Illinois governor freed on recognizance following arrest
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were released on their own recognizance at a federal court hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
According to local press reports, after being escorted to the defense table, Blagojevich smirked and shook his head as he read documents given to him by his attorney.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan said the purpose of the hearing was to explain the charges against the men and make sure they understood their rights. Assistant U.S. Atty. Red Schar then read into the record the two counts detailed in the criminal complaint.
The two were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy. The governor was accused of selling or trading the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for his wife and himself.
Court sources said if convicted, Blagojevich and Harris could face up to 10 years in prison.
The magistrate agreed to release the men on a 4,500 U.S. dollars recognizance bond.
The governor was then driven back to his Chicago home and arrived there about 2:30 p.m. He went into his home through a back entrance.
Blagojevich, who turns 52 on Wednesday, is in his second four-year term as Illinois governor. His term ends January 2011.
美国伊利诺伊州州长涉嫌贪污 奥巴马牵涉其中
美国爆出牵涉到候任总统奥巴马的重大贪污丑闻，伊利诺伊州州长布拉戈耶维奇(Rod Blagojevich)因涉嫌卖官鬻爵，9日被联邦调查局拘捕。据香港《明报》等媒体的报道，他涉嫌出售的，正是奥巴马当选总统后，遗下的伊利诺伊州参议员空缺。检控官在声明指，他涉及的贪污罪之广泛“相当惊人”。
布氏及其幕僚长哈里斯9日被捕。联邦检察官发表声明指，布氏试图“出售”美国参议员职位。据报，当局偷听到布氏一则在11月3日(即大选前夕)的电话对话，内容涉及如何利用委任参议员，换取未来在非牟利机构取得高薪厚职，据报通话中提及的接任参议员人选，是奥巴马一名高级顾问。布氏在电话中更要求为妻子安排加入企业董事局，薪酬要高达15万美元。
联邦检察官费杰罗(Patric Fitzgerald)发表声明说：“这些罪名所涉及贪渎的广度非常惊人。”
根据长达76页的联邦调查局文件，在获法院授权的监听中，窃听到布拉哥杰维奇讨论到他如何能自指派悬缺联邦参议员席位的州长职权中获利等。

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