Category Archives: corruption

Where’s Tony Rezko?, Thomas R. Bennett accuses U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of protecting Team Obama, Rezko can bury Blagojevich and Chicago Political Thuggery Machine

Where’s Tony Rezko?, Thomas R. Bennett accuses U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of protecting Team Obama, Rezko can bury Blagojevich and  Chicago Political Thuggery Machine

“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

Thank God someone is paying attention and thanks to Thomas R. Bennett and Barbara Hollingsworth. I have tried my best to keep this story alive despite the best attempts of the mainstream media along with Patrick Fitzgerald and the Obama controlled US Justice Department to minimize the impact on Obama.

The Washington Examiner, in an article dated May 26, 2011, links to a Citizen Wells article in this line, ” If Rezko was pulling Blago’s strings, why isn’t he testifying at his trial?”

“Where’s Tony Rezko?”

“Thomas R. Bennett, who has been following the retrial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for the Nuclear Chicago blog, accuses U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of “sandbagging” and “running egregious political interference to both benefit and protect Team Obama” for not calling fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko to the stand as a government witness:

“Simply put – Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko is the only witness that can bury Blagojevich and the Chicago Political Thuggery Machine. Why is Fitzgerald holding back Rezko? What has been promised or implied to Fitzgerald as a ‘reward’ for Fitzgerald’s blatant sandbagging efforts?”

Bennett launched this latest incendiary after federal marshals apparently detained him and escorted him out of Chicago’s federal court building after he wrote: “There is still a gigantic elephant in the room.  Specifically, we still do not have an answer related to who leaked classified Department of Justice (DOJ) information regarding the confidential Blagojevich wiretaps?” He included a link to an earlier Beltway Confidential post asking the same question.

Bennett raises a good point about the convicted-but-still-not-sentenced  Rezko, whose whereabouts after he was transferred from Chicago’s downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center last year remain murky.

In his retrial of the former Illinois governor for allegedly trying to sell President Obama’s old Senate seat and seeking campaign contributions in exchange for political favors , Fitzgerald inexplicably dropped all the charges against Blagojevich that involved Rezko. This despite the fact that federal prosecutors  previously described Rezko as “”the man behind the curtain, pulling the strings” in the Blagojevich administration.

If Rezko was pulling Blago’s strings, why isn’t he testifying at his trial?”

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/05/wheres-tony-rezko#ixzz1NauAHwxa

I have spent countless hours researching and writing about the Chicago corruption world of Tony Rezko, Rod Blagojevich and Barack Obama. My conclusion that Obama was being protected was an obvious one. My consistent statements that Tony Rezko must be called as a witness are substantiated by conclusions of a number of legal experts.

From Citizen Wells April 19, 2011.

“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.”

“An expert on law has commented on Rezko and Levine being called as witnesses. Leonard Cavise is a DePaul University law professor.”

“But Leonard Cavise, a DePaul University professor, suggested the government will need to do more at the retrial, possibly leading to a longer presentation of evidence. He said he believes the government may try to avoid another deadlocked jury by using fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko and political fixer Stuart Levine as witnesses.
Both men have agreed to cooperate, but prosecutors chose not to call them this summer in part because of the baggage both bring.
“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.””

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/blagojevich-retrial-rezko-and-obama-judge-james-zagel-cautions-blagojevich-justice-dept-corruption/

Bill Cellini trial August 22, 2011 yet Cellini indicted in October 2008, William Cellini enmeshed in Chicago corruption world of Blagojevich Rezko and Obama

Bill Cellini trial August 22, 2011 yet Cellini indicted in October 2008, William Cellini enmeshed in Chicago corruption world of Blagojevich Rezko and Obama

“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

It is clear that the arrest, indictment and trials of Rod Blagojevich have been delayed to protect Obama. It is further clear that the prosecution of Blagojevich has been diluted to protect Obama and Blagojevich. I now believe that originally the Rezko trial was delayed to help Blagojevich and then when he fell out of grace as a presidential prospect, Obama became the primary focus of protection. The scheme has worked so far. Obama seized the White House and now controls the US Justice Department.

The following information and timeline makes it crystal clear that Patrick Fitzgerald and the Justice Dept. had sufficient evidence to arrest Rezko, Blagojevich, et al in 2005.

Citizen Wells March 14, 2011

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/justice-department-protecting-obama-evidence-evidentiary-proffer-blagojevich-prosecution-delayed-and-manipulated-collusion-2/

If William Cellini has been called as a witness in the Blagojevich Trial, it has not been reported. Yet Bill Cellini was enmeshed in Chicago and Illinois corruption and he was indicted in October of 2008 and awaiting trial scheduled for August 22, 2011.

William Cellini indicted October 30, 2008

Press release

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01.pdf

Indictment

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01a.pdf

Here are a few of the many references to William Cellini during the Tony Rezko trial in the spring of 2008.

March 6, 2008

“Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton talks about how Highland Park businessman
Stuart Levine is central to the government case ”

“She also explains how William Cellini, a powerful Republican power
broker, was also allegedly central to many of the alleged kickback
schemes at the Teacher’s Retirement System.
Hamilton finished remarks after an hour. She did not mention the name
of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, whose U.S. Senate
campaign in 2004 allegedly was the beneficiary of $20,000 in campaign
cash from intermediaries in the kickback schemes the government says
were orchestrated by Rezko.”

March 21, 2008

“That’s where Levine’s testimony is headed right now as he details how
he and Republican insider William Cellini staged a coup to take
control of the Teachers’ Retirement System, the $30 billion pension
fund for most Illinois teachers. Cellini had worked with Levine in the
past on corrupt business deals, Levine has testified. Prosecutors say
Levine and Rezko corrupted the pension fund, plotting to steer tens of
millions of dollars in investments to favored money managers in
exchange for a secret split of finder’s fees for those investments.”

March 21, 2008

“Once the investment received approval, Levine said he had a
conversation with William Cellini, another Republican power broker.
Both Cellini and Kjellander were lobbyists for a company called
Compdent, for which Levine found clients. In testimony earlier this
week, Levine said he had passed bribes to secure contracts for
Compdent, a dental insurance provider, with the Chicago Public
Schools.”

March 31, 2008

“Kelly has not been charged in this case and neither has another alleged co-schemer in pension steering, Republican insider and developer William Cellini. Levine testified Monday that he and Cellini worked with Rezko and Kelly to solidify control over a state teacher’s pension board. But Levine said at one point in the summer of 2003 he confided to Cellini that he preferred to work with Rezko, not Kelly.”

“In the conversation, Cellini communicates to Levine that he is concerned about possible federal investigations because of heat being generated by Rezko and his fellow fundraiser Christopher Kelly, who are out “hammerin’ ” people for contracts.”

April 1, 2008

“In February 2004, TRS allocated $220 million to Commonwealth, and,
Levine said, he had already spoken to Cellini at a meeting before the
allocation was voted on. Among those present was Jon Bauman, executive
director of TRS, and TRS counsel Steve Loren.”

“”I had had a conversation with Mr. Cellini wherein I asked Mr.
Cellini if Commonwealth could make an investment in a company called
Senior Lifestyles,” Levine said. That was a company involved in senior
centers that both Levine and his friend Sheldon Pekin had an interest
in.””

April 2, 2008

“”Every social world, even the crooked ones, develops its own system of
codes and nicknames and so it was with Stuart Levine and his
associates.
As prosecutors played more wiretaps of their star witness Levine in
the Antoin “Tony” Rezko corruption trial, Levine was heard describing
how one key official at a state pension board referred to him as “The
Rabbi.” Another political fixer, William Cellini, earned the nickname
“The Pope” from the same pension official.””

April 8, 2008

“Levine and a regular group of male drug buddies favored a Lincolnwood hotel for the frequent binges, but he said they would sometimes shift the parties to tony downtown hotels. Levine said he often chartered a plane and flew his drug buddies to Springfield, where they partied in what was then known as the Renaissance Hotel. It was owned by William Cellini, a Springfield power broker identified by prosecutors as an unindicted co-schemer in the case against Rezko.”

More on William Cellini, et al to come.

William Cellini evidence leads to Obama Blagojevich Rezko et al, Cellini trial scheduled for August 22

William Cellini evidence leads to Obama Blagojevich Rezko et al, Cellini trial scheduled for August 22

“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

“Connections could touch every somebody”

“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune

William Cellini, with connections to many of the corruption figures in Chicago and Illinois, is scheduled for trial August 22, 2011. Before I present more details about Cellini, here is an article from 2008  that reveals the far reaching impact of that corruption on the citizens of Chicago. Of course, Obama’s name surfaces again.

From The Provocateur, October 31, 2008.

“The Indictment of William Cellini and Illinois’ Shadow Government

Yesterday, the Federal Prosecutor for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald handed down several indictments for one William Cellini. Who is William Cellini? Even if you reside in Illinois Cellini is likely a name you weren’t aware of until reading this piece. Yet, according to the indictment, Cellini, and other power brokers like Anton Rezko and Stuart Levine, made up a shadow government that really made the shots in the state government. These power brokers made decisions based on one motivation only…their own pocket books. It should also be noted that Cellini is a life long Republican. He got into bed with Democrats like Rezko and Levine to make up this shadow government that was really calling the shots behind the scenes of the Blagojevich administration.

How did all of this work? First, folks like Cellini and Rezko became top fundraisers for the likes of Governor Rod Blagojevich (and one former State Senator now on the cusp of being President). Once they became indispensable allies of the man in charge, they used that influence to influence most of the political apparatus of the state government.

For instance, one of the charges that Cellini is facing is influencing the Teachers’ Retirement System. After raising millions for Governor Blagojevich, Stuart Levine, one of Cellini’s associates, became a member of the board of the TRS. Then, Levine, Rezko and Cellini worked behind the scenes to put as many of their cronies on the board. Then, the TRS doled out contracts and other monies to Levine, Rezko, Cellini and their friends.

This was the modus operendi for Rezko, Levine, Cellini and other political insiders. They bought influence by becoming top fundraisers for politicians like Governor Blagojevich. Then, they used that influence to put themselves and their own cronies in as many influential places as possible throughout the State Government apparatus. Once in place, the shadow government was in a position to dole out as much State government money as possible to themselves and their friends. This Boston Globe report shows exactly how the likes of Tony Rezko used this same shadow government and its results.

The boon on this scheme for Rezko and his friends was about $200,000,000, and so was the tab to the Illinois tax payer. The result was low income housing that is no longer livable.”

Read more:

http://theeprovocateur.blogspot.com/2008/10/indictment-of-william-cellini-and.html

Make sure you watch the video:

http://bcove.me/gf35s15u

Blagojevich trial May 23, 2011, Blagojevich defense begins, Prominent witnesses to be called, What about Tony Rezko

Blagojevich trial May 23, 2011, Blagojevich defense begins, Prominent witnesses to be called, What about Tony 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

“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

The prosecution rested it’s so called case against Rod Blagojevich last Thursday. Only a snippet of the corruption that Blagojevich was involved in at least by 2003 has been presented. And of course, the plan to avoid presenting any evidence that links Obama to this corruption has been skillfully executed in the best Orwellian tradition. This includes not calling the unsentenced Tony Rezko to the witness stand.

From SaukValley.com May 23, 2011.

“Television reruns rarely attract the same audience and attention as they did the first time around.

The retrial of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich seems to be playing out the same way.

Last summer, the 6-week trial kept Illinoisans’ attention as revelation after unsavory revelation about their former governor came forth from the federal courtroom in Chicago.”

“This time around, there is little new information coming out of the courtroom, so coverage – and public interest – is less than before.

The media frenzy is less. The last time the Associated Press moved a fresh Blagojevich photo taken at the trial scene was 3 weeks ago.

Federal prosecutors greatly simplified their case, reducing the corruption counts to 20, reducing their witnesses to 15, and presenting their case in a nifty 3 weeks – half the time of last year’s trial.

Blagojevich’s legal team did not present a defense at the first trial, but they say they plan to do so this time. The defense is scheduled to begin its case Wednesday.

What will that defense be?

Blagojevich’s lawyers must deal with the federal government’s five main charges:

n That Blagojevich tried to sell an appointment to a U.S. Senate seat, once held by President Barack Obama; and

n That Blagojevich sought campaign contributions in exchange for four public acts: providing a state grant to a school, sending more state money to a hospital, supporting a boost in tollway construction, and signing a bill beneficial to the horse racing industry.

The defense team has active subpoenas for “people of some prominence and activities,” according to Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky. They include Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, D-Chicago.

However, the big question is, Will Blagojevich take the stand in his own defense?”

Read more:

http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2011/05/20/r_5qx492dtrmcaqmpds9mlkw/index.xml

Daniel Cain testimony limited in Blagojevich trial, Prosecution case diluted, Counts 1 2 4 dropped, Justice Dept protects Obama

Daniel Cain testimony limited in Blagojevich trial, Prosecution case diluted, Counts 1 2 4 dropped, Justice Dept protects Obama

“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

“The past, he reflected, had not merely been altered, it had
actually been destroyed. For how could you establish, even
the most obvious fact when there existed no record outside
your own memory?”…George Orwell, “1984″

The so called prosecution has complete their “case” against Rod Blagojevich. The Case was steadily diluted against Blagojevich beginning with word changes from the Criminal Complaint to the second superceding Indictment, followed by the dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 which had the most substance of corruption activity in 2003 and 2004 and ultimately linked Obama to the board rigging. The second trial, as in the first, had little testimony and few witnesses. The question begged to be asked by this site as well as legal experts was why Tony Rezko was not called as a witness. Even Judge Zagel chimed in calling Rezko a bad witness. The terms streamlining and simplifying were used for the terse prosecution, but those are just Orwellian attempts at justifying a far less than complete effort. It must be obvious to even the casual observer that the US Justice Department is protecting Obama.

Tony Rezko has not been sentenced. Rezko has been called a bad witness, yet Stuart Levine, steeped in corruption and a drug user, was the key witness in the Rezko trial and Rezko was convicted on most of the counts. FBI agent Daniel Cain  was called to the stand in the Rezko trial to back up the testimony of Levine. Agent Cain recently testified in the Blagojevich trial. Daniel Cain could have been called to corroborate the testimony of Tony Rezko, but since counts 1, 2 and 4 were dropped, it wasn’t necessary.

Apparently no one else is covering this. Here is an exclusive report on FBI Agent Daniel Cain, what he was involved in investigating Operation Board Games and why he should have been asked more questions about the Chicago corruption world in 2003 and 2004 involving Blagojevich Rezko, Levine, Obama, et al.

https://citizenwells.com/2011/05/20/blagojevich-trial-fbi-witness-daniel-cain-cain-knows-more-dan-cain-rezko-trial-witness-citizen-wells-exclusive/

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/

Blagojevich trial avoids tainting Obama with Rezko, Obama and Patrick Fitzgerald violate US Constitution

Blagojevich trial avoids tainting Obama with Rezko, Obama and Patrick Fitzgerald violate US Constitution

“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

The Citizen Wells blog has for several years pointed out the efforts of Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department to protect Obama in the “prosecution” of Rod Blagojevich.

From Nuclear Chicago May 12, 2011.

“As an update to my continuing effort to construct a biography of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as well as provide special reporting related to the retrial of Milorad Blagojevich, I am writing this morning to officially report upon and inform The May Report and NuclearChicago readership of the following:

Speculative Scenario A).  Is Team Blagojevich sandbagging or laying-upon its sword to benefit both the Obama and Emanuel Administrations (i.e., The-Fix-is-In )?  or

Speculative Scenario B).  Does Team Blagojevich feel that its picked the “perfect” Jury to simply peddle a softly-dark comedy – Blago & The Bad News Bears?

Under either of the above-scenario’s…..U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald (and we the Taxpayers) may be auditioning for a coveted-spot on NBC’s The Biggest Loser.”

“4). To date, I have already witnessed a series of very telling moments during the retrial that often go unreported by our local mainstream media.  Another telling moment that often goes unreported in our local media is just how strategic, cerebral and calculating Governor Blagojevich comes across during the replay of the wiretaps.  Same political calculus and cunning often get marginalized by the more sensational “F-Bomb laced recordings” played in open court.  As an aside, the “F-Bomb laced recordings” are, at times, piss-in-your-pants hilarious.

Specifically, Blagojevich mentions (via wiretaps) on several occasions just how toxic and politically-nuclear his mere presence is to the then pending Obama Administration visa vi Blagojevich’s relationship with Obama confidante – Atoin “Tony” Rezko.

Aside from often complaining on the wiretaps about how the Mainstream Press often displaces “everything Rezko” on Blagojevich while providing Obama’s Rezko involvement with a Hall Pass, Blagojevich clearly incorporates this same Rezko toxicity factor into tactics Blagojevich used in developing his Quid Pro Quo strategy with the Obama Administration (and emissaries) as, per the wiretaps, Blagojevich clearly communicates a legitimate option of inserting himself as the bona fide replacement for Obama’s U.S. Senate seat.  Further, it is my understanding that statutorily – Blagojevich had a legitimate legal basis for self-appointment to same U.S. Senate Seat.”

“5). I will expand upon the relevance of the Blagojevich self-appointment (and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s presumable understanding of relevance based upon his actions) in a later report as same relevance has gone under-reported via mainstream media, however, it is important for readership to understand that the “exponentially enhanced probability” of a Blagojevich self-appointment was politically-nuclear and toxic to The Obama Administration.  Moreover, its become very clear via the wiretaps that Rod Blagojevich attempted to leverage (or blackmail) the Obama Administration with same politically-nuclear-Rezko-toxicity under the prevailing logic that the Obama Administration wants to surgically remove itself from All-Things-Rezko.

In this sense, rather than Rod Blagojevich be “rewarded” for shielding the Obama Administraton from All-Things-Rezko-toxicity, U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald appears to be further positioning himself and running interference for the Obama Administration to perhaps procure a “bennie” by shielding Obama Administration from same Rezko-political-toxicity logic (or blackmail).  Again, please keep in mind that same interference has been taking place since 2006 when U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald demanded that the Chicago Tribune not publish a report that identified the identity of Federal Informant John Thomas or related Federal Investigation.

And folks…the All-Things-Rezko-political-toxicity is clearly a high-stakes political game of leverage and political toxicity that both Blagojevich and U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald are playing – make no mistake about it!

Why else hasn’t Antoin “Tony” Rezko been sentenced? After all, it has been nearly three years since Rezko’s June 4, 2008 conviction.  (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/06/rezko-convicted-of-influence-p.html)

Further, what is the basis for the delay in Rezko’s sentencing?  What is the scope of Rezko’s involvement and/or cooperation with U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald and Federal Authorities?

The fact that Rezko and the following cooperating Federal Government witnesses have not yet been sentenced:

—-
Joe Cari – June 2005 Guilty Plea, to date, sentencing has been delayed (https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/category/joseph-cari)

John Harris – July 2009 Guilty Plea – to date, sentencing has been delayed (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/08/blagojevichs-former-chief_n_227718.html)
—-

inherently creates highly-germane issues and environs that create ‘major conflicts and concerns’ in both the U.S. Attorney’s ability to dispense equitable justice, and in issues related to The White House’s ability to establish continuity related to policy development and implementation.  Simply put, until All-Things-Rezko are concluded at 219 South Dearborn – an Obama Administration is, in theory, “politically-bricked” and “boxed-in” by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald as its already been reported upon that Fitzgerald’s Federal Informant – John Thomas – has logged-in visits by Blagojevich and Obama to Rezko’s offices (http://bigjournalism.com/acary/2010/05/19/tony-rezko-barack-obama-the-fbi-mole-and-the-chicago-msm/).

To further demonstrate the highly-charged political nature of the above circumstances, ask yourself this — in the event U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald is, in fact, positioning himself for a “major bennie” (i.e., FBI Director) or “another consideration” visa vi his handling (or running political interference) in the Blagojevich Retrial – what happens if a previously-agreed upon understanding between Obama Administration and Fitzgerald becomes moot based upon an outcome that fully-exonerates Blagojevich (or another Hung Jury)?

Keep in mind that anything short of a conviction, substantial dilutes U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald’s credibility, and standing as well as leverage.

In the event of a Blagojevich hung jury or exoneration, how does U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald ‘play-his-cards’ as, to date, Fitzgerald maintains a ‘very-strong-hand’ visa vi the sentencing hangovers (and possibilities/implicit threats of future indictments) that Fitzgerald is inherently holding-over the heads of the following parties:

* Daley Family (Richard M. Daley, Patrick Daley, Robert Vanecko, R.J. Vanecko, et al).

* Other Obama supporters and, possibly, Obama himself (Allison Davis, Dr. Eric Whitaker, Marty Nesbitt, et al).

* Rezko investigation collateral damage (Blagojevich, Joe Cari, John Harris, et al).

To this end, the most powerful man in America appears to be U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald – an unaccountable and unelected Federal Bureaucrat since becoming an Assistant United States Attorney in New York City in 1988.”

“The United States Constitution is about WE THE PEOPLE….not the selfish, political agendas of Milorad Blagojevich or U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald.

This retrial is, indeed, an eye-opener for our country as we’re witnessing major violations in our Public Trust and our uber-sacred United States Constitution from both the Defendant as well as the U.S. Attorney.”

Read more:

http://www.nuclearchicago.com/2011/05/nuclear-chicago-blagojevich-defense-team-1919-white-sox-or-the-bad-news-bears%C2%A0/

Rezko and Blagojevich protected by Obama Justice Department?, Where is Tony Rezko?, Streamlined lie being told

 Rezko and Blagojevich protected by Obama Justice Department?, Where is Tony Rezko?, Streamlined lie being told

“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


“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”…Joseph Goebbels

What deals have been made between Obama, Blagojevich, Rezko and the US Justice Department?

From the Chicago Tribune May 14, 2011.

“Heading into the third week of the ousted Illinois governor’s
corruption retrial, it’s clear prosecutors are guided by the adage
that less is more as they streamline what jurors in the first trial
complained was an overly complicated case.

“They’ve made the case a lot of easier to follow,” said James
Matsumoto, who was the foreman at the initial trial and has attended
much of the testimony at the second, this time sitting on spectator
benches rather than in the jury box.

Prosecutors have been right, he added, to begin their presentation by
focusing primarily on the allegation Blagojevich sought to sell or
trade President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign
cash or a top job. Last year, they waited weeks before getting to it.”
“Laying out such a truncated case does carry its own risks: Jurors
impressed by sheer volumes of testimony and exhibits could be left
wanting more, if not necessarily better, evidence.

What’s not in doubt is that the stripped-down case has thrown off
defense lawyers, who likely spent weeks preparing to ask
cross-examination questions about subjects that prosecutors didn’t
bring up this time.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-blagojevichtrial,0,2697557.story

“prosecutors are guided by the adage that less is more as they streamline what jurors in the first trial complained was an overly complicated case.”

Joseph Goebbels and George Orwell could not have said it better.

From the Chicago Tribune January 28, 2011.

“A federal judge has set a new sentencing date for a convicted influence peddler and one-time fundraiser for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

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.

At Friday’s hearing, the defense also argued in favor of a new trial for Rezko based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling scaling back so-called honest services laws.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–blagojevichtrial-rezko,0,1617012.story

Where is Tony Rezko, Citizen Wells February 27, 2011.

“The dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 against Blagojevich by the prosecution was the latest move in a long series of maneuvers to protect Obama from being exposed for his long time ties to Tony Rezko and corruption in Chicago. Rezko was not called as a witness in the first Blagojevich trial and the odds are now higher that he will not be called as a witness in the second trial.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/blagojevich-trial-corruption-justice-dept-protects-obama-rezko-ties-to-obama-diminished/

Where is Tony Rezko?

From The Chicago Breaking News Center, November 4, 2010.

“Antoin “Tony” Rezko, once a top adviser and contributor to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be sentenced Jan. 28 for his role in a scheme to solicit kickbacks from companies seeking state contracts.

Rezko was not at the hearing this morning at which U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve set the sentencing date.

Rezko has agreed to cooperate against Blagojevich but wasn’t called to testify at the former governor’s trial last summer. With Blagojevich’s retrial set to begin in April, Rezko’s sentencing months before could signal he is unlikely to be called again. Defendants usually aren’t sentencing until after their cooperation has been completed.

A sentencing date was not set today for Rezko’s co-defendants, Stuart Levine, Joseph Cari and Steven Loren, who will next return to federal court for a status hearing in March.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/rezko-to-be-sentenced-before-blago-trial.html

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?