* 3:00 PM - One can only wonder…
Tribune Co. disclosed today that federal authorities have subpoenaed documents from the company as part of their expanding investigation into charges that Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff schemed to get members of the newspaper’s editorial board fired.
“As we’ve said before, we will fully cooperate with the government in its investigation into Governor Blagojevich and his administration,” said Gary Weitman, Tribune Co. spokesman. “As this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we will have to decline further comment.”
Federal authorities have alleged that Blagojevich–angry over editorials suggesting he be impeached–threatened to withhold state money for Wrigley Field renovations unless members of the newspaper’s editorial board were fired.
Notice that the story doesn’t say “when” the subpoena was issued.
*** 3:45 PM *** Via PI, we learn that Congresscritter Jan Schakowsky has decided she’ll run for the US Senate if the state legislature changes the law…
At the end of her speech, Schakowsky threw her hat in the ring, announcing that she was “passing around a clipboard” for people to sign up to be on an organizing committee for her “Senate race, and a basket for donations will follow right behind.” The audience cheered.
* Also…
Kirk isn’t the only credible Illinois Republican mulling a Senate bid. A source close to Rep. Peter J. Roskam said the second-term congressman is also “very interested” in running for the Senate seat and wouldn’t automatically defer to Kirk. Roskam has a more conservative voting record than Kirk and has won election to a suburban Chicago seat during two rough election cycles for the GOP.
*** 3:48 PM *** Radogno says the law must be changed. From a press release…
Senate Republican Leader-Elect Christine Radogno today reacted quickly to suggestions that the Lieutenant Governor should appoint the next U.S. Senator from Illinois.
“It is ludicrous to talk about anyone appointing the next United States Senator,” Sen. Radogno said. “This decision absolutely must be made by the voters of Illinois. The only way to do that is to establish a Special Election that puts the power where it belongs — in the hands of Illinois citizens.”
Radogno said, “There is no way that an appointment process can be free from the stench of this corrupt Administration.”
Radogno is currently reviewing draft legislation that would allow for a Special Election to be conducted in conjunction with the already-established municipal elections in February and April.
“By piggy-backing onto the municipal elections, we can help save the taxpayers millions while at the same time providing voters the opportunity to make their choice,” Radogno said.
*** 3:55 PM *** Rep. Jack Franks, a harsh Blagojevich critic, has filed a new bill to at least temporarily strip the governor’s power to appoint Barack Obama’s replacement. Here’s the summary…
Amends the Election Code. Prohibits the Governor from temporarily filling a vacancy in the office of U.S. Senator by appointment if the Governor has been arrested, charged, or indicted for a felony offense and the Governor has not been acquitted, the charge has not been dropped or dismissed, or, in the case of an arrest, there has been no charge or indictment within 30 days after the arrest. Provides that a vacancy filled by election under those circumstances is filled at the next consolidated or general election.
*** 4:32 PM *** From Illinois Review…
Frustrated by the lack of direct action on the part of state legislative leadership, two private Illinois citizens said Friday they will be filing a petition before the Illinois Supreme Court to temporarily remove Governor Rod Blagojevich from office.
“Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been bringing up the possibility of removing the governor from office based on Rule 382, which allows the state Supreme Court to move quicker than any other recourse,” petitioner John Bambenek of Champaign told Illinois Review today. “Illinois can’t wait for months for the Governor to step down, we have too many crucial issues before us to wait.”
“The standards for incapacity are very broad. We’re saying he’s unable to fulfill his duty to appoint someone to fill the U.S. Senate seat, since Senate Majority leader Harry Reid refuses to accept his appointment,” Bambenek said. “He’s also unable to function politically, because he’s been caught on tape compromising his office. We’re also stating in the petition that Attorney General Madigan has a potential conflict of interest, as she has stated her own interest in running for governor in the future.”
*** 4:56 PM *** I told subscribers about this earlier today. Four House Democrats have sent a letter to their HDem colleagues asking that they join a move to impeach the governor…
A Chicago state representative has sent a letter to his fellow House Democrats asking them to quickly support rare impeachment proceedings against embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
State Rep. John Fritchey, who chairs the House Civil Judiciary Committee, urges his colleagues in a letter dated Thursday to help remove Blagojevich from office, rather than rely on the governor to resign voluntarily or hope that legal proceedings initiated by Attorney General Lisa Madigan would be successful. Fritchey asked the House members to respond by Friday and invited them to sign on as co-sponsors of a measure that is being drafted.
“Faced with a significant budget shortfall, a national recession, and a vacant United States Senate seat, we cannot afford to allow Illinois to operate without effective leadership in the Executive branch,” said Fritchey, who signed the letter with Reps. Thomas Holbrook, David Miller and James Brosnahan. “Simply put, it is imperative to replace Governor Blagojevich as soon as is practicable.”
*** 4:59 PM *** This was self-evident…
Illinois Deputy Governor Louanner Peters has been identified as “Senate Candidate 4″ in the criminal complaint filed against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
An unidentified source familiar with the complaint revealed the information to The Associated Press on Thursday. The source was not authorized to speak publicly about the complaint and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
In the complaint, Blagojevich said he would put Candidate 4 in Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat instead of another candidate, if the governor did not get anything in return
*** 5:57 PM *** From ABC…
Rev. Jesse Jackson says he played no role and was not “an emissary” in alleged efforts to make a deal with Governor Rod Blagojevich for the appointment of his son, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to the U.S. Senate.” […]
“So I am not an emissary. I am not targeted. And I have no accusers. That’s simply not true,” Jackson told ABCNews.com