Obama Chicago style corruption continues, Blagojevich appeal delayed, Appeal of former governor affecting White House delayed, Obama judicial appointments provide clues?
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why has the production of transcripts for the Blagojevich Appeal been allowed to be delayed far beyond US Court guidelines and who permitted this to happen?”…Citizen Wells
With all of the huge Obama corruption, radical ties and hidden records stories we have tried to get reported, one of the biggest scandals ever to hit this country is playing out now. It is barely being reported and mostly here.
I am calling for all citizen journalists to join in this effort. To bring this enormous chicanery to the surface & discover who is orchestrating it.
As some of you know, and predicted here in 2011, the Blagojevich appeal process is being delayed.
What is the biggest reason for the delay?
The court reporter assigned to Judge James Zagel took a 5 and 1/2 month leave of absence.
Your response might be, well things like this happen, and that is true. However, there are strict guidelines, especially when a case is being appealed.
And this case impacts a former governor and sitting occupant of the White House.
Judges are in general terms considered supervisors of court reporters, but I wanted more clarification. Eralier today I called the Court Reporter Coordinator, Brooke Wilson. I received a voice message indicating she will return next Tuesday.
My next move was to present an article on the court reporter and associated rules. However, my mind began playing connect the dots and I then began looking for connections to district court judges for the Northern District of Illinois.
Judge St. Eve presided over the Rezko and Levine trial and sentencing. She took part in the delay of sentencing of Rezko until November 22, 2011 and Levine June 28, 2012.
Judge Zagel presided over both trials of Blagojevich and made several controversial rulings and statements. He also, presumably supervises his court reporter, Blanca Lara. Regardless, he has accountability for her job performance.
Judge Kendall is presiding over the trial of FDIC lawsuit, Mutual Bank v. Mahajan . Mutual Bank loaned the Rezkos the money for the lot purchase that was sold to the Obamas. Mutual Bank also fired whistleblower Kenneth J. Conner who questioned the appraisal of the lot. The lawsuit is still active and moving slowly.
Judges Chang, Coleman, Feinerman, Lee and Tharp were appointed by Obama.
From NBC Chicago November 10, 2011.
“President Obama on Thursday nominated two men for federal judgeships in the Northern District of Illinois, both of whom once worked at the same law firm as his current chief of staff, Bill Daley.
Nominated Thursday were John Lee, a partner specializing in commercial litigation at Freeborn & Peters law firm, and John Tharp, a partner at Mayer Brown and co-leader of its securities litigation and enforcement practice.
Daley was once a partner at Mayer Brown.”
“Lee began his legal career as a trial attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. He received his J.D. in 1992 from Harvard Law School and his A.B. in 1989 from Harvard College. He worked as an associate at Mayer Brown from 1994 to 1996 and at Grippo & Elden from 1996 to 1999. He’s currently a partner at Freeborn & Peters.
Tharp served in the United States Marine Corps for five years before earning law degrees at Northwestern University and Duke University. He worked in private practice at Kirkland & Ellis from 1991 to 1992 and is currently partner at Mayer Brown.”
Blagojevich appeal delay perfect Chicago crime, Prosecution and appeal delay protect Obama help Blagojevich, Judge Zagel USDOJ violate federal court rules
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
The delay in the prosecution and appeal of Rod Blagojevich.
A perfect Chicago Crime?
From Citizen Wells July 19, 2011.
“We await the appeal of Rod Blagojevich. He was convicted of most counts remaining after counts 1,2 and 4 were removed by the Justice Department. You know, the Justice Department headed by liar and Obama buddy Eric Holder. As reported here yesterday, denying the motion from the Blagojevich defense team to unseal recorded conversations that were wiretapped, appears to be a huge argument to support the appeal and possibly part of the setup. The question is, was Blagojevich picked as the fall guy or will he end up with a slap on the wrist?”
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”
“You have read it here at Citizen Wells for some time. The delays in prosecuting Rod Blagojevich were designed to protect Obama. You also read here that the appeal process for Blagojevich would drag on past the election. We now have more proof.”
It’s been almost eight months since Blagojevich was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2011. His attorneys discussed how they’d appeal six days after that.
“Well there’s a tremendous amount of work to do now, we need to read through all the transcripts,” defense attorney Lauren Kaeseberg said. “There’s two trials, there’s a significant amount of work.”
“But FOX Chicago News learned that since then, that first key step toward an appeal – getting the 16,000 pages of transcripts – has not yet been accomplished.
“They have to file briefs. The briefs have to be based on alleged errors that occurred in the course of the trial,” Kent College of Law professor Richard Kling said. “Those errors, if they occurred, are reflected in the transcript.”
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently warned Kaeseberg that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions if she didn’t explain why the transcripts weren’t done yet.
Kaeseberg responded by producing these emails she had sent to Judge James Zagel’s court reporter, asking for the transcripts.
Finally, about two weeks ago, the court reporter filed her own motion asking for more time, saying she had taken a leave of absence for five and half months and has been swamped with work since her return.
She has now promised to have the transcripts done by late September, with any appellate review not likely for months after then.”
However, Larry Yellen, the FOX Chicago News Legal Analyst states the following:
“Defense lawyers actually faced possible sanctions because they’ve been unable to get the trial transcripts up to the appeals court to start the appeal.
The delays have gone on for months in part because Judge James Zagel’s court reporter took a 5 and 1/2 month leave.”
“The court reporter now has promised to have the transcripts done in about 7 weeks, around September 28.”
“In the George Ryan case he was sentenced on … September and 5 months later they had the transcripts done and they were already doing oral arguments.”
What the Fox News reporter did not tell you is that there are extensive references to procedures in handling appeal case transcripts. The rules are clear.
I can tell you that, based on court rules and procedures, Judge James Zagel carries some of the blame for the delay in the transcripts.
The question is, what was Judge Zagel’s motivation?
Ҥ 130.20.20 District Court
Each district court must develop a Court Reporting Management Plan.”
“(g) Providing for avoidance of backlogs of transcripts and assuring prompt
delivery of high quality transcripts, particularly for cases on appeal to the
court of appeals; ”
Ҥ 440.60 Judge Appointed (Involuntary) Use of Substitute Reporter
§ 440.60.10 Introduction
A district judge or the chief judge of a circuit may appoint a substitute reporter in the event a court reporter is unable to complete transcripts in a timely fashion.
§ 440.60.20 Judicial Conference Policy
“Because of the inordinate delays that have taken place throughout the system in the preparation of transcripts by court reporters in cases that are being appealed, the Conference agreed that substitute reporters should be employed to service the requirements of the district judge where the official court reporter is unable to complete his [or her] transcripts in a timely fashion and that the salary of the official reporter be subject to withholdings not to exceed the sum necessary to compensate the substitute reporter until the transcripts are current. The need for substitute reporter service is to be determined by the district judge affected or by the chief judge of the circuit, at his [or her] option, acting through the circuit executive.” JCUS-MAR 75, p. 8.”
“(1) Appeals to a Circuit from a District Court
Transcripts for appealed cases should be delivered within 30 days from the date ordered or from the date satisfactory arrangements for payment have been made. If the customary practice of the court reporter is not to require prepayment, the 30-day period
begins upon acceptance of the transcript order by the court reporter.”
“Late delivery of transcripts impedes the work of the courts. Each circuit council decides the due dates for the delivery of transcripts and the amount of penalties to be applied when such dates are not met. Therefore, reporters and transcribers may not charge the full fee if they do not produce an appellate transcript within the time limits required by the circuit councils. Additionally, the district courts or circuit councils may impose other penalties. One such penalty would be to require the reporter to compensate a courtroom substitute while the reporter prepares the overdue transcripts.”
Ҥ 540 Transcripts for Cases on Appeal
§ 540.10 Introduction
Cases appealed to the United States courts of appeals require the timely transmission of the record from the lower court. A transcript of the proceedings normally is a required part of the record to be transmitted to the court of appeals.”
Ҥ 540.20.20 Rule 11, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (Forwarding the Record)
The statute states:”
“(B)
If the transcript cannot be completed within 30 days of the reporters receipt of the order, the reporter may request the circuit clerk to grant additional time to complete it. The clerk must note on the docket the action taken and notify the parties.”
“(D)
If the reporter fails to file the transcript on time, the circuit clerk must notify the district judge and do whatever else the court of appeals directs.”
Ҥ 540.60 Use of Substitute Reporters
In the event that an official staff, additional, temporary, or combined-position court reporter is not able to provide transcripts in a timely fashion, i.e., within 30 days, the judge may appoint a substitute reporter at the expense of the reporter. See: Guide, Vol 6, § 440 (Substitute Court Reporters).”
Ҥ 540.60.10 Judicial Conference Policy
“Because of the inordinate delays that have taken place throughout the system in the preparation of transcripts by court reporters in cases that are being appealed, the Conference agreed that substitute reporters should be employed to service the requirements of the district judge where the official court reporter is unable to complete his transcripts in a timely fashion and that the salary of the official reporter be subject to withholdings not to exceed the sum necessary to compensate the substitute reporter until the transcripts are current. The need for substitute reporter service is to be determined by the district judge affected or by the chief judge of the circuit, at his [or her] option, acting through the circuit executive.” JCUS-MAR 75, p. 8.
§ 540.70 Withholding Salary / Placing Reporter on Leave Without Pay
If it is necessary for the judge to appoint a substitute reporter while the court reporter is preparing backlogged transcripts, either the court reporter bears the cost of a substitute appointed by a judge or the court reporter is placed on leave without pay.”
As you can see, appeals cases transcripts are expected to be produced in a timely fashion. There are numerous clearly defined rules for processing them. The responsibilities and contingencies are well covered.
So why is this possibly a perfect Chicago crime?
First of all, without a doubt, this protects Obama again during an election cycle. News from a Blagojevich appeal stays out of the media as does Blagojevich himself.
Secondly, this is another nail in the coffin of judicial misconduct during the Blagojevich prosecutions and another reason for an appeals court judge to throw out the convictions.
Who engineered these delays and who is responsible?
What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing in 2008?
“Just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it is not true.”
Obama Justice Department delays Blagojevich appeal, Blagojevich arrest delayed years and past 2008 election, Judge Zagel and or USDOJ personnel in cahoots?
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
Am I another Edgar Cayce. The answer is no. So how did I accurately predict what would happen with the Blagojevich appeal process?
The answer is simple.
I have been paying attention and the conclusion I arrived at was highly predictable.
The Obama Justice Department continues to protect Obama.
The arrest of Blagojevich was delayed years and took place after the 2008 election.
The Blagojevich appeal will drag on past the 2012 election process.
From Citizen Wells December 21, 2011.
“Blagojevich attorneys begin appeals process”
“Attorneys for Rod Blagojevich have formally begun the process of appealing the former Illinois governor’s conviction and prison sentence.
They did so in a court filing late Tuesday, notifying the U.S. District Court in Chicago that they intended to appeal to a higher court.
Blagojevich has been ordered to report to prison on March 15. The 55-year-old was convicted earlier this year of corruption charges that included allegations that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat for campaign cash or a top job.
Attorneys had said they planned to appeal.
However, the process of filing a full appeal is likely to drag on for several weeks or even months. After notification, transcripts and other documents are typically transferred to the higher court.”
“We await the appeal of Rod Blagojevich. He was convicted of most counts remaining after counts 1,2 and 4 were removed by the Justice Department. You know, the Justice Department headed by liar and Obama buddy Eric Holder. As reported here yesterday, denying the motion from the Blagojevich defense team to unseal recorded conversations that were wiretapped, appears to be a huge argument to support the appeal and possibly part of the setup. The question is, was Blagojevich picked as the fall guy or will he end up with a slap on the wrist?”
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”
“You have read it here at Citizen Wells for some time. The delays in prosecuting Rod Blagojevich were designed to protect Obama. You also read here that the appeal process for Blagojevich would drag on past the election. We now have more proof.”
It’s been almost eight months since Blagojevich was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2011. His attorneys discussed how they’d appeal six days after that.
“Well there’s a tremendous amount of work to do now, we need to read through all the transcripts,” defense attorney Lauren Kaeseberg said. “There’s two trials, there’s a significant amount of work.”
“But FOX Chicago News learned that since then, that first key step toward an appeal – getting the 16,000 pages of transcripts – has not yet been accomplished.
“They have to file briefs. The briefs have to be based on alleged errors that occurred in the course of the trial,” Kent College of Law professor Richard Kling said. “Those errors, if they occurred, are reflected in the transcript.”
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently warned Kaeseberg that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions if she didn’t explain why the transcripts weren’t done yet.
Kaeseberg responded by producing these emails she had sent to Judge James Zagel’s court reporter, asking for the transcripts.
Finally, about two weeks ago, the court reporter filed her own motion asking for more time, saying she had taken a leave of absence for five and half months and has been swamped with work since her return.
She has now promised to have the transcripts done by late September, with any appellate review not likely for months after then.”
“Patti Blagojevich not happy about Rod’s delayed appeal process: EXCLUSIVE”
“Former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich is not happy about delays in the appeals process for her husband, convicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich.
In an exclusive interview, she told FOX Chicago News that the situation is “incredibly frustrating.”
“I mean, my girls miss their dad, he’s missing their birthday, my daughter had her sixteenth birthday just the other day,” Patti said.
Mrs. Blagojevich said it’s been bugging her for months.
As FOX Chicago revealed Tuesday, even though Rod Blagojevich was convicted last summer and sentenced in December, the transcripts from his two trials have not yet been completed for the appellate court.
“There sure was a rush to get my husband in jail,” Blagojevich wrote to friends on Facebook, “where he now sits waiting for the long overdue transcripts.”
The former Illinois governor reported to prison in March. He’s serving time at the Englewood federal corrections facility outside Denver.
“We’ve been waiting for the transcripts to start the appeal,” Mrs. Blagojevich said. “You can’t start the appeal until your appellate lawyer can review the transcripts.”
Judge James Zagel’s court reporter filed a request for an extension of time three weeks ago. The request informed the appeals court that she had been on a five and half month personal leave of absence, and returned to a mountain of work.
Defense attorney Lauren Kaeseberg told the court that she has made numerous requests for the transcripts over the last year, without success. She even produced emails to prove it.
“For five and half months we’ve been waiting for these transcripts to appear,” Patti said. “Meanwhile, the trials have been over. the first trial’s been over for two years, the second trial’s been over a year.””
However, Larry Yellen, the FOX Chicago News Legal Analyst states the following:
“Defense lawyers actually faced possible sanctions because they’ve been unable to get the trial transcripts up to the appeals court to start the appeal.
The delays have gone on for months in part because Judge James Zagel’s court reporter took a 5 and 1/2 month leave.”
“The court reporter now has promised to have the transcripts done in about 7 weeks, around September 28.”
“In the George Ryan case he was sentenced on … September and 5 months later they had the transcripts done and they were already doing oral arguments.”
What the Fox News reporter did not tell you is that there are extensive references to procedures in handling appeal case transcripts. The rules are clear.
I can tell you that, based on court rules and procedures, Judge James Zagel carries some of the blame for the delay in the transcripts.
The question is, what was Judge Zagel’s motivation?
Blagojevich appeal delayed waiting on transcripts, Court clerk 5 1/2 month leave of absence, Delays help Obama, Transcripts of Blagojevich wiretaps hurt Obama
“this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. …. they got the Chicago media to f…ing make me wear Rezko more. To f…ing dilute it from him.…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008
“BLAGOJEVICH: You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me. And hardly about…
HARRIS: Yeah, in other words, they focus their,they focus their attention on you. They couldn’t make it go away so the bes-, next best strategy is deflect it.
BLAGOJEVICH: Right.
HARRIS: This is somewhere where it, it’ll satisfy the, the hunger of the beast, being the media.
BLAGOJEVICH: Right, right.
HARRIS: Yeah, it makes sense. It’s not a stretch. If I’m, if I’m his message advisor, media advisor or whatever, operative, yeah I’m gonna try to feed the beast by giving ‘em something else to eat on.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 7, 2008
You have read it here at Citizen Wells for some time. The delays in prosecuting Rod Blagojevich were designed to protect Obama. You also read here that the appeal process for Blagojevich would drag on past the election. We now have more proof.
From Fox News August 6, 2012.
“Blagojevich appeal delayed due to undone transcripts: EXCLUSIVE”
“Before he went to prison, Rod Blagojevich expressed confidence that his conviction would be overturned on appeal.
But so far, no appellate briefs have been filed and no arguments have been heard.
Several sources told FOX Chicago News that Rod Blagojevich is upset and disappointed at the lack of progress on his appeal.
When former Illinois governor George Ryan was sentenced, his lawyers were in court just five months later, arguing his case.
It’s been almost eight months since Blagojevich was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2011. His attorneys discussed how they’d appeal six days after that.
“Well there’s a tremendous amount of work to do now, we need to read through all the transcripts,” defense attorney Lauren Kaeseberg said. “There’s two trials, there’s a significant amount of work.”
But FOX Chicago News learned that since then, that first key step toward an appeal – getting the 16,000 pages of transcripts – has not yet been accomplished.
“They have to file briefs. The briefs have to be based on alleged errors that occurred in the course of the trial,” Kent College of Law professor Richard Kling said. “Those errors, if they occurred, are reflected in the transcript.”
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently warned Kaeseberg that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions if she didn’t explain why the transcripts weren’t done yet.
Kaeseberg responded by producing these emails she had sent to Judge James Zagel’s court reporter, asking for the transcripts.
Finally, about two weeks ago, the court reporter filed her own motion asking for more time, saying she had taken a leave of absence for five and half months and has been swamped with work since her return.
She has now promised to have the transcripts done by late September, with any appellate review not likely for months after then.
“They wont’ decide what errors occurred based on what lawyers said,” Kling said. “They want the real McCoy’s, the transcripts, in front of them.”
The two attorneys handling the Blagojevich appeal, Lauren Kaeseberg and Leonard Goodman, both declined to comment on the delay.
There is a reason that I keep presenting this video containing the audio of Rod Blagojevich wiretaps from November 2008. Blagojevich repeatedly speaks of Obama’s Rezko problem and that Obama has more connections to Rezko than he. Blagojevich also accurately states that the Chicago media has focused their attention on him instead of Obama.
Here are exerpts from the actual transcripts. The full transcripts can be read at the links below.
DATE: 11/05/2008 TIME: 8:58 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 262
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris
HARRIS You know, if I were him, um, you know, a top cabinet post, I don’t, I wouldn’t consider it. I wouldn’t do it if I were him.
BLAGOJEVICH I agree with you.
HARRIS To be honest with you.
BLAGOJEVICH Because of Rezko.
HARRIS Because of Rezko and just because that’s not how I’m gonna build my team. It’s like the mayor, when we, whenever we filled, you know, top positions in city government?
DATE: 11/06/2008 TIME: 12:13 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line outgoing call.
SESSION: 345 and 347
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
P. BLAGOJEVICH: Patti Blagojevich
BLAGOJEVICH If you were the president of the United States and you can get your choice for senator who you really want. She really wants it. She’s on his ass, okay.
P. BLAGOJEVICH Yeah.
BLAGOJEVICH And you got a governor who makes the choice and he wants to be DHS. Okay,the Cabinet, he’d do it, but you don’t want all that ’cause of corru-, Rezko and all that shit.
(gap)
BLAGOJEVICH Yeah, that’s good. In other words, we’re predicating this on, Michelle Obama, he’s more hen pecked than me.
BLAGOJEVICH He wants to get out of Chicago politics. Okay. That’s their way of saying Rezko. HARRIS (Laughs)
BLAGOJEVICH Know what I’m sayin’?
DATE: 11/7/08 TIME: 11:06 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 375
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
SCOFIELD: Doug Scofield
P. BLAGOJEVICH Patti Blagojevich
BLAGOJEVICH: Hey. Hey. So, they want to get out of Chicago politics is a euphemism for, they want to get away from Rezko.
SCOFIELD: Oh yeah, I, yeah, I agree with that.
BLAGOJEVICH: Huh?
SCOFIELD: Yeah, I agree with that.
BLAGOJEVICH: Yeah, I’m gonna tell you something…
SCOFIELD: I mean I think it’s true, generally they don’t want to make any deals at all of any kind. But, yeah, no that’s, yeah, it’s Rezko. Yeah, I think that’s right.
(gap)
BLAGOJEVICH: Yeah, wants out of Chicago politics? Rezko, yeah.
SCOFIELD: Yeah, I agree.
DATE: 11/07/2008TIME: 4:11 P.M. ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.SESSION: 403, 405, 406 and 408 Speakers:BLAGOJEVICH: Rod BlagojevichYANG: Fred YangHARRIS: John Harris STEWART: Mary Stewart
BLAGOJEVICH So he thought it through, you know, and he’s a little con-, concerned with, you know, well, maybe not right away and I say, “well, look, because, because of the Rezko stuff, Tom? Is that what you think?” And, well, he didn’t want directly say it so I talked about the Rezko stuff.
(gap)
BLAGOJEVICH That Barack would quote unquote, he wants to get away from Illinois politics. To me that’s a euphemism for Rezko.
YANG Right.
BLAGOJEVICH Okay?
YANG Well, and, and also, governor, he went with Rahm as chief of staff.
BLAGOJEVICH Correct.
YANG That’s another Illinois guy.
BLAGOJEVICH Correct. So Illinois politics to me is, and Axelrod, is more Rezko.
(gap)
BLAGOJEVICH … Now, you know I’m under, you know, what I believe is disgusting federal investigations, with them out to get me and I, I’ve been nothin’ but fuckin’ tryin’ to be very honest in my administration. You know made some misjudgements, but compared to even Obama, you know, I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.
DATE: 11/12/2008 TIME: 10:44 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 545
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris
BLAGOJEVICH I just talked to Balanoff.
HARRIS Yeah. You called him?
BLAGOJEVICH Yeah.
HARRIS Okay.
BLAGOJEVICH It’s clear he got the message back from them they want no part of me. You know the Rezko thing and…
HARRIS Right, right.
BLAGOJEVICH I thin-, you know, it’s really, I get that I’m a big boy and I can handle that, but it’s really fucking galling, this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. And it’s almost like they fucking conspi-, made a concerted effort and they got the Chicago media to fucking make me wear Rezko more. To fucking dilute it from him.
DATE: 11/12/2008 TIME: 12:36 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 558
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris
BLAGOJEVICH I mean think about that. I mean they, they want me here in Illinois. That’s a faraway Illinois problem from my old life.
HARRIS Mm-hmm.
BLAGOJEVICH The governor’s got that problem with Rezko, boom. But if I’m in the Senate it’s not just mine anymore, it’s his too. Isn’t it? If the Rezko thing got worse?
HARRIS Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm. Well we’ve always thought that.
BLAGOJEVICH And, and from a legal stand point on the substance of, you know, did, did you do something wrong or didn’t do something wrong it doesn’t change that. But in terms of the, the people who are trying to chase all that down and does it change any dynamic if you’re there verses being left back here.
(gap)
BLAGOJEVICH But don’t forget uh, Obama’s gonna have uh, you know, do something about that. And is Obama more or less likely to wanna contain that if I’m out there with him. I mean I’ve got this theory that even Knapp says could be possible and Balanoff. You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me. And hardly about…
HARRIS Yeah, in other words, they focus their,they focus their attention on you. They couldn’t make it go away so the bes-, next best strategy is deflect it.
BLAGOJEVICH Right.
HARRIS This is somewhere where it, it’ll satisfy the, the hunger of the beast, being the media.
BLAGOJEVICH Right, right.
HARRIS Yeah, it makes sense. It’s not a stretch. If I’m, if I’m his message advisor, media advisor or whatever, operative, yeah I’m gonna try to feed the beast by giving ‘em something else to eat on.
BLAGOJEVICH So, if I wanna be safe from Rezko, am I a little bit safer over there with him.
DATE: 11/13/2008 TIME: 12:35 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 627
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
SCOFIELD: Doug Scofield
BLAGOJEVICH He wants to keep Rezko a million miles away, you know what I’m saying?
Patrick Fitzgerald leaves office, Media portrays Fitzgerald as fearless crime fighter, Patrick Fitzgerald protected Obama delayed Blagojevich prosecution
“Patrick Fitzgerald’s office knew from an informant and wiretaps beginning in December of 2003 that there was corruption in Blagojevich’s administration. The Chicago Tribune on October 25, 2005 reported about a federal grand jury investigation of the Blagojevich administration. The Chicago Tribune on August 5, 2006 reported that Stuart Levine was cooperating with the federal investigation. Stuart Levine was the key witness in Operation Board Games.
Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?
Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Patrick Fitzgerald stated after the Blagojevich arrest: ‘I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy’
‘I think that would be irresponsible.’
Fitzgerald did wait to arrest Blagojevich and there are other words to describe his actions. Criminal, conspiracy and Chicago pay to play.”…Citizen Wells
“Antoin Rezko, …recently received a sentence of 126 months’ imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko: (a) held no elected office of trust;”…Patrick Fitzgerald’sGovernment Sentencing Memorandum
“The people in power,the first thing they have to do,they have to get control of the media.The perfect example was my case.The main person that I attempted to give information on,the person who was in charge of a lot of things the person who was able to pick all the judges,was one of my main targets.While he also happens to be the same person who’s able to give out all the money ,in the city, he’s Chairman of Finance Committee in Chicago.He was able to hire the U.S. Attorney who was supposed to prosecute him,pay him huge sums of money and he never got prosecuted.There was no explanation as to why he didn’t .He just was not prosecuted.To this day he continues there in that same position where he’s able to pick all the judges,he’s Chairman of the Democratic Judicial Slating Committee.He picks all the judges in Chicago.After I reported what I did and it was out there,that he was fixing murder cases and molesting cases, himself and his wife.His wife afterwards was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court where she sits today.When she ran for re-election nobody dared oppose her.I mean that’s the basic problem with Chicago and why Chicago will not change,because the people in charge are the most powerful people,have the media in their pockets.”…FBI Informant and attorney Robert Cooley
With all of the attention on the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, the sad state of the economy and the 2012 elections, Patrick Fitzgerald left his post with the US Justice Department with glowing remarks from the mainstream media.
From the Chicago SunTimes June 29, 2012.
“After 11 years as U.S. attorney in Chicago, Fitzgerald steps aside”
“The relentless U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois ended his 11-year run as Chicago’s top federal prosecutor Friday, retiring from an office that brought countless criminals to justice.
“I think his legacy will be that he raised the bar of what it means to be a U.S. Attorney in Chicago. It’s a great office with a great history. Pat came from outside and over 10 years built upon that history to leave the office better than he found it,” said Zachary Fardon, who prosecuted former Gov. George Ryan under Fitzgerald and now is a defense lawyer.
“He did that through hard work, but most important was his purity of intentions, the earnestness of his convictions, and his kindness of heart, all of which motivated everyone around him to be better. That’s hard to act to follow.”
The end of Fitzgerald’s run was a sprint to the finish.
On Thursday, his office announced a significant public corruption investigation against two former elected officials — Joseph Mario Moreno and Ambrosio Medrano.
Last week, the FBI arrested Raghuveer Nayak, a political fund-raiser who was a key figure in the Rod Blagojevich corruption case as well as a man close to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.”
“Under Fitzgerald’s tenure, the state saw the dismantling of the power structures beneath two governors and then the convictions of the governors themselves — Ryan, a Republican, and Blagojevich, a Democrat.”
I began smelling a rat in 2008 before the election and when Fitzgerald waited until after the election, in December 2008, to arrest Rod Blagojevich, the stench became overwhelming.
From Citizen Wells June 22, 2012.
“From the Blagojevich Criminal Complaint.
Since approximately 2003, the government has been investigating allegations
of illegal activity occurring in State of Illinois government as part of the administration of Governor ROD BLAGOJEVICH. As further detailed below, the investigation has developed evidence that: (a) beginning not later than in or about 2002, ROD BLAGOJEVICH has conspired with multiple individuals” From the Washington Post December 22, 2008.
“The wide-ranging public corruption probe that led to the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got its first big break when a grandmother of six walked into a breakfast meeting with shakedown artists wearing an FBI wire.
Pamela Meyer Davis had been trying to win approval from a state health planning board for an expansion of Edward Hospital, the facility she runs in a Chicago suburb, but she realized that the only way to prevail was to retain a politically connected construction company and a specific investment house. Instead of succumbing to those demands, she went to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald in late 2003 and agreed to secretly record conversations about the project.
Her tapes led investigators down a twisted path of corruption that over five years has ensnared a collection of behind-the-scenes figures in Illinois government, including Joseph Cari Jr., a former Democratic National Committee member, and disgraced businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko.””
“On February 27, a Chicagoland website, Illinois PayToPlay, cited the star witness in the Operation Gambit trials of the early ’90s, Robert Cooley, as a primary source for the news that Daniel Frawley says he gave $400,000 in cash to Tony Rezko, who then passed it on to Barack Obama.
In case you missed Cooley’s story, James Peterson, writing for Andrew Breitbart’s Big Journalism, noted that “[i]n the mid-1980’s, Chicago Outfit Lawyer Robert Cooley voluntarily went undercover for the FBI as part of an investigation called Operation Gambat. Cooley wore a wire on, among others, [Alderman Ed] Burke’s good friend and made-man, Alderman Fred Roti. The Chief Judge of Cook County’s Chancery Court and an Assistant Senate Majority Leader of the Illinois State Senate were also targeted. Cooley’s work eventually led to the only judge in U.S. history being convicted of fixing a murder trial.”
Cooley is a Chicago legend.
As the star witness for the prosecution back then, Cooley’s credibility was validated by 26 convictions. Now, Cooley is back on the Chicago scene along with news that leaves a number of current, and former, Chicagoans with some splainin’ to do. Among the short list are these persons of interest.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald: It requires what one well-known politician once called “the willing suspension of disbelief” to think that the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) was unaware of this allegation by Frawley. Did Fitzgerald’s staff investigate it? Or did this fall into the “Wired for Silence: Fitzgerald’s Rezko Watchers” arrangement, recently suggested in the Chicago Daily Observer, where three key moles close to Rezko never testified in Rezko’s trial, nor were any conversations they taped made public?
Chicago Sun-Times: A July 11, 2011 Times article stated that, “Details about Frawley’s cooperation with the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and the Illinois attorney general’s office can be gleaned from a 65-page court deposition he gave seven months ago in a legal-malpractice lawsuit that he filed against his former longtime lawyer, George Weaver. In the lawsuit, Frawley accuses Weaver of having overbilled him and telling him to ‘withhold certain information from the government’ when he was cooperating with authorities.”
What “certain information?” Did the Sun-Times aggressively pursue an answer to that question, or merely “glean”?
That 65-page deposition was executed on December 1, 2010 — but hold that thought.
Attorney Daniel F. Konicek: He represented Frawley’s former lawyer, George Weaver, in the deposition. The Times highlighted the following exchange between Konicek and Frawley: “Later in the deposition, Weaver’s lawyer, Daniel F. Konicek, asks Frawley about what specific information Weaver is supposed to have told Frawley to withhold from federal authorities. ‘I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?’ Konicek asks Frawley. Frawley doesn’t answer. So Konicek presses him: ‘Am I correct it was about Obama being paid by Rezko?’ Frawley replies: ‘I’m not answering that question, based upon my attorney’s instructions.'”
Where did that question come from? Konicek? Weaver? Did Konicek expect Frawley to answer?
Makes you wonder: was the whole deposition a kabuki dance intended to send a message to the USAO, and others, that Frawley knows some things, and might tell them to the world if he gets jammed up by the feds?
Back to Patrick Fitzgerald: Not two months after the December 2010 deposition, Frawley was hit with a bank fraud charge that was past the statute of limitations. Coincidence?
Or was it payback for filing the Weaver lawsuit, and a warning to Frawley that he’d better keep his mouth shut about the $400,000…and who knows what else? (Like maybe something about Companion Security?)”
“Chicago Big Media: Why did it take an obscure website to break this story when the Sun-Times has those three-musketeer journalists they call the WATCHDOGS?
And when the Trib has equally dogged sleuths like John Kass and John Chase?
Did either paper have knowledge concerning what Illinois Pay To Play reported and decide to sit on the information?
Obama corruption buddies Blagojevich and Frawley aka Ghosts of Christmas Past, Chicago corruption ties persist, Obama lies and corruption ties
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
Some would have you simply focus on the damage done to this country by Obama and his pals. Jobs, economy, gas prices , food prices, constitution trampling, etc. This is all worthy of our attention. It is also a function of the man and where he came from. One cannot separate one aspect of Obama’s actions from his past, his persona. Obama’s corruption ties, his hidden past are crucial to understanding why he behaves the way he does. And most importantly, if he is not eligible for the POTUS, the damage he has done and can do, must be stopped asap.
We now have a retired government employee willing to testify about Obama’s past. This witness, along with evidence gathered by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, proves that Obama is guilty.
Obama is either guilty of not being eligible for the POTUS, fraud in pretending to be a foreign student, or both.
Ghost of Christmas past Rod Blagojevich.
From My Fox Chicago March 15, 2012.
“Attorney Sam Adam Jr., who defended convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich at his first trial, said it was a sad day Thursday as Blagojevich reported to federal prison.
Adam Jr. said he still wished he and his father could have done more to defend Blagojevich, who he says is innocent, at his corruption trial.
Sam Adam Sr. talks to Blagojevich every day and calls him son, Adam Jr. said.
Adam Jr. said if all the tapes would be played in context, Blagojevich would be exonerated. He was hopeful that when the appeals court heard all the tapes, his conviction would be overturned.
Federal Judge James Zagel has put a protective order on the tapes, Adam Jr. said, so he couldn’t say exactly what is on the nearly 400 hours of recording that will clear Blagojevich’s name.”
“Illinois PayToPlay has learned that, in addition to the Postman video recently released by Jerome Corsi on World Net Daily, Corsi also holds a 2011 recorded interview with former Rezko associate Daniel T. Frawley.
The recording was made late last year in Chicago in a meeting that involved Corsi, Frawley and three other persons who gathered to discuss the possibility of writing a book.
The recording reportedly includes a description of how, in 2004, during Nadhmi Auchi’s visit to Chicago, Auchi, Antoin “Tony” Rezko, and Barack Obama met in the basement “cigar room” inside Rezko’s 30-room mansion in Wilmette, Illinois where they discussed, among other things, the purchase of a 62-acres plot in the South Loop.”
“Nearly a year ago I wrote an update on Daniel T. Frawley of Companion Security fame and the plan to fly Iraqi trainees to Illinois to be trained as security guards for a power plant to be built at Chamchamal in Kurdish Northern Iraq.
This was the little scheme dating from sometime in 2005 that involved then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, then-Senator Barack Obama, then-Illinois Homeland Security advisor Jill Morgenthaler, Obama’s then-personal real estate fairy and political cash bagman Tony Rezko, Rezko’s Chicago pal and personal bail bondsman (and former Iraqi Minister of Electricity) Aiham Alsammarae, and British-Iraqi billionaire businessman (and one of Carter-Ruck’s frequent-flyer clients) Nadhmi Auchi.
Companion Security was co-owned by Frawley and Rezko, who was convicted in June 2008 (and reportedly continued to “cooperate” with the Feds for some time).
While this is a long and sordid tale — it seems the Feds have never gotten around to completing that December 2006 investigation into the power plant venture. Meanwhile, many of the players and their antics keep surfacing, such as Dan Frawley.”
Blagojevich prepares for prison, Public statement coming, More pristine on Rezko than Obama, Obama chaired IL committee that allowed planning board rigging
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren
Rod Blagojevich, who is appealing his conviction for longtime corruption in Chicago and IL, is preparing for his prison sentence that begins next week.
From Chicago Argus March 9, 2012.
“Seven more days for 40892-424”
“One week from now, federal inmate number 40892-424 will have gone through orientation and will have completed his first night in prison – a lifestyle that he’s going to have to endure for just over a decade.
That inmate, of course, is Rod Blagojevich, who has to report to prison (possibly a minimum-security facility in Colorado) come Thursday. Which means he’s now going through his final week of freedom.
EVERYTHING HE DOES in coming days will take on the aura of “one last time” – both for himself and for his family.
It even seems that we’re going to get “one last statement” from Blagojevich. The Associated Press reported that a Blagojevich “spokesman” said the former governor himself will make some sort of public statement some time in coming days.
Then, he will go off to prison – which makes me wonder if his final day of freedom will resemble the scenes in the film “Goodfellas” where actor Ray Liotta’s “Henry Hill” character engaged in a final party of booze and drugs and floozies, only to climb into a limousine and tell the driver, “Now, take me to jail.”
Although as much as I might joke here, and some people will eagerly be awaiting this week with glee (a fact that still bothers me more than anything Blagojevich might have actually done while in public office), the truth is that there really is nothing funny about what is going to happen a week from now.
HE’S STILL A human being, and he will have a wife and two daughters who will be devastated by what will happen. I’m not about to start up the charity fund for the family Blagojevich. But we shouldn’t overlook the loss that is created by a 14-year prison term (even if that translates into 11-plus years of REAL time).
Which is why I can’t help but feel a bit of sympathy these days. But not so much sympathy that I really care much what Blagojevich has to say in a final statement. In fact, a part of me desperately wants to ignore whatever the former governor has to say for his final words as a “free” man.
Because I’m convinced that if we really wanted to inflict a “blow” to the ego of Blagojevich, we’d blow it off. We wouldn’t cover it. We would let his statement twist in the wind, and we’d seriously debate that old philosophical cliché, “If a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
If Blagojevich speaks and no one records it, does it really matter?
BECAUSE I CAN’T really envision anything he’d say that needs to be recorded for posterity. He still thinks he ‘didn’t do it.’ He’s been framed?”
Actually, Blagojevich has said plenty before and since he has been screwed over by Obama, I would be willing to bet he will say more. Perhaps when his appeal process evolves further.
Reid Schar Rezko Blagojevich prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney’s office, Former Sidley Austin law firm attorney, Schar Hamilton Niewoehner convicted Rezko
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren
From the Chicago Tribune January 27, 2012.
“Blagojevich prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney’s office
Reid Schar headed for private practice after 12 years of public service”
“Bringing down a governor or another high-profile defendant is one of those career-defining moments for prosecutors and usually hastens their exit from public service. So it goes forReid Schar.
Schar, the lead prosecutor in both corruption trials of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be leaving the U.S. attorney’s office after 12 years, said three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
He plans to go into private practice and has started interviewing with some large law firms, according to people familiar with his plans. Schar declined to comment on his future.
Schar, 39, has been a loyal lieutenant to U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, staying longer than most assistant U.S. attorneys. Since September, Schar has served as an adviser to Fitzgerald, giving input on management, personnel, cases and a host of other issues. The promotion came soon after a jury in the second trial convicted Blagojevich of sweeping corruption, including allegations that he tried to sell President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat in 2008.
The Blagojevich conviction is the biggest of several notches on Schar’s belt. In 2008, the same trio of prosecutors that put Blagojevich behind bars — Schar,Carrie Hamilton and Christopher Niewoehner — convicted Tony Rezko, a former Blagojevich fundraiser.
Before Rezko, Schar led the prosecution of Muhammad Salah and Abdelhaleem Ashqar, who were accused of aiding the radical Palestinian groupHamas. The two men were acquitted of being members of Hamas and conspiring to support terrorism. They were convicted of lesser charges, including obstruction of justice.
“His work on the Hamas case, Rezko and Blagojevich are only the most visible ways in which he has been as asset to the office and the citizens of Illinois,” said Jeffrey Cramer, who worked with Schar for 10 years and left in 2009 to head the Chicago office of Kroll, which performs corporate investigations. “His talents will be missed.”
The Blagojevich and Rezko cases augmented the reputation of the U.S. attorney’s office for successfully prosecuting public corruption. Blagojevich’s predecessor in the governor’s mansion, George Ryan, also is behind bars. Patrick Collins, who led the prosecution of Ryan, left the office in 2007, shortly after the former governor was sentenced, to join the law firm of Perkins Coie.
Schar’s looming departure is hardly surprising to observers of the U.S. attorney’s office. There wasn’t much left for Schar to accomplish after successfully prosecuting Blagojevich. Prosecutors also can make a lot more money in private practice. Schar is married and has three young children.
There has been a revolving door between the office and big Chicago law firms for years. Former assistant U.S. attorneys are valuable to law firms and their clients for their ability to handle complex cases and knowledge of criminal and regulatory matters. The revolving door slowed down in the last few years because of the economy and the dearth of white-collar legal work in Chicago.
Schar is interviewing with Chicago-based firms as well as firms in San Francisco. He graduated from Stanford University and received his law degree in 1997 from Northwestern University. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo before briefly working at the Sidley Austin law firm.”
Obama Blagojevich News, Notice of Motion, Judge James Zagel, February 2, 2012
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
A Notice of motion is scheduled today, Thursday February 2, 2012, in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel for Rod Blagojevich.
Daily Calendar
Thursday, February 2, 2012 (As of 02/02/12 at 04:46:42 AM )
Honorable James B. Zagel Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)
1:08-cr-00888 USA v. Blagojevich 10:15 Notice of Motion
I guess the Obama camp was resting under the false illusion that most of Obama’s corruption buddies were in prison or going through a lengthy appeal process that will inevitably drag on through the election cycle and stay out of the news. That is except for Daniel Frawley who linked Obama to a payment from Rezko in a deposition last year.
Of course, there is still the lingering question of why the prosecution of Blagojevich was delayed so long
and why Tony Rezko was never called as a witness
and where is Stuart Levine
and why Patrick Fitzgerald was aggressively pursuing Karl Rove and Scooter Libby
and why Colin Powell did not inform the Bush Administration of Rove’s innocence
2011 Obama corruption ties, Rezko Levine Blagojevich Cellini Frawley, Fitzgerald and Justice Department protect Obama, 2011 review
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
Highlights of 2011 Obama corruption ties. The tip of the iceberg.
2011: 12 months of Obama Chicago corruption ties.
January 29, 2011.
“Judge Amy St. Eve told attorneys at a hearing Friday that she’ll sentence Tony Rezko on Oct. 21.
Rezko’s attorneys and prosecutors had asked the judge earlier to delay Rezko’s sentencing to allow for the possibility he could testify at two upcoming
trials, including Blagojevich’s corruption retrial in April.”
“Prosecutors in the Blagojevich trial have dropped 3 counts from the indictment against him. That is approximately 15 %. That does not appear on the surface
to be significant. However, counts 1 and 2 represent about half of the indictment and mention numerous Chicago corruption figures with ties to Obama. Get the
picture?”
“Evidentiary Proffer supporting charge of Collusion in protecting Obama during the course of investigating and prosecuting Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich.”
“Rod Blagojevich’s second corruption trial is set to get under way with nearly all the same evidence as the first trial, just packaged and presented in a
whole new way.”
“Counts 1,2,4 were dropped several months ago. Those counts had the strongest ties to Obama. Anyone surprised by that or not calling Tony Rezko in the first
trial since Obama’s pal Eric Holder controls the Justice Dept.”
“Rezko’s January sentencing was postponed to leave open the possibility that the onetime powerful political fund-raiser could testify in either Blagojevich’s
trial or that of Downstate businessmen William Cellini, Rezko’s lawyer said. However, prosecutors did not say whether they would tap Rezko.
Meanwhile, Rezko, who spoke briefly at a federal court hearing Thursday, revealed for the first time where he’s being housed — about 150 miles away inside the Dodge County, Wis., lock-up.”
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Niewoehner said only that it was in the interest of both the prosecution and Rezko to delay sentencing. He implied that
prosecutors hadn’t decided yet on whether Rezko will be called to testify.
Rezko’s lawyers said the convicted businessman would like to reap the benefits of testifying and possibly receive a lighter sentence. But he will not seek a
delay in sentencing beyond September.”
“Rod Blagojevich has been convicted on 17 of 20 counts. Counts 1,2 and 4 were dropped earlier this year. An appeal is expected. The William Cellini trial is
scheduled for August 2011.”
“I was pleased and amazed to see a reference to the Health Facilities Planning Board and Pam Davis in a Chicago Tribune article dated July 26, 2011.”
“Two members in the audience played an early but crucial role in the
FBI investigation that uncovered widespread corruption in
Blagojevich’s administration.
Pam Davis, CEO of Edward Hospital in Naperville, and William Kottmann,
CEO of Edward Medical Group, both secretly wore a listening device for
the FBI for eight months in 2003 after raising extortion complaints in
their bid to build a $218 million hospital inPlainfield.
Davis said they were told that If they hired builder Jacob Kiferbaum’s
firm, , the then-Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board would
support their plans. Later, Kiferbaum and health board member Stuart
Levine and Tony Rezko, a top Blagojevich fundraiser, either pleaded
guilty or were convicted on federal charges.”
“Jan. – Aug. 2003: Obama was Chairman of the IL Senate Health and Human Service Committee.
Feb. 20, 2003: Senate Bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act” filed. Reduced members of IL Health Planning and Facilities Board from 15 to 9.”
“Ziegelmueller asked Hayden about a 2003 e-mail exchange with Lichtenstein, then the governor’s top lawyer, in which Wilhelm made recommendations for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
The name of Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination, also appears in the e-mail as a member of a strategic team reviewing
hospital board matters with the governor’s staff when he was a state senator. The hospital board was scheduled to be revamped in the summer of 2003.
Obama was then chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.”
“Anita Mahajan, the wife of a major Blagojevich fundraiser, was charged
in May 2007 with theft and fraud, based on allegations that her
company, K.K. Bio-Science, submitted bogus bills for drug screenings
for clients of the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services.”
“9. In June, 2005, Mutual Bank President and CEO Amrish Mahajan and
other Mutual Bank officers approved a loan to Rita Malki Rezko (Rita
Rezko) which was guaranteed by Antonin Rezko so that Rita Rezko could
purchase a 9,090 square foot vacant parcel of real estate at 5050 S.
Greenwood Avenue, Chicago.”
“10. On or about January 4, 2006, Rita Rezko entered into an
agreement with Senator Barack and Michelle Obama (Obamas) to sell a
ten-foot strip of the 5050 S. Greenwood property to the Obamas.”
“It is apparent to me that a deal was struck with the US Justice Department and that Patrick Fitzgerald was involved in the decision or minimally, was aware
of it. The Justice Dept. had more than enough evidence to indict Blagojevich at the latest by the time Stuart Levine agreed to cooperate by August 5, 2006.
They actually had enough wiretap evidence without Levine cooperating. Once Blagojevich was too tainted by investigation and Obama was being groomed for the presidency, Obama had to be protected.
Let me make this perfectly clear. I am accusing the US Justice Department of corruption, of being complicit in delaying the arrest of Rod Blagojevich until
after the 2008 elections. Furthermore, the Justice Department has purposefully reworded the Indictment and refrained from calling witnesses and revealing
testimony that would be further damning for Blagojevich and Obama. This is a criminal act which must be prosecuted.
“Mutual was the bank that financed the purchase by the wife of
political fundraiser Tony Rezko of a side lot in a deal that enabled
Barack Obama to buy his dream house.
In a lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in the Northern District
of Illinois last week, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. also
accused the bank of spending $300,000 to hold a board meeting in Monte
Carlo, Monaco.”
“One of the defendants, former bank president and board member Amrish
Mahajan, couldn’t be reached for comment.”
“A former Illinois real estate specialist says FBI agents have questioned him about a Chicago property that had been bought by convicted felon Tony Rezko’s
wife and later sold to the couple’s next-door neighbor, Sen. Barack Obama.
The real estate specialist, Kenneth J. Conner, said bank officials replaced an appraisal review he prepared on the property and FBI agents were investigating
in late 2007 whether the Rezko-Obama deal was proper.
“Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time, though it took them only a short number of minutes of talking with me while looking at
the appraisal to acknowledge what they already seemed to know: The Rezko lot was grossly overvalued,” Mr. Conner told The Washington Times Monday.
“Rezko paid the asking price on the same day Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price to the same seller for his adjacent mansion,” he said. “This begs
the question of payoff, bribe, kickback.””
“I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?” …Attorney Daniel
Konicek, Frawley Deposition
Tony Rezko, a longtime associate and friend of Barack Obama, who was convicted in June 0f 2008 and never called as a witness, was sentenced today in the courtroom of Judge Amy J. St. Eve. Rezko was sentenced to 126 months.
“From the Government’s Sentencing Memorandum, signed by Patrick Fitzgerald and filed on November 30, 2011.”
““By way of comparison, Antoin Rezko,…received a sentence of 126 months imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko:
(a) held no elected office of trust;”
Yes, indeed, Patrick Fitzgerald allowed Blagojevich to remain in office until December 8, 2008 even though they knew as early as late 2003 that the
Blagojevich Administration was involved in widespread corruption.”
“Daniel Frawley, former Tony Rezko partner, has had his sentencing repeatedly delayed. In a deposition Frawley spoke of Tony Rezko giving Barack Obama money and then when asked to elaborate, he exercised his Fifth Amendment right.
Are we ever going to find out more from Daniel Frawley about the money that Rezko gave Obama?”
Citizen WElls 