The legal watchdog group Judicial Watch said Tuesday that the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was the first major crisis confronting the administration of President-elect Barack Obama.

"There has been an air of lawlessness around Governor Blagojevich for some time and Judicial Watch applauds U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald for his actions,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton

"Blagojevich's corruption is no surprise, but its breadth and depravity is shocking,” Fitton said. “The alleged efforts to sell the Senate seat of Barack Obama are outrageous, but also seem to implicate many other powerful politicians and political players. Especially disturbing are the questions the scandal raises about Barack Obama and his close associates.

"This is a burgeoning crisis for Obama that should shake his presidency to its core.

"The criminal complaint filed today indicates that Obama and his team knew about Blagojevich's efforts to sell Obama's Senate seat. ("Tony" Rezko, Obama friend, fundraiser and real estate partner, is once again implicated in the corrupt activities exposed today.)

"Did Obama report Blagojevich to investigators about any efforts to sell his Senate seat?"

Judicial Watch has been investigating Rod Blagojevich for over two years and has ongoing open records litigation concerning the sale of government jobs for which he was arrested today. Blagojevich has stonewalled and refused to turn over documents to Judicial Watch that could have alerted the American people to his corruption.