Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison

Ryan J. Reilly | December 7, 2011, 1:41PM

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich departs his home in Chicago, en route to the court to hear his sentence on 18 counts of corruption. December 7, 2011 (Associated Press)

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

The Chicago Sun Times reports from the courtroom that "Blago" told the court he was "unbelievably sorry." The judge said Blagojevich's sentence reflected his acceptance of responsibility:

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Rod Blagojevich

Prosecutors Say 'Public Humiliation' A Result Of Blagojevich Running His Mouth

Ryan J. Reilly | December 5, 2011, 6:19PM

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) deserves 15 to 20 years in prison for trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, federal prosecutors argued in a filing on Monday.

Blagojevich, scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, had asked the court for leniency. Justice Department officials say his pleas for a break show why a harsh sentence is necessary.

"Blagojevich repeatedly committed serious criminal acts that have done enormous damage to public confidence in Illinois government," the government said in a filing signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar. "He has refused to accept any responsibility for his criminal conduct, continues to blame others for his criminal misdeeds, and has no mitigating factors beyond those frequently found in this Courthouse."

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Jesse Jackson Jr.

House Ethics Panel Resumes Inquiry Into Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Ryan J. Reilly | October 18, 2011, 4:35PM

Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

The Justice Department has withdrawn their request for a deferral in the ethics investigation of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) and the House Ethics Committee has voted to end the hold on their probe, the panel announced Tuesday.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Convicted Of Trying To Sell Obama's Senate Seat

Jillian Rayfield | June 27, 2011, 3:15PM

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

A Chicago jury has found former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich guilty of 17 of the 20 charges in his corruption trial, including multiple charges of wire fraud and bribery, and attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.

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Rod Blagojevich

Jury In Blago Re-Trial Reaches Verdict

Jillian Rayfield | June 27, 2011, 11:51AM

Former Governor Rod Blagojevich

The jury in the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected to announce its verdict early Monday afternoon in Chicago.

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Jesse Jackson Jr.

Jackson Jr. Denies Telling Fundraisers To Funnel Donations To Blago

Ryan J. Reilly | May 17, 2011, 10:55AM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) told the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday that he didn't direct fundraisers to give $1.5 million in campaign contributions to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich if he agreed to let Jackson fill Barack Obama's seat in the Senate back in 2008.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich: It's 'Irresponsible' To Retry Me During An Economic Crisis

Jillian Rayfield | March 9, 2011, 5:11PM

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is pushing for a judge to cancel his retrial and skip right over to sentencing, "in the interests of justice and saving the taxpayers funds."

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Jesse Jackson Jr.

Ethics Panel Defers To DOJ On Jesse Jackson Jr.

Ryan J. Reilly | November 16, 2010, 3:24PM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct announced late Monday that they have agreed to "continue to defer taking action into whether Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., or an agent of Representative Jackson, may have offered to raise funds for then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in return for the appointment of Representative Jackson to the Illinois Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama."

But Jackson hadn't heard about their decision when asked about it by TPM on Tuesday.

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Jesse Jackson Jr.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Allegedly Asked A Donor To Buy Plane Tickets To Chicago For Former Model

Ryan J. Reilly | September 22, 2010, 2:01PM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL) allegedly directed one of his major campaign contributors to give Gov. Rod Blagojevich millions of dollars in campaign contributions in return for appointing Jackson to the then-empty Senate seat of President Barack Obama. Jackson also allegedly directed the same contributor to buy plane tickets to Chicago for a "social acquaintance" of Jackson's who is a former model now working as a hostess at a D.C. restaurant.

Those revelations appear in articles this week in the Chicago Sun-Times, citing anonymous sources, that detail the part of the FBI's investigation into Blagojevich that touched on Jackson.

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Robert Blagojevich

Charges Dropped Against Blago's Brother Robert

Ryan J. Reilly | August 26, 2010, 3:49PM

Robert Blagojevich

Federal prosecutors will not retry Robert Blagojevich, the brother of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, for two counts of extortion conspiracy and one count each of wire fraud and extortion reports the Chicago Tribune.

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Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart To Blago: I Really 'Want To Believe You're Not A Sociopath' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | August 24, 2010, 9:56AM

Jon Stewart had former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on his show last night, and questioned him about the decision not to testify in his corruption trial. "There is not a person in the world that I believe could get you to pipe down," Stewart said. "Here's what concerns me. I would like to see you as a Dickens character. I would like to see you as a victim. But you make it so hard."

Stewart added: "You're a guy who's the most adamant about his innocence that I have ever met. So, like I say, you're either the victim of a terrible persecution, or you're a sociopath. I want to believe that you're not a sociopath."

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Signs Autographs, Rides Batmobile, At Chicago Comic Con

Eric Lach | August 23, 2010, 11:51AM

Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na -- BLAGO!

Fresh off being found guilty of lying to the FBI -- after the jury couldn't reach agreement on 23 other counts in his corruption trial -- former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared alongside other cartoonish heros and villains Saturday at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.

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Robert Blagojevich

Fellow Juror Says Blago Holdout Would Have Wanted Video in Murder Trial

Ryan J. Reilly | August 18, 2010, 9:28AM

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D)

Forget 12 angry men; fellow jurors say it was one stubborn woman who forced a deadlock in the case against former Gov. Rob Blagojevich on the most serious charge against him: that he tried to sell the former Senate seat of President Barack Obama.

"She wanted concrete evidence," 21-year-old criminal justice student Erik Sarnello told reporters. "If it were a murder trial, she would have wanted to see the video of the shooting."

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Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich Found Guilty On 1 Count Of Lying To FBI

Eric Lach | August 17, 2010, 5:36PM

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty of only one of the 24 counts in his corruption trial. After deliberating for 14 days, the jury found him guilty only of making false statements to the FBI. The jury is deadlocked on the other 23 counts.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Jury Deadlocked On Some Counts; Haven't Deliberated Yet On Others

Rachel Slajda | August 12, 2010, 1:02PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

The jury in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial told the judge today that they have only come to unanimous agreement on two of the 24 charges.

As for the other 22 charges, the jury said they haven't even begun to discuss the 11 wire fraud charges. They have not been able to come to a decision on the other 11.

According to the Sun Times, Judge James Zagel is instructing the jurors to keep trying:

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Rod Blagojevich

Storage Facility Auctioning Off Blago's Stuff After He Falls Behind On Payments

Eric Lach | July 26, 2010, 2:39PM

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D)

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial moved on to closing arguments today, and a storage facility which has been holding a bunch of Blago's stuff is moving on too. According to The Chicago Tribune, Boyer-Rosene Moving & Storage is planning to auction off several crates worth of Blagojevich's belongings, because the former governor has fallen a year behind on his payments.

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Rod Blagojevich

Defense Rests In Blagojevich Trial, Calls No Witnesses

Eric Lach | July 21, 2010, 12:37PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

In the end, America's loudest disgraced ex-governor stayed silent. The defense rested its case in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial today, without putting a single witness on the stand.

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Robert Blagojevich

Today's Moment Of Blago: When Gov't And Fundraising 'Bleed Over'

Eric Lach | July 20, 2010, 6:54PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Today featured the prosecution's cross-examination of Rod Blagojevich's brother Robert -- and ended with the ex-governor's lawyers saying their client may not take the stand after all. After all this build up, could Blago sit silently through his trial? What happened?

Blagojevich's lawyers say they don't think the prosecutors have proven their case. But The Chicago Sun-Times suggests keeping Rod off the stand may have something to do with Robert's performance during cross examination. "In just the first 10 minutes of cross-examination Monday, Robert Blagojevich, who had overseen the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund, found himself contradicting his own statements and having to explain a secretly recorded and previously unheard conversation." Today's Moment of Blago comes from Robert, and via the Sun-Times.

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Today's Moment Of Blago

Today's Moment Of Blago: The Sherlock Holmes Defense

Eric Lach | July 19, 2010, 4:31PM

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D)

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's defense in his corruption trial began today. A central part of his lawyers' argument is expected to be that Blago is a naive man who got bad advice. Blagojevich himself has spent months in the media spotlight projecting an image -- deliberately or not -- as a smiling oaf. The defense thinks the jury will buy this story. We think it's ripe for comic moments.

In that spirit, we bring you the first installment of Today's Moment of Blago:

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Trial: The Prosecution Rests, And The Defense Begins Monday

Rachel Slajda | July 16, 2010, 6:00PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's defense in his corruption trial will begin Monday, after the prosecution wrapped up their case this week more than a month ahead of schedule.

Blago's lawyers may have a tough time winning over the jurors, who have heard weeks of the infamous wiretappings ("fucking golden," anyone?) and Blago's delusions of grandeur. According to the Chicago Tribune, Blago's top lawyer told the judge this week that he won't dispute many of the charges; instead, he's trying to prove that Blagojevich "had no criminal intent in the things that he said and the things that he did." He's painting him, as he did in his opening statement, as a naive man who trusted the wrong people. The defense has also argued that Blago got bad legal advice.

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Rod Blagojevich

LISTEN: Blago Says 'I've Got This Thing And It's F*cking Golden' (AUDIO)

Eric Lach | July 1, 2010, 1:56PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Prosecutors in the Rod Blagojevich trial have released some classic audio of a recorded conversation between the former Illinois governor and Doug Scofield, a political advisor and former deputy governor, from the day after Barack Obama won the Presidential election.

In a candid conversation, Blagojevich and Scofield discussed the governor's strategy for filling the vacant Senate seat, and the governor utters the now-infamous phrase: "I've got this thing and it's fucking golden."

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Kwame Kilpatrick

Where Are They Now? TPM's Favorite Scandal Makers Edition

Jillian Rayfield | June 28, 2010, 8:50AM

Fmr. FL Rep. Mark Foley (R), Fmr. NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), Fmr. IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Fmr. DC Lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Disgraced politicians never die, they just fade away. Or get a show on CNN.

TPM has covered many a politician over the years who's been brought down by his own malfeasance, and recently some of them have re-entered the spotlight in one way or another. So where do infamous politicians go after their political careers have been ruined? Well, some go to trial, some go to prison, and apparently some enter the retail industry.

Here's a look at where some of TPM's favorite scandal-makers are now...

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Trial Update: Rahm's 'B.S.' List Of Potential Senate Appointees

Rachel Slajda | June 25, 2010, 6:14PM

Former IL Gov Rod Blagojevich

The corruption trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been chugging along, with the highlight this week being testimony from Blago's former chief of staff about Rahm Emanuel and President Obama's Senate seat.

Blagojevich's former COS, John Harris, testified that Emanuel sent him a list of people Obama would find acceptable to replace him in the Senate, according to news accounts from the Chicago Tribune and Sun. Blago reportedly called the list "B.S."

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Barack Obama

Blago Lawyers Try To Tie Kickbacks To Obama Donation

Jillian Rayfield | June 17, 2010, 5:12PM

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

As the Rod Blagojevich trial wears on, defense attorneys are attempting to tie the shady dealings that took place during the former Illinois governor's tenure to donations made to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

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Rod Blagojevich

First Tapes Heard In Blago Trial

Rachel Slajda | June 11, 2010, 12:06PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

The first tapes made from wiretaps on the phones of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his associates were played yesterday in Blago's corruption trial in Chicago federal court.

The tapes paint the former governor as desperate for campaign funds.

In one tape, Blagojevich can be heard telling his brother, Rob, to hit up everyone he can for donations, hoping to reach a $4 million campaign goal.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago 2008: What Could Have Been

Rachel Slajda | June 10, 2010, 10:13AM

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL)

Oh, what could have been.

During former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial yesterday, his former chief of staff testified that in 2003, Blago's closest advisers had their eyes set on higher office for Blago -- the highest office, in fact -- thinking a presidential run for the gov might be possible in 2008.

The former COS, Lon Monk, said that two members of Blago's inner circle, Tony Rezko and Chris Kelly, wanted to make sure the new governor wasn't worried about his finances.

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Rod Blagojevich

Opening Statements Begin In Blago's Corruption Trial

Rachel Slajda | June 8, 2010, 8:01PM

Former IL Gov Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) corruption trial began today, after a year and a half of the impeached governor and erstwhile Celebrity Apprentice star vowing that the evidence would prove his innocence. In his opening statement this afternoon, Blagojevich's lawyer argued that Blago is a naive politician who trusted the wrong people, calling his client "insecure" and "broke."

Blago's lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., told the jury today that Blago was a victim of men like Tony Rezko and others. He's naive, Adam said, and so insecure that "he shakes constantly" and "his own lawyers won't take his phone calls."

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Rod Blagojevich

Blago Trial Begins (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | June 3, 2010, 3:03PM

Former IL Gov Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich declared "I feel great" and stopped to kiss the cheek of a supporter bearing a "Rod's not cuckoo. Rod's not guilty." sign as he entered federal court in Chicago today for the first day of his corruption trial.

The Blago charges, regular readers will remember, stem from his alleged attempt to sell an appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat in 2008, shaking down a children's hospital, and other alleged schemes to profit from his office. He has pleaded not guilty to 24 counts of bribery, wire fraud, racketeering, and attempted extortion.

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Bertha Lewis

Muckraker Favorites Star On Time's Least Influential List

Zachary Roth | April 30, 2010, 2:55PM

Clockwise from top-left: Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), and former AIG Financial Products chief Joseph Cassano

Much more entertaining than Time's 100 Most Influential People list is its 100 Least Influential -- juvenilely titled the "Bum Hundred."

And that's only partly because it contains a handful of TPMmuckraker favorites. For instance:

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Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich On Senate Seat: 'I've Got The Whole Thing Wrapped Around My Arms'

Zachary Roth | April 15, 2010, 10:02AM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Here's another interesting section of the document filed by federal prosecutors yesterday in the Rod Blagojevich case:

After Barack Obama's election to the presidency, the Illinois governor was considering
how to leverage his power to appoint Obama's replacement. Blagojevich seemed to believe that if he picked Valerie Jarrett -- a close Obama adviser who now serves in the White House -- he could get the White House to name him Secretary of Health and Human Services in exchange, prosecutors allege. And, they say, he talked explicitly about such a "trade."

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Rod Blagojevich

Feds: Blago Tried To Get State Job For Wife, Pooh-Poohed Concerns She Wasn't Qualified

Zachary Roth | April 14, 2010, 6:26PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

We haven't yet found any hidden bombshells in the lengthy document filed today by prosecutors in the Rod Blagojevich case.

But here's one excerpt that offers a pretty vivid picture of the kind of casual corruption and self-dealing that, the Feds allege, seemingly permeated almost every action that the then-governor of Illinois took -- to a level that appears to have put off even his closest advisers.

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Rod Blagojevich

Prosecutors Release Full Case Against Blago

Justin Elliott | April 14, 2010, 3:30PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Following a judge's order in response to media requests, prosecutors in the corruption case of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have released their full case against him.

Read it in full after the jump. See anything good in there? Leave a comment or send us an email.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich Heckled At Ethics In Politics Panel At Northwestern (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | March 3, 2010, 11:57AM

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL)

Rod Blagojevich was the guest of honor at a Northwestern University panel on ethics in politics last night, where he defended his record and actions in front of a not-so-friendly audience.

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Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich Re-Indicted In Response To Review Of Honest Services Law

Justin Elliott | February 4, 2010, 2:46PM

Former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich

With prosecutors aiming to preempt problems that could arise from an expected Supreme Court decision, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was re-indicted today on corruption charges including that he tried to sell his appointment of Barack Obama's successor in the Senate, the AP reports.

The new 24-count indictment does not include new allegations of wrongdoing.

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Jack Abramoff

Supremes Could Weaken Key Anti-Corruption Law That Helped Convict Abramoff, Jefferson, Others

Zachary Roth | December 9, 2009, 12:35PM

Fmr. Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) and fmr. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)

An anti-corruption law that has been central to the convictions of numerous public officials and corporate executives in recent years could be at risk of being struck down or narrowed after it was met with extreme skepticism by the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday.

The honest services law, enacted in 1988, makes it a crime "to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services." Prosecutors frequently use it against politicians or corporate executives believed to have defrauded their constituents or employers. Jack Abramoff, former congressman William Jefferson, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling, and newspaper magnate Conrad Black all have been convicted, at least in part, of honest services fraud in the last few years.

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Rod Blagojevich

Evidence Stolen From Office Of Blago's Lawyer

Zachary Roth | December 4, 2009, 4:40PM

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL)

At least one computer containing undercover recordings from the investigation of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has been stolen from the offices of Blago's lawyer, reports a Chicago news outlet.

The theft reportedly took place last night at the law offices of Sam Adam and his son, Sam Adam Jr. There are said to be no suspects.

It's possible the theft could delay Blago's trial, which is scheduled for June. He has been charged with seeking to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, among other transgressions.

Roland Burris

Senate Ethics Panel Admonishes Burris Over Blago Dealings, Moves On

Justin Elliott | November 20, 2009, 12:01PM

Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)

In a letter of qualified admonishment released today, the Senate ethics panel criticizes Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) for his "inconsistent, incomplete and misleading" testimony surrounding discussions with Gov. Rod Blagoveich's brother and associates before Burris' appointment last year.

The full letter, which the Washington Post observes is the mildest form of rebuke in the panel's quiver, is here.

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Jesse Jackson Jr.

Ethics Committee Probing Jackson Jr., Waters, Graves

Zachary Roth | September 16, 2009, 12:53PM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

The House Ethics committee has revealed that it's conducting separate inquiries into three lawmakers: Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Sam Graves (R-MO).

• In the case of Jackson, the committee said in a statement that it's looking into "whether Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., or an agent of Representative Jackson, may have offered to raise funds for then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in return for the appointment of Representative Jackson to the Illinois Senate seat." In a phone conversation that was recorded by prosecutors, Blago said that a staff person for Jackson offered $1 million in campaign contributions in return for appointing Jackson to the seat.

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Rod Blagojevich

Indicted Blago Fundraiser Dead In Apparent Suicide

Zachary Roth | September 14, 2009, 11:14AM

Christopher Kelly

The former top fundraiser for Rod Blagojevich died over the weekend in an apparent suicide.

Chris Kelly was found Friday night slumped over the wheel of his black Cadillac Escalade in a lumber yard in suburban Country Club Hills outside Chicago. Drugs were found in the vehicle. Kelly died Saturday morning in a Chicago hospital.

Kelly, a high-stakes gambler, faced eight years in prison for hiding income that he used to pay gambling debts, and for participating in an $8.5 million fraud involving roofing work on airline hangars at O'Hare International Airport. He was also facing trial for his role in the alleged pay-for-play corruption connected to Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor.