Blagojevich on Constitution: 'F'n golden'

CHICAGO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Indicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a copy of the U.S. Constitution with a near-profanity that has become his catchphrase, witnesses said.

Blagojevich, while appearing at a book-signing event at the University of Chicago campus Tuesday, accepted a copy of the Constitution offered by a student and autographed it with the phrase "f'n golden," The Chicago Tribune reported.

"Always remember the rule of law is sacrosanct, nay it is more -- it is f'n golden," Blagojevich wrote on the page, the newspaper said.

The phrase originates from the impeached governor's conversations taped by the FBI as they gathered evidence to bring corruption charges against him for allegedly trying to "sell" then-President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat in return for political and financial favors. In one wiretapped conversation, he allegedly describes his opportunity as "(expletive) golden."

The Tribune said the student asked that Blagojevich inscribe the phrase near the Constitution's 17th Amendment, which empowers governors to make appointment to vacant Senate seats.

"I'm OK with writing it," he told reporters. "I did not write the bad word. I abbreviated it."

U.S. prosecutors reportedly have indicated they plan to bring a revised indictment against Blagojevich next month.