Prosecutor says ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich’s money woes led to Obama senate seat scheme

Prosecutor: Blagojevich money woes led to scheme

CHICAGO — A federal prosecutor tells jurors that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama because of his money problems.

In closing arguments, prosecutor Chris Niewoehner (NEE’-wahn-ehr) said Monday that by the end of 2008, Blagojevich’s personal debt had climbed 400 percent in six years.

Niewoehner says that the people who previously had helped Blagojevich raise money essentially had to stop their fundraising because of FBI investigations into Blagojevich confidants.

The prosecutor says Blagojevich’s money woes also were because he spent elaborately on himself and his wife.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty in an alleged scheme to sell Obama’s old Senate seat and plotting to illegally pressure people for campaign contributions.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal prosecutor is detailing Rod Blagojevich’s alleged schemes as part of closing arguments in the ex-governor’s corruption trial.

Prosecutor Chris Niewoehner says jurors heard Blagojevich try to shake down then-president-elect, Barack Obama, for a job in exchange for appointing an Obama friend to his U.S. Senate seat.

He says they heard Blagojevich trying to get a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for signing a racetrack bill and trying to shake down a children’s hospital for another contribution.

And, he says, Blagojevich lied to the FBI about the alleged schemes.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty in an alleged scheme to sell Obama’s old Senate seat and plotting to illegally pressure people for campaign contributions.