Blagojevich Threatens to Sue Top FBI Informant Robert Cooley Over Bookmaking Allegations

ABC TV Chicago reports on what happened when ace reporter Chuck Goudie got caught in an elevator with Rod Blagojevich:

But once we were behind closed elevator doors, away from the cameras, Blagojevich launched into a pitched tirade about something else: Illegal gambling and allegations that he worked as a bookmaker, taking action from sports gamblers before he got into politics.

"That bookmaking story was (bleep)," said Illinois' former leader. "I did not do that. I deny it. It's a (bleepin') lie," he said in what would become an uninterrupted diatribe.

Pointing to me, he said "this man is a (bleepin') liar. He puts lies on TV."

This was the target of Blagojevich's elevator pitch: an I-Team report four months ago, shortly after the governor was arrested on corruption charges.

Cooley made those comments last year on a Web based interview show. I also spoke to him at length on the phone about his allegations against Blagojevich.

The senior FBI agent who supervised Cooley's undercover work confirmed that Cooley gave officials information about Blagojevich's alleged bookmaking back in 1986. Current federal officials declined to comment.

You'll want to watch the video.Maybe Rod Blagojevich can explain his close relationship with Dan Stefanski.Does Blagojevich want to take on one of the FBI's top informants?