Blago's Contact At Tribune I.D.'d By...'Trib'

By: E&P Staff Tribune Co. Vice President Nils Larsen -- described as "a 38-year-old financial whiz who was instrumental in (Sam) Zell's takeover" of the media giant -- is unidentified "Tribune Financial Advisor" who was the middleman in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich alleged scheme to pressure the company to fire Chicago Tribune editorial writers, the newspaper reported Friday.

According to the criminal complaint released after the arrest of Blagojevich and his chief of staff Tuesday, the governor wanted the Trib editorial board members fired as the quid pro quo for his cooperation in smoothing the sale of Wrigley Field to the state. Tribune is selling the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the iconic ballpark to help reduce debt taken on when it went private. Selling to the state of Illinois would reduce Tribune's capital gains taxes by as much as $100 million.

Larsen is "Zell's point man" in the sale of the Cubs, according to the Tribune account by Todd Lighty and Robert Becker with contributions from Jeff Coen and David Heinzmann.

In the criminal complaint, Blagojevich is allegedly taped telling his aide to be "straight forward" and tell Larsen, "we're doing this stuff for you, we believe this is right for Illinois [and] this is a big deal to [Tribune Owner] financially" but what Rod Blagojevich is doing to help Tribune Owner is the same type of action that the Tribune is saying should be the basis for Rod Blagojevich's impeachment."

The complaint continued, " Rod Blagojevich said Tribune Owner should be told "maybe we can't do this now. Fire those fuckers."

Blagojevich's chief of staff, who was also arrested, later reports he had met with the Tribune financial advisor, according to the criminal complaint. "He gets the message, doesn't he?" Blagojevich allegedly asks on the wiretap. The chief of staff, John Harris, replies, "Oh, yeah, he got it loud and clear."

In a statement released earlier this week, Tribune said none of its employees or advisors acted inappropriately during the affair.

The Trib also reported, citing an unnamed source, that federal authorities have subpoenaed the newspaper "seeking memos about potential staff cuts or changes to the Chicago Tribune editorial board."

No editorial board members were fired in the recent waves of reductions at the paper.