Opinion: Sleepy, Happy, Blago and the Search for Snow White
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Hey, you’ve just been indicted on federal racketeering charges, what are you going to do now?
If you are former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich you visit Walt Disney World in Florida.
“I’m saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment,” he said in a prepared statement. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.”
Saddened? Hurt? Videotape shot by a Florida television station shows Blagojevich in one of the happiest places on Earth, sitting on chair and flashing that shy, but radiant smile that once blinded millions of Illinois voters.
Despite the sunny exterior in Florida, the 75-page federal indictment sure rains on the former governor’s parade. The wide-ranging indictment portrays the former governor as pushing to corner the campaign cash market and alleges he committed extortion and fraud in the process. Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich and his close associates of working together to squeeze millions of dollars from contractors, hospital owners and others seeking state business.
Others charged were his brother Robert Blagojevich; former Chief of Staff Alonzo Monk; one-time chief fundraiser Christopher G. Kelly; Springfield lobbyist William F. Cellini; and another former chief of staff, John Harris, who is cooperating with the government.
But the big charges that will capture the political world’s attention involve the allegation that Blagojevich essentially put up for sale the Senate seat vacated by President Obama. Another complication for the Obama team is that the indictment alleges that Blagojevich’s wife received thousands of dollars in unearned real estate fees and a $12,000-a-month spot on the payroll of convicted fixer Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko, a longtime supporter and contributor to Obama’s political career.
The relationship went deeper, however. Obama and Rezko’s wife, Rita, bought adjacent pieces of property in 2005 from a doctor in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood. Six months later, amid reports that Rezko was being investigated by the feds, Obama bought a strip of land from Rezko’s wife to expand his yard. Opponents question the timing and the price. During the fiercely fought Democratic campaign, the relationship became so big an issue even Jay Leno made jokes. And Obama, in a recent Southern California swing, stopped by ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Obama has acknowledged repeatedly that it a “boneheaded” move to buy the land.
Also, according to the indictment, an unnamed Illinois congressman asked about a $2-million state grant for a school. But Blagojevich allegedly told another official to tell the congressman that his brother would have to raise campaign funds for the governor or the grant would never get done.
That congressman is now Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, according to reports.
The White House refused to comment on the indictment, which does not allege any wrongdoing by Obama or his top aides.
-- Michael Muskal
Follow @LATimesmuskal on Twitter
This February 15, 2008 file photo shows then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich during a press conference at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Amanda Rivkin/AFP/Getty Images
