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Dec 4, 2008 9:16 pm US/Central
FBI Raids Businesses Of Blagojevich Supporter
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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This drug store in Joliet is one of two businesses raided Thursday by the FBI. They are owned by a supporter of Gov. Blagojevich, whose administration is under federal investigation.
CBS
FBI agents searched two Joliet businesses Thursday morning, and both are owned by a man with ties to the governor. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.
An FBI spokesperson told CBS 2 that agents spent hours inside two Joliet pharmacies owned by Harish Bhatt.
Bhatt has been a longtime supporter of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The FBI would only say it's part of an ongoing federal investigation.
Federal agents descended upon Basinger and Essington pharmacies early in the morning and combed through paperwork. Bhatt told reporters agents weren't looking into him, adding, "We have nothing to do with it."
Bhatt wouldn't say more. But last year, the Chicago Tribune named Bhatt as being part of an ongoing investigation into Blagojevich's administration. The paper reported state police were looking into whether Bhatt solicited campaign donations in exchange for state favors.
Bhatt and Blagojevich go back years. Bhatt has raised thousands of dollars for the governor. And just this year, another Blagojevich fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, was convicted on pay-to-play corruption charges.
CBS 2's "Truth in Politics" reported two months ago that federal investigators believe they have enough evidence to charge the governor with tax fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Blagojevich has not been charged with any crime. But the raids Thursday raise questions about whether they could be tied to that ongoing federal investigation.
Calls to Bhatt for additional comment went unanswered.
A Blagojevich spokesperson says there is no indication the raids have anything to do with the governor's administration, so he is issuing no formal comment.
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