The process to choose the Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama was thrown into chaos Tuesday morning, with the Chicago Tribune reporting that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been arrested in a federal corruption probe. Blagojevich and his chief of staff were taken into custody in a wide-ranging “pay-to-play” investigation, which, according to the Tribune, included Blagojevich’s pending appointment of Obama’s Senate successor. Several Illinois Democrats, including Reps. Danny Davis and Jesse Jackson Jr., have been vying for the appointment, and Blagojevich was expected to announce Obama’s replacement by year’s end. If Blagojevich is forced out of office, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (D), a political reformer, would become governor and would appoint the state’s new Senator. Federal authorities are scheduled to have a news conference in Chicago at noon EST Tuesday to discuss the Blagojevich arrest.