NYT: Ex-Illinois Governor Is Indicted on Corruption Charges (updated)

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Ex-Illinois Governor Is Indicted on Corruption Charges

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: April 2, 2009

CHICAGO — Rod R. Blagojevich, this state’s ousted governor, was charged on Thursday with 16 felony counts, among them racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and extortion conspiracy in a wide-ranging scheme to deprive residents of “honest government,” prosecutors said, including trying to leverage his authority to pick someone to fill President Obama’s former Senate seat.

Five of his closest advisers, including his brother, Robert, a top fundraiser, and two former chiefs of staff, were also charged in the 19-count indictment.

Prosecutors said Mr. Blagojevich used numerous elements of his state work — including appointing people to state boards, investing state money and signing legislation — as a way to seek money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others.

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The long-anticipated indictment in essence replaced charges made against Mr. Blagojevich when he was arrested last December in what turned out to be the start of the rapid coming apart of his political career. The indictment comes at an awkward time for a city that is desperately trying to shed its reputation for political corruption, and that on Thursday was receiving international officials weighing Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 summer Olympics.

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Updated to add link to the indictment (PDF)