Feb 19, 2009 11:12 am US/Central
Subpoena Issued For Patti Blagojevich
Former First Lady Has Reportedly Complied With Requests
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich
CBS
The federal probe into former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has officially reached his wife. Authorities have served Patti Blagojevich with a federal subpoena.
Patti Blagojevich's attorney, Raymond Pijon, says she is cooperating. Pijon tells the Chicago Sun-Times that the former First Lady gave federal investigators documents, notes or e-mails she had with more than 40 people, among them convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko. The correspondence dealt with Ms. Blagojevich's own real estate dealings.
But Pijon said Patti Blagojevich's cooperation does not mean she will flip on her husband.
In the criminal complaint against former Gov. Blagojevich, his 43-year-old wife emerges in a
recorded phone conversation. According to the complaint, Patti Blagojevich was the voice in the background spewing an ugly suggestion to "just fire" some newspaper editors if the Tribune Company hoped for state assistance to sell Wrigley Field, the storied home of the Chicago Cubs.
"Hold up that f***ing Cubs s***," she says as her husband is talking on the telephone. "F*** them."
Most people remember the foul language, but legal experts say she could be charged criminally, even if the government is really going after her husband.
"In this case, Patti Blagojevich's voice is on the tapes, taking an active role in the governor's comments," said John Marshall Law School Professor Ann Lousin. "She should be definitely worried."
Lousin said if Patti Blagojevich participated in the conversations about Wrigley Field, she could be considered a co-conspirator.
"If you assist in a criminal activity, wanting that activity to succeed, you are culpable under the federal statutes," said CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller.
Legal experts say the feds are putting pressure on Patti Blagojevich because they want the deposed governor to plead guilty. It is also possible that prosecutors don't intend to charge Mrs. Blagojevich but are hoping to convince her to cooperate with their investigation against her husband.
Miller says the law allows a wife to testify against her husband, if that testimony refers to events or conversations in which a third party was present.
Nobody was answering the door at the Blagojevich home Thursday, but Patti's attorney told the Sun-Times he hopes the feds consider her role as the mother of two, and won't charge her.
"Perhaps the issue that she's a mother taking care of two little kids is something more looking toward sentencing, rather that whether or not to place the charge," Miller said.
Patti Blagojevich was also fired last month from her $100,000-per-year job as chief fundraiser for the Chicago Christian Industrial League homeless agency.
In addition to the alleged Tribune Company shakedown, former Gov. Blagojevich is charged with trying to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, among other counts.
A grand jury indictment is expected to be handed down against Rod Blagojevich in April. He was removed from office by the Illinois State Senate on Jan. 29.
Mrs. Blagojevich has not been charged with wrongdoing.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum, Mike Parker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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