political scandal

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Blago Wanted to Quit, Says Father-in-Law

Chicago power broker says daughter's hubby hoped to avoid ouster

(Newser) - Illinois' newest ex-governor wanted to jump before he was pushed, Rod Blagojevich's estranged father-in-law tells the Chicago Sun-Times. Richard Mell, a powerful Chicago alderman credited with launching Blago's career, says his son-in-law, despite his denials, wanted to avoid being ousted "but he didn't reach out to anybody" in state...

Prosecutor: Blago Has No 'Right to Be Governor'

Rebuttal of governor's speech comes as impeachment trial nears conclusion

(Newser) - The Illinois House prosecutor gave a forceful rebuttal today to Rod Blagojevich’s closing speech, in the last act of the governor’s impeachment trial before the state Senate deliberates on his fate, the Chicago Tribune reports. “He doesn’t have a constitutional right to be governor,” David...

Blago to Senate: Tapes Show No Criminal Behavior

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich gave a passionate defense of himself at his Illinois Senate impeachment trial today, saying he had done “absolutely nothing wrong,” and reiterating his grievances—that he wasn’t allowed to bring witnesses, and that there is no real evidence against him, save for the infamous wiretap...

Blago's a Clown, and That's Not Funny
 Blago's a Clown, 
 and That's Not Funny 
OPINION

Blago's a Clown, and That's Not Funny

Blagojevich is not some kind of clown here to amuse you

(Newser) - These days, everyone seems to find Rod Blagojevich hilarious. Everyone, that is, except the state of Illinois, writes David Broder of the Washington Post. When Blagojevich went on TV instead of testifying at his impeachment hearing, there wasn’t a hint of outrage. The media “treated Blagojevich as if...

Hartford Mayor Arrested on Bribery Charges

Eddie Perez traded $40K in home work for access to city contracts: prosecutors

(Newser) - Hartford's mayor turned himself in today on charges of having a city contractor do $40,000 in work at his home and paying for it only after being confronted by investigators. Eddie Perez, a native of Puerto Rico and the first Hispanic mayor in the city's history, admitted "a...

FBI Agent Details Blago's Misdeeds in Trial's 2nd Day

Guv says he hasn't ruled out suing Senate

(Newser) - Prosecutors walked FBI agent Daniel Cain through the affidavit detailing wiretapped conversations of Rod Blagojevich in the second day of the Illinois Senate’s impeachment trial against the governor, the Chicago Tribune reports. Cain confirmed comments attributed to Blagojevich taken from wiretapped conversations, including the governor’s attempt to sell...

Comedian? Poet? Vampire? Anything but Governor

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich probably didn’t help his case with his whirlwind media tour yesterday, “but he just might establish himself as an unofficial poet laureate of the criminal justice system,” Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post. Blago quoted Tennyson and Kipling all day, proclaimed his innocence, compared...

Day 1 of Blago Trial Wraps Up
 Day 1 of 
 Blago Trial 
 Wraps Up 
UPDATED

Day 1 of Blago Trial Wraps Up

(Newser) - The first day of Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate has ended after testimony from only one witness, the Chicago Tribune reports. Former federal prosecutor John Scully described how agents built a criminal case against the governor, approving wiretaps and bugs after a rigorous vetting process. “...

Oprah: 'I Could Be Senator, I'm Just Not Interested'

Winfrey 'amused' that Blago considered her

(Newser) - Oprah was “amused” by the news that Rod Blagojevich had considered naming her to Obama’s Senate seat—but would not have been interested, ABC News reports. “Absolutely not,” Winfrey said in an interview this morning, citing the demands of managing her media empire. “I think...

Illinois Senate Convenes Blago Impeachment Trial

(Newser) - The Illinois Senate has convened a historic impeachment trial that will determine whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich is removed from office, the AP reports. Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald began the trial today by reminding senators that they face "a solemn and serious business." They will consider charges that the...

Portland Mayor Will Stick With Job Despite Intern Affair

'I can still contribute,' says Adams

(Newser) - Portland Mayor Sam Adams has decided not to step down, pending state criminal investigations, after admitting he lied about an affair with a teenage legislative intern. "I know I've screwed up and let people down," the city's first openly gay mayor told the Oregonian. "But I still...

Ahead of Trial, Blago Paints Himself as Victim

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich addressed his public again today, warning the citizens of Illinois that if he goes down they are all in danger, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blago likened his Senate impeachment trial, which he will boycott when it starts Monday, to a “hanging” and “a gross violation of...

Blagojevich: Arrest Was My Family's Pearl Harbor

Impeached governor plans to fight to the end, but won't appear at Senate trial

(Newser) - Say this for Rod Blagojevich: He doesn’t embarrass easily. In an interview yesterday with the AP, he compared his arrest to Pearl Harbor: “Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely...

Feds Raid Contractors With Ties to Murtha

Veteran Dem has steered $100M to probed company

(Newser) - Federal agents yesterday raided the offices and homes of two Pennsylvania defense contractors with strong ties to powerful Congressman John Murtha, Politico reports. The lawmaker has steered more than $100 million in federal contracts to the companies, and their employees have given more than $65,000 in contributions to Murtha....

Impeachment Is 'Sham': Blago

Illinois governor says his attorneys are being denied due process

(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is being denied due process and accused the Illinois legislature of trying to “thwart the will of the people” by impeaching him, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich added that he wants to call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to testify on...

Portland Mayor Cops to Sex With Male Teen Intern

Oregon AG will investigate possible lies, sex-with-minor angle

(Newser) - Oregon’s attorney general today announced the launch of an investigation into the conduct of Portland’s mayor, who Monday copped to having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old male intern. As more details emerge, the Oregonian also reports that a Portland Mercury writer who confronted Sam Adams last year...

How Blago Celebrated Inauguration
How Blago Celebrated Inauguration

How Blago Celebrated Inauguration

Ill. guv played hooky from impeachment, got fingerprinted

(Newser) - Yesterday was special for a certain Illinois politician—and not just the one you’re thinking of. While Barack Obama was being sworn in, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was getting his fingerprints taken, reports the Chicago Tribune. Blagojevich also failed to enter a plea in his state Senate impeachment trial; he’...

Outgoing Chicago Dem Is Lone Nay in Blago Vote

Milton Patterson won't say much beyond having 'gut feeling' about proceedings

(Newser) - The one nay vote in today’s Illinois House impeachment of Rod Blagojevich was from Chicago Democrat Milton Patterson, the Chicago Tribune reports. Patterson said he wasn’t defending the disgraced governor. “I went by my own gut feeling,” he said. The lone “present” vote belonged to...

Ill. House Votes to Impeach Blago

114-1 vote marks first for state

(Newser) - The Illinois House wasted little time today in voting to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, with just one representative in the 115-member chamber voting against the measure. It’s the first time in Illinois history the governor has been impeached. A Blagojevich spokesman says the governor won’t resign, which means...

Obama Serves Reid Humble Pie, Chicago Style
Obama Serves Reid Humble Pie, Chicago Style
OPINION

Obama Serves Reid Humble Pie, Chicago Style

President-elect's reversal on Burris straight from rough-and-tumble Windy City roots

(Newser) - Barack Obama served Harry Reid up a Chicago-style, deep-dish slice of humble pie this week, telling the Senate majority leader to seat Roland “Tombstone” Burris, John Kass writes in the Chicago Tribune. Reid, for his part, “scarfed it down in front of reporters, without a fork, all but...

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