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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Illinois Law May Protect Patricia Blagojevich in Corruption Case |
| 2008-12-13 |
| A word of advice to the Blagojeviches: whatever you do, don't get a divorce. An Illinois law dating to the 1960s may help protect the state's foul-mouthed first lady as the federal government proceeds with its investigation and prosecution of her husband, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Illinois penal code bars Patricia Blagojevich from testifying against her husband about "any conversation [held] between them during marriage," a result of a "marital privilege" law that keeps the content of their contact private, just as conversations between a priest and penitent are off the books. "Mrs. Blagojevich cannot be compelled to testify against the governor without his consent," said Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior legal analyst for FOX News. "So very little purpose could be used in squeezing her" -- pressing charges against her in an attempt to get to her husband. U.S. attorneys charged Gov. Blagojevich with corruption Tuesday. FBI agents arrested him at his home in Chicago for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Federal courts would honor the Illinois state law on spousal privilege if they bring a case to trial. Phone taps captured the governor "conspiring to sell the Senate seat in exchange for" -- among other things -- "his wife's placement on paid corporate boards," where she would receive at least $150,000 a year, according to the criminal complaint filed by U.S. attorneys. Patricia Blagojevich was mentioned 19 times in the federal file. And though she may not want to squawk, she's already said more than a mouthful. On Nov. 10, the complaint alleges, Patricia Blagojevich participated in a two-hour conference call with her husband and others as they discussed ways to profit from appointing Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, and the means of hiding evidence of a "pay-for-play" scheme. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Commodore Frank---Concrete overshoes trumps hair flotation. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-12-13 14:15 |
| #4 That's nice. I suppose she could approach the coming separation like Winnie Mandela did, but she will still have to make do without her husband while he is on his very long business trip. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-12-13 14:15 |
| #3 but his hair is a workable flotation device |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-12-13 10:43 |
| #2 I'm sure Rezko has a real estate business or investment factoid or two about Rod's lovely wife that he might be passing along. I just hope Blogo does NOT resign. As long as he remains in office he can retain his Illiois State Police security detail. Without it... well, Lake Michigan is very deep and very cold this time of year. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-12-13 06:39 |
| #1 Fed mistake #1. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-12-13 00:59 |