>>> IT WOULD BE EASY TO FORGET HOW AMERICAN POLITICS CHANGED
WHEN 11 YEARS AGO THIS HAPPENED.
>> WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS.
MOMENTUS NEWS.
MOMENTUS NEWS. SENATOR BARACK OBAMA OF ILLINOIS
WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
>> TO SEE HIM PULL THIS OFF, NOT
TO BE APPOINTED PRESIDENT BUT TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
>> A SEISMIC SHIFT IN AMERICAN
POLITICS.
POLITICS. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE 44th
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> ELECTION NIGHT 2008, BARACK
OBAMA ACHIEVES THIS HISTORIC WIN
MANY THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER
SEE IN THEIR LIFETIMES WHEN THE
47-YEAR-OLD ANNOUNCED THE CHANGE
WAS REAL.
WAS REAL. >> IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
TONIGHT, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DID
ON THIS DAY, IN THIS ELECTION,
AT THIS DEFINING MOMENT, CHANGE
HAS COME TO AMERICA.
>> THE CHANGE CAME QUICKLY.
CROWDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
CELEBRATING.
CELEBRATING. A BARRIER BROKE AND A POLITICAL
SHIFT STEPPED AWAY FROM BUSH AND
CLINTON FOR A NEW COALITION AND
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT VACATED THE
SENATE SEAT HE WON JUST FOUR
YEARS EARLIER.
YEARS EARLIER. A SEAT HE WON BY AVOIDING THE
MACHINE POLITICS OF ILLINOIS.
OBAMA’S VACANCY WOULD LEAVE THE
DECISION ABOUT HIS REPLACEMENT
TO THAT LOCAL POLITIC.
>> PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA HAS
FORMALLY RESIGNED HIS SENATE
SEAT.
SEAT. >> HE RESIGNED HIS ILLINOIS
SENATE SEAT TODAY EFFECTIVE
SUNDAY.
SUNDAY. >> NOW THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT
OBAMA SENATE SEAT WILL BE OPEN
THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT WHO WILL BE APPOINTED TO
THAT SEAT.
THAT SEAT. >> DEPENDS ON WHO IS DOING THE
APPOINTING.
APPOINTING. THAT WAS THE CALL OF ONE THE THE
MOST OUTLANDISH GOVERNORS IN THE
GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ROD
BLAGOJEVICH.
BLAGOJEVICH. A AMATEUR BOXER TURNED
PROSECUTOR TURNED POLITICIAN.
HE DIDN’T FOLLOW THE RULES
IMPERSONATING ELVIS AT A STREET
PARTY IN CHICAGO.
♪
♪ ♪
♪ >> HE ALSO STARRED IN IN A NUT
COMMERCIAL AND IN A COLLISION
FORESHADOWING THE FUTURE OF BOTH
POLITICS AND IMPEACHABLE
CONDUCT.
CONDUCT. YOU MAY RECALL BLAGOJEVICH TRIED
TO REBOUND BY MAKING A DEAL TO
BE ON ONE REALITY SHOW AND
APPEARING ON CELEBRITY
APPRENTICE WITH DONALD TRUMP.
>> WHAT WAS ROD DOING?
COULDN’T BE THAT BAD?
I’M JUST ASKING SORT OF AN
INNOCENT QUESTION, I THINK.
>> ROD WAS NAPPING.
>> NAPPING.
>> NAPPING. >> MAYBE THAT’S NOT SO BAD.
>> I HAD SUNGLASSES ON SO MAYBE
BY EYES WERE OPEN.
>> HE WAS FACING OFF WITH A
REALITY STAR WHO WOULD SOON TURN
POLITICIAN.
POLITICIAN. THE THIRST FOR MANUFACTURED
ATTENTION WASN’T THEIR ONLY
THING IN COMMON.
BOTH HAVE FACED BRIBERY SCANDALS
FOR ABUSING THEIR OFFICE.
THE PRESIDENT TREATING YOUR
TAXPAYER MILITARY FUNDS AS AN
ANGLE TO EXTORT RE-ELECTION
HELP.
HELP. GO BACK TO THAT BIG NIGHT OF
OBAMA’S VICTORY AND MANY PEOPLE
THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT FOR
THE NATION, FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
IN ILLINOIS, GOVERNOR
BLAGOJEVICH WAS THINKING ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANT FOR HIM PERSONALLY
AND HE BEGAN MUSING ABOUT HOW
THE POWER TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
THERE ARE TAPES OF HIM TALKING.
WHEN HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE WAS
LISTENING, MUSING HOW TO FILL
THE SEAT TO HELP THIMSHIMSELF OR
THE SENATE SEAT AWAY AS A
BIRTHDAY GIFT TO FAMILY.
>> MY NEPHEW JUST TURNED 26
TODAY.
TODAY. I SAID TOO BAD YOU’RE NOT FOUR
YEARS OLDER BECAUSE I COULD HAVE
GICHEN
GICHEN GIVEN YOU A U.S. SENATE SEAT.
>> THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BRAVADO
BUT HE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT DOING
SOMETHING FOR THE SEAT.
HE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER HE COULD
SWAP SOMETHING WITH THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION LIKE GIVING IT TO
VALERIE JERRIT TO GET A CABINET
POST IN RETURN.
THIS IS WHEN WHAT A QUID PRO QUO
BRIBE SOUNDS LIKE.
>> I COULD GET SOMETHING FOR
THAT.
THAT. >> HOW ABOUT HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES?
SERVICES? THE I GET THAT.
>> THAT’S NOT LEGITIMATE
NEGOTIATING.
NEGOTIATING. THAT’S CONSPIREING FOR A BRIBE.
THIS ECHOING TODAY BECAUSE
GOVERNORS HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER TO
APPOINT THE SENATOR LIKE
PRESIDENTS HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER
ON FOREIGN POLICY BUT THAT
DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN SELL THE
APPOINTMENT OFF FOR A BRIBE OR
RUN FOREIGN POLICY TO EXTORT
BRIBES TO HELP YOUR RE-ELECTION.
THESE SAME INCRIMINATING TAPES
SHOW BLAGOJEVICH DECLARING IF HE
DOESN’T GET THE RIGHT DEAL FOR
THE BRIBE HE WANTS, IF IT’S NOT
GOOD ENOUGH HE WILL JUST APPOINT
HIMSELF SENATOR.
HIMSELF SENATOR. >> IF I CAN’T GET THE RIGHT
DEAL, JOHN, THEN I’LL TAKE IT
MYSELF.
MYSELF. THAT’S KIND OF WHERE I’M AT.
WHAT DROU THINKO YOU THINK OF TH
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
YOU’RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT BEST
INTEREST OF THE STATE.
>> SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THE MOST
GOOD FOR THE STATE.
>> THAT’S BAD AND THAT’S NOT
EVEN THE SMOKING GUN.
IF YOU’RE WONDERING HOW WE’RE
EVEN HEARING THESE SECRET TAPES
OF A GOVERNOR PLOTTING A BRIBE
IT’S BECAUSE LIKE MANY CRIMINALS
BEFORE HIM, BLAGOJEVICH DIDN’T
THINK HE WAS BEING TAPED.
HIS LITTLE DIRT WOULD SAY IT WAS
THE FEDS LISTENING.
THEY HAD HIM WIRETAPPED IN THIS
BRIBERY INVESTIGATION AND GOT AN
ADMISSION OF HIS SBENTSINTENT.
HEAR YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE
SMOEKING GUN.
SMOEKING GUN. >> I’VE GOT THIS THING AND IT’S
[ BLEEP ] GOLDEN.
I’M NOT GIVING IT UP FOR
NOTHING.
NOTHING. >> RARELY DO YOU HEAR DEFENDANTS
SO BLUNTLY STATE HIS CRIMINAL
INTENT.
INTENT. HE WON’T FILL THE SEAT UNLESS HE
GETS SOMETHING OF VALUE IN
RETURN.
RETURN. HE’S SOLICITING A BRIBE.
THE GOVERNOR CORRUPTLY SEEKING
SOMETHING OF VALUE IN EXCHANGE
FOR HIS ACT HERE APPOINTING THE
SENATOR.
SENATOR. THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR THE FEDS TO
MOVE IN INDICTING BLAGOJEVICH
THAT WOULD RIP HIM OUT OF THE
GOVERNOR’S MANSION AND LAND HIM
IN PRISON.
IN PRISON. SAYING THE BLATANT BRIBERY THAT
WAS EXPOSED ON THE TAPES WOULD
MAKE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ROLL OVER H
HIS GRAVE.
HIS GRAVE. >> GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH TRIED TO
SELL THE APPOINTMENT TO THE
SENATE SEAT.
SENATE SEAT. THE CONDUCT WOULD MAKE LINCOLN
ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION GAINED FROM THE
WIRETAP AND THE BUGS THAT
OCCURRED OVER THE LAST MONTH AND
A HALF OR SO.
>> THOSE WIRETAPS SEALED THE
TOUGHEST PART OF THESE KIND OF
CASES, THE SBENTS.INTENT.ARRESTE
IF THE RAID.
>> BLAGOJEVICH WAS ARRESTED
ALONG WITH HIS CHIEF OF STAFF BY
FBI AGENTS ON CHARGES IN
LAYMEN’S TERMS OF BEING A ONE
MAN KICK BACK AND BRIBERY
MACHINE WHO PUT BARACK OBAMA’S
VACATED SENATE SEAT UP FOR THE
HIGHEST BIDDER.
HIGHEST BIDDER. >> EVEN BY THE HISTORIC
STANDARDS OF ILLINOIS
CORRUPTION, THE CASE LAID OUT
TODAY WAS STUNNING.
>> STUNNING EVIDENCE OF BRIBERY.
ALL ON TAPE.
THAT’S MATTER OF EVIDENCE, NOT
PARTISANSHIP.
PARTISANSHIP. BLAGOJEVICH DID HAPPEN TO BE A
DEMOCRAT AND HE WAS TRYING TO
CUT DEALS WITH OTHER DEMOCRATS
AND HE TRIED DEFENDING HIMSELF
BY APPEALING TO PARTY, GOING ON
TV AND MAKING A CELEBRITY
APPRENTICE APPEARANCE SAYING WHO
IS A DEMOCRAT.
>> ARE YOU GUYS DEMOCRATS?
HOW ABOUT TAKING A PICTURE WITH
ME.
ME. >> HOW ARE YOU?
PLEASURE MEETING YOU.
>> YOU’RE A DISGRACE.
>> NONE OF THAT’S TRUE.
>> HELLO.
>> HELLO. HOW ARE YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> DIDN’T GO THAT WELL.
MEANWHILE WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS
ARREST, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IN ILLINOIS
LAUNCHED ITS IMPEACHMENT.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
HEARING THE EVIDENCE IN A
PROCEDURE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE’RE
SEEING RIGHT NOW ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL.
LEVEL. BRIBERY HEARINGS AND AS NOW
EXPERTS ON LAW AND CORRUPTION
EXPLAINING TRADING GOVERNMENT
POWER FOR SOMETHING OF VALUE IS
BRIBERY.
BRIBERY. THE DEAL TO DO IT IS THE
BRIBERY.
BRIBERY. THE LAW DOESN’T GO EASY IF
YOU’RE BAD AT IT.
BLAGOJEVICH DIDN’T SUCCEED AT
SELLING THE SENATE SEAT.
HE GOT BUSTED BUT THAT DOESN’T
HELP HIS DEFENSE.
HE WAS GUILTY OF BRIBERY
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SOMEONE
TOOK HIM UP ON HIS PLOT.
>> IT’S A CRIME IN THE STATSE OF
ILLINOIS TO OFFER TO DO A PUBLIC
ACT FOR VALUE.
WHETHER SOMEBODY TAKES YOU UP ON
THAT OFFER IS IR RELEVANT.
>> HE DID NOT BEAT IMPEACHMENT
OR CONVICTION IN COURT BY
ARGUING THAT HE ONLY ATTEMPTED
TO SELL THE SEAT BECAUSE THAT
ATTEMPT IS OBVIOUSLY BRIBERY.
A LESSON THAT ECHOES RIGHT NOW
WHEN YOU HEAR TRUMP ALLIES OFFER
DEFENSES LIKE THIS.
>> ATTEMPTED BRIBERY ISN’T IN
THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION. REMEMBER UKRAINE GOT ITS
MILITARY AIDS.
MILITARY AIDS. IT WASDELAYED.
IT WASDELAYED. BIG DEAL.
BIG DEAL. >> BLAGOJEVICH’S OWN DEFENSE
ATTORNEY CONCEDED IN THE
IMPEACHMENT PROBE SAYING IT’S
BRIBERY.
BRIBERY. >> THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS WAS ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR
IN AN ATTEMPT QUID PRO QUO TO
TRADE A U.S. SENATE SEAT FOR
SOMETHING OF VALUE.
>> HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING.
>> YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENTION
THAT OFFERING SOMETHING OF
VALUE --
VALUE -- >> I DON’T DISAGREE WITH THE
CONTENTION.
CONTENTION. OFFERING IS A CRIME.
WHERE DOES IT SAY HE OFFERED
ANYTHING?
ANYTHING? >> THERE WAS A PRETTY CLEAR
OFFER FOR A SENATE SEAT, CERTAIN
CONSIDERATIONS.
CONSIDERATIONS. >> OFFERING IS THE CRIME.
NOW IT’S HARD TO DEFEND BAD
EVIDENCE SO LIKE TRUMP,
BLAGOJEVICH MESSAGING TURNED TO
OTHER CONSPIRACIES, TALK OF
WITCH HUNTS AND LYNCHINGS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORT TO
DISTRACT.
DISTRACT. >> THE CASE IS A FAIRY TALE.
>> YOU TALKING ANT INGING ABOUT
HUNT.
HUNT. I HEAR IT’S A JOKE.
>> I’M NOT GOING TO QUIT A JOB
THE PEOPLE HIRED ME TO DO
BECAUSE OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND
A POLITICAL LYNCH MOB.
>> HE SAID HE WAS A VICTIM OF A
LYNCHING.
LYNCHING. FWL IT’S
FWL IT’S IT’S A WORD THAT MANY DEMOCRATS
HAVE USED.
HAVE USED. >> THE FACT THAT HE MIGHT SAY HE
BEING ROD BLAGOJEVICH TO SAY
THINGS THAT OFFEND PEOPLE
DOESN’T MAKE THEM IMPEACHABLE.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS
INAPPROPRIATE.
INAPPROPRIATE. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS
IMPEACHABLE.
IMPEACHABLE. >> THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISAGREED.
DISAGREED. MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES
IMPEACHING AND CONVICTING HIM IN
SENATE TRIAL SO HE WAS REMOVED
FROM OFFICE.
FROM OFFICE. >> THE GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH IS
HEARBY IMPEACHED.
HEARBY IMPEACHED. >> I NOW PRONOUNCE THE JUDGMENT
OF CONVICTION AGAINST ROD
BLAGOJEVICH.
BLAGOJEVICH. THEREBY REMOVING HIM FROM THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY. >> LOSING THE BIG JOB FOR
BRIBERY.
BRIBERY. FOR WORSE FOR HIM, HE WAS
CONVICTED IN CRIMINAL TRIAL.
18 CHARGES INCLUDING BRIBERY,
ATTEMPTED EXTORTION, FRAUD,
CONSPIRACY AND NOTICEABLY
OBSTRUCTION RELATED CHARGES LIKE
LYING TO THE FBI.
HE GOT HIT WITH A 14 YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE.
SENTENCE. HARD TIME BECAUSE BRIBERY IS A
SERIOUS FELONY.
SERIOUS FELONY. YOU CAN SEE HIM RIGHT HERE
REPORTING TO PRISON FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN DENVER IN 2012.
HE REMAINS THERE TO THIS DAY.
HERE IS HOW HE LOOKED FROM A
PHOTOGRAPH IN AUGUST.
CONVICTED OF BRIBERY PLOT HE
DIDN’T FULLY EXECUTE IS STILL
SLATED TO SERVE SEVEN MORE YEARS
IN PRISON BECAUSE THIS IS
SERIOUS STUFF.
SERIOUS STUFF. LIKE ALTERING STUFF.
LOSE YOUR FREEDOM TYPE STUFF.
THAT’S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND
AS WITNESSES NOW DETAIL HOW THE
OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WAS YES, THERE’S
THAT TERM, QUID PRO QUO BRIBERY
TO GET DONALD TRUMP SOMETHING
PERSONALLY VALUABLE TO HIM.
SOME HAVE TESTIFIED ABOUT THAT
GRAVELY.
GRAVELY. NO TRUMP OFFICIAL HAS COME DOWN
TO THESE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS
AND DENIED UNDER OATH WHAT THE
OTHERS ADMITTED.
OTHERS ADMITTED. >> WAS THERE A QUID PRO QUO?
AS I TESTIFIED PREVIOUSLY WITH
REGARD TO THE REQUESTED WHITE
HOUSE CALL AND THE WHITE HOUSE
MEETING, THE ANSWER IS YES.
>> YOU TAKE IT ALL TOGETHER
HERE, YOU GOT TO WONDER WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP THINKS OF HIS
OLD APPRENTICE COLLEAGUE WHO IS
IN SO MUCH TROUBLE FOR BRIBERY,
RIGHT.
RIGHT. DOES HE EVER THINK BACK ON HIM
IN THE PRESIDENT DID SPEAK TO
THIS SAYING YES, HE THOUGHT THE
PUNISHMENT WAS TOO HARSH AND HE
IS CONSIDERING A PARDON.
>> I THOUGHT HE WAS TREATED
UNBELIEVABLY UNFAIRLY.
UNBELIEVABLY UNFAIRLY. HE’S BEEN IN JAIL FOR SEVEN
YEARS OVER A PHONE CALL WHERE
NOTHING HAPPENS.
NOTHING HAPPENS. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, I AM THINKING
VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT COMMUTING
HIS SENTENCE.
HIS SENTENCE. >> WOW.
>> WOW. THAT WAS IN AUGUST.
THE WORLD DIDN’T KNOW YET BUT
DONALD TRUMP KNEW THAT HE HAD
BEEN DOING BRIBERY SOLICITATION
ON HIS OWN PHONE CALLS AND YET
AGAIN, EXPOSED IN PUBLIC THE
QUESTION OF WHAT DO WE DO AS A
NATION WITH PEOPLE IN OFFICE