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Charges: Blago Discussed Cash For Obama Seat

More from Pat Fitzgerald's statement on the Blagojevich charges:

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois' U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:
- a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
- placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
- promises of campaign funds - including cash up front; and
- a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might "get some (money) up front, maybe" from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: "We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know, he'd raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."

Who's Senate Candidate 5? Sounds like we'll find out...


6 Comments

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And I thought Stephen Colbert had the most chutzpah....

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Wow. Quelle slimeball.

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My guess is that Senate Candidate 5 is Jesse Jackson, Jr. Nobody else made such a public demand for the job. And there is mention in the affidavit of pressure against Senate Candidate 5.

I also bet that Senate Candidate 1, who offered nothing but "appreciation" is Valerie Jarrett.

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True on JJJr. Although on Chicago Tonight last week, Luis Gutierrez also was putting on the hard sell for the gig.

Phil Ponce actually had Luis and Jackson on simultaneously, both pathetically groveling for the job.

Speaking of pathetic groveling, maybe Blago should give the Senate seat to Ron Santo?

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LOL re: Santo.

As a White Sox fan, this whole episode tickles me to death. Blago is a pathetic Cubs fan caught up in a Wrigley Field scandal.

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I agree that Senate Candidate 5 is probably JJjr, especially because of this line:

"Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."

What "other guy" could possibly raise a million? JJ himself?

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