The indictment of another governor
Go ahead, former Mr. Governor. Tell us to tape you now.
Far from the late-night laugh line of recent months, Thursday's sweeping federal indictment sends a somber message across this prairie state fed up with political corruption.
Federal prosecutors unveiled the long-expected, wide-ranging indictment of Rod Blagojevich and five others, including his brother Robert, charging Rod Blagojevich with 19 criminal counts of racketeering conspiracy, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion, wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents. Prosecutors say the charges go beyond trying to sell President Barack Obama's former senate seat and the pay-to-play politics they've previously outlined. The 75-page indictment outlines alleged corruption involving billions of dollars in state pension bonds, the exchange of state jobs and contracts for campaign donations and more.
Also charged are lobbyist Lon Monk, Republican insider Bill Cellini, former chief of staff John Harris, former top fundraiser Chris Kelly and Robert Blagojevich, who was in charge of the former governor's campaign fund.
"Gov. Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in December, in announcing the original charges against the then-sitting governor. That was saying something given another former governor already sits in a prison cell.
Blagojevich was arrested shortly after he was taped allegedly trying to sell the senate seat to the highest bidder. Before his arrest, Blagojevich challenged anyone to tape him anytime saying he was "always lawful."
Since initially accused, arrested by FBI agents, impeached and ousted from office, Blagojevich has defiantly vowed to clear his name on wide-ranging media appearances that almost seemed aimed at starting a new career as a talk-show host. But, interestingly enough, he was unseen and silent Thursday.
Like all of us, he deserves his day in court and is innocent unless proven guilty. And we're eager to see what he has to say before a judge and jury. But, frankly, we're not at all eager to see another round of morning or late-night talk show appearances.
The allegations are mind-boggling and, if true, a pervasive and chilling account of corruption clutching our state in a way that is simply unacceptable. Or if once acceptable by a weary electorate, certainly no longer.
You'll notice we haven't mentioned the former governor's political party. It doesn't matter. Corruption has been a shared bipartisan policy for far too long. It's past time for a bipartisan vow to make it different.
Earlier this week, we backed proposed reforms called for by the Illinois Reform Commission to stop just such potential corruption. We again urge you to contact your local state lawmakers to urge they support the effort.
And we think we all owe a giant thank you to these federal prosecutors who have worked tirelessly to wade through an incredibly complicated maze. They're turning us from a late-night laugh line into a state that takes corruption seriously. That's something we'd gladly say on tape.