Politics | Rod Blagojevich Feds: Blago Extorted Hospital Honcho Guv planned to seek campaign cash in return for state funding By Gabriel Winant Posted Dec 11, 2008 12:47 PM CST Copied Thomas Wiffler, CEO UnitedHealthcare Chicago, Kimberly Thormann, CMH APN, Bonnie Barnes, co-founder DAISY Foundation, Michelle Stephenson, CMH chief nurse executive, and Patrick Magoon, CMH CEO. (Photo: Business Wire) The Rod Blagojevich scandal extends beyond politics to medicine, the Chicago Tribune reports. He threatened to withhold $8 million in state funding for a pediatric health initiative unless the head of Children’s Memorial Hospital gave his campaign $50,000, according to the federal criminal complaint against the Illinois governor. "Children's Memorial is very disappointed" at being dragged into the story, the institution said in a statement. Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. A lesson in minding your own business ... at 30,000 feet. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Desperate search for missing campers continues in Texas. Report an error