Governor Wanted To Trade Senate Seat for Union Job

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Affadavit of Criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich alleges Illinois Governor wanted to appoint a candidate favorable to organized labor in exchange for giving up his own job and becoming the head of major labor coalition "Change to Win"...

On November 7, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with Advisor A about
the Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is willing to “trade” the Senate seat to
Senate Candidate 1 in exchange for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services
in the President-elect’s cabinet.

99. Later on November 7, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH discussed the open Senate
seat in a three-way call with JOHN HARRIS and Advisor B, a Washington D.C.-based
consultant. ROD BLAGOJEVICH indicated in the call that if he was appointed as Secretary
of Health and Human Services by the President-elect, then ROD BLAGOJEVICH would
appoint Senate Candidate 1 to the open Senate seat.

HARRIS stated “we wanted our ask to be reasonable and rather than. . .make it look like some sort of selfish grab for a quid proquo.”

ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he needs to consider his family and that he is
“financially” hurting. HARRIS said that they are considering what will help the “financial
security” of the Blagojevich family and what will keep ROD BLAGOJEVICH “politically
viable.”

ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “I want to make money.”

During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH, HARRIS, and Advisor B discussed the prospect of working a three-way deal for the open Senate seat. HARRIS noted that ROD BLAGOJEVICH is interested in taking a high-paying position with an organization called “Change to Win,” which is
connected to Service Employees International Union (“SEIU”).

HARRIS suggested that SEIU Official make ROD BLAGOJEVICH the head of Change to Win and, in exchange, the President-elect could help Change to Win with its legislative agenda on a national level.

Advisor B asked why SEIU Official cannot just give the job to ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
HARRIS responded that it would be just a big “give away” for SEIU Official and Change
to Win since there are already individuals on the Change to Win payroll doing the functions
of the position that would be created for ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

HARRIS said that Change to Win will want to trade the job for ROD BLAGOJEVICH for something from thevPresident-elect. HARRIS suggested a “three-way deal,” and explained that a three-way deal like the one discussed would give the President-elect a “buffer so there is no obvious quid pro quo for [Senate Candidate 1].”

ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that for him to give up the governorship for the Change to Win position, the Change to Win position must pay a lot more than he is getting paid right now. Advisor B said that he liked the idea of the three-way deal.

ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 and
being on some organization boards. Advisor B said they should leverage the President-elect’s
desire to have Senate Candidate 1 appointed to the Senate seat in order to get a head
position with Change to Win and a salary. Advisor B agreed that the three-way deal would
be a better plan than ROD BLAGOJEVICH appointing Senate Candidate 2 to the Senate seat
and getting more done as Governor.

see the full affadavit here:

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