SC panel says Gov. Sanford should face ethics accusations tied to probe into travel, finances

SC panel says governor should face ethics charges

Former Georgia congressman Swindall indicted in alleged campaign contribution scheme

ATLANTA — A former Georgia congressman has been charged with conspiracy and telling lies in an alleged campaign contribution scheme linked to a 2005 Atlanta city council election.

Blagojevich’s former chief fundraiser sentenced to 3 years in federal tax case

CHICAGO — Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s former chief fundraiser was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for hiding the use of his company’s money to pay thousands of dollars in gambling debts and other expenses.

Once hush-hush, drug war plays big in Mexico’s mid-term elections

MEXICO CITY — When Mario Anguiano successfully ran for mayor of Colima three years ago, no one much cared that his brother and cousin were in prison on drug charges.

Casinos sue Blagojevich over Illinois law mandating profit sharing with horse racing tracks

CHICAGO — Four Illinois riverboat casinos are suing former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as they continue to fight a state law that requires them to share their profits with the state’s ailing horse racing tracks.

FEC draft advisory OKs Indiana Rep. Visclosky to use campaign funds for legal bills

WASHINGTON — The Federal Election Commission has issued a draft advisory allowing Rep. Pete Visclosky to use campaign funds for the legal bills he’s incurring in the federal investigation of a now-defunct defense lobbying firm.

Investigation into former Ohio AG, who resigned amid sensational scandal, ends with $1K fine

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The long-running case against former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, accused of running his state office like “Animal House” and spending campaign money on goodies for himself and his family, ended Thursday with a fine and no criminal charges.

Friends and collegues can’t explain embezzlement by integrity-touting Florida sheriff

SHALIMAR, Fla. — Sheriff Charlie Morris preached integrity. The word hung in large letters in his headquarters. His peers elected him head of Florida’s sheriffs association and gave him a seat on the state board that disciplines law officers who stray.

Wife of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich portrayed as plucky, well-liked mom on reality TV show

CHICAGO — Once she was the first lady of Illinois. Now Patti Blagojevich is gagging down bugs and crawling through tropical slime in a race to be named Queen of the Jungle on a reality TV show.

Blagojevich pushes for permission to use campaign money for legal defense in corruption case

CHICAGO — Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has made a fresh plea for permission to tap campaign funds to help pay legal expenses in his corruption case.

‘Gut-check time’: Ill. officials face tough choices on responding to government corruption

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — With one governor in prison and another under indictment, Illinois officials must choose between patching holes in current ethics laws or attempting a top-to-bottom overhaul that might hurt their own interests.

Blagojevich’s former chief of staff pleads not guilty to wire fraud in corruption case

CHICAGO — A former chief of staff who served under ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Thursday in the federal corruption case involving the former Illinois governor.

Judge nixes Blagojevich bid for Costa Rica trip, says ex-gov doesn’t grasp gravity of case

CHICAGO — A federal judge told ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday to forget about starring in a reality TV show in the Costa Rican jungle and focus instead on the corruption charges that could send him to prison for years.