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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Blagojevich book blames prosecutor for his downfall

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO – Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich blames overzealous prosecutors and political enemies for his downfall in a new book that offers glimpses of both his rocky six-year tenure and his upcoming criminal defense.

“The Governor” describes his arrest on widespread corruption charges that included trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. In keeping with the governor’s long-held position that he has been victimized by rivals and “unethical” prosecutors, Blagojevich writes that his guiding thought in selecting a new senator was “How much do I love the people of Illinois?”

“That was a question I asked myself over and over again as I considered who I should appoint,” he writes in the 259-page book.

Blagojevich also blasts U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who told reporters that the governor had been arrested to stop a “crime spree” in progress.

“Mr. Fitzgerald didn’t stop a crime spree,” Blagojevich writes. “He stopped me from doing a lot of good for a lot of people.”

Blagojevich says his efforts to pick a Senate seat were nothing more than the “ordinary and routine.”