Blagojevich and others indicted

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: In relation to media, when CBS 2 Chicago announced it on TV, their audio was going out. Just great. Typical channel 2. : ************************************** : : Blagojevich, his brother, top aides indicted : April 2, 2009 5:45 PM : : Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his brother, and a former top fundraiser were among six men indicted today on political corruption charges, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago announced. : In addition to Rob Blagojevich, 53, and fundraiser Christopher Kelly, 50, charged were Lon Monk, 50, a lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff; John Harris, 47, also a former chief of staff to Blagojevich; and William Cellini, 74, a Springfield insider for decades. : The sweeping indictment comes four months after Blagojevich was arrested and charged with engaging in pay-to-play politics in a major federal complaint that accused him of trading state jobs, contracts and regulatory favors for campaign contributions. : The criminal complaint charged Blagojevich with attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and seeking the firing of Tribune editorial writers in return for state help on the sale of Wrigley Field. The ballpark and newspaper are owned by Tribune Co. : While those allegations are repeated in today's charges, the 19-count indictment also includes allegations that convicted insider Antoin "Tony" Rezko steered real estate commissions to former first lady Patti Blagojevich despite her performing no work and paid cash to Monk for a car and home improvements. The indictment claims Blagojevich attempted to extort a U.S. congressman for campaign cash by withholding a $2 million state grant to a public school in the congressman's district. : All told, the ex-governor faces 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy and lying to federal agents. The government is seeking forfeiture of $188,370 from Blagojevich and will try to take his Ravenswood Manor home if needed. : "We're saddened but not surprised by the indictment" Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky said. "Gov. Blagojevich is innocent and will fight this in court." : The formal charges also draw Blagojevich's family further into the scandal. While Patti Blagojevich was referred to in the indictment but not charged, the grand jury did indict the ex-governor's brother. : Rob Blagojevich took over as head of the governor's campaign fund last August, just two months before federal authorities won court authorization to wiretap the then-governor's home phone and campaign office. He faces two counts of wire fraud. : "We were hoping it wouldn't happen, but it did," said attorney Michael Ettinger, who represents Rob Blagojevich. "Now my client is looking forward to being vindicated at a trial. My client has said from the beginning that he was not doing anything outside the bounds of normal fundraising." : Ettinger said he was in Florida at Disney World with the former governor and their families. He said Rob Blagojevich was not with them. : This marks the third time Kelly has been charged by federal authorities but the first time for alleged wrongdoing with the former governor. In January the wealthy roofing contractor pleaded guilty to tax fraud for concealing his use of corporate funds to cover gambling debts, but just weeks later, he was charged in connection with a kickback scheme at O'Hare International Airport. Now Kelly faces a racketeering count and three counts related to fraud and extortion charges. : Michael Monico, who represents Kelly, said his client is not guilty of the charges. "Chris Kelly did not engage in pay to play politics," he said. : Authorities have alleged that Harris tried to carry out the governor's plan to have Tribune editorial writers fired for critical editorials of Blagojevich. Harris, who faces one wire fraud count, is cooperating with federal authorities, prosecutors said. : Cellini was indicted last fall on charges he extorted a Hollywood producer to make a Blagojevich campaign donation. Cellini faces three counts with Kelly. : Attorney Dan K. Webb said "there is no justification whatsoever for including Bill Cellini in the indictment against former Gov. Blagojevich. The varied allegations against former Gov. Blagojevich have nothing to do with Bill. : : "It is known that the government obtained evidence that it intends to use against the former governor from wiretaps on his telephones. I emphasize that Mr. Cellini has never spoken on the telephone with former Gov. Blagojevich. Additionally, Mr. Cellini has never had a substantive conversation with former Gov. Blagojevich on any topic. Nor has he ever had a private conversation of any kind with former Gov. Blagojevich. Mr. Cellini has never had any conversation whatsoever with former Gov. Blagojevich on any political topic, including fund raising. : "Mr. Cellini intends to ask the Court for a separate trial," Webb added. : Monk was also heard on the recordings. Monk faces one wire fraud count. : : ---Jeff Coen, Tribune staff

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