"Public Official A" is a high-ranking public official alleged to be involved in political corruption during United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation of corruption in the State of Illinois. The identity of Public Official A has not been officially released and the official has not been indicted, but a judge has confirmed that the person is former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.[1]
In 2005, "Public Official A" was alleged to have selected consultants for private equity funds that appeared before the Illinois State Pension Funds via two close associates.[2] Those associates - Stuart Levine and Tony Rezko - were indicted by Attorney Fitzgerald. This led to considerable public speculation in 2006 that Blagojevich was “Public Official A” and that he would therefore be a key subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.[3]
A ruling on February 26, 2008, confirmed the suspicion that Blagojevich was “Public Official A” when a federal judge referenced Blagojevich's campaign as the beneficiary of the activity for which previous legal documents had used the non-specific term.[1] According to the Associated Press, "News organizations including The Associated Press have long reported Blagojevich was Public Official A."[4] After the ruling, Blagojevich continued to deny he was "Public Official A".[5]
An NBC5.com news article confirms that Public Official A is indeed Governor Blagojevich. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/The-Saga-of-Public-Official-A.html