Blagojevich Busted

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be indicted on corruption charges as soon as later Thursday, but it turns out he's skipped off to Disney World while he's waiting.

Federal prosecutors have only until Tuesday to drop an indictment against Blagojevich.

The U.S. Attorney's office announced at 10 a.m. Thursday that a court filing about a "significant criminal matter" would be unveiled in the afternoon. No further details were offered.

Thursday was believed to be the last day the grand jury meets before the deadline, although the government never announces the time and place of grand jury meetings.

CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said he expects the indictment to be handed down before a U.S. Magistrate judge on Thursday, and placed in the electronic docket system for public viewing.

"Now we could all find out who the defendants are, what the counts are, and possibly who's going to be cooperating with the United States Attorney's office in this prosecution," Miller said.  

Blagojevich is accused of plotting to trade or sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other crimes. Among the others are an alleged threat to withhold state help in the Tribune Company's attempt to sell Wrigley Field if certain editorial writers weren't fired, and an alleged attempt to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital.

The indictment will reveal what specific counts will be lodged against Blagojevich, which may include more than the allegations revealed at the time of Blagojevich's arrest.

Blagojevich is not in town for the occasion. He is in Orlando, Fla., area, staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista. He reportedly plans to take his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World.

No one answered calls to the room where Blagojevich was registered.

Publicist Glenn Selig will only Blagojevich isn't in Chicago and won't say when Blagojevich will return.

It is not necessary for Blagojevich to be present when the indictment is handed down.

As we await the Blagojevich indictment, there is speculation about how many of his family members will face charges as well.

First, there's his brother, Rob Blagojevich, who worked as the governor's chief fundraiser.

"The question is whether he was part of a criminal conspiracy, dealing with the governor's campaign fund, since he was head of it," said CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller.

Brother Rob Blagojevich is also the man who approached Roland Burris for a $10,000 contribution to the governor, before Blagojevich appointed Burris to the Senate.

And former first lady Patti Blagojevich is very much under the federal microscope as well. Some were calling her "potty-mouth Patti" after federal wiretaps recorded her unleashing a stream of profanity against the Chicago Tribune, one of her husband's perceived enemies.

"It's not against the law to be in the kitchen and swear, and that's essentially what they have," said defense attorney Richard Kling.

But no one knows what else Patti may have said on the tapes. We do know the Feds have been snooping around her lucrative real estate dealings for years.

"The scuttlebutt is that the investigation is centering more on her real estate business than anything having to do with her husband as governor of Illinois," Kling said.

A source tells CBS 2 Patti's indictment "is not a slam dunk, just 50-50." The source says U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has spent a lot of time lately putting people before the grand jury regarding Patti Blagojevich's activities.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley and Assignment Editor Carly Luque contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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