Feds Look for Blago Tie to College Admissions

Another storm cloud is moving over ousted Gov. Rod. Blagojevich, this time surrounding admissions at the University of Illinois and two other state universities.

Talk about clout.

When it comes to a state university, you really can't get much higher than the governor's office, and the U.S. Attorney's office wants to know if a special phone call or an e-mail to campus officials from Blagojevich or one of his power brokers could get poor ACT scores and sub-par grade point averages ignored during the college application process.

Indeed, records show Blagojevich directed his staff to write a "very special letter of recommendation" in 2003 for the son of a friend and donor who was applying to the University of Illinois, the Associated Press reported.

The letter was for Jack Gould of Lincolnwood, the son of Joel Gould, a Chicago defense attorney who gave campaign contributions of $5,600 to Blagojevich.

Joel Gould said he merely sought his friend Blagojevich's recommendation as he and his son did other friends, teachers and coaches.

The University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University have all received subpoenas as the U.S. attorney’s office investigates Blagojevich’s role in helping less-than-qualified students get admitted to these universities.

In the subpoena sent Tuesday to U. of I., U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald requested "any and all records, to include correspondence and e-mails, related to Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Chris Kelly or Alonzo Monk, in relation to any student, including in relation to the admission for any student or prospective student."

"It sounds like sort of a sweep across the state to look at all the universities," said NIU spokeswoman Melanie Magara, though Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Illinois State say they haven't received subpoenas.

The action followed Chicago Tribune stories reporting that the U of I admitted politically connected applicants over more qualified students.

At this point, there is no official accusation, but would it be surprising if it came to that?  After all, Blagojevich has been indicted on federal charges that he plotted to trade or sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.  Blagojevich eventually appointed Roland Burris, who has since found himself mired in controversy, to the post.

And he's accused of using his political power by dangling the prospect of state help for the sale of Wrigley Field in return for the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial writers and threatening to withhold state funding to Children's Memorial Hospital unless he received a hefty campaign contribution.

Blagojevich denies all wrongdoing.