Category Archives: Chicago SunTimes

Blagojevich trial?, Cellini Trial, Where’s Tony Rezko, What ploy to protect Obama used next?

Blagojevich trial?, Cellini Trial, Where’s Tony Rezko, What ploy to protect Obama used next?

“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

“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

The is jury out in the so called Blagojevich trial. I have refused to play along with the mainstream media in portraying Blagojevich’s guilt as being primarily in the selling of the senate seat, a well crafted diversion. The William Cellini trial is coming up in August. The next ploy to protect Obama and keep witnesses like Tony Rezko from testifying should be interesting.

From the Blagojevich “trial” coverage of the Chicago Tribune June 9, 2011.

“Hamilton’s narrative capped a day when prosecutors and Blagojevich’s
lawyers quizzed a last flurry of witnesses, including a pair of FBI
agents who interviewed the then-governor in 2005 about his fundraising
activities. That interview led to Blagojevich’s sole conviction last
summer on a count of lying to the FBI.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-jurors-likely-to-get-blagojevich-case-today-20110609,0,6673239,full.story

2005.  Where’s Tony Rezko?

From the first Blagojevich “trial” coverage of Fox News Chicago  June 17, 2010.

“In the Rod Blagojevich trial Thursday, Democratic Fundraiser Joseph Cari and Rezko associate Ali Ata testified about how the Friends of Blagojevich ran their fundraising and alleged pay-to-play schemes.

•Ali Ata described how Rezko dealt with him and told the jury he was named executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority after making two, $25,000 contributions to the Blagojevich campaign.
•Cari testified, “If you did not play ball the way they wanted, there would be repercussions.”   He said Stuart Levine involved him in a deal he was brokering with the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), where the company JER was supposed to hire a consultant of Levine’s choosing. Cari said when you wanted to do business with the state, you were subjected to shakedowns and he once told another individual “that’s the way it’s done in Illinois.”
•Under cross-examination, Cari did admit all threats came from Stuart Levine and not Rod Blagojevich. The defense also caught that when Cari testified at the Rezko trial, he said the “powers that be” were Kelly and Rezko, but did not mention Blagojevich as he did Thursday at this trial. On redirect, the prosecution had Cari read that he mentioned Blagojevich in reference to the same question at his grand jury testimony before the Rezko trial.
•Blagojevich tweeted ( @governorrod ) Thursday morning, “Getting ready for another day. One day at a time.”  The day before, he thanked everyone for their emails of support.
•Wednesday, the prosecution questioned Rezko associate Joseph Aramanda.  Aramanda testified about how when he owed Rezko money, Rezko had him act as a middle man for investments for the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). Aramanda said he became uncomfortable when Rezko wanted him to be involved in a deal worth tens of billions to Rezko , Lon Monk , Chris Kelly and Rod Blagojevich .”

Read more:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/rod-blagojevich-trial-fundraiser-joseph-cari-day-ten-20100617

Where’s Tony Rezko?

This is where it should get interesting. The William Cellini trial is scheduled for August. Tony Rezko is scheduled for sentencing in October. In the Cellini Indictment, Rezko and TRS, Teacher retirement System, are mentioned every other word. How are you going to keep Rezko off the witness stand. And if you have Rezko talking, you have Obama.

Stay tuned for more.

Where is Tony Rezko?, Obama and Blagojevich crony, Rezko knows where all the bodies are

Where is Tony Rezko?, Obama and Blagojevich crony, Rezko knows where all the bodies are

“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

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“Why were Stuart Levine and Tony Rezko not called as witnesses in the Blagojevich trials? FBI agent Daniel Cain testified in the Rezko trial. Why was agent Cain not questioned more in the Blagojevich trial?…Citizen Wells

“If the prosecution insists on going forward, I have two words for them: Rezko and Levine,” Cavise said. “They know where all the bodies are buried.””…Leonard Cavise,  DePaul University professor

Where is Tony Rezko, who is still awaiting sentencing after over 3 years?

Is anyone surprised by the lies and doubletalk coming from Blagojevich? Chicago is the capital of Orwellian speak, weasel words.

From the Chicago Tribune June 5, 2011.

“I can say with certitude that the emergence of the expressions “I can’t say with certitude” and “misdirection play” has made last week the greatest week for weasel words — at least since “not intended to be a factual statement” became a catchphrase earlier this year.”

“Blagojevich acknowledged once asking (his former chief of staff John) Harris to look into installing Patti (Blagojevich, the governor’s wife) on the Illinois Pollution Control Board, but the former governor said he did so only to test his preconceived “instinct” that it would not be proper. And Blagojevich said he had Harris arrange an interview for Patti with a Citigroup official, not to land a job, but so she could learn how not to stumble into a position with a “firm that was getting investments from my administration.”

So. Is “it was just a test” a better excuse than “that wasn’t a lie, it was simply a misdirection play,” “I was simply gathering material for a novel” or, my favorite, “don’t you know satire when you see it?”

That all depends on what the meaning of “is” is.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-oped-0605-zorn-20110605,0,4251666.column

Obama, Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine

From the Chicago SunTimes.

February 10, 2008.

“In the media, Obama always made it sound like he rarely saw Rezko, saying they met for breakfast or lunch once or twice a year. However, the FBI mole John Thomas helped investigators “build a record of repeat visits to the old offices of Rezko and former business partner Daniel Mahru’s Rezmar Corp., at 853 N. Elston, by Blagojevich and Obama during 2004 and 2005,“

During his March 14, 2008 interview, the Times told Obama, Thomas is an FBI mole and he “recently told us that he saw you coming and going from Rezko’s office a lot.”

“And three other sources told us that you and Rezko spoke on the phone daily.””

From the Tony Rezko Trial April 14, 2008.

“Stuart Levine, the prosecution’s star witness, said he and Obama were at a party Rezko threw at his Wilmette mansion on April 3, 2004, for Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire who Rezko was trying to get to invest in a South Loop real-estate development.

Auchi, now a citizen of the United Kingdom, has faced criminal charges in Europe. He also figured in the revocation of Rezko’s bond early this year after attempting to wire him more than $3 million. Upon learning of that attempt, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve declared Rezko a flight risk and ordered him held in a federal jail in the Loop.

The Rezko party in 2004 was designed to induce Auchi to pour money into the South Loop investment. Obama’s presence at the party was not previously known. At the time, Obama was fresh off a surprise win in the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and was riding a crest of national publicity.”

Lon Monk testifies Rezko gave him $70,000 to $90,000, Blagojevich trial testimony, May of 2004, Health Planning Board Rigging with Obama help

Lon Monk testifies Rezko gave him $70,000 to $90,000, Blagojevich trial testimony, May of 2004, Health Planning Board Rigging with Obama help

“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

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune

From the Chicago SunTimes May 17, 2011.

“Rod Blagojevich’s running buddy, onetime law school roommate and former chief of staff Lon Monk testified that he took $70,000 to $90,000 in cash payments from fundraiser Tony Rezko.

Monk said he took the money while he worked as chief of staff for Blagojevich and Rezko was a major fund-raiser.

Before his 2008 conviction, Rezko was a major political donor, forging ties with numerous politicos, including one Barack Obama.

The cash payments from Rezko started in May of 2004, according to Monk.

“I’d gone to him to recommend a car dealership where I could buy a particular car,” Monk said of Rezko. “He gave me that recommendation and at that time told me he wanted to help me buy the car.”

Rezko then helped him buy his car. He continued paying Monk about $10,000 in cash on different occasions. Monk did not deposit it because he didn’t want anyone seeing large cash deposits in his bank account.

Jurors heard the disclosure after Monk described how he, Blagojevich, fund-raiser Chris Kelly and Rezko were close and had met on occasion to discuss ways to make money off of state business. Monk’s testimony was not as detailed as it was in last summer’s trial, when he described Rezko at a drawing board describing ways to divvy up potential state deals. ”

Read more:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/blago/2011/05/testimony_tony_rezko_gave_blag_4.html

This may be as close as we come in this trial to linking Obama to the Chicago corruption due to the efforts of Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department to dilute the prosecution and protect Obama.

Look at the period of time from March – May 2004 and examine what Monk, Rezko, Levine and Obama were up to.

https://citizenwells.com/2011/03/15/justice-department-protecting-obama-evidence-evidentiary-proffer-blagojevich-prosecution-delayed-and-manipulated-collusion/

Alonzo Monk testifies in Blagojevich retrial, Blagojevich Chief of Staff and college pal controlled by Rezko

Alonzo Monk testifies in Blagojevich retrial, Blagojevich Chief of Staff and college pal controlled by Rezko

“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

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune

From the Chicago Tribune May 17, 2011.

“Prosecutors say they intend to call Alonzo “Lon” Monk to the stand on Tuesday.

A third week into testimony, Monk could be one of the last major government witnesses.

At the first trial, he wasn’t always an effective witness. He often seemed defensive and ill-at-ease.

Monk can address the earlier years of Blagojevich’s governorship, as well as alleged shakedowns of businessmen in 2008.

He’s claimed Blagojevich and an inner circle plotted to profit from gubernatorial decisions from the outset of Blagojevich’s first term. He told jurors last year that the plan was to split ill-gotten gains after Blagojevich left office.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-blagojevichtrial,0,1897341.story

From Citizen Wells June 9, 2010.

From the Tony Rezko trial in 2008.
March 10, 2008

“”He called me and he said we need to move on Stuart Levine,” Hayden testified. Hayden said Rezko told her he had already spoken to her boss, Blagojevich chief of staff Lon Monk, about the Levine reappointment and been assured the appointment would go through.

Hayden said Rezko laughed when she said she would have to check with Monk herself. “I took that to mean that I could go ahead and ask him, but it was already a done deal,” she recalled.”
March 19, 2008

“Levine also said that Rezko told him that he and fellow Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly “exercised the most influence” in Blagojevich’s kitchen cabinet. And Levine said Rezko told him that “all the major decisions in the governor’s office were cleared through [chief of staff] Lon Monk and through Mr. Rezko.”

“Mr. Rezko told me that he was able to have individuals appointed to state boards and was able to have individuals hired into state agencies and that he spoke very often — and in fact went over decisions — that Lon Monk would put into place,” Levine said.”
April 15, 2008

“Cari said he met with Stuart Levine at Rezko’s office in January that year. Rezko said he had the power to award contracts and get consultants hired through the governor’s then-chief of staff, Lon Monk, Cari said.

“Mr. Monk took direction from [Rezko],” Cari told the jury.

Rezko illustrated his clout by picking up the phone and apparently calling Monk in front of him, Cari said.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/blagojevich-trial-witnesses-alonzo-monk-june-9-2010-blagojevich-chief-of-staff-rezko-trial-revelations-rezko-controlled-monk-blagojevich-monk-law-school-roommates-monk-lobbyist/

FBI chart presented to the jury on April 28, 2008, shows 257 calls from Rezko’s phones to Blagojevich’s chief of staff, Lon Monk, between March 2004 and May 2004 alone.

View this in context here:
https://citizenwells.com/2011/03/15/justice-department-protecting-obama-evidence-evidentiary-proffer-blagojevich-prosecution-delayed-and-manipulated-collusion/

Obama records still hidden, Original birth certificate, College records, Senate records, Obama used tax payer dollars to hide records

 Obama records still hidden, Original birth certificate, College records, Senate records, Obama used tax payer dollars to hide records

“Why has Obama, since taking the White House, used Justice Department Attorneys, at taxpayer expense,  to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

“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

The questions above are still valid and require answers.

Some things are worth repeating. From Citizen Wells April 2, 2008.

We need to know the truth about Barack Obama. We need to know where Obama was on November 4, 1999. We need to know where Obama was and what he was doing during his term in the Illinois Senate. When I first read the allegations of Larry Sinclair, I was very skeptical. I am still somewhat skeptical. However, I went to the records of the Illinois Senate for November 4, 1999 and Barack Obama was not present. Sinclair alleges that he had 2 encounters with Obama from November 3 to November 8 1999. The first encounter was allegedly in a rented limo and involved drugs and gay sex. This alone was not a red flag for me but when you couple this information with Obama’s known association with criminals, with racists and hate mongers and his failure to provide his records while in the Illinois Senate, there is a legitimate need to get straight answers from Obama.

Here is what we know about Obama:

Obama received campaign contributions from Tony Rezko and was involved in a real estate transaction involving Rezko and his wife.

Obama had a long time association with racist, anti semitic pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Obama has consistently evaded requests for information, lied about not knowing of pastor Wright’s comments and acted in a hypocritical manner such as when he condemned Don Imus in 2007.

Obama has made hypocritical comments about open access to records:

From the democratic presidential debate in Philadelphia on Oct. 30, Obama said to Clinton: “We have just gone through one of the most secretive administrations in our history, and not releasing, I think, these records at the same time, Hillary, as you’re making the claim that this is the basis for your experience, I think, is a problem.”

November 3 2007. The Obama campaign sent out a letter  pressing Clinton to release her White House schedules before the Iowa caucuses.

“Fully releasing these records is in keeping with the spirit of the process that makes the Iowa caucus so special,”

 Lynn Sweet, a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times states:

“Instead, since I have some reporting history here, I am noting a pattern that has emerged: This is Obama’s third ethical conversion of convenience — taking on a higher standard, but only when it appears to be politically expedient. Obama is making government transparency and ethics a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.”

From a Chicago Tribune interview of November 12, 2007:

“The status of any government records Sen. Barack Obama might still have from his time as a state lawmaker in Springfield has come up as he has repeatedly criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton for how slowly records from her husband’s administration have been released.

In a Tribune interview Thursday, the Illinois Democrat said he had no intention of sharing any of the documents he might still have in his possession.”

Next are the questions asked and responses from Obama. I know that many people have read this, but it is worth repeating:

“Q: It is kind of unknown where some of the records from your time in Springfield are located. Where is that stuff, what do you have?

“We had one district director. I had one staff person, so, you know, we didn’t have some elaborate sort of system. I didn’t at my disposal millions of dollars and potentially multiple staff people to conduct an archive. Now keep in mind, it is apples and oranges. First of all, I’m not the one who has made this an issue. We saw during the debate, Senator Clinton was asked about it and the suggestion was somehow they’ve done all they could. And my simple point was, I don’t think there is some smoking gun in these archives or something, or some damning evidence. The only point that I’ve made is that, you know, Senator Clinton continues to base her claim on experience, in part, in substantial part, on her role as first lady, because if her, you know, experience was just based on her tenure as an elected official, it’s thinner than mine. So, I think it’s fair for people to ask, you know, what exactly was she doing, if that’s a substantial claim that she is making. So, I’m not interested in playing a game of gotcha, where I think there is evidence of something. I’m assuming most of this stuff is pretty mundane, you know, stuff. But what we do know is that she was involved in health care. Based on the questions you just asked me, or [New York Times reporter Jeff] Zeleny just asked me today, there’s this sense of, well, yeah, I was in charge of health care, but the fact that it didn’t work out, wasn’t my fault. That, we’ve at least got a public record that she was involved. From that point forward, we really have no idea what she was involved in. And so, you know, what I think, what I think, is not, doesn’t make sense is to say, to able to take credit for whatever Clinton Administration successes that she wants, and then selectively distance herself from any Clinton Administration failures, and not have some sort of public record that allows people to get a sense of that. Now, my sense is that this is information that, if they wanted to accelerate the process, so that it was available before this election, they could get it out there.”

Q: What about your stuff, though? What do you have?

“I have no idea. I mean [muffled on recording]. I really don’t. Again, I did not have at my disposal. I wasn’t preparing for the Obama state senatorial library.”

Q: You must have kept some stuff. Correspondence, calendars?

“The problem is whatever remaining documents I have are inevitably incomplete. And then the questions going to be, where’s this or where’s that. Once I start heading down that road, then it puts me in a position that could end up being misleading. I don’t want to mislead people. I don’t know the extent of the records that I have as a state senator.””

Read more from the Chicago Tribune:

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/obama_did_not_want_his_poems_s.html

The following is from Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times on November 11, 2007:

“On Friday, Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that she had asked Obama at a news conference: “Do your state senate papers still exist? If they do, just where are they? And would you ever intend to make them public to be responsive to some requests?”

Sweet wrote that he replied: “Nobody has requested specific documents.”

But the Chicago Tribune has reported that it “requested documents from his time in Springfield and never received a response.”

And Sweet wrote of her own paper, “The Chicago Sun-Times has also been asking about Obama’s papers.””

“RNC spokesman Danny Diaz said of Obama’s reticence on records: “Barack Obama is a rookie senator with few accomplishments. Perhaps he’s reluctant to inform the public about his activities in Springfield because they demonstrate a lack of leadership at a state level as well.””

“An Obama spokesman, Ben LaBolt, last week declined to say where Obama’s records from his years in the Illinois State Senate are located. There is no law mandating the state to archive the records. The records from Obama’s office — if he kept them — would potentially show appointments with lobbyists, policy memos, meetings, etc.”

“Obama’s campaign has refused to identify the biggest bundlers, people who are raising at least $200,000 for him and are given membership in his National Finance Council. Obama, as all major candidates, declines most of the time to disclose details about most fund-raising events.”

“Sometimes Obama has come late to the game. He did not stop taking rides on subsidized corporate jets until the week he was tapped to be the Democrats’ chief spokesman on ethics in January 2006. In 2005, Obama took 23 such private aircraft flights, some to attend fund-raisers he headlined. In 2006, Obama led the fight to ban lawmakers from taking cut-rate private air travel.”

“Obama has supported more earmark disclosure to bolster government transparency. Last June, Obama disclosed the earmarks he requested for Illinois and national interests. However, his office, after repeated requests since June, has yet to disclose earmarks Obama sought in 2006, before he was running for president.”

Read more from Lynn Sweet here:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/11/sweet_column_obama_record_on_t.html

Tim Russert interviewed Barack Obama on November 11, 2007. During part of the interview Russert asked Obama about supplying records. Here is that segment:

“MR. RUSSERT:  You talked about Senator Clinton having records released from the Clinton Library regarding her experience as first lady, and yet when you were asked about, “What about eight years in the state senate of Illinois,” you said, “I don’t know.” Where, where are the—where are your records?

SEN. OBAMA:  Tim, we did not keep those records.  I…

MR. RUSSERT:  Are they gone?

SEN. OBAMA:  Well, let’s be clear.  In the state senate, every single piece of information, every document related to state government was kept by the state of Illinois and has been disclosed and is available and has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by news outlets in Illinois.  The, the stuff that I did not keep has to do with, for example, my schedule.  I didn’t have a schedule.  I was a state senator.  I wasn’t intending to have the Barack Obama State Senate Library.  I didn’t have 50 or 500 people to, to help me archive these issues.  So…

MR. RUSSERT:  But your meetings with lobbyists and so forth, there’s no record of that?

SEN. OBAMA:  I did not have a scheduler, but, as I said, every document related to my interactions with government is available right now.  And, as I said, news outlets have already looked at them.

MR. RUSSERT:  Is your schedule available anywhere?  Are—the records exist?

SEN. OBAMA:  I—Tim, I kept my own schedule.  I didn’t have a scheduler.

MR. RUSSERT:  Senator Durbin, your colleague, publishes his schedule each day.  Would you do that?

SEN. OBAMA:  Well, you know, these days I have a public presidential schedule that I think everybody has access to.”

To read more of the Tim Russert interview click here:

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21738432/

Obama said, “I didn’t have a schedule.” What kind of evasive answer is that? Everyone has a schedule.

Larry Sinclair’s allegation means almost nothing in a vacuum. However, when you look at the big picture, the picture that appears from all of the puzzle pieces, a scary picture emerges. Barack Obama is running for President of the United States. He has to be held to a high standard. It is time for some answers and information.

Obama must provide records.

Where was Obama on November 4, 1999?

Rahm Emanuel not legal resident of Chicago, Obama not natural born citizen, Emanuel not eligible, Obama not eligible

Rahm Emanuel not legal resident of Chicago, Obama not natural born citizen, Emanuel not eligible, Obama not eligible

“Birds of a feather flock together.”

From the Chicago SunTimes October 4, 2010.

“Experts say Rahm Emanuel not a legal resident of city”

“Sunday, Rahm Emanuel announced in a video posted on a website that he is preparing to run for mayor of Chicago. But two of Chicago’s top election lawyers say the state’s municipal code is crystal clear that a candidate for mayor must reside in the town for a year before the election.
 
Rahm Emanuel owns the home at right, but he rented it out when he became White House chief of staff last year — and the tenant refuses to break the lease.
That doesn’t mean they must simply own a home in the city that they rent out to someone else. They must have a place they can walk into, keep a toothbrush, hang up their jacket and occasionally sleep, the lawyers say.

Another three election lawyers say Emanuel could be thrown off the ballot on a residency challenge. None says Emanuel will have it easy.

Today, Emanuel launches his “listening tour” of Chicago neighborhoods — taking his message and open ears, he says, to Chicago’s “grocery stores, L stops, bowling alleys and hot dog stands.”

Though he was widely expected to run, Sunday’s video was his first statement of his intentions since Mayor Daley announced he would not seek another term. Friday, Emanuel left Washington and his job as White House chief of staff.

Ironically, President Obama would have no problem coming back to Chicago to run for mayor because he never rented out his home and has come back to stay there on rare occasions.

“He has a physical location that he owns and has exclusive right to live in,” said attorney Jim Nally.

But Emanuel’s problem as he prepares to run for mayor is that he rented out his house, and the tenant refuses to back out of the lease.

“The guy does not meet the statutory requirements to run for mayor,” said attorney Burt Odelson. “He hasn’t been back there in 18 months. Residency cases are usually very hard to prove because the candidate gets an apartment or says he’s living in his mother’s basement. Here the facts are easy to prove. He doesn’t dispute he’s been in Washington for the past 18 months. This is not a hard case.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/2769580,CST-NWS-vote04.article

This should be no problem for Emanuel. Obama is not a natural born citizen and he’s in the White House.

Blagojevich trial, US Justice Department corruption, Protecting Obama, Part 5, Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine are best witnesses, Where is Tony Rezko?, Why hasn’t Rezko been sentenced?

Blagojevich trial, US Justice Department corruption, Protecting Obama, Part 5

“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune

“Federal authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for Rezko, who is believed to be traveling abroad.”..Rezko indictment press release
“That was when U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve learned he had received a $3.5 million wire transfer from a business associate abroad.”…Rezko trial transcripts

Blagojevich trial

Protecting Obama

Part 5

Where is Tony Rezko?

What unholy alliance prevented Tony Rezko from being called as a prosecution witness? Was it a pact between Rezko, Blagojevich and Obama? Is the US Justice Department complicit in a coverup? Was there pressure from entities in the Middle East? Perhaps a combination of those forces. In Blagojevich’s own words.

Citizen Wells August 28, 2008
“As his sentencing nears, pressure is mounting on Tony Rezko to cooperate with federal investigations into some of the highest-profile politicians in the state — including Gov. Blagojevich.”

“Now, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Rezko has been seen at the federal courthouse as many as a dozen times since his June conviction. He’s been held since then at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.”

“If Rezko’s cooperating, that would be a major development in “Operation Board Games,” the government’s ongoing probe into state boards that’s widened into a broader corruption probe.”

Read more

From the Chicago SunTimes October 9, 2008
“A federal judge this morning officially postponed the sentencing of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko as he continues his discussions with the government.

U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve indefinitely delayed Rezko’s Oct. 28 sentencing date and told the parties to meet again for a status in the case in December.
The sentencing, originally scheduled for Oct. 28, just before the election, was likely to bring unfavorable publicity to Rezko’s onetime friend Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Prosecutors and Rezko lawyers said this morning they did not want to set a future date for sentencing.

Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said they sought the delay to “work together to agree to otherwise narrow differences at sentencing.”

The agreement comes as Rezko is talking to federal prosecutors. The Sun-Times first reported Rezko’s meetings with the feds in August and sources close to the investigation later confirmed the talks last month.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/1208918,rezko100808.article

From the Chicago SunTimes February 3, 2009

“Convicted businessman Tony Rezko — who is poised to become a crucial witness in the massive corruption case against ex-Gov. Blagojevich — was quietly moved out of a downtown jail and into another facility last month, the Sun-Times has learned.
Authorities seeking Rezko’s cooperation pushed for the move after Rezko complained about being held in the tough confines of solitary imprisonment, known as “the hole,” even as he was providing information to prosecutors, sources said.”

 
“Rezko’s relocation is a sign that even with thousands of taped conversations of the governor, investigators still highly value Rezko’s potential as a witness.”
“Rezko, who served as an adviser and fund-raiser to Blagojevich, provided authorities with substantial information involving the governor and bolstered pay-to-play testimony by former Illinois Finance Authority director Ali Ata, as well as talking about other alleged deals.”

Read more:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2009/02/prosecutors_help_move_rezko_ou.html
 

From the Washington Examiner April 20, 2010.

“Where in the world is Tony Rezko?”

“Why is Antoin “Tony” Rezko under lock and key at an undisclosed location, like some sort of CIA-renditioned al Qaeda operative? And why hasn’t he been sentenced yet?

As the June 3 corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell Obama’s former Illinois Senate seat approaches, the whereabouts of the former Blago and Obama fundraiser is literally a state secret.”

“Rezko’s not listed on the federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator, either.”

“Randall Samborn, spokesman for Fitzgerald, told The Examiner that Rezko “remains in federal custody,” although admitting that he didn’t know exactly where the convicted businessman was being held. Samborn also confirmed that “there is no sentencing date,” but would not elaborate. Sources in Chicago tell us that the long delay is “very unusual.””

“Is Rezko being held at another prison facility for his own safety? There are plenty of people in Chicago and Washington who might not want Rezko on the witness stand. They include:

Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias.

Rezko was such an enthusiastic customer of Giannoulias’ failing Broadway Bank that he wrote $450,000 in bad checks against his account to pay off gambling debts.

Alderman Eddie Burke

Rezko hired Burke’s law firm to get a 77 percent reduction in the real estate taxes of a 62-acre property along the Chicago River he planned to develop using $140 million in city subsidies. After assuring the Chicago Board of Ethics that he would abstain from any Council votes on Rezko’s project, Burke voted for it anyway, blaming his conflict of interest on “an error.” The project was later abandoned.

President Barack Obama

Rezko was the president’s “real estate fairy,” as one Chicago columnist likes to put it. Remember how they bought a house together in Chicago? Rezko was one of Obama’s earliest and biggest fundraisers and donors. Obama was one of his go-to guys for housing legislation in the Illinois state Senate.

If I were Tony Rezko, I’d be hiding, too.”

Read more:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/where-in-the-world-is-tony-rezko-91619594.html
It is understandable why the Blagojevich defense team does not want Rezko on the stand. Judge Zagel’s comment about Rezko being a bad witness is at least horsecrap and reeks of conspiracy. Convicted felons of all categories are regularly used as witnesses. Stuart Levine, the key witness in the Rezko trial was not only enmeshed in corruption but was a long time drug user.
Here are the approximate number of times that “Rezko” is mentioned in US Justice Department documents.

Indictment:  100 times.

Criminal complaint:  170 times.

Evidentiary Proffer:  288 times.
Even if a strong argument is made against using Rezko as a witness, and good luck with that argument, Stuart Levine was used extensively as a witness in the Rezko trial, and his name was mentioned approx. 146 times in the Blagojevich Criminal Complaint. And don’t forget, Blagojevich’s name was mentioned at least 30 times on one day of the Rezko trial.

Patrick Fitzgerald, I am damn angry and am speaking up about US Justice Department corruption.

The Chicago Tribune just reported this:
“”I felt all along and believed all along that I was going to testify,” he said. But he said the government case wasn’t as they presented it, without calling witnesses  Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Stuart Levine, both convicted in the federal probe.”

Read more:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/blagojevich-on-trial/2010/07/blago-prosecutors-proved-my-innocence-1.html

Blagojevich trial Rezko not sentenced, Rezko key to Blagojevich and Obama guilt, Citizen Wells open thread, July 17, 2010

Blagojevich trial Rezko not sentenced, Rezko key to Blagojevich and Obama guilt

Tony Rezko has not been sentenced, unless it was done it complete secrecy. Tony Rezko was not called by the prosecution in the Rod Blagojevich trial. It is understandable why the defense team does not want Rezko on the stand.

From the Chicago SunTimes February 3, 2009.

“Convicted businessman Tony Rezko — who is poised to become a crucial witness in the massive corruption case against ex-Gov. Blagojevich — was quietly moved out of a downtown jail and into another facility last month, the Sun-Times has learned.”

“Rezko’s relocation is a sign that even with thousands of taped conversations of the governor, investigators still highly value Rezko’s potential as a witness. The MCC is considered by some inmates to have harsher conditions than county jails.
Upon his conviction in early June of schemes involving state deals, Rezko went to jail voluntarily, saying he wanted to start serving his time. Then, in August, the Sun-Times first reported that the 53-year-old Wilmette resident began meeting with prosecutors.
Rezko, who served as an adviser and fund-raiser to Blagojevich, provided authorities with substantial information involving the governor and bolstered pay-to-play testimony by former Illinois Finance Authority director Ali Ata, as well as talking about other alleged deals.”

Read more:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2009/02/prosecutors_help_move_rezko_ou.html

Blagojevich trial, Evidence, Contribution list, Rezko, Which Duffy?, Citizen Wells open thread, July 7, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Evidence, Contribution list, Rezko, Which Duffy?

A piece of evidence was released in the Rod Blagojevich trial yesterday, Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Like any other piece of information, it is a piece of a puzzle of deception and corruption. On this “Projected vs. Actual Contributions” list for June 2004 we have a listing that is totally expected.

On the last page we see a action item list of names and whether to call or meet.

One of the names listed to call is Duffy.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_blagojevich_exhibits/2010_07_06/fob_list_4.pdf

The question is, which Duffy, and why?

Here are 2 possibilities:

Rezko trial chief defense counsel Joseph J. Duffy.

Republican state senator Dan Duffy who spoke out against Blagojevich during the impeachment trial.

Here are some interesting remarks made by Joseph Duffy during the Rezko trial.

“- Duffy told jurors that Rezko probably did more fund-raising for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), President Bush and St. Jude’s children’s hospital in 2003 than he did for Gov. Blagojevich. That includes “a Barack Obama fund-raiser or two.” This isn’t the first time Duffy trotted out Obama’s name during the trial. He did the same thing during opening statements.

– Duffy took aim at former Illinois Finance Authority Executive Director Ali Ata, saying Ata over-hyped his relationship with Rezko and under-hyped it with the Blagojevich and Mell families. Ata didn’t need Rezko to get a state job, Duffy said, because he was so close to the governor and Patti Blagojevich’s father, Ald. Dick Mell (33rd). “[Ata] could have gone and rang the doorbell at the governor’s house and probably gotten a hug from Patti,” Duffy said.

-Duffy on Blagojevich campaign contributions made by people who were appointed to posts on state boards and commissions: “They [prosecutors] want you to believe that people gave campaign contributions to get on boards that didn’t pay any money.”

-Duffy rebutting phone charts the government presented as evidence: “Mr. Rezko’s so-called political influence has been grossly, grossly overstated. How many phone calls did we have between Mr. Rezko and the governor? Remember that chart? It doesn’t exist.””

Source, Chicago SunTimes.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/05/rezko_trial_another_obama_ment.html

Blagojevich throws Obama under bus, Citizen Wells open thread, June 26, 2010

Blagojevich throws Obama under bus, Citizen Wells open thread.

I hope that Obama likes bus tread marks. That bus may go forward and backward several times before the Blagojevich trial is over.