Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Key Blagojevich figure seeks deal

|
|
 
  
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (UPI Photo/David Banks) 
Published: Dec. 22, 2008 at 9:03 AM

CHICAGO, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A key player in the corruption scandal surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is seeking immunity for his cooperation in the investigation, officials said.

Area businessman and fundraiser Raghuveer P. Nayak was identified as "Individual D" in a federal complaint filed nearly two weeks ago in which Blagojevich was accused of, among other things, trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

In the complaint, Individual D reportedly was being pressured by Blagojevich for campaign cash to appoint U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., to the vacant seat.

Nayak hasn't been accused of wrongdoing. Federal investigators went to his house in a Chicago suburb the day Blagojevich was arrested. He has sought immunity from federal authorities for his cooperation, sources told the Tribune.

Nayak offered no comment, the Times reported.

Nayak hosted an event in October, news reports said, where discussions of raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade him to select Jackson took place.

Jackson acknowledges telling Nayak about wanting the Senate seat, but said he was unaware of a fundraising effort to support his bid.

His attorney, James Montgomery Sr., said Nayak was "trying to save his own skin" if an agreement with prosecutors were reached and "that cooperation relates to my client."

Topics: Rod Blagojevich
Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 30
Valentine's Day Ramallah, West Bank
View Caption
fark
From all of us who enjoy working and dining in fine restaurants to amateur VD diners: Leave your...
The secret to making Americans less fat? Secretly swap out their portion sizes and give them a different-colored...
I-Mockery's annual Valentine's Day card collection. The perfect gift for that special someone you...
Duke Sucks, the book
I don't expect witty repartee kid, just give me a sign when the diaper is full so I can wait it...
Looking for that perfect, discreet affair this Valentine's Day? Lucky for you, dating sites catering...