FBI wiretaps from a 2008 investigation of then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich recorded current Democratic candidate for governor, billionaire J.B. Pritzker, speaking to Blagojevich about a state job appointment. The previously unreleased recordings were released Wednesday. An association with the now-imprisoned Blagojevich could be politically damaging. A Pritzker campaign statement says there is nothing untoward about the conversations.
FBI wiretaps formed the core of the evidence against Blagojevich. The Democrat's 2011 convictions included attempting to trade appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president for campaign cash.
In the recording Blagojevich brings up the possibility of appointing Pritzker to the Senate. But Pritzker doesn't express interest. He does sound interested in the Illinois treasurer's job saying "That's the one I would want."
