CHICAGO — A sweeping federal indictment charges former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich with scheming to auction off President Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat, pressuring a congressman for campaign money and lying to FBI agents.
The 19-count indictment handed down Thursday against Blagojevich and others also alleges billions of dollars in state pension bonds were refinanced in exchange for the promise of a massive kickback, among other crimes.
Others indicted included the former governor’s brother, his one-time chief fundraiser and his former chief of staff.
FBI agents arrested the Chicago Democrat in December. Illinois lawmakers impeached him and threw him out of office in January.
Blagojevich has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.