Columnist James Ingram. under investigation
It appears that former Illinois Governor Rod “I didn’t do it” Blagojevich may soon be headed to federal prison.
Can you believe it? After Blago’s national media blitz and a brief stint as a radio talk show host, a federal grand jury had the audacity to deliver a 19-count indictment against Blagojevich and a circle of his closest former aides and advisors. I guess they didn’t watch him on David Letterman or Larry King.
The feds even had the gall to indict Blagojevich while he was away on a family vacation to Disney World. Maybe he was seeking some free legal advice from Goofy, Mickey and Pluto.
Among the allegations in the 75-page indictment: racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.
Blagojevich, his brother Robert Blagojevich, Springfield millionaire William Cellini and Christopher Kelly (former Blago chief fundraiser) were all arraigned last week.
Two of Blagojevich’s former staffers (including former chief of staff John Harris) were arraigned separately because they have agreed to cooperate with the feds. Looks like they are going to snitch on their buddy Rod.
The charges against Blago and the gang are a part of “Operation Board Games,” an ongoing federal public corruption investigation of pay-to-play schemes (insider dealing, influence-peddling and kickbacks) involving private interests and public duties.
According to the indictment, Blagojevich and his aides allegedly discussed a scheme to essentially auction off President Obama’s former Senate seat or exchange it for a Cabinet post in the Obama administration, major fundraising assistance or a high-paying job for Blago and his wife.
The indictment goes on to accuse Blagojevich and his confidantes of conspiring to receive an obscene amount of money in kickbacks in exchange for the refinancing of billions in State pension funds.
Ultimately, the alleged plan was to accumulate these kickbacks through shaking down contractors, hospital owners and those seeking to do business with the State, only to later split the profits once Blagojevich left the office of governor.
If convicted on any of the charges, Blagojevich could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. I wonder how much hair spray Blago would need for a 20-year stint?
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being subjected to a preliminary congressional ethics investigation regarding whether he engaged in improper attempts to obtain Obama’s vacant Senate seat from Blagojevich.
Jackson says he is cooperating fully and has “done nothing wrong.” Recall, in the initial criminal complaint against Blagojevich, Jackson was discussed as someone on Blago’s short list of possible replacements for Obama.
I’m sure Illinois residents, including yours truly, will be glad when the final chapter of this Blago saga is written.
Until that time, I suspect there will be a lot more jokes for late night comedians to tell and editorial cartoons to be drawn (at Blago’s expense) before we can forget we ever made the mistake of electing this bum in the first place.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.