Category Archives: corruption

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 trial, Obama corruption ties, Health planning board, 9 members, Citizen Wells open thread, July 6, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Obama corruption ties, Health planning board

The following comment was posted by megan this morning.

“I thought it might be interesting to look at Obama’s timeline in setting up the Health Facilities Planning Board and how he benefitted from it (well, before money was traced back to him anyway and allegedly donated to charity.)

Personally, I think we should demand that any politician that donates corrupt funds should be required to note what charity those funds were given to, so it can be verified and the organization can be checked to ensure it’s a valid charity with a clean record.

January – August 2003 – Obama was Chairman of the Senate HHS Board…just long enough to get the corrupt board in place for Rezko/Blagojevich.

He pushed Senate Bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act” – which reduced Board members from 15 members to only 9 members…this is what made it possible for Rezko to have control over the board’s voting.

The bill was filed February 20, reviewed February 27th and Obama sent word that the bill should be passed by March 13th. On May 21, 2003, House and Senate passed the bill. The only Senator with “Yes” vote mentioned during the Rezko trial was Obama. Another change that Obama made in the bill was to remove the power to appoint board members from the board itself and give it to the Governor (Blagojevich).

Blagojevich then made the effective date of the bill – JUNE 27, 2003 after already having lined up the corrupt board members to fill it. Maybe it’s just an odd coincidence that Obama got TONS of donations from recently appointed board members on JUNE 30, 2003…only 3 (THREE) days after Blagojevich made this corrupt board “legal”?

On June 30, 2003…

Obama gets $5000 after Ali Ata was appointed as Director at IFA

Obama gets $6000 after Alison Davis gets appointment on Investment Board

Obama gets $15,000 after Dr. Michael Malek gets appointment on Hospital Facility Board

Obama gets $5000 after Abdelhamid Chaib’s wife gets appointment on Employee Security Board

Obama gets $10,000 from Elie Maloof – Rezko used him as one of several strawmen to donate funds to certain politicians.

Obama gets $1000 after Phil Cacciatore (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) gets seat on Board

Obama gets $1000 after Velma Butler (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) was recommended for Board

Obama gets $1000 after Martello Pollack (Vegas Crystal Comm) received Iraqi Construction contracts

Obama gets $1000 after Jack Carriglio gets appointed to Board

Obama gets $500 (with an additional $1250 the following year) after Anthony Abboud gets appointed to Board

Obama gets $3000 from Michael Winter, who helped Rezko in funneling kickbacks through investment firm

Obama gets $1000 after Talat Othman gets appointed to Board

Obama gets $1000 from both David Gustman and another $1000 from Gustman’s wife after he is appointed Board Chairman

But no….I’m sure it’s ALL JUST A COINCIDENCE, right??

Also…had to laugh when Wright was complaining again about rich white folk – how much is that mansion he’s living in again??”

Blagojevich trial, Obama Rezko ties, Black Panther case dismissal, Blagojevich trial ending soon?, Citizen Wells open thread, July 5, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Obama Rezko ties, Black Panther case dismissal

Will the Rod Blagojevich trial end sooner than projected?

Will Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine be called as witnesses?

Will the focus of the Blagojevich trial continue to be on the senate seat?

We know this:

  • By the time Rezko was convicted in June 2008, the feds had enough to indict Blagojevich.
  • The US Justice Dept. waited until December 2008, after the election to arrest Blagojevich.
  • Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was given a supervisory assignment by Obama early in 2009.
  • The following statement, damning for both Blagojevich and Obama, was included in the Criminal Complaint and not in the final Indictment. “At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
  • Judge James Zagel has referred to Rezko as a bad witness.
  • The trial may end in the next 2 weeks instead of lasting the projected 3 to 4 months.
  • Attorney J. Christian Adams resigned from the US Justice Dept. after the case against the New Black Panther party was dismissed.
  • Civil rights attorney Bartle Bull has critized the US Justice Dept. and referred to Obama as a “Hustler.”

Is the US Justice Dept. corrupt?

US Justice Department corruption, Voter intimidation, New Black Panther case dismissal, Blagojevich trial, Citizen Wells open thread, July 2, 2010

US Justice Department corruption, Voter intimidation, New Black Panther case dismissal

I am watching the Rod Blagojevich trial unfold. I have been monitoring this since before the Tony Rezko trial ended. There were many disturbing signs well before the Blagojevich trial began. Many of us questioned Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department. Now we have J. Christian Adams and Bartle Bull speaking out, lending credence to our concerns. I have more thoughts on the Blagojevich trial that I will commit to words soon. 

Remain vigilant and keep reporting.

Wells.

J Christian Adams resignation, US Justice Dept. corrupt?, Biased?, Fox News coverage, Citizen Wells open thread, July 1, 2010

J Christian Adams resignation, US Justice Dept. corrupt?, Biased?, Fox News coverage

J. Christian Adams resigned recently as a voting rights attorney at the Justice Department.

“The New Black Panther case was the simplest and most obvious violation of federal law I saw in my Justice Department career. Because of the corrupt nature of the dismissal, statements falsely characterizing the case and, most of all, indefensible orders for the career attorneys not to comply with lawful subpoenas investigating the dismissal, this month I resigned my position as a Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney.”

From Citizen Wells yesterday

Fox News coverage yesterday

Fox News has more coverage of this story today.

Obama and US Justice Dept corruption, Obama agenda, Racial bias, New Black Panther Party case dismissed, USDOJ attorney J Christian Adams retires, Eric Holder

Obama and US Justice Dept corruption, Obama agenda, Racial bias, New Black Panther Party case dismissed

“If you look at the victories and failures of the civil rights movement and its litigation strategy in the court, I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed people, so that now I would have the right to vote. I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order and as long as I could pay for it I’d be OK

But, the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society. To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical. It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it’s been interpreted, and the Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the federal government can’t do to you, but doesn’t say what the federal government or state government must do on your behalf.

And that hasn’t shifted and one of the, I think, tragedies of the civil rights movement was because the civil rights movement became so court-focused I think there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalition of powers through which you bring about redistributive change. In some ways we still suffer from that.”…2001 Barack Obama interview on Chicago public radio station WBEZ

 

J. Christian Adams resigned recently as a voting rights attorney at the Justice Department.

“On the day President Obama was elected, armed men wearing the black berets and jackboots of the New Black Panther Party were stationed at the entrance to a polling place in Philadelphia. They brandished a weapon and intimidated voters and poll watchers. After the election, the Justice Department brought a voter -intimidation case against the New Black Panther Party and those armed thugs. I and other Justice attorneys diligently pursued the case and obtained an entry of default after the defendants ignored the charges. Before a final judgment could be entered in May 2009, our superiors ordered us to dismiss the case.

The New Black Panther case was the simplest and most obvious violation of federal law I saw in my Justice Department career. Because of the corrupt nature of the dismissal, statements falsely characterizing the case and, most of all, indefensible orders for the career attorneys not to comply with lawful subpoenas investigating the dismissal, this month I resigned my position as a Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney.”
“Based on my firsthand experiences, I believe the dismissal of the Black Panther case was motivated by a lawless hostility toward equal enforcement of the law. Others still within the department share my assessment. The department abetted wrongdoers and abandoned law-abiding citizens victimized by the New Black Panthers. The dismissal raises serious questions about the department’s enforcement neutrality in upcoming midterm elections and the subsequent 2012 presidential election.
“The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has opened an investigation into the dismissal and the DOJ’s skewed enforcement priorities. Attorneys who brought the case are under subpoena to testify, but the department ordered us to ignore the subpoena, lawlessly placing us in an unacceptable legal limbo.
The assistant attorney general for civil rights, Tom Perez, has testified repeatedly that the “facts and law” did not support this case. That claim is false. If the actions in Philadelphia do not constitute voter intimidation, it is hard to imagine what would, short of an actual outbreak of violence at the polls. Let’s all hope this administration has not invited that outcome through the corrupt dismissal.

Most corrupt of all, the lawyers who ordered the dismissal – Loretta King, the Obama-appointed acting head of the Civil Rights Division, and Steve Rosenbaum – did not even read the internal Justice Department memorandums supporting the case and investigation.”

Read more:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/25/inside-the-black-panther-case-anger-ignorance-and
What are the priorities of the US Justice Dept.?
Eric Holder recently addressed the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

““The communities that we serve must see that the federal government is really committed to the impartial and aggressive enforcement of our nation’s laws, and these communities must know that we will do all that we can to enforce the law that protect our civil rights with the same vigor that we enforce the laws that protect our public safety.”

“Despite those comments, Holder dismissed default judgments that the Bush Justice Department had filed against Malik Shabazz and Jerry Jackson in January 2009.
 
The suit alleged that Shabazz, a member of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (NBPP), “managed, directed and endorsed” the incident, in which Jackson and a third defendant, Samir Shabazz, wore NBPP uniforms that included “black berets combat boots, bloused battle dress pants, rank insignia, (NBPP) insignia, and black jackets.”
 
Samir Shabazz also was accused by the Bush DOJ of having “brandished a deadly weapon,” described as a nightstick, and “pointed it at individuals” while the polls were open for voting in the presidential election.
 
Jackson accompanied Samir Shabazz throughout that activity, and both “made statements containing racial threats and racial insults” and made “menacing and intimidating gestures statements and movements directed at individuals who were present to aid voters.”
 
When the defendants did not respond to the complaint from the federal government, the Bush DOJ won default judgments against Jackson and Malik Shabazz, but Holder’s DOJ chose to dismiss them in May 2009.”
“Holder also assured ADC members attending the convention that hate crimes cases would be a priority of the Obama administration, and that it was working hard on a crime against Muslims in Florida.”
““Already, we have several investigations open under the new law, and I want you all to know that we are currently working with local law enforcement to investigate the recent pipe bomb attack on a Florida mosque.”
 
A pipe bomb exploded during evening prayers at the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida on May 10. No one was injured inside the Jacksonville mosque, but police and the FBI are investigating it as a possible hate crime.
 
“This case is a top concern for the FBI,” Holder said.”

Read more:

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/67171 
 

 

Fox News coverage

Obama Quid Pro Quo timeline, IL senate seat, SEIU assisted, Valerie Jarrett, Pay to play politics, Blagojevich wiretaps, Blagojevich trial testimony

Obama Quid Pro Quo timeline, IL senate seat, SEIU assisted, Valerie Jarrett

Obama

Quid Pro Quo Timeline

Negotiations to sell his old senate seat

 

Monday November 3, 2008
BLAGOJEVICH: “Andy Stern and Tom were in my office Monday”

Source: 11/07/2008  4:11 P.M. wiretap

Obama left a phone message with Tom Balanoff of SEIU

Obama called back later that night.

“Tom, i want to talk to you with regard to the Senate seat,” Obama told him.

“I would much prefer she (remain in the White House) but she does want to be Senator and she does meet those two criteria,” Balanoff said Obama told him. “I said: ‘thank you, I’m going to reach out to Gov. Blagojevich.”

Source: SunTimes article

Tuesday November 4, 2008 (Election day)

BLAGOJEVICH: “Balanoff Tuesday night told me that Barack had called him Monday night”

Source: 11/07/2008  4:11 P.M. wiretap
Thursday November 6, 2008

BLAGOJEVICH: “I like it though. I like him. I’ve got Balanoff today.”

Source: 11/06/2008  12:13 P.M. wiretap

“Balanoff then described a Nov. 6, 2008 meeting he had with Rod Blagojevich to recommend Valerie Jarrett for Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

Blagojevich responded that he was in “active discussions” with the Madigans about appointing Lisa Madigan and was holding out for a legislative package with the House speaker.

“I said that could be months. He said, ‘Yeah’. I said Valerie Jarrett, I don’t believe she has that kind of time,” Balanoff testified.”

Source: SunTimes article

Friday November 7, 2008

BLAGOJEVICH: “So they met this morning. Okay. Doug called on behalf of Balanoff. Like, he’d like to see me again as soon as, you know, at my earliest convenience.”

BLAGOJEVICH: “He’s gonna resign his seat Tuesday or Wednesday. They’re gonna start puttin’ pressure sayin’ there’s an urgency for that, that, um, lame duck session”

BLAGOJEVICH: “Um, didn’t know quite what to make of my request. Uh, Barack rea-, really wants to get away from Illinois politics”

HARRIS: “Well, what also makes it important if they want her, a, a symbol of they want her, is that they, they, they took the Balanoff meeting right away.”

BLAGOJEVICH: “Right away, that’s right.”

BLAGOJEVICH: “That’s right. The very next morning.”

Harris: “Balanoff said I met and they said, okay, come on in. (Laughs).”
 
BLAGOJEVICH: “Correct, and here comes Alexi.

HARRIS: “With everything else goin’ on right now, this was an important, you know, to take five minutes of his time, so fast, so early, you know.”

Source: 11/07/2008  10:46 A.M. wiretap

Sources:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/blago/2010/06/tom_balanoff_obama_called_day.html

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_blagojevich.html

Rezko lousy witness?, Rezko bad for Blagojevich and Obama, Judge Zagel, Rezko provided incriminating evidence

Rezko lousy witness?, Rezko bad for Blagojevich and Obama, Judge Zagel

From the Chicago Tribune June 29, 2010.

“Judge: There’s a word for witnesses like Rezko”

“One big question hanging over the trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been whether his convicted fundraiser, Antoin “Tony” Rezko, would appear at these proceedings to testify against his old friend. Rezko, now imprisoned at a federal facility in Wisconsin, has been cooperating with government agents since shortly after his 2008 conviction.
 
It’s still not certain whether Rezko will testify, but at a hearing before testimony resumed today, U.S. District Judge James Zagel strongly suggested that Rezko would make a lousy government witness.

Zagel said there was a word to describe witnesses like Rezko who damage whatever side calls them to testify. That, said Zagel, “generally explains why they’re not called.”  Zagel refrained from actually saying what the word was, leaving the suggestion it was less than polite.”

“Schar said that Rezko has since recanted the letter and provided “a certain amount of information that incriminates Blagojevich.”

All of this talk occurred outside the earshot of jurors, but defense lawyers would like the jury to hear about the Rezko letter. Zagel said he would wait until after Balanoff takes the stand to rule whether the letter can be brought up. ”

Read more:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/blagojevich-on-trial/2010/06/judge-theres-a-word-for-witnesses-like-rezko.html

“There’s a word for witnesses like Rezko”

Incriminating

For

Blagojevich

And

Obama

US Justice Dept corrupt?, Obama camp controls Justice Dept, Patrick Fitzgerald, Citizen Wells open thread, June 29, 2010

US Justice Dept corrupt?, Obama camp controls Justice Dept, Patrick Fitzgerald

“Most disturbing, the dismissal is part of a creeping lawlessness infusing our government institutions. Citizens would be shocked to learn about the open and pervasive hostility within the Justice Department to bringing civil rights cases against nonwhite defendants on behalf of white victims. Equal enforcement of justice is not a priority of this administration. Open contempt is voiced for these types of cases.

Some of my co-workers argued that the law should not be used against black wrongdoers because of the long history of slavery and segregation. Less charitable individuals called it “payback time.” Incredibly, after the case was dismissed, instructions were given that no more cases against racial minorities like the Black Panther case would be brought by the Voting Section.

Refusing to enforce the law equally means some citizens are protected by the law while others are left to be victimized, depending on their race. Core American principles of equality before the law and freedom from racial discrimination are at risk. Hopefully, equal enforcement of the law is still a point of bipartisan, if not universal, agreement. However, after my experience with the New Black Panther dismissal and the attitudes held by officials in the Civil Rights Division, I am beginning to fear the era of agreement over these core American principles has passed.”…J. Christian Adams, former USDOJ attorney

We have our answer.

Blagojevich trial wiretap November 10 2008, Blagojevich criminal complaint, Wiretap should be interesting, Citizen Wells open Thread, June 28, 2010

Blagojevich trial wiretap November 10 2008, Blagojevich criminal complaint

In case you didn’t see this yesterday.

“From the Blagojevich complaint we discover more interesting conversations centered around the senate seat and more people caught on tape.

“101. On November 10, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH, his wife, JOHN HARRIS, Governor General Counsel, and various Washington-D.C. based advisors, including Advisor B, discussed the open Senate seat during a conference call. (The Washington D.C.-based advisors to ROD BLAGOJEVICH are believed to have participated on this call from
Washington D.C.). Various individuals participated at different times during the call. The call lasted for approximately two hours, and what follows are simply summaries of various portions of the two-hour call.”

“HARRIS said they could work out a three-way deal with SEIU and the Presidentelect where SEIU could help the President-elect with ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s appointment of Senate Candidate 1 to the vacant Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH would obtain a position as the National Director of the Change to Win campaign, and SEIU would get
something favorable from the President-elect in the future.”

“The November 10 , 2008 wiretap has not been released.

It should be interesting.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/06/27/obama-arrest-obama-guilty-of-conspiracy-to-sell-senate-seat-quid-pro-quo-blagojevich-wiretap-november-10-2008-tape-obama-and-seiu-scheme-to-seat-valerie-jarrett-immediate-arrest-of-barack-obama/