Ill. gov. 'betrayed' by charged fundraiser

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he would feel "betrayed" if charges brought against a top fundraiser are proven to be true.

Blagojevich, a Democrat, said formal charges filed Wednesday against Tony Rezko were "a clarifying document," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

"You've got two guys trying to personally enrich themselves, and there's not even a suggestion that I had any knowledge whatsoever that they were doing that," Blagojevich said.

The governor said the indictments against Rezko and political insider Stuart Levine for allegedly attempting to take millions in kickbacks and campaign donations from companies seeking state business were the result of "a couple of guys ... acting on their own."

Blagojevich said that if the allegations are true "then he's (Rezko) betrayed my friendship. And I feel betrayed. I feel sad. I feel let down, dismayed and disappointed."

The governor, who is seeking re-election in next month, came to power on a platform of ethics reform after the scandal-ridden tenure of Republican Gov. George Ryan, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.