UPDATED: Arrested Illinois Governor Accused Of Pressuring Trib To Fire Editorialists -- Excerpts from Phone Calls Here

By: Mark Fitzgerald Federal authorities who arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday accuse him and his chief of staff John Harris of threatening to derail Tribune Co.'s sale of the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field stadium unless certain members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board were fired.

The allegations are contained in a 78-page criminal complaint by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago that led to the stunning arrest of the sitting governor on charges that include soliciting bribes in connection with filling Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat and other acts of official corruption.

The complaint alleges that last month Blagojevich, through his chief of staff Harris, repeatedly threatened to withhold "substantial state financial assistance in connection with Wrigley Field, which assistance ROD BLAGOJEVICH believed to be worth at least $100 million to the Tribune Company, for the private purpose of inducing the controlling shareholder of the Tribune Company to fire members of the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, a newspaper owned by the Tribune Company, who were responsible for editorials critical of ROD BLAGOJEVICH."

According to the complaint, Blagojevich -- who had been widely reported to be under federal investigation as aides and campaign donors went on trial for corruption -- was worried he might be indicted, and that the Tribune editorial board would call for his impeachment.

The complaint names one member, Deputy Editorial Page Editor John McCormick, as a specific target of the conspiracy. Blagojevich allegedly sent the message through Harris and an unnamed Tribune executive to Sam Zell demanding the firing, and suggesting it could come amid the layoffs of the past weeks.

The complaint is occasionally R-rated as Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, are heard on wire taps complaining about the newspaper. The Tribune and the rival Chicago Sun-Times have published investigative articles about Patti Blagojevich's real estate business in the past.

McCormick did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. A Tribune spokesperson also did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Here's an excerpt from the complaint: "During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH's wife can be heard in the background telling ROD BLAGOJEVICH to tell Deputy Governor A 'to hold up that fucking Cubs shit. . . fuck them.' ROD BLAGOJEVICH asked Deputy Governor A what he thinks of his wife's idea. Deputy Governor A stated that there is a part of what ROD BLAGOJEVICH's wife said that he 'agree[s] with.'

"Deputy Governor A told ROD BLAGOJEVICH that Tribune Owner will say that he does not have anything to do with the editorials, 'but I would tell him, look, if you want to get your Cubs thing done get rid of this Tribune.'

"Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH's wife got on the phone and, during the continuing discussion of the critical Tribune editorials, stated that Tribune Owner can 'just fire' the writers because Tribune Owner owns the Tribune. ROD BLAGOJEVICH's wife stated that if Tribune Owner's papers were hurting his business, Tribune Owner would do something about the editorial board. ROD BLAGOJEVICH then got back on the phone. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Deputy Governor A to put together the articles in the Tribune that are on the topic of removing ROD BLAGOJEVICH from office and they will then have someone, like JOHN HARRIS, go to Tribune Owner and say, 'We've got some decisions to make now.' ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that 'someone should say, 'get rid of those people.'"

UPDATE: The Chicago Sun-Times has more.
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On Nov. 6, the day of a Tribune editorial critical of Blagojevich , Harris told Blagojevich that he told Tribune Financial Advisor the previous day that things "look like they could move ahead fine but, you know, there is a risk that all of this is going to get derailed by your own editorial page."

Harris also told Blagojevich that he was meeting with Tribune Financial Advisor on Nov. 10.

In a Nov. 11 intercepted call, Harris allegedly told Blagojevich that Tribune Financial Advisor talked to Tribune Owner and Tribune Owner "got the message and is very sensitive to the issue."

Harris told Blagojevich that according to Tribune Financial Advisor, there would be "certain corporate reorganizations and budget cuts coming and, reading between the lines, he's going after that section."

Blagojevich allegedly responded: "Oh. That's fantastic."

After further discussion, Blagojevich said, "Wow. Okay, keep our fingers crossed. You're the man. Good job, John."

In a further conversation on Nov. 21, Harris told Blagojevich that he had singled out to Tribune Financial Advisor the Tribune's deputy editorial page editor, John McCormick, "as somebody who was the most biased and unfair," according to the complaint.

After hearing that Tribune Financial Advisor had assured Harris that the Tribune would be making changes affecting the editorial board, Blagojevich allegedly had a series of conversations with Chicago Cubs representatives regarding efforts to provide state financing for Wrigley Field.