This scandal may end up having more legs than a centipede.
BY NATASHA KORECKI AND DAVE MCKINNEY
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Federal authorities had more wiretaps than previously disclosed in the investigation of Gov. Blagojevich — including the cellular telephone of a member the governor’s inner circle.
A new government filing in federal court indicates that in November, authorities tapped the cell phone of “Lobbyist 1.” The Sun-Times has identified lobbyist 1 as Lon Monk, the governor’s first-term chief of staff. Monk later became a fund-raiser and state lobbyist.
The revelation that investigators captured more on secret recordings than previously disclosed, came as federal prosecutors seek to release portions of those recordings to a House Committee seeking the governor’s impeachment.
Prosecutors are asking Chief U.S. District Judge James Holderman to release portions of four recordings having to do with the governor’s alleged discussion of asking for campaign contributions in exchange for his official actions. Prosecutors will go before Holderman today to discuss the motion.
“These calls bear on a discrete episode of criminal conduct alleged in the complaint affidavit … the calls are evidence of a criminal offense that the government was authorized to monitor under the wiretap order,” prosecutors wrote in their filing.
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