FBI: Illinois Governor Sought To "Sell" Obama's Senate Seat
Wanted President-Elect to "Put Something Together . . . Something Big"
By BRIAN ROSS
December 9, 2008
LINK

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wanted President-elect Barack Obama "to put something together & something big" in exchange for going along with Obama's choice to fill his vacant U.S. Senate seat, according to a FBI affidavit unsealed following the governor's stunning arrest.

"I've got this thing and it's f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for f***in' nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there," Blagojevich said in a phone call secretly recorded by the FBI on Nov. 5, the day after the election, according to the affidavit.

Click here to read the full affidavit.

"It is conduct that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the charges today in Chicago. He said the governor's efforts to "sell" the Senate seat was the "most sinister and appalling" of a range of alleged corrupt acts detailed in today's case.

Fitzgerald said "there's no reference in the complaint to any conversations involving the president-elect or indicating that the president-elect was aware of it, and that's all I can say." His comment did not close the door on the possibility that Obama or someone on his staff may have known of some aspect of the governor's demands.

Obama addressed the scandal over his Senate seat Tuesday afternoon, saying, "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening." But Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod told a Chicago affiliate of Fox News that Obama had in fact spoken to Blagojevich about his empty Senate seat.

"I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them," Axelrod said in the Nov. 23 interview.

The controversy continued Tuesday evening, when Axelrod issued a statement retracting his statement. "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject," said Axelrod.

The president-elect, who was speaking to reporters following a meeting with Al Gore about green energy and climate change, also said, "Obviously, like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by news that came out of the U.S. Attorney's office today, but as this is an ongoing investigation into the governor, I don't think it'd be appropriate for me to comment at this time."

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. said he met with Blagojevich yesterday "for the first time in years" and voiced his desire to fill Obama's empty Senate seat. He said he was "shocked" by Blagojevich's arrest, adding "If these allegations are proved true, I am outraged by the appalling, pay-to-play schemes hatched at the highest levels of our state government."

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called on the Illinois State Senate to set a special election to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat, claiming that "No appointment by this governor under these circumstances could produce a credible replacement." As the Governor of Illinois, Blagojevich retains power to fill Obama's seat, however sources say that isn't likely.

ABC News' George Stephanopoulous reports that Illinois state legislators will meet next week to pass a bill for a special election in February. Beyond a special election, the Illinois Secretary of State has the power to certify Blagojevich's pick, and the U.S. Senate can choose not to seat whoever he might appoint.

Candidate 1 May Be Valerie Jarrett
There are strong indications that Candidate 1 may be Valerie Jarrett, Obama's close confidante who has since been named a special presidential adviser. Senate Candidate 1 is identified in the federal documents as an adviser to the president-elect.

Durbin in his news conference said Blagojevich was considering Jarrett until she withdrew her name from consideration. "The governor asked me if I thought she [Jarrett] was serious about not being appointed and I said 'Yes, she told me point blank that she was,'" Durbin said.

The federal complaint also states that Candidate 1 eventually withdrew from consideration.

In addition, Durbin declined to speculate whether Senate Candidate 5 could be in peril.

Blagojevich Wanted Obama Cabinet Appointment, Well-Paying Job, or Campaign Money, FBI Says
The FBI says Blagojevich wanted an appointment to the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a well-paying job, or huge campaign contributions as the price for naming Obama's successor.

Blagojevich was overheard by the FBI saying "I want to make money," complaining he was "financially hurting."

Blagojevich also sought a high paying job for his wife, according to the FBI. "Is there a play here, with these guys, with her" to work for a firm in Washington or New York, he reportedly asked.

The FBI affidavit said Blagojevich had been told by an adviser "the president-elect can get Rod Blagojevich's wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect's pick to the Senate."

Told by two other advisers he has to "suck it up" for two years, the FBI says it heard Blagojevich complain he has to give this "motherf***er (the president-elect) his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him."

The governor is heard saying he will pick another candidate "before I just give f***ing (Senate Candidate l) a f***ing Senate seat and I don't get anything."

Candidates for Obama's Senate Seat
According to the affidavit, one candidate for the senate seat, identified as Senate Candidate 5, promised to "raise money" for Blagojevich. The governor described, in a recorded call, an earlier approach by an associate of Senate Candidate 5.

"We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator," Blagojevich was quoted as saying.

The affidavit said Blagojevich was interested in a high-paying position with an organization affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), called Change to Win, and that he suggested in a conversation with a SEIU official on Nov. 12, 2008 that Obama wanted other people to be considered for the Senate seat besides Senate Candidate 1. Previous phone conversations indicated that Blagojevich knew the SEIU official "was an emissary to discuss Senate Candidate 1's interest in the Senate seat," the affidavit said.

"HARRIS suggested that SEIU Official make ROD BLAGOJEVICH the head of Change to Win and, in exchange, the President-elect could help Change to Win with its legislative agenda on a national level," noted the affidavit.

SEIU has denied any involvement, saying in a statement, "We have no reason to believe that SEIU or any SEIU official was involved in any wrongdoing."

Change to Win released a statement saying the organization never "considered, discussed or promised" any position to Blagojevich or his staff, and that the group only learned of conversations between the governor and his advisers discussing such a position upon the release of the affidavit today.

Affidavit Says Blagojevich Knew He Was Under FBI Investigation
The FBI affidavit says Blagojevich thought he might get something "tangible up front" from Senate Candidate 5.

Aware that he was under FBI investigation, Blagojevich apparently considered appointing himself to Obama's Senate seat, the affidavit says. He is quoted as saying "he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting senator as opposed to a sitting governor."

He was arrested this morning on a two count criminal complaint.

Blagojevich Appears in Federal Court, Must Surrender Passport
Blagojevich and Harris appeared briefly in federal court in Chicago this afternoon. Bond was set at $4,500 for both of them, and Blagojevich was ordered to turn in his passport and gun card. Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom.

"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," said the head of the FBI's Chicago office, Robert Grant, about the state of Illinois.

He said veteran FBI agents were "disgusted, sick" as they listened to the intercepted conversations of the Illinois governor.

The governor was taken into custody in handcuffs from his home by two FBI agents just after six this morning, according to Grant.

Grant said he had first called the governor to tell him there was a warrant for his arrest.

"Is this a joke?" the governor responded, according to Grant.

Blagojevich has previously been linked to former political fundraiser Tony Rezko, who was convicted in June of charges stemming from him using his influence with the governor's office in a multi-million dollar kickback scheme. Blagojevich's relationship with Rezko, who is in jail while he waits sentencing on Jan. 6, was a consistent theme of Rezko's trial.

Complaint lists host of unidentified characters
AP LINK
Posted: 2008-12-12 21:28:35

The criminal complaint alleging schemes by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to trade a U.S. Senate seat and other favors for personal gain alludes to a host of unidentified characters, none of whom is charged with any wrongdoing. Some examples:

Senate Candidate 1: The complaint refers to an adviser to President-elect Barack Obama whom Blagojevich thought was Obama's choice to replace him in the U.S. Senate. That description is consistent with senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. Blagojevich talked about getting a Cabinet position or ambassadorship in exchange for naming this person to the post. Jarrett took herself out of the running in mid-November, one day after the complaint says Blagojevich told Chief of Staff John Harris in a phone conversation that he knew Obama wanted Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation."

Senate Candidate 2: The complaint says Blagojevich told a spokesman on Nov. 6 to leak to a Chicago newspaper columnist that Candidate 2 is among those in the running for the Senate seat. Blagojevich said he wanted to "send a message" to Obama's team. The governor and the spokesman also discussed specific arguments for Candidate 2 to be used in the newspaper. Neither the columnist nor the possible candidate were named in the court papers. But on Nov. 7, a Chicago Sun-Times column suggested that Blagojevich could give the seat to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The complaint said that column included "the specific language and arguments" discussed by Blagojevich and his spokesman.

Senate Candidate 4: According to the complaint, Blagojevich said he would put Candidate 4 in Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat instead of Candidate 1, if the governor did not get something in return. The complaint identified Senate Candidate 4 only as a "deputy governor." A person familiar with the complaint revealed that Deputy Governor Louanner Peters was Candidate 4.

Senate Candidate 5: The federal complaint says that in a wiretapped conversation on Oct. 31, Blagojevich described an approach "by an associate of Senate Candidate 5." The governor was quoted as saying that an associate of Candidate 5 approached him "pay to play" proposition, a term for a payment in exchange for a political favor. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., has been identified as Senate Candidate 5. Jackson denies initiating or authorizing anyone to promise anything Blagojevich on his behalf.

Fundraiser A: Identified in the document as chairman of Friends of Blagojevich, who, according to campaign finance records, is Rob Blagojevich, the governor's brother. A cooperating witness said the campaign was seeking to raise $2.5 million by the end of the year, when a tougher campaign fundraising law takes effect.

Deputy Governor A: The complaint against Blagojevich identifies Deputy Governor A as someone deeply involved in an alleged scheme to strong-arm the Chicago Tribune to fire critical editorial writers on the orders of the governor and his wife. The AP learned that Bob Greenlee, who resigned Dec. 10, was Deputy Governor A.

Governor General Counsel: The complaint says that on Nov. 10, Blagojevich, his wife and his chief of staff John Harris - who also is charged in the complaint and resigned Dec. 12 - and Governor General Counsel discussed Obama's Senate seat with several Washington-based advisers. William R. Quinlan is the governor's General Counsel.

Hospital Executive 1: According to a cooperating witness cited in the complaint, Blagojevich told the witness words to the effect of "I'm going to do $8 million for them. I want to get (Hospital Executive 1) for 50." The witness understood this to be a reference to a desire to obtain a $50,000 campaign contribution from Hospital Executive 1, the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital. Patrick M. Magoon is CEO of Children's Memorial. The witness said he/she understood Blagojevich's reference to $8 million to mean his recent commitment to obtain $8 million in state funds for the hospital through some type of pediatric care reimbursement.

Tribune Financial Advisor: The complaint says a Tribune Financial Advisor was approached by Harris in an effort to get Chicago Tribune staffers fired. Citing unidentified sources, the Chicago Tribune reported Dec. 12 that Nils Larsen, a 38-year-old Tribune Co. executive vice president, is Tribune Financial Advisor. Tribune Co. has said no executives have done anything inappropriate. No editorial writers were fired.

Associated Press Writers Richard T. Pienciak and Adam Goldman in Chicago and John O'Connor in Springfield, Ill., contributed to this report.

Long Path to a Fall in Illinois
By David S. Broder, Washington Post, Thursday, December 11, 2008; A25
LINK

Rod Blagojevich was a scandal waiting to happen.

When he was running for governor of Illinois for the first time in 2002, he had two impressive opponents in the Democratic primary. One was Paul Vallas, a reform-minded intellectual who had been Mayor Richard Daley's choice to take over the troubled Chicago school system. The other was former state attorney general Roland Burris, a leading African American politician who had demonstrated his appeal to white voters.

When I went to Chicago to cover their pre-primary debate, Blagojevich, a boyish-looking young congressman who got his seat thanks to the clout of his father-in-law, an influential Chicago alderman, was by far the least impressive candidate. He had made no particular mark on Capitol Hill, and he seemed much less informed on Illinois issues than his rivals.

I was inclined to dismiss his chances, but a longtime Chicago reporter friend told me, "Don't write him off. He's a money machine."

On a return visit after the primary, which Blagojevich won, a consultant to the Vallas campaign said the congressman had swamped his rivals with hundreds of thousands of dollars of ads on TV stations in downstate Illinois. "Neither Vallas nor Burris could keep up," the consultant said.

In the general election, Blagojevich defeated state Attorney General Jim Ryan. He had a rocky first term in Springfield, where he quickly became known as an absentee executive and where his inner circle was rumored to be operating with hands out. An unseemly family feud with his father-in-law fed the gossip mills.

But in 2006, the badly weakened Illinois GOP furnished another unelectable opponent, and Blagojevich won without breaking a sweat. During that campaign, a visit with Mayor Daley gave me insights into Blagojevich's problems. "When he was elected," Daley said, "I advised him to get the policy right and then worry about the politics. He did exactly the opposite and, as a result, he's got millions in his campaign treasury and the school districts across Illinois are going broke."

In Blagojevich's second term, it got worse. He became enmeshed in a bitter feud with the Democratic leadership of the General Assembly, especially House Speaker Mike Madigan. While problems festered unattended, no budget could be passed. On a visit to the Lincoln Library in Springfield, I was told by leaders of both parties that "this is the worst" they had ever seen.

Republicans or Democrats, they readily confessed that their heartfelt prayer was that something would occur to rid them of Blagojevich.

That something turned out to be Patrick Fitzgerald, the tough U.S. attorney in Chicago best known as the prosecutor of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff.

Fitzgerald began to close in on Blagojevich. A number of the governor's pals, including developer Tony Rezko, were indicted and convicted. But Blagojevich was heedless of the risk and, according to the charges made public on Tuesday, saw the Senate vacancy created by Barack Obama's election as an opportunity to cash in.

Unaware that Fitzgerald had obtained court orders allowing him to tap Blagojevich's phone and bug his office, Blagojevich indulged himself in obscenity-laden talk about how he would use the Senate appointment to enrich himself and his wife -- or maybe parlay it into a prestigious Cabinet or ambassadorial appointment.

The brazenness and utter sleaziness of Blagojevich stunned even veteran FBI men, Fitzgerald said, but it did not surprise people in Chicago or Springfield who had been watching the governor.

The criminal complaint against Blagojevich, the nominal head of Obama's home-state party, is a mild embarrassment for the president-elect. But it really does not reflect on Obama, who has kept Blagojevich at arm's length for a long time.

As a fellow Illinoisan, I have to admit that this latest example of the Springfield Syndrome that has now tainted four recent governors is a signal that the ethics reforms Obama sponsored as a member of the Illinois Legislature did not go far enough to cleanse the pay-to-play culture.

Get out the scrub brushes.

davidbroder@washpost.com


Why Tony Rezko Isn't Blago's Best Friend Forever
LINK

In the run-up to election day we heard a great deal about Tony Rezko, and how his criminal associations reflected poorly on Obama. Little did we suspect then that the biggest crook Rezko knows is the governor of Illinois. With the arrest of Governor Blagojevich this morning, it becomes clear that Tony Rezko played a significant role in putting him in jail. Rezko's name appears 170 times in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich and Harris, and the FBI states early on (page 11) that he was cooperating with the investigation. At the same time, the FBI is apparently uncertain about just how reliable Rezko is:

Rezko, whose reliability has yet to be fully determined, has confirmed to the government in proffer sessions the essence of Ata’s testimony regarding Ata’s meeting with ROD BLAGOJEVICH, but has a different recollection regarding the timing and chronology of certain events and only recalls asking Ata for one $25,000 check for ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko’s proffers have been substantial but are not complete and the government’s efforts to fact check and corroborate Rezko’s proffered information are not yet complete. Rezko has proffered with the government in hopes of receiving a recommendation from the government for a reduced sentence. During the proffer sessions, Rezko at times has provided accounts that differ from those of other witnesses, including Ata, but in broad terms Rezko’s account incriminates ROD BLAGOJEVICH in a “pay to play” criminal scheme.

Because the government is not yet satisfied that Rezko’s accounts are full and complete, the government is not relying on Rezko’s account for probable cause. The government simply notes that while Rezko’s account varies at times from those of other witnesses, Rezko’s account of ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s activity, on balance, would add to the probable cause set forth herein, not subtract. Where Rezko’s proffered recollection differs significantly from those of witnesses upon whose testimony the government is relying, this affidavit notes those differences.

Rezko's involvement is clear in a number of cases of corruption. He helped Blagojevich extort campaign contributions from Mercy Hospital, and told investigators about the plan:

During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital (“Mercy”) that was attempting to obtain a CON [Certificate of Need] to build a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.

Rezko has admitted that he manipulated the Mercy vote based on Mercy’s agreement to make a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, which agreement he states was communicated to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, but denies that Levine offered a personal bribe to Rezko as well.

Rezko eventually informed the planning board that the Governor now wanted the CON to be approved, and the board changed its ruling.

Rezko also helped the governor attempt to extort campaign donations from a private firm slated to manage the Teachers' Retirement System:

Capri Capital (“Capri”) was a real estate investment management firm that had a long-standing relationship with TRS. In February 2004, Capri was expected to receive $220 million from TRS to manage. Levine originally acted to stall the allocation in February 2004. Eventually, however, the $220 million allocation was going to proceed until Levine, Rezko, Kelly, and Cellini conspired to extort Capri and Thomas Rosenberg, one of Capri’s owners. In short, according to Levine, Levine and Rezko agreed that if Rosenberg wanted to get the $220 million for Capri, Rosenberg was either going to have to make a $1.5 million donation to ROD BLAGOJEVICH or pay Levine and Rezko a 1% fee.

According to Rezko, he recalls agreeing that Rosenberg would have to make a campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, but is not sure whether a finder’s fee was discussed.

Rezko helped secure the governor's support for not integrating the TRS into the state retirement system. In exchange, several members of the TRS board agreed to steer investments from the retirement fund to interests designated by Blagojevich. This gave the governor a way to pay off supporters without it appearing to come from state coffers.

He was a go-between for Blagojevich and a job-seeking fundraiser, when Blagojevich first sought the governor's mansion. Rezko made sure that Ali Ata demonstrated his reliability as a fundraiser before getting Blagojevich to promise him a high-paying state position:

In or about July 2003, Rezko asked Ata to make an additional $50,000 contribution to the campaign of ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Ata agreed to contribute the same amount as he had previously, namely $25,000. Ata made this contribution on or about July 25, 2003, by check payable to ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s campaign. Ata gave this check to Rezko. Thereafter, Ata had a conversation with ROD BLAGOJEVICH at a large fund raising event at Navy Pier. During this conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Ata that Ata had been a good supporter, indicated that ROD BLAGOJEVICH was aware that Ata had made another substantial donation to ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s campaign, and told Ata that he understood that Ata would be joining his administration. Ata responded that he was considering taking a position, and ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that it had better be a job where Ata could make some money.

It's clear that Rezko was a key part of Blagojevich's corrupt fundraising practices -- at least until he went to prison for refusing to testify. Now it's equally clear that he has been an important voice confirming some of the charge against Blagojevich.

Given Rezko's criminal background and sleazy activities, why did Barack Obama allow himself to become beholden to Rezko?

Posted by Brian Faughnan on December 9, 2008 07:44 PM | Permalink

Blagojevich Confidant Turned Informant
How a Top Advisor Turned on Blagojevich
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN and EMMA SCHWARTZ
December 12, 2008—
LINK

ABC News Conduct Unbecoming


For years, John Wyma has been one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closest allies. He served as Blagojevich's chief of staff in Congress and was a key advisor in his 2002 campaign for governor. When his former boss took over the statehouse, Wyma remained a central fundraiser and counselor, but also had Blagojevich's ear as a lobbyist. But now this longtime advisor and old friend has become one of the most significant cooperators in the government's efforts to put Blagojevich behind bars.

Wyma, 41, was close to much of the alleged wrongdoing during the feds' five-year probe, and he remains a subject of the government's investigation into the Illinois Health Planning Facilities Board, according to the criminal complaint for Blagojevich. But Wyma's turn from confidant to informant ultimately inched prosecutors to the governor's most recent -- and most brazen -- alleged attempts to trade political favors for campaign cash, the complaint states.

A fixture of the Blagojevich's inner circle, Wyma as a lobbyist routinely traveled with the governor, flying with him during official state trips more than a dozen times during his first term, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

A friend of the governor for more than a decade, on the day before his arrest Blagojevich told reporters he and Wyma talked football the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

"You can't get much closer than they are to each other," said Rich Miller who runs the Illinois political insider blog Capitol Fox. "[Wyma's] a lobbyist but he's almost never in Springfield lobbying legislators. He virtually only lobbies the governor at his home in Chicago."

Wyma could not be reached for comment, despite multiple calls and visits to his office and addresses listed in his name. His attorney, former federal prosecutor Zachary Fardon, who helped put former Illinois Governor George Ryan in jail, said in an email statement today that "There are news stories indicating that my client, John Wyma, is "Individual A" in the criminal complaint against Governor Rod Blagojevich. Mr. Wyma has made efforts to provide federal investigators with truthful information regarding the matters under investigation and will continue to do so. Out of respect for the ongoing process, we are making no further statements related to these matters at this time."

Individual A
Those efforts began just months ago, in October, when, according to the criminal complaint released in the wake of the governor 's arrest Tuesday, Wyma -- believed to be the person identified in documents only as Individual A -- began talking with the FBI. The timing hardly seems a coincidence: it dovetails with the weeks, according to published accounts, that Wyma was named in a subpoena sent to former client Provena Health. The hospital company had donated money to the governor 's campaign shortly after receiving a favorable ruling.

Whatever his role in the hospital donations, Wyma's cooperation soon proved fruitful to prosecutors. According to the criminal complaint, Wyma is one of the key sources to the source of the tip that Blagojevich is using the final months of the year to raise funds through payoffs before the new state ethics law goes into effect in January. That law would sharply limit any individual or entity with state contracts worth more than $50,000 from donating to the governor's campaign coffers.

Though Wyma, according to the complaint, declined requests to wear a wire, he met with prosecutors numerous times to detail key instances of alleged payoffs he witnessed firsthand. Blagojevich's goal, according to Wyma, was to raise a total of $2.5 million before the end of the year, primarily from individuals identified on the list by Friends of Blagojevich.

For instance, he explained how on Oct. 6, he and someone identified as Individual B met with the governor and his now charged chief of staff John Harris about whether the governor could help Individual B's business venture, according to the complaint. Following the meeting, the governor allegedly asked Wyma to get Individual B to raise $100,000 for Friends of Blagojevich before the end of the year.

Wyma also allegedly detailed a planned deal with someone identified as Highway Contractor 1, the complaint states. This plan was hatched that same day when, following the meeting with Individual B, Blagojevich said that he would be announcing a $1.8 billion project involving the Tollway Authority. The governor said that a Lobbyist 1 was going to ask Highway Contractor 1 to raise $500,000 for the same fund. "I could have made a larger announcement but wanted to see how they perform by the end of the year. If they don't perform, f*** 'em," the governor allegedly said, indicating, in Wyma's belief, that he could allocate more money for the Tollway if Highway Contractor 1 raised enough cash.

Donations and State Funds
A few days later, Blagojevich sought out donations from the chief executive of Children's Memorial Hospital, the complaint states Wyma told investigators."I'm going to do $8 million for them. I want to get [Hospital Executive 1] for 50," Blagojevich allegedly told Wyma, according to the complaint. In other words, he planned to give the hospital $8 million in state reimbursement funds in exchange for a contribution from the head of the hospital. There is no indication that the executive actually paid the money and in fact Blagojevich appeared to get upset that the donation was not coming in. A spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement that "if such allegations are true, Children's Memorial, pediatric physicians and the children of Illinois have been victimized." She said the company is fully cooperating with investigators.

Despite all of Wyma's recent efforts to help the feds, he was a close ally of Blagojevich during much of the scandal. Wyma had spent close to a decade on the Hill when he joined Blagojevich as chief of staff after his election in 1996. He served until early 2000 when he joined New York Sen. Charles Schumer as chief of staff. He worked there until fall 2001, when he joined Fleischman & Walsh and began his career as a lobbyist.

Over and over, companies seeking state funds turned to Wyma. According to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office, Wyma represented more than 50 clients including firms that had contracts to run pieces of the state lottery and provide standardized tests to public schools.

"These companies are buying access to the governor," said Miller. "But he's not just a lobbyist; he's also one of the governor's closest advisors. While he's giving the governor advice, and raising money for him, he's also lobbying for these companies issues."

Aide to Lobbyist
The relationship between the governor and his friend-turned-lobbyist was heavily scrutinized during Blagojevich's second run for governor in 2006, when critics saw the relationship as a reversal of his 2002 promise to change the "business as usual" cronyism of Illinois politics.

"It's not illegal for a close aide to become a lobbyist," said Cindi Canary, the executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a corruption watchdog group. "But that's because nothing is illegal in Illinois. There is a revolving door from the governor's inner circle to those working for lobbyist groups."

Federal investigators delivered a subpoena to Provena Health, which sought records about the company's lobbying relationship with Wyma, and the subsequent donation, the Chicago Tribune first reported in October.

At the time, Blagojevich denied any wrong doing. Calls by ABC News to Provena Health were not returned. A company spokesperson told the Tribune in October that "We are not parties of interest here," in reference to the subpoenas. The suspicious Provena donation may have first tipped federal investigators, but critics of the governor have long noted that many of Wyman's clients have secured lucrative government contracts.

"This has been going on for at least five years," said Canary. "Every company he's ever represented needs to be scrutinized."

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