2 Indian-Americans in Illinois Governor scandal: Report

As lawmakers moved closer to impeach disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a media report claimed that two Indian-American businessmen were involved in a fund-raising campaign to encourage the Governor to pick Jesse Jackson Jr to fill President-elect Barack Obama's senate seat.

As lawmakers moved closer to impeach disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a media report on Saturday claimed that two Indian-American businessmen were involved in a fund-raising campaign to encourage the Governor to pick Jesse Jackson Jr to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s senate seat.

Blagojevich has so far resisted calls by Obama and his fellow Democrat leaders to resign, but now in an unprecedented step Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has asked the Supreme Court to declare the controversial governor unfit to serve. She has asked the court to appoint Lt Gov Patrick Quinn as Acting Governor.

The ‘Chicago Tribune’ has reported that as Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois’ next Senator, two businessmen with ties to Jesse Jackson Jr and him discussed raising at least one million for the governor’s campaign as a way to encourage him to pick Jackson for the job.

Blagojevich, the paper said, made an appearance at an Oct 31 luncheon meeting at the India House restaurant in Schaumburg sponsored by businessman Raghuveer Nayak, a major Blagojevich supporter who also has fundraising and business ties to the Jackson family.

Quoting two businessmen who attended the meeting, the Tribune claimed that Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi privately told many of the more than two dozen attendees, the fundraising effort was aimed at supporting Jackson’s bid for the Senate.

Under the rules, if a Senator resigns, the Governor initially appoints a replacement, as each State has two Senators.