Looking over our timeline of the Blagojevich investigation, I keep going back to late October. What happened, what information came into Patrick Fitzgerald's possession, that was solid enough to not just bring to a federal judge but to convince the judge to allow the feds to listen in on a sitting governor discussing his plans on whom to appoint to fill the President-elect's Senate seat?

There's a lot of unanswered questions here, but that's one I find especially tantalizing.

Late Update: Some other key events around that time to keep in mind, from the Chicago Tribune's own timeline:

Oct. 23, 2008: The Tribune reports that Wyma, the longtime friend and former congressional chief of staff to Blagojevich, is under investigation by federal authorities, who are probing his lobbying activity for at least one hospital client.

Oct. 30, 2008: Springfield millionaire and longtime political power broker William Cellini, who for four decades played an enormous role in Illinois' political leadership, is indicted on charges he extorted campaign contributions for Blagojevich.

Then last week, the Tribune reported that Wyma has worked with feds to tape Blagojevich.

The wiretaps were authorized on October 21 and October 29.