From the Bloomington Pantagraph:

Blagojevich faces misconduct probe
By John O’Connor
Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD -- It might seem incredible that as a former Illinois governor reports to federal prison, the current chief faces similar misconduct allegations, from handing out state contracts as political rewards to accepting money under suspicious circumstances.

But this is Illinois.

Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who won the chief executive’s office five years ago as a reformer promising to clean up former Gov. George Ryan’s mess, has wound up besieged by accusations.

Two people already have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a shakedown scheme that also ensnared one of the governor’s closest fundraisers in an indictment.

Federal prosecutors have acknowledged they’re also investigating “serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud’’ under Blagojevich.

Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, blames an arrogant political culture in Illinois where the philosophy is “take what you can get.’’

“It’s not about serving the people. It’s not even about serving partisan interests. It’s about enriching yourself and your friends,’’ Stewart said.

A Blagojevich aide pointed out that prosecutors are examining all levels of government, not just the state Capitol. The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Ryan, a Republican, entered a federal penitentiary in Oxford, Wis., Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied him bail while he appeals his April 2006 conviction on racketeering and fraud charges. The decade-long investigation began with the sale of driver’s licenses for bribes and led to the conviction of dozens of people who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state and governor.

Blagojevich said he was different, declaring upon taking office in 2003 that he would “shake up a system in Springfield that accepts corruption.’’

But Antoin “Tony’’ Rezko, a Blagojevich political confidant and friend, is under indictment, accused of participating in seeking campaign contributions from investment companies in exchange for getting them business with a state pension system.

In one case, the indictment claims Rezko demanded a firm make a $1.5 million contribution to “a certain public official.’’ That was Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the probe is continuing.

Jobs for political contributions

The administration also has been accused of trading state jobs, appointments and contracts for political contributions. And a friend whose wife had just gotten a state job gave Blagojevich a check for $1,500. The governor said it was a gift for one of his daughters, but he wasn’t sure which one.

Federal prosecutors have even subpoenaed records from Blagojevich’s political campaign fund, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Ryan’s campaign committee was convicted of racketeering in 2003.

Taxpayers just shake their heads.

“Setting the bar at a level of honest, competent government should not be an unattainable goal,’’ said Rep. John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat and legislative leader on ethics issues.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff pointed out that Blagojevich signed tough ethics legislation that created an independent inspector general, unlike the “puppet’’ who served Ryan as secretary of state and was convicted of obstructing inquiries.

Blagojevich also is not the only one under the gun. For example, Ottenhoff pointed to recent convictions for improper political hiring at Chicago City Hall.

“In recent years, we’ve seen government at every level is under closer scrutiny and we think that’s good for the system,’’ Ottenhoff said.

Former U.S. Attorney William Roberts, now in private practice, represented at least two dozen people questioned in the Ryan case.

He said he never has seen “a more intense investigation’’ and doesn’t see the government easing up.

“One wonders why anyone who reads the papers would get within a mile of questionable conduct,’’ Roberts said.

Mike Lawrence, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, doesn’t know what will come of the Blagojevich probes. But, he said, “There’s a lot of smoke.’’

Lawrence, a top adviser to former GOP Gov. Jim Edgar who is credited with starting an investigation into a contract-for-bribes scandal in 1995 by turning over an anonymous letter to state police, said good government starts at the top.

“People fear confronting a public official with bad news of any kind, and it’s particularly difficult for people to approach a public official with allegations of wrongdoing if people believe the public official is less than resolute in addressing allegations of wrongdoing,’’ Lawrence said. “He has to set the right culture.’’

Blagojevich remains he’s resolute.

“It’s whether you did things right or wrong. Clearly, Gov. Ryan did things wrong,’’ Blagojevich said recently. “A jury of his peers found that he did wrongdoing. And now the sad reality is that he is facing the consequences of that wrongdoing.’’