By Andrew Stern and Michael Conlon
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been indicted for corruption while in office, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat that was held by President Barack Obama, prosecutors said on Thursday.
A federal grand jury indicted the 52-year-old Democrat on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.
Blagojevich, who claims he did nothing wrong and is a victim of a political witch-hunt, has promised to fight the charges in court and has a book contract to tell his side.
He faces more than 300 years in prison if convicted and at least $4 million in fines, plus restitution, according to the indictment.
Blagojevich was in his second term when the state legislature kicked him out of office nine weeks ago, after his arrest in December.
He was accused of seeking cash, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others in exchange for state appointments, state business, legislation and pension fund investments.
Among those actions were attempts to leverage his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to take over Obama's seat after his election as president in November, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.
The governor was caught on court-approved wiretaps describing the Senate seat as something so valuable "you just don't give it away for nothing." Blagojevich added he might appoint himself if he could not get anything for the seat.
The charges on the indictment date back to 2002, before he was elected governor. Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich of trying to profit with a circle of friends, who would then divide the spoils after he left office.
The 19-count indictment also charged his older brother Robert, two former top aides and two businessmen. Robert Blagojevich, 53, a Nashville businessman, was former chairman of his brother's campaign fund.
Blagojevich and his former chief of staff, John Harris, have been free on bond since a brief court appearance on December 9 -- the day they were arrested.
Harris, 47, was charged with a single count of fraud and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The former governor's wife, Patricia, was named in the indictment but not charged.
The couple and their two daughters were on vacation in Florida on Thursday, according to media reports. CNN said they were staying at the Walt Disney World theme park and resort.
(Editing by John O'Callaghan)
Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of the US state of Illinois, was indicted on Thursday on charges of corruption for allegedly planning to "sell" Barack Obama's Senate seat when the latter vacated it to become President.

Five of his advisers, including Blagojevich's brother Robert, were also indicted. The others are 
former fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, former chief of staff John Harris, former aide Lon Monk, and the lobbyist William Cellini.

A jury indicted Blagojevich on sixteen felony counts, among them wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, and racketeering conspiracy. The indictment states that if convicted, the ex-governor could face over three hundred years in prison, as well as US$4 million worth of fines, including restitution.

The governor insists that he did nothing illegal, and claims that he was the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He pledged to fight his charges in court.

"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent," read a statement released by Blagojevich. "I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors."

Blagojevich, a governor serving his second term, was arrested on December 9 of last year on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Shortly thereafter, the Illinois House impeached him before the Senate, which nearly unanimously convicted him and expelled him from office.