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| Risinger Surprised by Blago Arrest |
Senator Dale Risinger says Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrogant in a lot of ways, and he was shocked that Blagojevich apparently thought he could get away with selling a senate position.
Blagojevich is facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. He's accused of conspiring to sell or trade the U-S Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. An FBI affidavit says Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over a month-long period after federal investigators bugged the governor's campaign offices and put a tap on his home phone.
Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday morning at his home. The feds also arrested the governor's chief of staff John Harris. Risinger tells WGIL it was an unusually swift move by the federal government.
"I was a little surprised at the arrest because, normally, with a sitting Governor, they usually don't bring the charges until they're out of office because they don't want it to look political in any way," Risinger said. "The federal prosecutors have done a good job, I think, of doing that kind of thing -- keeping the politics out of it."
Risinger speculates that the feds probably felt they needed to move quickly before someone was appointed the position.
Risinger has not directly called for Blagojevich's resignation, but other politicians from both sides of the aisle have. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says it's clear that Blagojevich is incapable of governing, and he should immediately resign and allow Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn to succeed him. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna says if Blagojevich doesn't resign, he should be impeached. |
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| 12 09 08 by Newsroom |
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