Blago Charges Go Beyond Obama Seat

In addition to bartering over President-elect Obama’s vacant Senate seat, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought campaign contributions in return for government action, and attempted to influence the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times reports. The FBI released transcripts of incriminating conversations today. “The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.

Blagojevich’s alleged illegal fundraising appears to have been fast-tracked to avoid stricter ethics laws going into effect Jan. 1. He also tried to get editors at the Tribune fired in exchange for approval of the Tribune Company’s sale of Wrigley Field. “The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” Fitzgerald said. (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)