Marathon Pundit: Blago bites

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Blago bites

If money is truly the root of all evil, then it figures that should play a large roll in the corruption trial of hair-brained former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Blago left Illinois billions in debt, and it appears he was equally reckless in his personal finances.

From the Chicago Tribune:

From his meticulously tailored suits to his crisp, white shirts and silky, blue power ties, Rod Blagojevich shows up at his corruption trial each day looking like a million bucks. Actually, as it turns out, the cost of that sartorial splendor is closer to $400,000.

That, according to testimony Thursday from a government financial analyst, was how much the Blagojevich family spent on clothes over the nearly seven years he was either governor or running for the job — more than for food, their home mortgage or private-school tuition for their two daughters.

Prosecutors sought to portray Blagojevich as the Imelda Marcos of Illinois on the same day that they played wiretaps of him complaining loudly and profanely that he might not be able to afford college for his girls. He claimed that sacrifices he had to make as governor wrecked his wife's real estate business and left the family's finances in shambles.

But wait! Wasn't Illionois' former first lady employed by Antoin "Tony" Rezko?

Yes. But she didn't do much to earn it, as AP tells us:

A former employee of Tony Rezko says the convicted political fixer paid thousands in commissions and consulting fees to Rod Blagojevich's wife even though she didn't appear to do any work.

Robert Williams, the former chief financial officer of a Rezko-owned development company, said at the former governor's corruption trial that Patti Blagojevich received $12,000 a month in consulting fees for seven months.

Williams says he never saw her do work. He says she stopped at the office occasionally and usually spoke just with Rezko. He testified before court adjourned until Tuesday.

Four years ago, with a few exceptions, Illinois' Democratic politicians lined up to support Blago for a second term. His running mate, Governor Pat Quinn, said this about his predecessor that year: