AP
We've heard it before, Mr. Blagojevich. Spare us.
It seemed like a long time coming, but the federal indictment handed down by the U.S. Attorney's Office on Thursday was, as expected, a damning collection of fraud allegations that painted a picture of blanket corruption in the state's highest office.
Reaction from Illinois political leaders started pouring in the moment the U.S. Attorney hit "send" on his e-mail announcing the 19-count indictment.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said he hopes ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich will spare the state another round of radio and TV talk show interviews, now that his indictment is official.
Blagojevich has given a number of interviews to national and Chicago-based talk shows since his December arrest. The former governor, a Democrat, also has announced plans for a book.
Durbin, also a Democrat, said Blagojevich deserves his day in court.
Through his PR firm, Blagojevich, who is vacationing with his family in Florida, issued the following statement after the indictment was handed down:
"I'm saddened and hurt, but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors."
Echoing words he spoke the day Blagojevich was indicted, current Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said today was "a sad day" for Illinois. He said office-holders' oath to the people is "serious business," and shouldn't be taken lightly.
"Today, more than ever, I'm committed to making sure our government has fundamental reform, top to bottom," he said. "We're going to work night and day to make sure the government of Illinois is honest and clean."
A spokesman for Roland Burris said the embattled senator is focused on his work in the Senate, not the indictment filed against the man who appointed him.
Jim O'Connor said Burris is participating in dozens of budget votes in the Senate and won't be commenting on the indictment.
Earlier in the day, Burris told reporters with The Hill newspaper who caught him coming off the floor from a vote that Blagojevich's indictment "has nothing to do with me."
Burris said the governor has his own problems and "the law will take its course."
Judy Baar Topinka said there's "no joy" in Blagojevich's indictment and that his actions "decimated" the state.
"Rod Blagojevich rode into office on the promise of 'reform and renewal' and then presided over the most corrupt administration in Illinois history -- and that is saying something," said the former Illinois State Treasurer, who served three terms before leaving office to challenge Blagojevich in 2006. "He has turned Illinois into a national punchline, shattered the public trust and left state government in financial ruins. And while he is gone from office, the sting of his tenure will not soon dissipate"
The U.S. Attorney's indictment serves to confirm the public's long-standing distrust of former Governor Blagojevich and his administration, and it underscores the culture of corruption that has afflicted our state for far too long. While this is a terrible day in Illinois history, it is also a moment in which we can recognize an opportunity for real reform. Today provides us a chance -- not just to bring to justice former Governor Blagojevich -- but also to move forward by putting into place changes that will enable state government to establish a true sense of accountability and restore the public’s trust. I am thankful for the extraordinary work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature and the executive branch to enact positive changes that end this dismal chapter in our state’s history.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said he hopes the indictment will let Illinois start closing the book on its latest public corruption scandal.
He said the "people of Illinois deserve honest and productive representation in all forms of government," and said Blagojevich's indictment "adds yet another chapter in our state's ongoing saga to maintain its integrity in the face of countless corruption scandals."
"As this case moves forward," the Chicago Democrat said, "perhaps now we can close this book and begin to write a new one that speaks to the breadth of who the people of Illinois are and what they seek in the people they send to public office -- honesty, integrity, truthfulness, vision and leadership."
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said Illinois taxpayers are "rightfully angry" but said the state should continue the "daunting undertaking" in moving past Blagojevich.
"The court proceedings involving former Governor Rod Blagojevich will conclude long before the damage assessment from his time in office is complete. From an $11 billion deficit to a complete lack of public confidence in government, the former Governor has left the state he purported to serve in shambles."
"Rod Blagojevich was elected and then reelected governor based on the promise that he would reform and renew state government, but his government was more like an overloaded, malfunctioning sewage system. Now, it’s up to the elected leaders in Springfield to respond to the demands of the citizens of Illinois and clean up this mess. They should start by addressing the free flow of big campaign contributions from special interests. Limited campaign contributions and strong oversight of the campaign finance system would give the people of Illinois reason to believe their elected leaders are serious about changing the culture of corruption."
