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| Washington diary: Chicago tales | Washington diary: Chicago tales |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| By Matt Frei BBC News, Washington | By Matt Frei BBC News, Washington |
| When will the Illinois prison authorities finally grasp the nettle and open a governors' wing in Chicago's premier jail? | When will the Illinois prison authorities finally grasp the nettle and open a governors' wing in Chicago's premier jail? |
| Mr Blagojevich has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing | Mr Blagojevich has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing |
| If convicted, Governor Rod Blagojevich will follow in a long and established line of former governors who have served time in both office and jail. | If convicted, Governor Rod Blagojevich will follow in a long and established line of former governors who have served time in both office and jail. |
| Governor Otto Kerner was governor from 1961 to 1968 and served slightly less than a year in 1973 for bribery and fraud. | Governor Otto Kerner was governor from 1961 to 1968 and served slightly less than a year in 1973 for bribery and fraud. |
| Governor Dan Walker served in office from 1973 to 1977 and in jail for 18 months on charges of bank fraud and perjury. | Governor Dan Walker served in office from 1973 to 1977 and in jail for 18 months on charges of bank fraud and perjury. |
| Governor William Stratton ran Illinois from 1953 to 1961 and was later indicted but acquitted for tax evasion. | Governor William Stratton ran Illinois from 1953 to 1961 and was later indicted but acquitted for tax evasion. |
| Governor George Ryan, who was Governor Blagojevich's immediate predecessor is still IN jail, completing a six-and-a-half-year sentence on, yes you've guessed it, wire fraud and bribery. | Governor George Ryan, who was Governor Blagojevich's immediate predecessor is still IN jail, completing a six-and-a-half-year sentence on, yes you've guessed it, wire fraud and bribery. |
| 'Stranger than fiction' | 'Stranger than fiction' |
| The charges against Rod Blagojevich essentially come in two bundles. | The charges against Rod Blagojevich essentially come in two bundles. |
| There's the stuff you might expect. Mr Blagojevich had been investigated for several years on charges of corruption dealing with bog-standard accusations of extorting campaign contributions in return for state contracts in the so-called "pay to play" scandal. | There's the stuff you might expect. Mr Blagojevich had been investigated for several years on charges of corruption dealing with bog-standard accusations of extorting campaign contributions in return for state contracts in the so-called "pay to play" scandal. |
| Then there are the charges that look as if they might have hailed from the Mugabe masterclass of sleaze. | Then there are the charges that look as if they might have hailed from the Mugabe masterclass of sleaze. |
| It is one of the many quirks of the US political system that governors can be empowered to appoint replacements to vacant Senate seats | It is one of the many quirks of the US political system that governors can be empowered to appoint replacements to vacant Senate seats |
| He is accused of trying to force the venerable Chicago Tribune newspaper into favourable coverage with the threat of hampering the sale of their key real estate asset, Wrigley Field, a Chicago sports stadium. | He is accused of trying to force the venerable Chicago Tribune newspaper into favourable coverage with the threat of hampering the sale of their key real estate asset, Wrigley Field, a Chicago sports stadium. |
| But the most lurid accusation belongs in the "stranger than fiction" category. | But the most lurid accusation belongs in the "stranger than fiction" category. |
| This is that Governor Rod essentially put a "For Sale" sign on the Illinois Senate seat vacated by the victorious Barack Obama. | This is that Governor Rod essentially put a "For Sale" sign on the Illinois Senate seat vacated by the victorious Barack Obama. |
| Mr Blagojevich is taped saying that "you don't just give it away for nothingâ¦" | Mr Blagojevich is taped saying that "you don't just give it away for nothingâ¦" |
| The "something" that the governor was allegedly mulling ranged from an ambassadorship, to a cabinet post, to money for his campaign, to a directorship for his wife or perhaps to all of the above. | The "something" that the governor was allegedly mulling ranged from an ambassadorship, to a cabinet post, to money for his campaign, to a directorship for his wife or perhaps to all of the above. |
| Did he really think that he could get any of these from an incoming administration that requires applicants for jobs to fill out a rigorous 63-point questionnaire, including questions about all improper e-mails ever sent? | Did he really think that he could get any of these from an incoming administration that requires applicants for jobs to fill out a rigorous 63-point questionnaire, including questions about all improper e-mails ever sent? |
| If the ambassadorships and cabinet posts weren't forthcoming Rod Blagojevich was even, it is alleged, prepared to appoint HIMSELF to the seat in the august US Senate. | If the ambassadorships and cabinet posts weren't forthcoming Rod Blagojevich was even, it is alleged, prepared to appoint HIMSELF to the seat in the august US Senate. |
| All this at a time when every vote of this exclusive club will be crucial for re-landscaping America's stricken economy. | All this at a time when every vote of this exclusive club will be crucial for re-landscaping America's stricken economy. |
| It is one of the many quirks of the US political system that state legislatures can empower governors to appoint temporary replacements to vacant Senate seats. | It is one of the many quirks of the US political system that state legislatures can empower governors to appoint temporary replacements to vacant Senate seats. |
| Dawn arrest | Dawn arrest |
| There are many astonishing details about this story. | There are many astonishing details about this story. |
| Abraham Lincoln's name has been reverberating recently | Abraham Lincoln's name has been reverberating recently |
| One is the form of the arrest. Usually white-collar crime at this level leads to velvet incarceration negotiated by lawyers, carried out with some sensitive stage managing where justice and dignity are allowed to go hand in hand. | One is the form of the arrest. Usually white-collar crime at this level leads to velvet incarceration negotiated by lawyers, carried out with some sensitive stage managing where justice and dignity are allowed to go hand in hand. |
| Not so this week in Chicago. Mr Blagojevich was arrested at 6am, while the Windy City was still bathed in frozen darkness. | Not so this week in Chicago. Mr Blagojevich was arrested at 6am, while the Windy City was still bathed in frozen darkness. |
| Patrick Fitzgerald, the chief prosecutor who rose to fame a few years ago when he took on Vice President Dick Cheney and his former chief of staff Scooter Libby, was concerned that the governor might do something rash, like appoint a new senator. | Patrick Fitzgerald, the chief prosecutor who rose to fame a few years ago when he took on Vice President Dick Cheney and his former chief of staff Scooter Libby, was concerned that the governor might do something rash, like appoint a new senator. |
| So he had him hauled behind bars before dawn like a Mafioso. | So he had him hauled behind bars before dawn like a Mafioso. |
| What is it about Chicago and crime? The city has produced both Al Capone and Eliot Ness and his Untouchables. | What is it about Chicago and crime? The city has produced both Al Capone and Eliot Ness and his Untouchables. |
| Whiffing that something was afoot, Governor Blagojevich had earlier mocked reports of a "sneaky wiretap". | Whiffing that something was afoot, Governor Blagojevich had earlier mocked reports of a "sneaky wiretap". |
| It smacked of Nixon and Watergate, he snapped, flicking his boyish mane of hair and wearing his trademark black leather coat, adding that he himself had nothing to hide. | It smacked of Nixon and Watergate, he snapped, flicking his boyish mane of hair and wearing his trademark black leather coat, adding that he himself had nothing to hide. |
| Another detail of this unfolding story is the use of the word "bleep". | Another detail of this unfolding story is the use of the word "bleep". |
| When describing the wording of the wiretap, the patrician Mr Fitzgerald, who has the earnestness of a high school geography teacher, said that Rod Blagojevich called the Obama Senate seat "bleeping valuable." | When describing the wording of the wiretap, the patrician Mr Fitzgerald, who has the earnestness of a high school geography teacher, said that Rod Blagojevich called the Obama Senate seat "bleeping valuable." |
| Bleeps peppered the state prosecutor's indictment who found it necessary to explain that "bleep" meant something different in this context. | Bleeps peppered the state prosecutor's indictment who found it necessary to explain that "bleep" meant something different in this context. |
| Rod Blagojevich, who started his professional life washing dishes and shining shoes, has always prided himself on his vernacular. | Rod Blagojevich, who started his professional life washing dishes and shining shoes, has always prided himself on his vernacular. |
| Unwelcome distraction | Unwelcome distraction |
| Finally it's been a busy few years, posthumously, that is, for Abraham Lincoln. | Finally it's been a busy few years, posthumously, that is, for Abraham Lincoln. |
| Mr Obama said he was "saddened" by news of the allegations | Mr Obama said he was "saddened" by news of the allegations |
| Barack Obama evoked the spirit of Honest Abe when he announced his candidacy for the White House in Springfield, the state capital of Illinois in 2007. | Barack Obama evoked the spirit of Honest Abe when he announced his candidacy for the White House in Springfield, the state capital of Illinois in 2007. |
| In recent months we have been force-fed comparisons between two politicians who cut their milk teeth in Illinois politics. | In recent months we have been force-fed comparisons between two politicians who cut their milk teeth in Illinois politics. |
| Abraham Lincoln went on to transform America and earn his place on Mount Rushmore. Could Barack Obama do the same? | Abraham Lincoln went on to transform America and earn his place on Mount Rushmore. Could Barack Obama do the same? |
| The emerging Obama cabinet has been compared to Lincoln's team of rivals. And now Abe has been mentioned again. This time in less salubrious company. | The emerging Obama cabinet has been compared to Lincoln's team of rivals. And now Abe has been mentioned again. This time in less salubrious company. |
| The charges against Governor Blagojevich would make Abraham Lincoln "roll over in his grave", Mr Fitzgerald told reporters. | The charges against Governor Blagojevich would make Abraham Lincoln "roll over in his grave", Mr Fitzgerald told reporters. |
| The latest scandal has become an unwelcome distraction for the man whose US Senate seat the governor is said to have tried to sell to the highest bidder. | The latest scandal has become an unwelcome distraction for the man whose US Senate seat the governor is said to have tried to sell to the highest bidder. |
| President-elect Obama has said that he had had no contact with Mr Blagojevich's office and that it was a sad day for Illinois. | President-elect Obama has said that he had had no contact with Mr Blagojevich's office and that it was a sad day for Illinois. |
| Indeed. | Indeed. |
| At least no one can fault Rod's apparent uncanny reading of the polls. He allegedly started thinking about selling Obama's Senate seat a day before the election. | At least no one can fault Rod's apparent uncanny reading of the polls. He allegedly started thinking about selling Obama's Senate seat a day before the election. |
| Matt Frei is the presenter of BBC World News Americawhich airs every weekday on BBC News, BBC World News and BBC America (for viewers outside the UK only). | |
| Send us your comments in reaction to Matt Frei's Washington diary using the link below: | |
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