Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's plan to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat marked the culmination of years of scheming for personal gain that included trying to extort a congressman and pressuring businesses to hire his wife, prosecutors alleged Thursday.

A sweeping 19-count federal indictment alleges that Blagojevich discussed with aides the possibility of getting a Cabinet post in the new president's administration, substantial fund raising assistance or a high-paying job in exchange for the Senate seat.

Obama's deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, said the White House would not comment on the indictment, which does not allege any wrongdoing by Obama or his top aides.

“I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment,” Blagojevich, who was in Walt Disney World with his family, said in a statement. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.” The indictment alleges Blagojevich told an aide in 2006 that he wanted to stall a USD 2 million state grant to a school supported by a congressman until the lawmaker's brother held a political fundraiser for the governor.

Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was the congressman, attorneys familiar with the case said yesterday.

The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity because the congressman isn't named in the indictment and the information is secret grand jury material.