Feds play candid camera with Gov. Blagojevich

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter

January 14, 2009

Federal authorities used a video camera as part of their cache of tools to investigate Gov. Blagojevich in the final weeks of 2008 before his arrest, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The camera, which likely was remote-controlled, was trained on the Friends of Blagojevich offices, 4147 N. Ravenswood, to help FBI agents identify individuals entering and leaving the campaign offices -- and to identify who was talking on bugs agents covertly planted inside.

In addition, more phone lines and cell phones were tapped in the investigation than the government previously disclosed -- including the cell phones of at least three members of the governor's inner circle and two phones inside the campaign office -- capturing dozens of individuals in the days when the governor was pondering a U.S. Senate pick and when horsetrading for the seat was rampant, sources said. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is likely among the numerous individuals recorded because he called Blagojevich's campaign office Dec. 3 to discuss his preferences for the seat.

Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on charges he schemed to trade official actions, including President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, for campaign cash and other perks.

Joseph Ways, former No. 2 at the Chicago FBI office who now works for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, said it's typical that when bugs are planted a camera is installed on an outdoor pole.



Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1376431,CST-NWS-tap14.article

[Sebass1271]

1. Unbelieable I don't know what the feds were after,, if after blago

or something more.. i think they wanted to catch obama in something.. this can't be right.. not even the biggest crook in our history, Maddoff was hunted and watched like this guy...

[Spazito]

2. He has been under investigation for three years so....

I don't think Obama was their target at all. Blago knew he was being investigated, wiretapped, etc, yet he continued to do "business".

[No Elephants]

3. He wasn't trying to sell Obama's seat 3 years ago. So, what was he

under investigation for, for three frickin' years? DWE? (Democrat While Elected?)



Anyone remember that Domenici tried to get D of J to bring a frivolous complaint against a Democrat so Domenici's "protege" would win an election? Did that ever get investigated?

Cheney admits to outing Plame. That got investigated. Was Cheney even an unindicted co-consipirator? And Libby got relieved of part of his punishment and will probably get a pardon this week.

But Blago was watched and wiretapped for three years.

This is going to be very interesting.