FBI failed after Tamerlan Tsarnaev 2011 warning and trip to Dagestan, Tsarnaev green card, Russia Security Service warning possible Islamist radical, Tamerlan not put on no fly list
” the FBI reviewed its records and determined that in early 2011, a foreign government asked the FBI for information about Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The request stated that it was based on information that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer, and that he had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel to the country’s region to join unspecified underground groups.”…FBI press release April 19, 2013
“Saudi Arabia, which gave us 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers, will soon get the coveted “trusted traveler” status from the Department of Homeland Security.”…NY post March 21, 2013
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”…Barack Obama
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, unlike his brother Dzhokhar, had a green card and was not a US citizen.
From the Chicago Tribune April 21, 2013.
“FBI’s handling of Boston suspect comes under scrutiny”
“U.S. lawmakers asked on Sunday why the FBI had failed to spot the danger from one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, and they complained it was one of a series of cases in which someone the agency had investigated had later taken part in attacks.
House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul wrote to the FBI and other officials asking why Tamerlan Tsarnaev did not raise suspicions after Russia asked the bureau to investigate him two years ago.
“Because if he was on the radar and they let him go, he’s on the Russians’ radar, why wasn’t a flag put on him, some sort of customs flag?,” McCaul, a Texas Republican, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program. “And I’d like to know what intelligence Russia has on him as well.”
The FBI interviewed Tsarnaev, the elder of two ethnic Chechen brothers suspected in the Boston bombing, in 2011 shortly after Russia’s Federal Security Service asked the agency to look into him as a possible Islamist radical who might soon travel to Russia.
Asked on Sunday about lawmakers’ concerns, the FBI said it had no further comment beyond a statement it issued on Friday night when it said it “did not find any terrorism activity, domestic or foreign” after speaking to Tsarnaev and checking his travel records and Internet activity.
Less than a year after the FBI interview, Tsarnaev did in fact travel to the volatile Dagestan region of southern Russia on a six-month trip out of the United States. Much of what Tsarnaev did on that trip is still a mystery to U.S. investigators.
Neighbors contacted by Reuters say Tsarnaev spent at least a few weeks in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus mountains where Islamist militants have long been a thorn in the side of governments in Moscow.
Republican Representative Peter King of New York told “Fox News Sunday” he wondered why the FBI did not take more action after Tsarnaev returned to the United States last year and put statements on his website “talking about radical imams.””
“One U.S. counterterrorism official urged perspective. “If we thoroughly investigated every one of these terrorism tips we get, we’d never get anything done,” he said.
A senior U.S. law enforcement source said that the number of tips received from Russian intelligence to the FBI each year is “not that many.”
But nationally, he said, the FBI receives at least 100 terrorism tips a day – from the public, local and state law enforcement, other federal agencies and the intelligence community.”
“The 26-year-old “appears to be the fifth person since September 11, 2001, to participate in terror attacks despite being under investigation by the FBI,” the pair said in a joint letter.”
Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev captured after gunfight, Tamerlan Tsarnaev interviewed by FBI in 2011, Flawed US immigration policies, Foreign govt info Tamerlan follower of radical Islam
“the FBI said in a statement on Friday that in 2011 it interviewed Tamerlan at the request of a foreign government, which it did not identify.
“The request stated that it was based on information that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer, and that he had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel to the country’s region to join unspecified underground groups,” the FBI statement said.”…Reuters April 20, 2013
“Saudi Arabia, which gave us 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers, will soon get the coveted “trusted traveler” status from the Department of Homeland Security.”…NY post March 21, 2013
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”…Barack Obama
There was never any doubt about our immigration policies and procedures being flawed and needing reform. Now we know, 12 years after 9/11, that the left hand is still not talking to the right hand in our security organizations.
Obama’s buddy Eric Holder is the top man in the US Justice department which is over the FBI.
From Reuters April 20, 2013.
“Boston Marathon bombing suspect caught after manhunt”
“The capture sent waves of relief and jubilation through Boston and the suburb of Watertown, where armored vehicles roamed the streets and helicopters flew overhead through the day. Residents and police officers cheered and clapped when the suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was taken alive after a gunfight.
Bleeding and in serious condition, he was admitted to a Boston hospital, a Massachusetts State Police spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Kelly Lawman, confirmed on Saturday that Tsarnaev was being treated there, but declined comment on his condition. The FBI would be providing any updates, she said.
It was not yet clear when he would face initial charges.
Tsarnaev had been hiding in the stern of a boat parked in the backyard of a house in Watertown, police said. A resident called police after spotting blood on the boat.
President Barack Obama told reporters at the White House after the suspect’s capture that questions remained from the bombings, including whether the two suspects received any help.
Monday’s bombing, described by Obama as an act of terrorism, was the worst such attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001, and rattled nerves across the United States.
The brothers, ethnic Chechens who once lived in Russia, are suspected of setting off bombs made in pressure cookers and packed with ball bearings and nails at the crowded finish line of Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring 176.
The family of Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy killed in the blast, welcomed the arrest.
“Tonight, our community is once again safe from these two men,” the family said in a statement.
The older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed on Thursday night in a shootout with police less than a mile from where Friday night’s capture took place.
After combing through a mass of pictures and video from the site in the minutes before the bombing, the FBI had publicized pictures of the two men on Thursday and asked the public for help in identifying them.
Just hours later, events began to unfold fast with the fatal shooting of a police officer on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and finally the Watertown firefight, during which police say the brothers threw bombs at officers. Tamerlan suffered fatal wounds, while Dzhokhar escaped on foot.
The brothers had not been under surveillance as possible militants, U.S. government officials said. But the FBI said in a statement on Friday that in 2011 it interviewed Tamerlan at the request of a foreign government, which it did not identify.
“The request stated that it was based on information that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer, and that he had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel to the country’s region to join unspecified underground groups,” the FBI statement said.
The matter was closed because interviews with Tamerlan and family members “did not find any terrorism activity, domestic or foreign”.
The FBI statement was the first evidence that the family had come to security officials’ attention after they emigrated to the United States about a decade ago. It might raise questions about whether authorities missed potential warning signs.”
Boston bombings Muslim ties, Chechnya Muslim country, Tsarnaev brothers Chechnyan, Saudi national to be deported?, Material witness Abdul Rahman Ali Al-Harbi visited by Michelle Obama
“Israeli personnel do single out small numbers of passengers for extensive searches and screening, based on profiling methods that have so far been rejected in the United States, subjectingArabs and, in some cases, other foreign nationals to an extensive screening”…Washington Post November 27, 2010
“Saudi Arabia, which gave us 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers, will soon get the coveted “trusted traveler” status from the Department of Homeland Security.”…NY post March 21, 2013
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”…Barack Obama
Whether or not Saudi National and material witness Abdul Rahman Ali Al-Harb was involved in the Boston Marathon bombings or not, reports of his being deported are disturbing enough and so is his visit by Michelle Obama.
From The Blaze April 18, 2013.
“EXCLUSIVE: CONGRESSIONAL SOURCE CONTRADICTS ICE ACCOUNT, SAYS LAWMAKERS IN POSSESSION OF FILE ON SAUDI NATIONAL THAT CALLED FOR VISA REVOCATION”
“Documents have been presented to Congress confirming that plans were made to revoke the visa of Abdul Rahman Ali Alharbi, a Saudi national once considered a “person of interest” in the Boston bombings, a congressional source told TheBlaze on Thursday.
Other sources, including one at the FBI, previously informed TheBlaze that there have been discussions about deporting Alharbi on “security and related grounds.” He has been living in the Boston area and in the U.S. on a student visa. An FBI source said the agency is against deporting Alharbi because of his status as a material witness.
The congressional source told TheBlaze it was unclear as to why representatives from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be unaware of this information. Earlier on Thursday, an official with ICE said it was “categorically false” that Alharbi had ever been considered for deportation.
The congressional source, however, said the information sent to Congress showed that a file was created on “Abdul Rahman Ali Al Harby” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday by an official with the National Targeting Center, a counterterrorism sub-agency of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. The file stated that the individual is “linked to the Boston bombing” and was to be processed for revocation of his visa based on national security grounds, the congressional source revealed.”
“Report: Alharbi visited by Michelle Obama in Hospital”
“Okaz, the same prominent Saudi newspaper, that published photos of Abdul Rahman Ali Issa Al-Salimi Al-Harbi in the hospital after the Boston marathon bombings, is now reporting that the Saudi national was also visited by the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama during his hospital stay.
“In light of recent reports that Alharbi was scheduled for deportation on ‘national security grounds’, the first lady’s visit takes on much added significance if those reports are true. We already know that the Alharbi clan consists of multiple Al-Qaeda members. This would seem to bolster the claims of scheduled deportation, not claims to the contrary made by the likes of DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, who actually never really answered the question; she just got rankled and blew it off.”
“If these reports about Alharbi’s scheduled deportation for such reasons are correct, a visit by the first lady of the United States would indeed be significant in its importance. It would also be a major national security blunder because of the message it would send.”
The Tsarnaev brothers, 2 of the prime suspects in the Boston Bombings, are Chechnyan. Chechnya is a Muslim country as well.
From Wikipedia.
“Chechnya is predominantly Muslim. Most of the Chechens belong to the Shafi’i school of thought of Sunni Islam, while a minority belong to theHanafi.[19] Some adhere to the mystical Sufi tradition of Muridism, while about half of Chechens belong to Sufi brotherhoods, or tariqah. The two Sufi tariqas that spread in the North Caucasus were the Naqshbandiya and the Qadiriya (the Naqshbandiya is particularly strong in Dagestan and eastern Chechnya, whereas the Qadiriya has most of its adherents in the rest of Chechnya and Ingushetia). Some of the modern Chechen rebels are Salafis, but these form a small minority of the group and are often viewed suspiciously by non-Salafis who protectively guard their national customs against encroachment. According to some, the view of the Chechens as being an obsessively pious, intolerant, fundamentalist Muslim group is highly incorrect and misleading”
“Russia’s Chechnya, Caucasus: A breeding ground for terror”
“Chechnya, the Russian republic believed to be connected to the two Boston Marathon bombing suspects, has been the scene of terrorism and related violence since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union.
Militants from Chechnya and other restive regions in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus have targeted Moscow and other areas with bombings and hostage-takings for more than 20 years. The allegations of ties to Monday’s Boston bombings are the first connection of terror attacks in the United States.
Predominantly Muslim, Chechnya declared independence from Russia in November 1991.”
Boston bombing suspect dead, Killed in police shootout, Second suspect armed and dangerous, Watertown neighborhood lockdowns, MIT shootings?
“No amount of gun legislation would have prevented the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Increased security may have helped. I am relieved to find that MA law enforcement is still armed.”…Citizen Wells
Just in from commenter SueK:
“Suspect on the run: Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, formerly of Chechnya. Living in the Cambridge area for at least a year. Armed and extremely dangerous.”
From CNN April 19, 2013.
“Police: One Boston bombing suspect dead, another on the run”
“Two men suspected in the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people this week terrorized the area overnight. One is dead, but the other is on the loose, police say, and he’s armed and dangerous.
Police pursued two men early Friday who shot a police officer to death, stole a vehicle and threw explosives at law officers pursuing them. Authorities believe they are the same two men sought in the marathon attacks.
One died of injuries suffered while battling police early Friday, and the other is on the run in a nearby suburb, authorities said.
Both men allegedly killed one police officer late Thursday, wounded another early Friday and used explosives against police pursuing them.
Marathon‘Suspect number 2’
Police believe the man at large is “suspect number 2” in Monday’s bombing. Federal, state and local law officers are swarming through the Boston suburb of Watertown, going door-to-door to track him down, said transit police spokesman Paul MacMillan.
Police warned Watertown residents to lock their homes and stay away from their windows and doors.
A surveillance image of the fugitive resembles photos of one of the suspects sought for alleged involvement in the marathon attacks that killed three.
The image of the man with bushy, wavy black hair, a pronounced chin and nose, and a slight build matches photos circulated of the man in the white cap, carrying a backpack near the scene of Monday’s bombing.
Due to the strong similarity of the two images, police believe the fugitive may be “suspect number 2” in the marathon terror attack, MacMillan said.
The other suspect was injured in a a shootout with transit police and pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a statement from the Massachusetts district attorney.
Police believe he could be suspect number 1 in the marathon attack.
Boston’s public transit authority has sent city buses to Watertown to evacuate residents while bomb experts comb the surroundings for possible live explosives.
Night of terror
The violence erupted when a college police officer was shot and killed late Thursday. The events that followed sent sirens howling through the night, and emergency lights shattering the darkness, as police chased after two suspects who tossed explosives at them.
Still on edge from Monday’s deadly bombings, local, state and federal law officers responded to reports of a shooting on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge directly across from Boston on the Charles River.”
Blagojevich appeal update, March 7, 2013, 10000 pages of delayed trial transcripts, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Later in 2013, Fitzgerald US Justice Dept. delayed prosecution
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?”…Citizen Wells
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”…Citizen Wells
Still wondering about the continued delay in the prosecution of Rod Blagojevich, specifically the lengthy delay in his appeal?
Here is one of the reasons.
From Chicago Business March 6, 2013.
“Blagojevich attorney hopes three’s a charm”
“Will three be a charm for Chicago attorney Len Goodman?
He’s on a winning streak that he’s hoping will carry over to his next case — defending former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”
“The next big case on the criminal defense attorney’s plate is the appeal of Mr. Blagojevich, who is in prison in Colorado following his conviction on corruption charges.
“Right now, I’m just trying to get through 10,000 pages of trial transcripts,” says Mr. Goodman, who is the nephew of Chicago financier Lester Crown.
The case likely will go before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals later this year.”
Of course there are other reasons why the appeal of Blagojevich has dragged on so long.
From Citizen Wells January 30, 2013.
“Here is the rest of the story.
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department aggressively prosecuted George Ryan.
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department, despite the fact that they began wiretaps in late 2003 and had in depth knowledge of corruption in the Rod Blagojevich Administration by 2005 at the latest, delayed the arrest of Blagojevich until after the 2008 election. The production of transcripts required for the Blagojevich appeal were delayed for over half a year by the US Justice Department in 2012, once again delaying the appeal until after the 2012 election.
From Citizen Wells May 27, 2012.
“Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Republican ex Governot of Illinois, George Ryan and unjustly went after Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. Fitzgerald waited until after the 2008 elections to arrest Governor Rod Blagojevich despite the fact that he had details of corruption in the Blagojevich Administration at least by late 2003.
Is Patrick Fitzgerald a pawn, an idiot or corrupt?
From an FBI wiretap:
“You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me.”
Late 2003.
Earliest documented awareness by FBI and Patrick Fitzgerald of corruption in Blagojevich admin. Pamela Meyer Davis agreed to secretly record conversations involving state health planning board with an FBI wire.
December 31, 2003 NY Times.
“Mr. Fitzgerald announced that he was prosecuting former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, in a scandal that had been swirling around long before Mr. Fitzgerald got here and that many people thought would never touch the most powerful politicians in Illinois. But there Mr. Fitzgerald was, a week before Christmas, ticking off the details of a 91-page indictment against Mr. Ryan, seemingly from memory.
That, even Mr. Fitzgerald’s former opponents in the courtroom say, is classic Fitzgerald: dogged, dispassionate and endlessly prepared.”
April 8 – May 21, 2004 (Rezko Trial March 12, 2008; 11:11 a.m.)
“FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, the primary case agent on the investigation into Levine and Rezko, is on the stand now in testimony that is laying the foundation for entering the wiretaps into evidence.
Cain said the investigation, dubbed Operation Board Games by the federal agents, began in December 2003 and was prompted by information gleaned from an informant whom he did not identify. That witness, he said, took part in meetings with two other individuals who were in contact with Levine by phone at his home.
Cain said Levine had three phone lines in his North Shore home. Federal agents recorded conversations on those lines April 8-May 21, 2004. Those dates span the time when Levine, Rezko and others allegedly were working to rig the hospital board vote on a Mercy Health System hospital proposal for Crystal Lake and other kickback schemes prosecutors claim they were engaged in.”
May 9, 2005.
Stuart Levine indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoena issued to Tony Rezko. June 15, 2005.
Obama purchased home next door to Rezko for $1.65 million, $300,000 less than the asking price. June 15, 2005.
Rita Rezko, Tony’s wife purchased plot next door for $625,000 asking price.
October 25, 2005.
The Chicago Tribune reports about a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration.
January 2006.
Rita Rezko sells the Obamas one-sixth of her lot for $104,500.
August 5, 2006.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.”
“December 7, 2008.
Criminal complaint of Blagojevich. Nine individuals is important. Obama helped passed a bill to reduce the number from 15 to 9.
“b. Corruption of the Planning Board”
“At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
“Planning Board” (IL Health Facilities Planning Board) is mentioned 31 times.
“Rezko” is mentioned 170 times.
“Hospital” in context of Mercy Hospital mentioned 8 times. December 9, 2008.
Blagojevich arrested
“Fitzgerald said, “We make no allegations” that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”
February 24, 2011.
Counts 1,2,4 in the Blagojevich Indictment are dropped. This represents approx. half of the indictment and includes numerous corruption ties to Blagojevich and Obama.”
“December 7, 2011.
Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years.
Colin Powell, who has continued to endorse Barack Obama, knew that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were innocent in the Valerie Plame leak. Yet Powell did not share his knowledge with the Bush Administration and thus allowed Patrick Fitzgerald to continue to investigate and prosecute Libby and Rove.
Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?
“FOX Chicago News has learned that Rod Blagojevich’s appeal is still having trouble getting off the ground, because of delays in producing transcripts from his two trials.
For the second time in the last four months, Lauren Kaeseberg, one of the attorney’s handling Rod Blagojevich’s appeal, has been threatened with disciplinary action because she still hasn’t provided a complete copy of the Blagojevichtrial transcripts to the appellate court.
The appellate court won’t set a briefing schedule to get the appeal moving until the transcripts are available.
As FOX Chicago reported exclusively in August, the court reporter responsible for producing the 16,000 pages of transcripts took a leave of absence for five and a half months after Blagojevich was convicted. So, the appellate court agreed to wait until September 28th for the transcripts.
But, now in October, they’re still not completed. On Monday, the court issued an order, warning Kaeseberg again that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions. She responded Tuesday with an explanation, saying transcripts are still missing because they were under seal, or were handled by a different court reporter and she hopes to have them soon.”
” The court reporter, trial judge James Zagel and the appeals court all have a responsibility to produce transcripts needed for an appeal in a timely manner.”
Citizen Wells for years has been questioning the delayed prosecution of Rod Blagojevich with the obvious intent of protecting Obama.
Today we present a new question that will be explored further soon.
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”
Jesse Jackson Jr. Blagojevich Obama corruption, Jackson charged one count of conspiracy, Misuse of campaign funds, Jackson 2008 Obama campaign chairman
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. …. they got the Chicago media to f…ing make me wear Rezko more. To f…ing dilute it from him.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
So many diversions.
Asteriods, meteors, Obama vacationing, attempts at gun control and of course destroying jobs and the economy.
Despite those diversions, Obama corruption ties are still in the news, or not, as in the case of the Blagojevich prosecution and mythical appeal.
From the Washington Post February 15, 2013.
“Jesse Jackson Jr. accused of misusing campaign funds”
“The downward spiral for former congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr. took another dramatic turn Friday when federal prosecutors in Washington laid out their criminal case against the once-promising Illinois Democrat, accusing him of misusing campaign funds to benefit himself and his wife. Among the purchases were fur coats, a high-end watch and a football autographed by presidents.
Jackson, 47, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit false statements, mail fraud and wire fraud in the misuse of approximately $750,000 in campaign funds, according to court papers filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington.
The court filing was a clear signal that Jackson, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in the mid-1990s, intended to plead guilty to the charge, which has a maximum penalty of five years in prison. No court date has been set.
Jackson’s expected plea would be another mile marker in his slow political and personal collapse, which began shortly after President Obama’s 2008 election. That had seemed to open up possibilities for Jackson, considered a likely successor to Obama in the Senate.
Instead, FBI agents arrested then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and charged him with trying to sell the interim appointment to the Senate seat from Illinois to the highest bidder, and Jackson was implicated in the scandal. Though not charged, he would never recover politically.
According to the documents released Friday, Jackson used campaign funds to buy a $43,350 gold Rolex watch along with almost $10,000 in children’s furniture that he had delivered to his home in the District.
Among other allegations, prosecutors say Jackson made direct expenditures of about $57,793 from the campaign’s accounts for personal expenses. The documents say he and a co-conspirator used a campaign credit card to make $582,773 worth of purchases for their own use.
Jackson’s wife, former Chicago alderman Sandra Stevens Jackson, was not named or charged in that case, but the description makes clear that she was the co-conspirator.
“That’s a big number as these things go,” said Stan Brand, a former House counsel who has represented defendants in this type of case. “That obviously isn’t the kind of case you would risk putting in front of a jury. That’s why people plead.”
The details of the case against Jackson were part of a document known as a “criminal information,” which cannot be filed without the consent of the defendant and which signals that a plea agreement is near.
Jackson’s wife was charged with filing false income-tax returns from 2006 through 2011, according to a separate criminal information in her case. That charge has a maximum sentence of three years in prison.”
“In the Blagojevich case, Raghuveer Nayak, who worked as a fundraiser for Blagojevich and Jackson, told investigators that Jackson instructed him to raise as much as $6 million for the governor’s campaign.
While Blagojevich ended up in federal prison in Colorado, the Justice Department never brought charges against Jackson in that case, but the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia pursued the campaign-finance allegations.”
“Elected to succeed a scandal-ridden lawmaker 17 years ago, Jackson had broad ambitions beyond Chicago’s South Side-based 2nd Congressional District. In addition to being seen as a potential successor to Obama in the Senate, Jackson was touted as a potential Chicago mayor, Illinois governor or possibly even a presidential candidate,”
The Chicago formula applicable to Blagojevich and Obama.
Except that Obama was never prosecuted.
Be advised that the Blagojevich prosecution, which was engineered to protect Obama, was not just about the selling of the senate seat.
George Ryan released from prison, Former IL governor, Patrick Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Ryan, Blagojevich arrest and appeal delayed past elections
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?”…Citizen Wells
From UT San Diego January 30, 2013.
“Former Ill. Gov. Ryan to be released from prison”
“George Ryan on Wednesday will become the latest former Illinois governor to go through a prison door. This time, he’s headed out.
Ryan is being released from a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., after serving five-plus years for corruption. He’s expected to spend the first few weeks at a halfway house in Chicago and then return to his home in Kankakee, about 60 miles to the south.
Once reacclimated to life on the outside, Ryan will discover an Illinois that has grown less tolerant of the kind of wheeling and dealing that led to the imprisonment of him and his successor, Rod Blagojevich.
“Public trust really started to falter under Ryan, then it imploded and sunk under Blagojevich,” said Cindi Canary, the former head of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
Historically, Illinois governors haven’t been especially adept at getting a message that there are consequences to violating the public trust. Of the state’s last seven governors, four have ended up going to prison.”
“Jurors convicted Ryan on multiple charges, including racketeering and conspiracy. They agreed that, among other crimes, he had steered state business to insiders as secretary of state and then as governor in exchange for vacations and gifts. He began serving a 6 1/2-year prison sentence in November 2007 and is being released early into a halfway house under a work-release program.”
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department aggressively prosecuted George Ryan.
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department, despite the fact that they began wiretaps in late 2003 and had in depth knowledge of corruption in the Rod Blagojevich Administration by 2005 at the latest, delayed the arrest of Blagojevich until after the 2008 election. The production of transcripts required for the Blagojevich appeal were delayed for over half a year by the US Justice Department in 2012, once again delaying the appeal until after the 2012 election.
From Citizen Wells May 27, 2012.
“Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Republican ex Governot of Illinois, George Ryan and unjustly went after Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. Fitzgerald waited until after the 2008 elections to arrest Governor Rod Blagojevich despite the fact that he had details of corruption in the Blagojevich Administration at least by late 2003.
Is Patrick Fitzgerald a pawn, an idiot or corrupt?
From an FBI wiretap:
“You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me.”
Late 2003.
Earliest documented awareness by FBI and Patrick Fitzgerald of corruption in Blagojevich admin. Pamela Meyer Davis agreed to secretly record conversations involving state health planning board with an FBI wire.
December 31, 2003 NY Times.
“Mr. Fitzgerald announced that he was prosecuting former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, in a scandal that had been swirling around long before Mr. Fitzgerald got here and that many people thought would never touch the most powerful politicians in Illinois. But there Mr. Fitzgerald was, a week before Christmas, ticking off the details of a 91-page indictment against Mr. Ryan, seemingly from memory.
That, even Mr. Fitzgerald’s former opponents in the courtroom say, is classic Fitzgerald: dogged, dispassionate and endlessly prepared.”
April 8 – May 21, 2004 (Rezko Trial March 12, 2008; 11:11 a.m.)
“FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, the primary case agent on the investigation into Levine and Rezko, is on the stand now in testimony that is laying the foundation for entering the wiretaps into evidence.
Cain said the investigation, dubbed Operation Board Games by the federal agents, began in December 2003 and was prompted by information gleaned from an informant whom he did not identify. That witness, he said, took part in meetings with two other individuals who were in contact with Levine by phone at his home.
Cain said Levine had three phone lines in his North Shore home. Federal agents recorded conversations on those lines April 8-May 21, 2004. Those dates span the time when Levine, Rezko and others allegedly were working to rig the hospital board vote on a Mercy Health System hospital proposal for Crystal Lake and other kickback schemes prosecutors claim they were engaged in.”
May 9, 2005.
Stuart Levine indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoena issued to Tony Rezko. June 15, 2005.
Obama purchased home next door to Rezko for $1.65 million, $300,000 less than the asking price. June 15, 2005.
Rita Rezko, Tony’s wife purchased plot next door for $625,000 asking price.
October 25, 2005.
The Chicago Tribune reports about a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration.
January 2006.
Rita Rezko sells the Obamas one-sixth of her lot for $104,500.
August 5, 2006.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.”
“December 7, 2008.
Criminal complaint of Blagojevich. Nine individuals is important. Obama helped passed a bill to reduce the number from 15 to 9.
“b. Corruption of the Planning Board”
“At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
“Planning Board” (IL Health Facilities Planning Board) is mentioned 31 times.
“Rezko” is mentioned 170 times.
“Hospital” in context of Mercy Hospital mentioned 8 times. December 9, 2008.
Blagojevich arrested
“Fitzgerald said, “We make no allegations” that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”
February 24, 2011.
Counts 1,2,4 in the Blagojevich Indictment are dropped. This represents approx. half of the indictment and includes numerous corruption ties to Blagojevich and Obama.”
Colin Powell, who has continued to endorse Barack Obama, knew that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were innocent in the Valerie Plame leak. Yet Powell did not share his knowledge with the Bush Administration and thus allowed Patrick Fitzgerald to continue to investigate and prosecute Libby and Rove.
Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?
Obama vote changing machines to be examined by FBI, Maryland state delegate Kathryn Afzali, Touchscreen machines suspect in other states, 100 percent Obama votes suspect
“An additional 2,735 were cast by people who elections officials believe were not registered in Ohio”…The Columbus Dispatch Nov. 21, 2012
“If the voter turnout in Ohio matches the 2008 level of 67 percent, some 5,226,000 votes would be cast. Under that scenario, 250,000 provisional ballots would amount to 4.8 percent of the entire vote — well over the current difference between the two candidates, according to RealClearPolitics poll average.”…NewsMax Nov. 1, 2012
“It’s not who votes that counts, it’s who counts the votes”…Joseph Stalin
From WND November 26, 2012.
“FBI ASKED TO PROBE OBAMA ‘VOTE-CHANGING’ MACHINES”
“A state lawmaker in Maryland has asked the FBI to impound two voting machines used in the 2012 election to determine whether there was a malfunction or something nefarious going on.
“I just feel it is my duty to try to get to the bottom of this,” state Delegate Kathryn Afzali told WND today.“We’re not making any accusations. The Board of Elections are good people. They have checks and balances … but we want to make sure everything is fair.”
She said a number of people contacted her after the Nov. 6 election to report that they pressed a touch-screen button for GOP candidate Mitt Romney, but the vote registered for Barack Obama.
Also, suspiciously, a number of precincts reported a 100-percent vote for Obama, and some even reported beyond 100 percent.
“My request [to the FBI] is … I want them to take these machines. Let an FBI computer expert analyze them,” she said.
She said that among those who contacted her with concerns were two officials, including a state lawmaker who personally experienced a vote machine changing his vote three times to the party whose agenda he opposed.
The lawmaker told her that his computer background left him confident that the problem was beyond a technical glitch, and he insisted that the election judge take the machine out of service and lock it up.
“We need to freeze them in their current state, not wipe out data,” he said.
He said his constituent reported the same scenario as has been reported: hitting the touch-screen button for Romney but finding that that it registered for Obama.
Rothschild said it’s a major problem that has to be addressed in order for Americans to continue trusting their election system.
He said the constituent noticed the vote changes on the summary screen.
“It showed Obama as being selected,” Rothschild told WND, even though his constituent reported voting for the GOP ticket.
“After talking with a few other people, this concern seems to be increasing,” Rothschild told WND. “There are just two possible answers. Either he made a mistake, or something caused that machine to switch the vote.”
He said given that his constituent has experience with computers, the contention that he didn’t know how to use the machine seems a stretch.
“I know how easy it would be to introduce a single spurious line of code,” Rothschild told WND, noting a programmer could easily instruct the machine to change the vote periodically, so a routine test wouldn’t reveal any problems.
He said he was told the county had no jurisdiction over the issue and that it would be up to the state, which is why he discussed the concerns with Afzali.
“It’s very scary,” Rothschild told WND. “It creates a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.”
That, in turn, he said, results in people feeling desperate about their failure to impact government.
“If American people feel they cannot trust their voting system, there’s the possibility of more desperate action,” he said. “There are a number of possibilities [for reaction] in nullifications, secession, including throwing off such governments.
“If people think their voting processes do not work, [if] they conclude they are not being afforded constitutional protections, they may conclude their only option is to throw off such government,” he said.
He said the forensics of voting machine examination would be very important, but a good investigatory review could provide a lot of answers.
“We have all seen little pieces of the problem,” he said.
But to determine what is a problem, he said some sort of overview perspective would be needed.
Not only do authorities need to do a review, future elections need to be done so that every voter is given a printed copy of his or her own vote. The copies could be compiled by clerks to provide a point of reference if questions arise, he said.
Afzali told WND that because she’s on the state elections committee, a number of people came directly to her with their complaints.
She said the two machines that were identified now are locked up with all the other equipment, but she’s asked the FBI step in and take custody of them.
“If we do not have integrity in our election process then we don’ t have the exceptionalism as a constitutional republic, we don’t have a rule of law,” West said.
WND also reported a forensic profiler whose previous cases have included the Natalie Holloway disappearance and the O.J. Simpson double-murder case said Obama is confessing to stealing the 2012 president election.
“Obama appears to unconsciously confess on multiple occasions that in his secret fury he stole the 2012 presidential election – continuing his attacks on our nation,” Andrew G. Hodges, M.D., told WND in an assessment of Obama.”
Allen West recount request, Disturbing Irregularities At Polls, West filed motion against Palm Beach County Election Board, West lead changed by recount
“I watched the two uniformed men confront voters and attempt to intimidate voters. They were positioned in a location that forced every voter to pass in close proximity to them. The weapon was openly displayed and brandished in plain sight of voters.” “you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.”…Bartle Bull, civil rights lawyer
“the organization has come under intense scrutiny because of its voter registration practices. In several states voter registration forms have been found to include nonexistent or dead people. Some registrants have told elections officials they completed multiple cards at the urging of ACORN canvassers who claimed they would be fired if they did not meet a daily quota for signing up new voters.”…Catholic News Service. Oct. 16, 2008
From the Huffington Post November 7, 2012.
“Allen West Recount Request Suggests ‘Disturbing Irregularities’ At Polls”
“Though several outlets had declared the race between Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) and Democrat Patrick Murphy a victory for Murphy as of Wednesday morning, with Murphy even accepting the congressional seat in a statement, West has so far refused to concede.
And West’s campaign isn’t pleased that people keep saying he’s out, according to a statement posted on his Facebook page Wednesday morning:
Our race is far from decided and there is no rush to declare an outcome. Ensuring a fair and accurate counting off all ballots is of the utmost importance. There are still tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted in Palm Beach County and potential provisional ballots across the district. Late last night Congressman West maintained a district wide lead of nearly 2000 votes until the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections “recounted” thousands of early ballots. Following that “recount” Congressman West trailed by 2,400 votes. In addition, there were numerous other disturbing irregularities reported at polls across St. Lucie County including the doors to polling places being locked when the polls closed in direct violation of Florida law, thereby preventing the public from witnessing the procedures used to tabulate results. The St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections office clearly ignored proper rules and procedures, and the scene at the Supervisor’s office last night could only be described as complete chaos. Given the hostility and demonstrated incompetence of the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, we believe it is critical that a full hand recount of the ballots take place in St. Lucie County. We will continue to fight to ensure every vote is counted properly and fairly, and accordingly we will pursue all legal means necessary.
Murphy is leading West 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent with 100 percent of the votes counted, according to HuffPost Pollster — with 160,328 votes to 157,862. The district is the only House race in Florida that has yet to be called.”
“Republican Congressman Allen West appears to have lost his bid for re-election in District 18 to Democrat Patrick Murphy. But West isn’t going down without a fight.
Wednesday, West filed a motion to have paper ballots counted and to impound voting machines and all paper ballots cast. The motion was filed against the Palm Beach County Election Board.
West’s attorney’s also asked that any “voting machines and any associated equipment or documentary or record evidence, used in connection with the Election in this Election District be impounded to prevent further voting and/or to declare the intent of voters for votes cast on the Voting Machines.”
In the filing, West attorney’s said they “pray” that the court would grant the motion.
Murphy is clinging to a small lead in his quest to oust West and West’s campaign manager said Wednesday they want a recount in St. Lucie County.
Murphy, the political newcomer, put out a statement early Wednesday declaring victory in the race. West’s campaign hasn’t conceded and released this comment Wednesday.
“This race is far from decided and there is no rush to declare an outcome. Ensuring a fair and accurate counting of all ballots is of the utmost importance. There are still tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted in Palm Beach County and potential provisional ballots across the district,” according to West’s campaign manager Tim Edson.
The Associated Press has not yet called the race because it remains incredibly close.
With 100-percent of precincts reporting, Murphy had 160,328 votes, or 50.4 percent, to West’s 157,782 votes, or 49.6 percent. The two candidates were separated by about 2,400 ballots.
Edson’s statement went on, “Late last night Congressman West maintained a district-wide lead of nearly 2000 votes until the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections “recounted” thousands of early ballots. Following that “recount” Congressman West trailed by 2,400 votes. In addition, there were numerous other disturbing irregularities reported at polls across St. Lucie County including the doors to polling places being locked when the polls closed, in direct violation of Florida law, thereby preventing the public from witnessing the procedures used to tabulate results. “
West said he will not comment further until after the court case is decided, according to CBS4′s Carey Codd.
Murphy’s slight lead is outside the margin that would require a recount in the Sunshine State.
“If the percentage does not fit within the statutory criteria for recounts, there exists no statutory mechanism for a candidate, group, or anyone else to have a recount done by the state or any supervisor of elections,” Florida elections spokesman Chris Cate told CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald.
Cate continued, “Also, we will not know if a recount is within the required percentage until we receive the first set of unofficial returns from each of the counties involved. They are not due until noon, Saturday.”
The Palm Beach Post reports provisional and absentee ballots in Democratic-leaning Palm Beach County still need to be counted. Murphy’s campaign manager told the newspaper the outstanding ballots weren’t enough to overturn the results.
Representative West is a freshman Republican known across the country for his fiery tea party rhetoric. He has been one of the most outspoken conservatives in Washington, famously saying he knew dozens of Communists in the government.
Democrats had been targeting West’s office to flip. West had raised much more money than Murphy, roughly a 4-1 margin, throughout the campaign capitalizing on his national name recognition.
Twenty-nine-year-old Murphy is a construction executive making his first run for office.”
“FBI launches investigation into fraudulent Florida voter letters”
“The FBI confirmed Wednesday it is investigating fraudulent letters that falsely tell eligible Florida voters they may no longer be U.S. citizens and that they could go to prison if they cast a ballot in the Nov. 6 election.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which launched an investigation Tuesday, the Department of State, local supervisors of elections and the U.S. Postal Service will assist the FBI, said agency spokesman David Couvertier.
“We’re trying to figure out what the trend is, if a specific group of voters was targeted or if it was random,” Couvertier said. “What was the motive? Was it a statement or something done to influence the election?”
Beginning Friday, voters throughout the state started receiving letters in envelopes with a Seattle postmark. The letters all have the same type of letterhead, with the American flag as a backdrop to a silhouette of a bald eagle in the upper left corner. The sender swapped out the name of the supervisor of elections depending on which county they were received. As of Wednesday, the letters were sent to at least 28 counties, according to Division of Elections spokesman Chris Cate.
The letters inform recipients they have 15 days to fill out a voter eligibility form and return it to the elections office. If they don’t, they’ll be removed from the voter rolls, the letter warns.
State officials have interpreted the letters to be a voter intimidation tactic, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in jail for each offense, or each letter sent. The FBI would examine federal offenses, including mail fraud.
“We don’t know the extent of the activity yet,” Couvertier said. “We’re looking at everything from civil rights violations to potentially voter fraud and everything in between.”
Couvertier said the Tampa FBI office is working in concert with the other agencies. It covers 18 counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas, all of which got the letters.
Cate said the best estimate of the number of letters sent are “dozens.” The recipients so far tend to be Republican, frequent voters, who may even contribute to campaigns. Ion Sancho, Leon County’s supervisor of elections, has speculated that the names may have been lifted from a donor list. Jacksonville City Council president Bill Bishop, former U.S. Ambassador John Rood, and Lenny Curry, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, all got one.
But there are exceptions. Of the eight people to receive the letters in Pinellas, half are Republican.
The hoax is a puzzling one. If the letters were meant to intimidate people from voting, why were they sent to leaders of the Republican Party, where they’re easier to detect?
“There are a lot of theories out there,” Couvertier said. “We’ll be going through them one by one.”
Anyone who got a letter is asked to call the Tampa FBI field office at 1-866-838-1153.”
Rezko for Radicals press release Prweb November 5, 2012, Kenneth J. Conner whistleblower book about Obama Rezko lot purchase, Mutual Bank loan to Rezkos
“Why did Mutual Bank fire whistleblower Kenneth J Connor after he
challenged the appraisal on the land purchased by Rita Rezko, just
prior to the land sale to Obama?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did the Rezkos enter into an agreement to purchase the lot next to the Obama house and pay the asking price of $ 625,000 at a time when they were broke and heavily in debt?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
I just spoke to Kenneth J. Conner the whistleblower in the Obama Rezko lot purchase and the loan from Mutual Bank of Harvey to Rita Rezko. The press release for his new book “Rezko for Radicals” is live.
From PRweb November 5, 2012.
“Rezko for Radicals Book Highlights Obama Calling the Purchase of his Mansion a ‘Fire Sale’
Rezko for Radicals includes a Tony Rezko prison letter in which Rezko informs his trial judge that feds wanted him to cooperate against Barack Obama
Rezko for Radicals is available on Amazon
Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 05, 2012
In his new book Rezko for Radicals, author Kenneth J. Conner, formerly a real estate analyst at Tony Rezko’s bank in Chicago, presents a carefully researched and insider accounting of Rezko’s real estate transactions involving Barack Obama. Conner details a meeting with the FBI in October 2007 in which he advised agents that the Rezko lot next door to the Obama Mansion was worth a maximum of $500,000. Rezko paid $625,000. Later it became known that another appraisal valued the Rezko lot at $490,860. (Cook County court case # 2008L011470) abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/doc1%20-%20Copy.pdf
As reported by the Washington Times (p3, November 4, 2008) and online at”
Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time
Citizen WElls 