© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

Close friend, fund raiser for Blagojevich indicted

Gov. Rod Blagojevich (UPI photo/Bill Greenblatt)
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (UPI photo/Bill Greenblatt)

By AP/KWMU

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-534229.mp3

Chicago, Ill. – A major fundraiser for Governor Rod Blagojevich was named in an indictment unsealed today with trying to collect kickbacks from companies seeking state business.

The indictment claims Antoin "Tony" Rezko tried to squeeze a company for a contribution "to a public official prosecutors won't name.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald declined to say if anyone in the governor's administration is a target in the ongoing investigation of corruption in state politics.

Blagojevich, who isn't accused of wrongdoing, says today's indictment reveals a violation of his and the public's trust. He says the indictment details a pattern of self-enrichment by people acting on their own.

Illinois Public Radio's Ben Calhoun prepared this report.

Other