Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Arrested by FBI

Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (51) Democrat was on TV the other day standing with workers shut out of a plant in Chicago after the Bank of America cut off the business’ line of credit, because it had been failing for a long time and the bank couldn’t support it anymore. The workers demanded that Bank of America pay the workers since the business couldn’t. Governor Blagojevich announced that he ordered all state agencies to stop doing business with Bank of America until they paid the workers, and President-Elect Barack Obama also voiced support for the workers.

Today Governor Blagojevich, and his chief of staff John Harris, were arrested by the FBI after years of being investigated for federal crimes. Blagojevich is accused of attempting to sell the vacated Senate seat left by Obama to the highest bidder, and the highest bid according to reports was $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who is prosecuting the case, said:

"The level of corruption involving pay-to-play politics in Illinois’ top office is staggering. Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low, and went on a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree."

Fitzgerald also accused Blagojevich of attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama vacated.

Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."

What about buying the Presidency of the United States?

The alleged shakedown activity Blagojevich allegedly engaged contributed to the bankruptcy of the Chicago Tribune, and in the last few days directly affected the Bank of America after Blagojevich ordered state agencies to stop doing business with them.

As alleged criminals such as Blagojevich are being caught and prosecuted, it seems only a matter of time before another Chicago politician will be implicated, either after he takes over as President of the United States, or after he leaves that office.

Below is part of a wire tap transcript used as evidence to bring charges against Blagojevich. One of Blagojevich’s insiders wore a wire to record incriminating statements by Blagojevich.

Click the link below to watch some clips from old Chicago gangster movies.

Scarface, 1932