By AP/KWMU
chicago, Ill. – An employee in Illinois state government is claiming in a lawsuit that Gov. Rod Blagojevich let a wealthy contributor hire and fire in two key agencies.
John Gnutek claims William Cellini supported Democrat Blagojevich's run for governor in 2002 in exchange for making personnel decisions at the Illinois Gaming Board and State Police.
Gnutek is a riverboat revenue agent in Joliet. He claims the board, Cellini and one-time Blagojevich chief of staff Lon Monk engaged in racketeering that hurt his career.
Cellini has been a prolific fund-raiser for Republicans for decades. He ran an Alton riverboat casino until last year.
The lawsuit filed last week in federal court here claims Cellini sought influence over the gambling industry.
Cellini did not return a message left at his Springfield office. Nor did a Blagojevich aide return repeated calls.