"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."

The AP says the governor took money from at least one individual in connection with naming a successor for the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Obama.

The Chicago Tribune has a detailed story about the charges, including implications for the Senate seat. Here's a link to the complaint.

Here's what I've found in the complaint regarding the now-Senate scandal:

"Intercepted phone calls demonstrate that Rod Blagojevich, John Harris and others have engaged in or are engaged in efforts to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, for the benefit of Rod Blagojevich and his family through the corrupt use of Rod Blagojevich's authority as Governor of the State of Illinois to fill the vacant United State Senate seat previously held by the President-elect."




The complaint also says Blagojevich is accused of conspiring to "sell the Senate seat in exchange for his wife's placement on paid corporate boards" or his own placement "at a private foundation in a significant position with a substantial salary."

"Rod Blagojevich has also been intercepted conspiring to sell the Senate seat in exchange for millions of dollars in funding for a non-profit organization that he would start and would employ him at a substantial salary after he left the governorship."

On Nov. 3, the day before Obama was elected president, Blagojevich had a conversation with a deputy governor over the forthcoming Senate vacancy, saying:

"If ... they're not going to offer anything of value, then I might just take it," referring to the open seat.

He later said:

"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and am not satisfied with it, the I'll just take the Senate seat myself."

Even better, he added that the Senate seat "is a f--king valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."

So, my question is, if Blagojevich knew he was under investigation, why would you shoot your mouth off to anyone around you about this Senate seat, or any other matter? Smells of stupid...

Also from the Tribune:

"On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services 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.

CNN anchor correspondent Don Lemon said anyone who has followed Chicago politics knows that investigations into Blagojevich have been going on for some time, including charges that he traded state contracts for favors to the tune of $7 million.

"They're not surprised in the least that this one thing has come out of this," Lemon said. "We all knew something was going to happen ... everyone, including the governor, has been waiting for the next shoe to drop."

"It is unbelievable – like nothing else we've ever seen, and also goes to show you the unexpected can step up and interfere with all of the best laid plans Barack Obama has as he moves to Washington," added NBC chief White House correspondent John Harwood.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., is one of the people under consideration for Obama's seat. She told CNN she's recently talked with Blagojevich about it, and "certainly nothing ... came up at all in that conversation so all of it is very surprising to me and how this actually will all unfold now ... what the real implications will be over Obama's seat, are yet to be known."

"I don't think it has any particular implications for president-elect Barack Obama or any reflection on his integrity at all."

Federal prosecutors have acknowledged they're also investigating "serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" under Blagojevich. There's a string of bad apples around him.

Enter none other than Antoin "Tony" Rezko - the guy who raised money for the Blagojevich and Obama campaigns and is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of fraud and other charges. Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, Christopher G. Kelly, is scheduled to stand trial early next year on charges of obstructing the IRS.

According to Tuesday's complaint, Blagojevich schemed with Rezkoe and others to get financial benefits for himself and his campaign committee.