WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. agents investigating alleged corruption in the administration of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are investigating real estate deals involving his wife.
Sources familiar with the inquiry told the Chicago Tribune federal agents, who have been investigating allegations of favoritism and fraud within the Blagojevich administration for three years, are looking into hundreds of thousands of dollars Patricia Blagojevich received as commissions while working as a real estate broker for political supporters, fundraisers and state contractors, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.
A real estate agent said she was recently contacted by the FBI and asked about a $3.2 million sale brokered by Patricia Blagojevich in 2004. The home's seller was an investment banker who made generous contributions to Blagojevich's campaign fund.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff denied any wrongdoing on the part of Patricia Blagojevich, describing the governor's wife as an ethical businesswoman.
"No one -- and I mean no one -- has told us that she is under investigation, and there's no reason she would be," Ottenhoff said. "She has done nothing wrong.
"But what is really sad is that someone has resorted to malicious rumors and innuendo to attack the governor's wife. This has sunk to an outrageous new low."
