Prosecutors said they had numerous recorded conversations of Blagojevich discussing the merits of potential candidates, including their abilities to benefit the people of Illinois as well as the financial and political benefits he and his wife could receive.
Despite his arrest, Blagojevich continues to have the authority to name Obama's successor, and some state lawmakers discussed looking for ways to wrest it from him.
Prosecutors alleged that Blagojevich wanted an appointment as secretary of health and human services or as an ambassador in the new Obama administration or to be placed in a lucrative union-affiliated job in exchange for naming Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and adviser to the president-elect, to the Senate seat. Jarrett eventually took herself out of the running, and Fitzgerald said yesterday that "we make no allegation" that Obama was aware of Blagojevich's attempt to leverage the appointment.
Fitzgerald quoted a Blagojevich conversation in which the governor said the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing, and it's bleeping golden."
Obama spoke briefly about the arrest yesterday in Chicago.
"Obviously, like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," Obama said. "But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."
Later, he told reporters, "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening. And as I said, it's a sad day for Illinois."
Blagojevich and Harris also allegedly conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs' baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co., which also owns The Baltimore Sun.
