NEWS NET NEBRASKA: Prosecutors: Illinois governor had sights on Warren Buffett

Written by NewsNetNebraska

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 13:35

The governor of Illinois wanted to tap millions of dollars from Omaha's Warren Buffett as he tried to sell his appointment of Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate successor, federal prosecutors said in an affidavit filed filed Tuesday. In conversations recorded by federal agents, Governor Rod Blagojevich discussed convincing Buffett to "put $10, $12 or $15 million dollars into" a political advocacy organization Blagojevich would control if he left the Illinois governor's office, according to the federal affidavit against Blagojevich. The affidavit claimed Blagojevich wanted control of the "advocacy organization" as part of his endorsement of President-elect Barack Obama's successor in the U.S. Senate. Under Illinois law, Blagojevich would name Obama's replacement to serve out the junior senator's remaining two years in office. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiracy and soliciting bribes in the federal case. The governor's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, said Blagojevich was “very surprised and certainly feels that he did not do anything wrong.” According to the affidavit, Blagojevich was caught discussing several ways he might gain by backing several unnamed candidates for Obama's senate post. One possibility, according to the New York Times, was securing a post with the new administration as secretary of health and human services or energy; "a “three way” deal involving a union and a candidate might win him a union leadership post; or perhaps, he could secure the high-paying helm of a nonprofit organization that could be created for him." The last possibility is where prosecutors claim Buffett's name entered the conversation. "Rod Blagojevich noted that the President-elect can ask Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and others for money for the organization," said the affidavit. “The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in announcing the arrest of Mr. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich has been released from custody on a $4,500 bond. A January hearing has been set to decide if the case will go forward in federal court.

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