Operation Board Games

Federal Fraud Scandal

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (left) had been under federal investigation by United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (right) for over three years.

Operation Board Games is a federal fraud investigation initiated by United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in December 2003, in order to investigate suspected fraud and extortion activity by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The investigation's name is a reference to two governing bodies in Illinois: one board controlling the Teacher's Pension System, and the second being the Health Facilities Planning Board.