Blagojevich had contact with Tribune, records show

Illinois state records outline a series of private contacts between Tribune Co and since-ousted Gov Rod Blagojevich even as investigators prepared to arrest him on federal corruption charges late last year. The ex-governor's e-mails, telephone logs and calendars, recently released to the Chicago Tribune under the state's Freedom of Information Act, provide new details about the urgency of Tribune Co.'s efforts to get a financial bailout by selling Wrigley Field to the state. Tribune Co also owns the Cubs, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. The documents leave much unsaid, and most of the people who could fill in the blanks would not comment. The records indicate that Tribune Chief Executive Sam Zell and Blagojevich spoke but do not show what they discussed. Around late October, authorities began secretly recording Blagojevich's phone calls. They were listening Nov. 3 when Blagojevich allegedly discussed pressuring Tribune Co. into firing editorial writers. At one point, Blagojevich wonders whether he should talk directly to Zell, adding that he would tell Zell the state can't help with the Wrigley deal because "your own newspaper is going to argue to impeach."