Federal prosecutors are investigating "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, including allegations that employment was rigged at several state agencies in violation of laws that prohibit political consideration as a factor in most state jobs, according to a letter made public today from U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald said the federal government's investigation has "implicated multiple state agencies and departments" and said investigators also have "developed a number of credible witnesses" as part of their probe into state hiring practices under Blagojevich.
Abby Ottenhoff, a spokeswoman for Gov. 'Sonny Boy' Rod Blagojevich, released a statement today defending the administration's hiring practices. ``Among those we hired there were some bad apples who violated the rules. The systems we put in place in our first year helped ferret out this wrongdoing," Ottenhoff said. "We insisted on an independent Inspector General for precisely this purpose," she said. "We've acted on those IG recommendations up to and including termination, and where appropriate, referred them to the US Attorney for criminal investigation. We will continue pursuing those who would break the rules." |