Governor 'tried to sell Obama's Senate seat!

From The Times

The Governor of Illinois was arrested yesterday for allegedly trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated US Senate seat to the highest bidder.

The arrest of Rod Blagojevich and John Harris, his chief of staff, cast a light on the home state of the President-elect, which has a history of endemic corruption.

The charges include allegations that the Democratic governor, who has served two-terms, conspired with Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a former friend and political donor of Mr Obama, in schemes requiring individuals and companies to pay kickbacks in return for state contracts.

Mr Obama said that he was “saddened and sobered” by the allegation, but insisted he had never discussed his Senate seat with the governor.

“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening. But as I said it is a sad day for Illinois,” Mr Obama said.

However, David Axelrod, Mr Obama’s senior advisor, told Fox News on November 23 that the President-elect had spoken to Mr Blagojevic about the choice of his successor in the Senate. “I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them,” Mr Axelrod said at the time.

Prosecutors said that the FBI had taken exceptional measures, including tapping the home telephone of the governor since October, because of a sudden surge in alleged corruption.

The FBI has issued a 76-page affidavit outlining the alleged attempt by Mr Blagojevich to extract a price for exercising his power to appoint a Senator to fill Mr Obama’s vacated seat.

In a secretly recorded conversation he allegedly said that the Senate seat “is a f***ing valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing”.