Illinois once had a reputation for being one of the most corrupt states in the union. And that reputation may be sticking in the 21st century.

Federal agents today arrested that state’s governor, Rod Blagojevich, for a litany of illegal activities, including asking companies for kickbacks in exchange for help in getting them up and running.

In addition, Blagojevich has been accused of withholding state assistance from Sam Zell’s Tribune Co,, which owns the Chicago Tribune, when they were trying to buy Wrigley Field. In exchange for the funds, Blagojevich allegedly asked for critical editors to be sacked. The most eye-popping accusation, however, is that the governor stands accused of shopping around for money in exchange for President-elect Obama’s Senate seat, which Blagojevich has the power to fill.

This is bad — especially since Blagojevich promised to clean up the state’s corruption when he took over for former Gov. George Ryan, who’s in jail for racketeering.

Update: Here are some more details a press release with a run down of Blagojevich and Chief of Staff John Harris’ alleged crimes:  

Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

* a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

* placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

* promises of campaign funds - including cash up front; and

* a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might get some (money) up front, maybe from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: We were approached pay to play. That, you know, hed raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.

Oy. Things aren’t looking good for the sooon-to-be former Governor.