4147 North Ravenswood Avenue
This building contained the political offices of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, offices the federal government say he used for wire fraud, attempted extortion and a conspiracy to solicit bribes. As part of its investigation into Blagojevich the federal government taped the offices located here.
The first serious allegation against Blagojevich was related to the federal case against Tony Rezko when it was revealed that Blagojevich was Public Official A of the Rezko indictment.
The mug shot of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Credit: Wikipedia
On December 9, 2008 US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris arrested at their homes. Fitzgerald said in a press conference the arrests were meant to prevent Blagojevich from gaining personal benefit from the imminent appointment of a replacement to the US Senate for Barack Obama.
Blagojevich was the seventh Illinois governor arrested or indicted and the fourth since 1971.
Turning the state impeachment into a media circus, Blagojevich made appearances on television shows such as Good Morning America and The View instead of attending the proceedings in Springfield.
SOURCES
All documents from the 2011 federal trial
US v. Blagojevich & Harris– the criminal complaint
WALKING DIRECTIONS TO NEXT LOCATION
Continue the tour to 4232 North Paulina St.
- Turn back north towards Berteau. When you reach the corner, in about 138′, turn right.
- Cross the alley and back across Hermitage, continue past the former Mary Courtney school building to Paulina St. , about 0.2 mile, to Paulina St., the first street after Hermitage. Turn left.
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