SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS – In a stinging rebuke of Governor Blagojevich’s strategy of ignoring the law and the public’s right to know, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Kelley ruled that the Better Government Association (“BGA”) and Dan Sprehe, the BGA’s Chief Investigator, have a right to copies of federal subpoenas served upon the Blagojevich administration.

“The BGA is happy that Judge Kelley stood up for the public and rejected Governor Blagojevich’s outlandish argument that legally he cannot release the subpoena’s served upon his administration by the U.S. Attorney’s Office” said BGA Executive Director Jay Stewart. “The Governor’s actions in this case are emblematic of his cynical manipulation of the law; he ignores it when it suits his short term political interests and then attempts to hide behind it when he thinks it will shield his administration’s illegal and perhaps criminal actions.”

In 2006 the BGA and Sprehe sought copies under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act of federal subpoenas of the Governor’s Office issued by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The BGA and Sprehe were denied as was their appeal. The BGA and Sprehe filed suit in Sangamon County Circuit Court on January 4, 2007 challenging the Governor’s denial of their requests.

In 2002 Governor Blagojevich stated “I think the voters and the taxpayers have to believe those of us who want to lead them. And understand that we are not just going to look the other way at corruption or be corrupt ourselves.” Stewart said that despite the pledge “Time and time again when the Governor has had a chance to level with the public and explain why his administration and friends are under federal investigation he pulls plays right out of George Ryan’s playbook and begins furiously spinning, obfuscating and denying.”

“Thankfully the Governor’s P.R. machine failed to carry the day in court. Judge Kelley’s decision means that the public may finally get a peek at what is really going on in the Blagojevich administration” said Stewart.

###