Jacobs talks to WNYC about the corruption case against Illinois governor involving Obama Senate seat
In an interview with WNYC Radio’s the Takeaway, James Jacobs, the Chief Justice Warren E. Burger Professor of Law and director of the Law School’s Center for Research in Crime in Justice, discussed the 76-page criminal complaint against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who allegedly devised a scheme to sell the Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.
Blagojevich is also accused of threatening to rescind state funds from businesses that refused to give him money. The complaint further alleges he pressured the Chicago Tribune to fire members of its editorial board who had criticized him or he would withdraw his help on the sale of Wrigley Field, which the Tribune Company owns.
“From reading the complaint, it seems the Governor has turned his office into a racketeering enterprise,” Jacobs said. “Everything is for sale.”
Jacobs suggested the Governor work out the best plea agreement he can to try to minimize his sentence. “He is going to clearly do jail time for such extreme corruption.”