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Unfavorable political news

14 Dec 2008 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Sunday's first reading speaks of a "year of favor from the Lord." But in Illinois political history it's been more like an era of favors. Governor Rod Blagojevich, arrested Tuesday on charges of corruption, is only the latest in a long line of corrupt politicians. "Government in Illinois isn't about political ideology or helping people," said Christopher Mooney, who teaches political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield. "It's about which idiot brother-in-law are you going to get a job on a road crew because he helped you get into office." Blagojevich, a Democrat, was charged yesterday with trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat, according to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors. Three previous Illinois governors have been jailed: Otto Kerner, governor from 1961 to 1968; Dan Walker, who held the job from 1973 to 1977; and George Ryan, who served from 1999 to 2003. Two other 20th-century Illinois governors were tried for crimes but not convicted: Len Small, in office from 1921 to 1929 and indicted while governor for embezzlement and money-laundering when he was state treasurer, was acquitted. William Stratton, governor from 1953 to 1961, was acquitted of tax evasion charges in 1965. In 2006 a Chicago federal court jury found Robert Sorich, who led Mayor Richard M. Daley's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and three other men guilty of illegal hiring. State politicians being carted off to jail reflects a local indifference to wrongdoing that needs to be changed, said Dick Simpson, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a former city alderman. "We have a culture of machine politics and it lends itself to corruption," said Simpson. "We are the capital of corruption in the U.S." "This is a sad day for government and it's a very sad day for Illinois government," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the charges against Blagojevich. "Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a new low." Source: Articles by Tony C. Dreibus for the Chicago Tribune and Joe Carroll for Bloomberg News

rod blagojevich corruption illinois christopher mooney barack obama dick simpson patrick fitzgerald

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Jury finds ex-governor’s behavior unpardonable

03 Jul 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The Lord is “faithful in all his words and holy in all his works,” the psalmist affirms this Sunday. A federal jury came to a much different conclusion about former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Monday. Blagojevich was found guilty of trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat for personal gain, one of 17 convictions on counts ranging from bribery to wire fraud to attempted extortion. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald calls Blagojevich's conviction a "bittersweet moment." The top federal prosecutor in Chicago says it is sad to again be dealing with a verdict against a former Illinois governor--only five years after ex-Gov. George Ryan was convicted on corruption charges. Jurors who convicted Blagojevich on the charges said they did not buy his argument that his scheming was only talk. Jurors said the charges that were most clear-cut had wire-tapped phone calls as evidence. Prosecutors presented three weeks of evidence, playing tapes and presenting witnesses to show that Blagojevich was holding up legislation until the potential beneficiaries of that legislation gave campaign contributions. Testimony depicted a governor who all but left the state to run itself. Lawmakers quickly concluded they couldn't trust him to spend money fairly and refused to work with him--a political breakdown that carried lasting consequences in a state now facing a massive debt. If Blagojevich was in his office--which was rare--he seemed unwilling to do his job. Aides said he was known to hide in the bathroom to avoid discussing complex issues. They talked about tracking the governor down at his tailor or even a bowling alley to force him to sign legislation. He showed up late for meetings and public events and explained he had been busy jogging or playing video games with his children. The lack of cooperation that developed with lawmakers delayed many proposals, including major public works projects that would have created jobs. "His approach tarnished everything he touched," said Debbie Halvorson, a former Democratic state legislator and member of Congress. Sources: Articles by Rob Wildeboer and Sam Hudzik for wbez.org (Chicago)and Christopher Wills and Don Babwin for the Associated Press

rod blagojevich corruption illinois patrick fitzgerald debbie halvorson

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Former Illinois governor Blagojevich heading to prison

11 Dec 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s gospel describes the ministry of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus with a call for repentance and reform. Impeached and convicted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who promised government reform after his election, will now have to prepare for federal prison. He stood before a federal judge at a sentencing hearing Wednesday and repented his "terrible mistakes," but it wasn’t enough to soften the stiff 14-year prison sentence he received. "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," U.S. District Judge James Zagel told Blagojevich. "The harm is the erosion of public trust in government." U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said that the sentence "sends a strong message that the public has had enough and judges have had enough. This needs to stop." Fitzgerald said the sentence is the longest ever imposed on an Illinois governor. The prospect of a "significant penalty" should deter other politicians who think they can get away with corruption, he said. Blagojevich was convicted on 18 felony charges stemming from his efforts to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, conducting shakedowns for campaign contributions, and lying to federal agents. His schemes were captured in hours of conversations taped by investigators. The prophet Isaiah was sent to “heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.” Under federal sentencing rules, however, Blagojevich will have to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence, or about 12 years. Steven Miller, a former special prosecutions chief in the U.S. attorney's office, says the severity of the sentence was no surprise. Blagojevich took government corruption "to a whole new level," he says. "He was literally selling state government." Miller says Zagel possibly shaved some time off the sentence after Blagojevich took responsibility for his crimes. Judges must determine whether a defendant has accepted responsibility, said Miller, but if one "gets religion at the last moment," leniency is less likely. Source: An article by Judy Keen for USA Today

rod blagojevich corruption illinois patrick fitzgerald james zagel

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