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Former U.S. governor charged with 16 felonies

Published: 02/04/2009 05:00

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Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has been indicted formally on 16 felony counts, the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago said on Thursday.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich speaks during a rally in Chicago April 16, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters, File Photo)

Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, indicated that since 2002, even before Blagojevich was first elected governor, he and a circle of his closest aides and advisors allegedly engaged in a wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois, a state in the U.S. Midwest.

According to a 19-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury, Blagojevich was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.

The ex-governor allegedly used his office in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments to seek or obtain such financial benefits as money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to trade a senator seat vacated by Barack Obama.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of 188,370 U.S. dollars from Blagojevich as proceeds of the alleged fraud scheme and racketeering activity, and lists Blagojevich’s apartment in Washington, D.C., and his Ravenswood Manor home in Chicago as substitute assets.

In addition to the former governor, his brother Robert Blagojevich and several top aides and advisors were also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment.

Blagojevich, born in December 1956, was arrested for political corruption charges last December. He served as the governor of Illinois from 2009 to January 2009, when he was impeached to step down.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

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