blagojevich indictment

federal grand jury indicts former Governor Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges.

Federal prosecutors announced the indictment Thursday night in a press release.

Blagojevich, his brother Robert, and four others are named in the indictment, accused of corruption involving billions of dollars in state pension bonds.

The 19 count indictment contains new charges and alleges that Blagojevich and Alonzo Monk, along with Christopher Kelly and convicted felon Tony Rezko, agreed that they would use the offices of Governor and Chief of Staff for financial gain, which would be divided among them with the understanding that the money would be divided up after Blagojevich left public office.

Other than the wire taps its not clear what kind of evidence US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has, but legal experts say they wouldn't bet against him.

Reactions to ex-Ill. Gov. Blagojevich's indictment

Reaction from Illinois' elected officials and state residents to the federal indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich:

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"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors." — Blagojevich.

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"We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour. Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break." — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

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"The indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich today serves as a stark reminder that enormous reforms are needed in our state." — Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross.

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"Most people I associate with who had any opinion about it, including myself, were irritated with the way he did things, the way he appeared to do things. We pretty much cheered when he was arrested." — John Olsson, a 47-year-old farmer from New Berlin. A Republican, he never voted for Blagojevich.

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"It is reassuring to see that our justice system works, but there is no joy in this indictment. Rod Blagojevich has decimated our state. And regardless of what happens to the former governor, Illinois residents will be paying for his time in office for generations to come." — Judy Baar Topinka, the Republican gubernatorial candidate defeated by Blagojevich in 2006.

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"I think if they make an example out of him, hopefully this curtails some of the corruption that's going on in our city and our state." — Bernie Puralewski, a 62-year-old Aurora resident who works as a manager at a Chicago hobby shop.

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"As this case moves forward, perhaps now we can close this book and begin to write a new one that speaks to the breadth of who the people of Illinois are and what they seek in the people they send to public office — honesty, integrity, truthfulness, vision and leadership." — U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill.

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"In 2002, when Democrats came to power, we were promised this day would never happen again, but today's indictment coupled with their decision to support Rod Blagojevich for six years proves those promises were merely empty rhetoric in order to obtain and keep political power." — Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna.

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"Rod Blagojevich was elected and then re-elected governor based on the promise that he would reform and renew state government, but his government was more like an overloaded, malfunctioning sewage system. Now, it's up to the elected leaders in Springfield to respond to the demands of the citizens of Illinois and clean up this mess." — Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"Honestly, when I listened to him the very first time he ran, he really seemed like he does want to make a difference, that he's for the people of Illinois. The second time I said no way, he's a crook." _ Linda Dowdy, a 59-year-old tavern manager from Belleville and lifelong Democrat.

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Pat Quinn sworn in as Illinois' new governor

Illinois has a new governor, lawyer, onetime consumer advocate, and some say, political gadfly, Patrick Quinn.

Pat Quinn has been sworn in as Illinois' new governor. Quinn took the oath of office moments after the state Senate voted to remove Rod Blagojevich, who was ousted on charges of abuse of power.

Quinn is a strong supporter of our troops. I don't believe he has missed a single funeral of a single Illinois soldier who was killed in action serving our country in the War on Terror. And he did this without an entourage, and without fanfare.

Quinn had served for two terms under Blagojevich, but the two had little in common. In fact, Quinn has said the men have not spoken in more than a year, and Blagojevich said last year that Quinn was not even part of his administration.

Quinn was a running mate with Blagojevich twice, and was a beneficiary of Blago's strongarm fundraising tactics. In 2006, Quinn said Blago was "a person who's honest and one of integrity." He also said of Blagojevich, "I have confidence the governor does the right thing all the time."


Quinn's rise to the governor's mansion, although not as amazing as Barack Obama's rise to the presidency, is quite a story. CBS 2 Chicago's Mike Flannery wrote that Quinn has "been a thorn in the side of the state's political establishment for 33 years."

Flannery recalls that Quinn is the only man in history who received a standing "boo-vation," a three minute boo-fest, by members of the Illinois House.

The last dark horse candidate to win the White House, Harding, an avid poker player, explained his rise to the presidency this way. "I drew a pair of deuces and filled."

As did Quinn.

While still lieutenant governor, Quinn promised Illinoisans that he's remove those obnoxious "Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" signs from the state's toll roads.

Quinn is a 60-year-old former state treasurer and tax attorney. He is best known for his efforts to cut big government and protect the little guy. One of the most pressing issues for him is the state's deficit of more than $3 billion.

Illinois senate votes to oust Governor Blagojevich

Illinois senators stripped Gov. Rod Blagojevich of power Thursday in the final act of a political drama that handed the reins of state government to his estranged lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, and likely will end Blagojevich's career in politics.

More than two-thirds of the 59 senators, acting as a jury following the two-term Democrat's impeachment on Jan. 9, voted to find him guilty, effectively ousting him from office.

The vote was televised live from the state capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. Blagojevich is the first governor in Illinois history to be impeached and removed from office.

The outcome was never in doubt. In fact, Quinn went to the state Capitol earlier in the day to prepare to be sworn in.

Earlier today, in a long-shot attempt to save his job, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted Thursday he had done nothing wrong and shouldn't be removed from office over unproven criminal charges and complaints about his management decisions.

"You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen,How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?" Blagojevich said

Blagojevich acknowledged he sometimes mingled campaign fundraising with government decisions or cut administrative corners to achieve his goals. But he maintained his motivation was always to help constituents.

The plea did not appear to move lawmakers. After a lunch break, senator after senator stood up and declared Blagojevich unfit to hold office as they prepared for the historic vote on whether to toss him out.

"The whole world is watching Illinois today, and you know what? I'm tired of it," said Democratic Sen. Terry Link of the Chicago suburb of Waukegan. "You don't know whether to get angry or cry because we've been duped again. You were with the last governor, and we were with this governor," he said, pointing first to Republicans and then to his fellow Democrats.

The governor said he would like to apologize, but couldn't because he didn't do anything wrong. The senators watched attentively. Many leaned forward in their seats. Some took notes.

"It's painful and it's lonely, but I want you to know I never, ever intended to commit a criminal act," Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich acknowledged that the truth about his conduct is "maybe not flattering in some cases," referring to several secretly recorded conversations played earlier in the trial.

The FBI wiretaps appear to show Blagojevich linking his decision on legislation to receiving campaign contributions.

Blagojevich told the state Senate the tapes captured something that "all of us in politics do in order to run campaigns and win elections."

Blagojevich, 52, was arrested last month on a variety of federal corruption charges, including scheming to benefit from appointing Obama's Senate replacement and demanding campaign contributions in exchange for state services.

He was impeached in the House on Jan. 9 for abuse of power. The 13 accusations included plotting to give financial assistance to the Tribune Co. only if members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board were fired, awarding state contracts or permits in exchange for campaign

Biographical information on Blagojevich

NAME — Rod R. Blagojevich.

AGE — 52. Born Dec. 10, 1956.

HOME — Chicago.

FAMILY — Wife, Patricia; two daughters.

EDUCATION — Northwestern University, graduated 1979; Pepperdine University, law degree, 1983.

EXPERIENCE — Elected Illinois governor, 2002; re-elected, 2006; ousted by state Senate, 2009. Served in U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 5th district, 1997-2003. Served in Illinois House from Chicago's North Side, 1993-1997. Assistant Cook County state's attorney, prosecuting criminal cases.

QUOTE — "I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly. I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful."