Misuse of State Funding To Induce Firing of Chicago Tribune Editorial
Writers

According to the affidavit, intercepted phone calls revealed that the
Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs,
has explored the possibility of obtaining assistance from the Illinois
Finance Authority (IFA) relating to the Tribune Company’s efforts to
sell the Cubs and the financing or sale of Wrigley Field. In a
November 6 phone call, [Gov. Blagojevich Chief of Staff, John-] Harris
explained to Blagojevich that the deal the Tribune Company was trying
to get through the IFA was basically a tax mitigation scheme in which
the IFA would own title to Wrigley Field and the Tribune would not
have to pay capital gains tax, which Harris estimated would save the
company approximately $100 million.

Intercepted calls allegedly show that Blagojevich directed Harris to
inform Tribune Owner and an associate, identified as Tribune Financial
Advisor, that state financial assistance would be withheld unless
members of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board were fired, primarily
because Blagojevich viewed them as driving discussion of his possible
impeachment. In a November 4 phone call, Blagojevich allegedly told
Harris that he should say to Tribune Financial Advisor, Cubs Chairman
and Tribune Owner, “our recommendation is fire all those [expletive]
people, get ‘em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial
support.”

On November 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 November 10.

In a November 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 November 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.” 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. On November 30, Blagojevich spoke with
the president of a Chicago-area sports consulting firm, who indicated
that he was working with the Cubs on matters involving Wrigley Field.
Blagojevich and Sports Consultant discussed the importance of getting
the IFA transaction approved at the agency’s December or January
meeting because Blagojevich was contemplating leaving office in early
January and his IFA appointees would still be in place to approve the
deal, the charges allege.

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