Looks like Illinois is certainly living up to its rep:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.
[ . . . ]
A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.
This quote – apparently caught on tape – would be funny, if it weren’t so, you know, utterly appalling:
“I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”
Okay, Illinois, let’s set a record for how quickly an incumbent has been ejected from the governor’s mansion.
Update: If it seems that I’m being a bit hasty (and truly, given the demonstrated willingness of the DOJ to do the Republicans’ political dirty work, that would be a fair concern), I urge you to check out the DOJ release itself, or read TPM’s evolving summary coverage of it. Convincingly damning.
Mike@Blueweeds
Trying to catch up on this news today … a train wreck seems understated. What mess.
freewheel
Do you know whether U.S. Attorneys customarily offer their resignations to the new president? If so, it will be interesting to see whether Obama or Holder ask Fitzgerald to stay on.