** Updates Below **
Illinois Governor Rod Blagovich has been indicted and arrested
in a continuing investigation into pay for play politics in
Illinois. The citizen Wells blog has reported for months the
ties to Tony Rezko, including Obama, Blagojevich, Stuart Levine
and many others. Barack Obama had endorsed Rod Blagojevich. Here
are exerpts from a Chicago Tribune article dated December 9, 2008:
“Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.
Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.
“Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.”
Blagojevich was taken into custody hours after the Tribune reported that the investigation into allegations of pay-to-play politics within his administration had been expanded to include his pending choice of a Senate replacement for Obama. The Democratic governor has said he expects to make a decision on the state’s next senator in weeks.”
Read more here:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html
US Department of Justice Press Release
In my estimation, Obama is next.
** Updates from the Chicago Tribune **
Updated at 9:17 a.m.: Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year’s end.
Even Blagojevich’s recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and “green lanes” on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.
The complaint repeatedly makes reference to conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.
The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. “If they don’t perform, (expletive) ’em,” Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.
Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to the FBI. They were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where they remained at 9 a.m.
Updated at 9 a.m.: Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney’s office.
Updated at 8:57 a.m.: On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.
Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”
Citizen WElls 
Thanks, Citizen Wells —
I appreciate you much –
and this is certainly refreshing news to me.
As my maternal Grandad was a bookie I think its time I re-entered the family business. It will take a couple of hous to calculate the odds but it looks as if Obama may be the short priced favourite.
I’ll also blog it as my British readers will love the story. Thanks.
Thanks Ian.
Maybe a Supreme Court’s decision about Obama’s eligibilty won’t be necessary after all. Is that what you are saying, Citizen?
Bingo.
Oh what tangled webs we weave…
An $800M Tweed Ring scenario perhaps???
And yes, SCOTUS still needs to take the case. There’s Calero and McCain to deal with.
I believe McCain may get through this as Panama could be considered “Natural born” soil. But, we need a decision at least at the state level to encourage better vetting laws.
Rush says “It’s hard to keep a straight face today” I’ll second that!
Rush says “It’s hard to keep a straight face today” I’ll second that!
Too bad the feds didn’t let this play out a little bit. It would be interesting to see what the going rate for a US Senate seat is these days
I just want to see someone with the temerity to ask the president-elect at his next press conference: “Mr. President-elect, did you know or believe that Gov. Blagojevich was engaged in corrupt activities when you endorsed his re-election in 2006? Or do you believe that he just recently became corrupt? And, Mr. President-elect, what does this say about your judgment in choosing political allies and comrades?”
Now that we know how politians rise in power in the State of Illinois, we also understand Obama’s meteoric rise there too. Rezko helped Obama. We know what Rezko got. Everybody made out well except for the people these guys are paid to represent. This has been my problem with Obama all along. As he comes to Washington, so does the entire Illinois Combine. Why else would the President-Elect Office and the DNC be based in Chicago for the transition to Washington? Because you can’t just Fed-Ex that cash to each other, it has to be handed over in person. Looks like to 30 million Obama has left in his campaign coffers will to to Attorney’s fees.
Fingers crossed!! I have had a bad gut feeling about Osama from almost the start…it all started with his hating wife and his stupid racist book..lotssss of things are surfacing…lol
hopefully somthings will stick to mr teflon man.
what’s all this talk about calling for Blagojevich to “resign?” … “throw him in prison” sounds a lot more fitting
it gives me chills to see how calm and collected he continues to act
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Why would the chicago tribune editorial board endorse blagojevich for governor then claim the former governor wanted them fired because they were criticizing him, who’s kidding who, you can smell the stench coming from the tribune towers.
This entire matter is Illuminating.
August 2007: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2007/The-Billionaire-Next-Door/
September 10, 2007: Is CHA Selling Site for Less Than Highest Offer?
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By0uiXyg56E-MjFmNWM5MzctNzBkNS00OTJmLTgwN2EtYjc4OGNjYzEzNzZm/edit
June 6, 2007 Executed Letter of Intent: 626 West Jackson
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0By0uiXyg56E-aHloNTZNX2tZaTQ
June 27, 2007: Sterling Bay in deal to buy Zell building [300 W Adams]
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20070627/CRED03/200025478/sterling-bay-in-deal-to-buy-zell-building
August 1, 2007: Sterling Bay to buy former CHA headquarters
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20070801/CRED03/200025876/sterling-bay-to-buy-former-cha-headquarters
November 19, 2007: W. Loop office boom boosts St. Pat’s; Fifield looks to build 25-story
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20071117/ISSUE01/100028847/w-loop-office-boom-boosts-st-pats
Late December 2007 Closing/Acquisition: http://www.sterlingbay.net/pages/projects/626jackson.php
Summer 2008: [Unsolicited visitor] http://www.chicagojustice.org/research/issue-briefs/chicago-police-board-10-year-analysis-september-2010-update/09PB2712_John_Meehan_Decision.pdf
October 2008: [Unsolicited visitor] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjP2NdMyMKk
December 9, 2008: Blagojevich arrest / [Unsolicited visitors and disturbing disclosures]
December 11, 2008: Gun-pulled on me:
BATTERY Christopher R. Granath, 28, 4531 W. 151st St., Midlothian, was charged with battery Nov. 8 after a fight at TJ’s Bar & Grill, 4025 W. 147th St., police said.
February 23, 2009: Mob action, Gang action & torture: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By0uiXyg56E-MjQ3NGNlYmQtZDE1Ni00ZmU5LWJjYjYtMDM5MTZkZWUxYTg5/edit
November 19, 2009: How Mike Madigan ‘helps’ his newbies [First Attorney representing me in February 23, 2009 Mob action, Gang action & torture has Nephew running for Evergreen Park office]
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12C6DA95338197B8.html
December 17, 2009: Man gets 70 years for robbing pizza deliveryman in Evergreen Park [Willie Johnson involved in February 23, 2009 Mob action, gang action and torture]
http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/7219602-418/man-gets-70-years-for-robbing-pizza-deliveryman-in-evergreen-park.html
January 26, 2010: http://cdn.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2010/01/26/The-Fix-Was-In–Obama-Donor-Gets-Sweetheart-Real-Estate-Deal-in-Chicago
February 23, 2010: http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2010/02/23/The-B-Cast-Interview–Obama-Donor-Gets-Sweetheart-Real-Estate-Deal-in-Chicago
May 20, 2010: Are Evergreen Park Police Taser Happy?
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By0uiXyg56E-YzYyOTdjNTktYTk4Ny00ZmJlLWI5MjctY2U2ZDcyNjdlNmM4/edit
November 10, 2010: Office building planned for site owned by Old St. Pat’s
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20101110/CRED03/101119999/office-building-planned-for-site-owned-by-old-st-pats
——–
December 13, 2010: Pritzker family financing plan to convert Evergreen Park golf course
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101211/ISSUE01/312119983/pritzker-family-financing-plan-to-convert-evergreen-park-golf-course
June 23, 2011: Informed that “the case against Evergreen Park PD has been declined for prosecution [by US Attorneys Fitzgerald/Shapiro] due to lack of supporting evidence.”
Jordan Kaplan: Retired Judge: http://www.martindale.com/Jordan-Kaplan/966173-lawyer.htm
Jordan Kaplan: Rahm Emanuel/Barack Obama Funder:
June 29, 2012: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-29/news/ct-met-emanuel-political-fundraising-20120729_1_world-business-chicago-emanuel-administration-political-donations
September 11, 2012: Filed Pro-Se Motion to call-up case in Jordan Kaplan’s courtroom/former courtroom
September 12, 2012: Subjected to additional conduct commensurate with USA v. Blagojevich retrial.
October 24, 2012: Informed via US District Court [re: 1:11-cv-01252] – “Status hearing held. Plaintiff failed to appear for the status hearing. Defendants’ oral motion to dismiss for want of prosecution is granted. This case is dismissed for want of prosecution” subsequent to serious obstructions in attending the February 23, 2012 status hearing – Pro-Se. Currently in the process of drafting a Pro-Se Motion to place case back on docket due to serious obstructions.
November 7, 2012: Informed of adverse ruling via US District Court [re: 12cv7412 — Thomas R. Bennett v. Sterling Bay Companies, Obama for America, Pritzker Realty Group, Jordan Kaplan, et al.] irrespective of incredibly-adverse/volatile living conditions and incredibly-limited resources related to business matters. In process of filing a Motion to Appeal decision of court.
November 15, 2012: Heading back to state court related to Mob/Gang conduct and torture to go to trial on a Pro-Se basis in order to not impair the meritorious standing related to tortious interference and kickbacks related to 626 West Jackson/OSP deal and to avoid Public Defender corruptions and/or to mitigate the ability of outside party’s to influence private attorneys related to direct examination of law enforcement, Willie Johnson, Little Company of Mary Hospital, et al.
——–
January 26, 2010: http://cdn.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2010/01/26/The-Fix-Was-In–Obama-Donor-Gets-Sweetheart-Real-Estate-Deal-in-Chicago
February 23, 2010: http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2010/02/23/The-B-Cast-Interview–Obama-Donor-Gets-Sweetheart-Real-Estate-Deal-in-Chicago
And how could I forget the October 21, 2008 indictment of Commander Jon Burge —- especially in light of unsolicited visits during Summer 2008 and October 2008 – mere days before Commander Burge’s indictment.
Click to access pr1021_01.pdf