Haya PCCB Mmeyaona ya wenzetu. Je tunaitaji kujenga chombo kama FBI Tanzania kitakachokuwa independent?
Gov. Blagojevich taken into custody - 12/09/08 - Chicago News - abc7chicago.comQuinn: Blagojevich remains governor CHICAGO (WLS) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into custody Tuesday morning at his Northwest Side home, sources say.
LIVE news conference at 11 a.m. on ABC7Chicago.com A source told ABC7's Chuck Goudie that Gov. Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his home on Sunnyside around 7 a.m. His chief of staff, John Harris, was also arrested.
"There was no advance notice given to either individual, " said Ross Rice, FBI. The affidavit was unsealed around 8:30 a.m.
According to the source, the governor is now at FBI headquarters on the city's West Side, where he is in the custody of federal authorities.
Officials are expected to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Gov. Blagojevich may also make a court appearance.
The feds have been investigating pay-to-play politics for three years in Illinois on how the state has hired on state jobs. They did not release details about he charges.
Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, reached by phone at home, tells ABC 7 News "I've heard the reports but I don't know whether it's true or not."
Illinois's lieutenant governor says he has not been told of Governor Blagojevich's arrest by federal authorities "through any official channels" but is heading to the Thompson Center now to await more information.
"The Governor remains the Governor... The presumption is you're always innocent until proven guilty," said Quinn.
On Monday, Gov. Blagojevich spoke about reports that federal investigators had recorded him as part of their corruption probe. Blagojevich said his conversations were "always lawful."
His confidant, John Wyma, reportedly cooperated with the federal agents.
"I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it," said Blagojevich on Monday. "I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily, and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate."
Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko awaits sentencing on a federal corruption conviction in which he was charged with shaking down businesses wanting to do state work for campaign contributions.
The governor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
A member's of the Governor's security detail declined comment outside Blagojevich's home. When pressed by a reporter as to the status of The Governor's state police protection details, he said "there's no change in our status."