Category Archives: FBI

Tony Rezko key witness, Rezko tied to Obama Blagojevich Cellini, Legal documents reveal ties

Tony Rezko key witness, Rezko tied to Obama Blagojevich Cellini, Legal documents reveal ties

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

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

“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

In case you have forgotten or not seen this, here are some exerpts from the subpoena of Barack Obama issued by the Blagojevich defense team in 2010.

“Case 1:08-cr-00888 Document 327 Filed 04/22/10 Page 1 of 11
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )
                         )
v.                       ) 08CR888
                         )
                         ) Judge James B. Zagel
ROD BLAGOJEVICH          )

MOTION FOR THE COURT TO ISSUE A TRIAL SUBPOENA TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Now Comes Defendant Rod Blagojevich, by and through his counsels and hereby requests this court issue a subpoena ad testificandum for President Barack Obama.”

“21. Tony Rezko is one of the government’s main witnesses.8 Mr. Rezko’s credibility is extremely relevant in this trial. In many instances, Mr. Rezko is the government’s crucial witness to prove up their allegations.9 Mr. Rezko wrote a letter to a federal judge stating “the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened. They are pressuring me to tell them the “wrong” things that I supposedly know about Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. I have never been a party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator. I will never fabricate lies about anyone else for selfish purposes.” (Exhibit A)
22. However, the defense has a good faith belief that Mr. Rezko, President Obama’s former friend, fund-raiser, and neighbor told the FBI and the United States Attorneys a different story about President Obama. In a recent in camera proceeding, the government tendered a three paragraph letter indicating that Rezko “has stated in interviews with the government that he engaged in election law violations by personally contributing a large sum of cash to the campaign of a public official who is not Rod Blagojevich. … Further, the public official denies being aware of cash contributions to his campaign by Rezko or others and denies having conversations with Rezko related to cash contributions. … Rezko has also stated in interviews with the government that he believed he transmitted a quid pro quo offer from a lobbyist to the public official, whereby the lobbyist would hold a fundraiser for the official in exchange for favorable official action, but that the public official rejected the offer. The public official denies any such
conversation. In addition, Rezko has stated to the government that he and the
public official had certain conversations about gaming legislation and
administration, which the public official denies having had.”10

23. President Obama is the only one who can testify as to the veracity of Mr. Rezko’s allegations above.

24. President Obama has pertinent information as to the character of Mr. Rezko. President Obama can testify to Mr. Rezko’s reputation for truthfulness as well as his own opinion of Mr. Rezko’s character. See, Fed. R. Evid. 405(a) and 608. Mr. Rezko and President Obama became friends in 1990. According to President Obama, Mr. Rezko raised as much as $60,000 in campaign contributions for Obama.11

25. Based on the relationship that President Obama and Mr. Rezko had, President Obama can provide important information as to Mr. Rezko’s plan, intent, opportunity, habit and modus operandi. See, Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) and 406. For example, in June 2005, President Obama purchased a house for $1.65 million, $300,000 below the asking price. On the same day Tony Rezko’s wife, Rita, paid full price — $625,000 — for the adjoining land. In January 2006, Obama paid Mr. Rezko $104,500 for a strip of the adjoining land. The transaction took place when it was widely known that Mr. Rezko was under investigation.12 President Obama’s relationship with Tony Rezko is
relevant and necessary Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) and 406 evidence.”

“10 The defense has a good faith belief that this public official is Barack Obama. See, “Obama on Rezko deal: It was a mistake”, Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco, and Mark Brown, Chicago Sun Times, November 5, 2006. Senator Barack Obama was asked: “Did Rezko or his companies ever solicit your support on any matter involving state or federal government? Did Al Johnson, who was trying to get a casino license along with Tony Rezko, or Rezko himself ever discuss casino matters with you?” Senator Obama answered: “No, I have never been asked to do anything to advance his business interest. In 1999, when I was a State Senator, I opposed legislation to bring a casino to Rosemont and allow casino gambling at docked riverboats which news reports said Al Johnson and Tony
Rezko were interested in being part of. I never discussed a casino license with either of them. I was a vocal opponent of the legislation.” Obama’s involvement with Tony Rezko and this legislation coincides with the three paragraph summary the government has provided to the defense referenced above.”

http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/docs/obama-subpoena.html

Where is Tony Rezko?

“21. Tony Rezko is one of the government’s main witnesses.8 Mr. Rezko’s credibility is extremely relevant in this trial. In many instances, Mr. Rezko is the government’s crucial witness to prove up their allegations.”

Tony Rezko’s name is prominent in the William Cellini indictment.
“It was further part of the conspiracy that CELLINI later told Levine that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A had agreed to the proposal to use their influence with high-ranking State of Illinois officials to oppose the pension consolidation plan in exchange for CELLINI’s agreement to use his influence at TRS and Levine’s position at TRS to ensure that TRS invested money with and hired firms chosen by Rezko and Co-Conspirator A. CELLINI and Levine understood that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A were going to expect under the agreement that CELLINI would use his influence at TRS and Levine would use his position at TRS to help firms that made contributions for the benefit of Public Official A.”

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

I am certain that the US Justice Department will continue to protect Obama leading up to and during the William Cellini trial. However, if you think that Obama’s name could not come up during the trial, think again.

William Cellini trial, Chicago businessman, The Pope of Illinois politics, Bill Cellini 101, Cellini 101, Cellini Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama

William Cellini trial, Chicago businessman, The Pope of Illinois politics, Bill Cellini 101, Cellini 101, Cellini Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

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

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

The William Cellini trial is scheduled for October 3, 2011. Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine have not been sentenced. Until recently, the major news sources have been mostly quiet about Cellini even though, as John Kass of the Tribune stated “Illinois is six degrees of Cellini.”  Here are some recent articles.

From the Chicago Tribune July 3, 2011.

“The marquee event in a federal investigation into Rod
Blagojevich’s governorship, Blagojevich’s own trial, is over — but the
legal saga that stretches back nearly a decade isn’t quite at an end.

The last big trial in the case is that of businessman William Cellini,
a Springfield Republican dubbed “The Pope” of Illinois politics for
his influence in the halls of state power dating back to the 1960s.”

“Both Blagojevich and the jailed Rezko are expected to be sentenced
toward the end of the year. Two former chiefs of staff for
Blagojevich, John Harris and Lon Monk — both of whom testified against
their former boss at his retrial — must also be sentenced.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-il–blagojevichtrial-whatsnext,0,1657391.story

From the Rockford Register Star July 3, 2011.

“Cellini’s trial for fraud and extortion conspiracy, set to start Oct.
3, is the next case related to Operation Board Games, a sprawling
probe by federal prosecutors in Chicago into corruption in the
administration of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

“The trial had been scheduled for Aug. 22, but in a motion agreed to by
Cellini, prosecutors said they had “unforeseen personal conflicts”
with that date and asked that it be delayed. In its filing, the
government estimated the trial could take up to four weeks.”

“Cellini lost a bid in 2009 to suppress wiretapped conversations.
However, motions regarding that request have been sealed or heavily
redacted, so it’s unclear what the substance of those conversations
was.”

“Key dates

Spring 2003: According to the federal indictment, William Cellini and
Stuart Levine agree to ask Chris Kelly and Tony Rezko to use their
influence in the Rod Blagojevich administration to defeat a plan to
consolidate the Teachers’ Retirement System with other state
retirement systems.

Spring 2004: Blagojevich reappoints Levine to the TRS board.

April 2004: Levine tells Rezko they could force Capri Capital to pay
to get $220 million in TRS funds to investment, according to the
indictment. Levine is to have Cellini tell Capri principal Thomas
Rosenberg that Capri will not receive the investment allocation unless
Rosenberg contributes to Blagojevich’s campaign.

May 2004: Cellini agrees to deliver the ultimatum to Rosenberg,
according to the indictment.

May 7, 2004: Cellini allegedly tells Rosenberg that Capri has not
received the investment funds because it had not made campaign
contributions.

May 8, 2004: Cellini tells Levine that Rosenberg threatened to inform
law enforcement of the alleged extortion attempt, according to the
indictment.

May 10, 2004: Cellini tells Kelly about Rosenberg’s threats, the
indictment says. Cellini and Levine talk about ways to convince
Rosenberg not to go to law enforcement.

May 11, 2004: Cellini, Kelly, Levine and Rezko agree that it’s too
risky to withhold investment funds from Capri Capital, according to
the indictment. But they agree that Capri Capital will not receive
more money.

May 25, 2004: The TRS board agrees to give Capri Capital $220 million to invest.

Summer 2004: Cellini, Kelly and Rezko discuss having TRS executive
director Jon Baumann moved from his position so that he won’t
cooperate with law enforcement, according to the indictment.

Summer and fall 2004: Cellini and Rezko discuss having Chicago-area
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald removed from his position to stop a
criminal investigation, the indictment says.

June 4, 2008: Rezko is convicted on 16 of 24 charges. However, the
eight charges on which Rezko is found not guilty include those
involving Cellini, Rosenberg and Capri Capital.

Oct. 30, 2008: Cellini indicted for the first time. He faces four counts.

April 2, 2009: Cellini indicted for a second time, along with Rod and
Robert Blagojevich, Lon Monk, John Harris and Kelly. Cellini faces
three counts in the new indictment.

Sept. 12, 2009: Kelly commits suicide.

Nov. 16, 2009: Cellini’s case separated from the trial of the
Blagojevich brothers.

Oct. 3, 2011: Cellini case scheduled to go to trial.”

Read more:

 http://www.rrstar.com/top_stories/x1721565876/Attorney-Businessman-connected-to-Blagojevich-ready-for-trial

In the Chicago Tribune article, Paul Green, who teaches politics at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, states “Very little is known about him except by inside players,”.

Oh really? 

My hat is off to the Rockford Register Star for posting an article about William Cellini with substance. However, there are a few items from many mentions of Cellini at the Tony Rezko which should be noted.

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.”

 

To learn more about William Cellini and Chicago corruption.

Cellini 101

Obama under the bus? Democrat Party or Rezko Or Cellini, Too late for Blagojevich?

Obama under the bus? Democrat Party or Rezko Or Cellini, Too late for Blagojevich?

“Why has the mainstream media avoided coverage of the William Cellini trial? Why are Chicago news stories being scrubbed or altered?”…Citizen Wells

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

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

Blagojevich has been convicted of 17 of 20 counts. An appeal is certain. Obama controls the US Justice Department and Blagojevich may have missed an opportunity to throw Obama under the bus.

However….

The William Cellini trial is coming up in August 2011. Will Cellini or his attorney or Tony Rezko throw Obama under the bus?

Also…

I am not certain if Obama controls the Democrat party and they are concerned about 2012. Will the Democrats throw Obama under the bus?

FBI Obama records, Operation board games, Middle eastern ties, Questionable associations

FBI Obama records, Operation board games, Middle eastern ties, Questionable associations

The FBI knows plenty about Obama’s corruption ties in Chicago and Illinois from Operation Board Games, the investigation that netted Stuart Levine, Tony Rezko, Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini, et al. With the extensive list of dubious ties to the middle east, socialists, communists and radical bombers that Obama has, his FBI dossier, if not destroyed, must be enormous. I am still certain that the recent Washington Post article on the FBI investigation involving Patrick Fitzgerald is a political ploy.

From Citizen Wells June 17, 2010.

“You now know that Obama’s name was mentioned again during the Rod Blagojevich trial. You were advised of this earlier at Citizen Wells and Citizen News.

There are many opportunities for Obama’s name to surface during the Blagojevich trial, just as Blagojevich’s name surfaced during the Tony Rezko trial. Obama is deeply enmeshed in Chicago and Illinois corruption. There is another side of Obama, his connections and allegiance to Muslims and Arabs. Now, as Paul Harvey always said, “The rest of the story.”
Ali Ata is another name likely to surface soon as a witness. Apparently, or at least from the documentation I have read, Ata was more involved in corruption than Joseph Aramanda. Perhaps not. Ali Ata has ties to Barack Obama.
From Citizen Wells December 19, 2008.
“Why Barack Obama should be indicted
Part 9″
“Longtime Blagojevich friend Ali Ata, in a plea bargain on charges of lying to the FBI, said that he handed $25,000 to a Blagojevich fundraiser and that the governor immediately brought up the subject of getting Ata a state job.”
“Obama’s ties to Ali Ata

“The morning after the prosecution announced that Loren would testify, Hamilton dropped another bombshell by informing the judge that Jordanian-native and co-schemer, Ali Ata, the former head of the Illinois Finance Authority, had pled guilty and entered into a plea agreement and he would testify that he received the same information in 2004.”

“Maloof is one of the donors used to funnel two $10,000 contributions to Obama through bank accounts from Rezko‘s pizza businesses from the pension fund kickback. An exhibit produced for the jury shows Maloof also made a $10,000 contribution to Blagojevich.”

“As predicted, on May 1, 2008, Ata testified that he was assured there was a plan in place to remove Fitzgerald after Bush was reelected in 2004. “Mr. Rezko informed me that they had just finished meeting with Mr. Kjellander and that there will be a change in U.S. attorney’s office come the new administration,” he said.”

“Ata told the jury he delivered one $25,000 contribution to Blagojevich at Rezko’s office in the latter part of 2002, and the three men discussed the prospects of Ata getting an appointment in the administration. He said people at the office that day included Blagojevich’s campaign chief and later chief of staff, Lon Monk, Christopher Kelly, and state Representative Jay Hoffman.”

““The way Ali Ata described it, the waiting room in the North Side office of Antoin “Tony” Rezko seemed as busy as an airport terminal,” the Tribune noted on May 1, 2008.

Ata brought another $25,000 check to a fundraiser on July 25, 2003, and he was appointed to lead the Finance Authority.

Ata made a $5,000 donation to Obama less than a month earlier on June 30, 2003. Ata is also an investor in Riverside Park. Almost without fail, the people identified in the Board Games cases as investors in Riverside Park contributed to Obama’s US senate campaign.””

““The corruption in this case involves the Illinois Finance Authority. The IFA was established, “to support the Governor of Illinois’ economic development agenda,” and “IFA approves about $3 billion in project financing each year,” according to its web site.

Co-schemer Ali Ata was appointed to lead the IFA. He made a $5,000 donation to Obama on June 30, 2003.”
“Talat Othman was appointed to the IFA Board, and he donated $1,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.

David Gustman was made chairman, and his wife, Lisa, also gave Obama $1,000 on June 30.

Co-schemer Abdelhamid Chaib is the former the director of Rezko Concessions. Chaib’s wife was appointed to the Department of Employment Security Review Board. Obama received $5,000 from Chaib on June 30, 2003.”

 
“As part of the scheme, Ata signed a letter on Finance Authority letterhead that falsely made it appear that Dr Paul Ray had applied for financing with the IFA for acquisition of the pizza restaurants. The letter stated that Ray’s financing would be recommended for approval by the IFA Board on March 15, 2004, and that the IFA would guarantee 50% of the total $16 million.”

“But Ata said Rezko scoffed at the concerns. “He said as far as the publicity, he will get the governor’s office to approve the transaction, and as far as the board,” Ata told the jury, Rezko said, “We put them there.”””
“”Ata is a former president of the Chicago Chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. He represents “a deeper corruption” in the Arab American community, “an aspect of the story that has not received much attention,” according to a May 2, 2008 report by Ray Hanania in the Southwest News-Herald.”

“In his report, Hanania explains how Ata and others would help organize political dinners attended by Arab Americans from the suburbs at which politicians where “honored.”

“These Arab community “leaders,” he says, “would tell the community that if they bought tickets to their “candidate’s nights,” their organization fundraisers or donated through them to local politicians, these politicians would respond by giving the Arab American community empowerment.”

“In truth,” Hanania says, “these political leaders lied.”

“They did get jobs, contracts and clout,” he notes, “but the people who benefited were not members of the community but rather the relatives, children, friends and business associates of these leaders.”””

“More Obama ties to Ata and slumlords

“”The Illinois Finance Authority was established by Blagojevich in 2004. Its “role is to support the Governor of Illinois’ economic development agenda,” and “IFA approves about $3 billion in project financing each year,” according to the its site.

Rezko business associate, Ali Ata, was appointed to head the Finance Authority. He is now under indictment in a separate criminal case in which Rezko is also charged. On June 30, 2003, Ata contributed $5,000 to Obama’s US senate campaign.

On June 13, 2007, the Sun-Times reported that as a state senator, “Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens.”

“I am writing in support of the New Kenwood LLC’s proposal to build a ninety-seven unit apartment building at 48th and Cottage Grove for senior citizens,” Obama wrote in October 28, 1998 letters to both city and state housing officials. “This project will provide much needed housing for Fourth Ward citizens.””
“In the Times, Novak reported that the deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and Davis, while Obama was still working at the Davis law firm, for a bid on a project that was “four blocks outside Obama’s state Senate district.”””

Read more

You knew this

And this.

From the LA Times April 10, 2008

“Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Obama”

“It was a celebration of Palestinian culture — a night of music, dancing and a dash of politics. Local Arab Americans were bidding farewell to Rashid Khalidi, an internationally known scholar, critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinian rights, who was leaving town for a job in New York.

A special tribute came from Khalidi’s friend and frequent dinner companion, the young state Sen. Barack Obama. Speaking to the crowd, Obama reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi’s wife, Mona, and conversations that had challenged his thinking.”

 
“Their belief is not drawn from Obama’s speeches or campaign literature, but from comments that some say Obama made in private and from his association with the Palestinian American community in his hometown of Chicago, including his presence at events where anger at Israeli and U.S. Middle East policy was freely expressed.

At Khalidi’s 2003 farewell party, for example, a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, “then you will never see a day of peace.”

One speaker likened “Zionist settlers on the West Bank” to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been “blinded by ideology.””

Read more:

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/10/nation/na-obamamideast10

Did you know this?

From Islam for Today, April 10, 2001.

“Halal Food Act Passed In Illinois Senate
In a landmark event for Illinois’ more than 400,000 Muslim, the Illinois senate has unanimously passed the Halal Food Act on Thursday to safeguard the interests of the Muslim consumer.”

“It also specifically defines the term “Halal” as food “prepared under and maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion including but not limited to those laws and customs of zabiha/zabeeha (slaughtered according to appropriate Islamic code), and as expressed by reliable recognized Islamic entities and scholars.”

“The Illinois Halal Food Act was sponsored by Sen.Christine Radogno (R-La Grange) with Senators Thomas Walsh, Barack Obama, Louis Viverito, and Ira Silverstein as Chief Co-Sponsors.”

Read more:
http://www.islamfortoday.com/illinois2.htm

***  Update June 17, 2010 5:30 ET ***

Right on cue, Ali Ata’s name was mentioned during the Blagojevich trial today.

Jill Hayden, director of boards and commissions, testified today and brought up Ali Ata as Tony Rezko’s friend and a member of the IFA, Illinois Finance Authority.”

Let’s not forget this significant connection.

From NewsMax September 23, 2008.

“How exactly did Barack Obama pay for his Harvard Law School education?

The way the Obama campaign has answered the question was simply hard work and student loans.

But new questions have been raised about Obama’s student loans and Obama’s ties to a radical Muslim activist who reportedly was raising money for Obama’s Harvard studies during the years 1988 to 1991.

The allegations first surfaced in late March, when former Manhattan Borough president Percy Sutton told a New York cable channel that a former business partner who was “raising money” for Obama had approached him in 1988 to help Obama get into Harvard Law School.

In the interview, Sutton says he first heard of Obama about twenty years ago from Khalid Al-Mansour, a Black Muslim and Black Nationalist who was a “mentor” to the founders of the Black Panther party at the time the party was founded in the early 1960s.

Sutton described al-Mansour as advisor to “one of the world’s richest men,” Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Prince Alwaleed catapulted to fame in the United States after the September 11 attacks, when New York mayor Rudy Guiliani refused his $10 million check to help rebuild Manhattan, because the Saudi prince hinted publicly that America’s pro-Israel policies were to blame for the attacks.

Sutton knew Al-Mansour well, since the two men had been business partners and served on several corporate boards together.

As Sutton remembered, Al-Mansour was raising money for Obama’s education and seeking recommendations for him to attend Harvard Law School.

“I was introduced to (Obama) by a friend who was raising money for him,” Sutton told NY1 city hall reporter Dominic Carter. “The friend’s name is Dr. Khalid al-Mansour, from Texas.””

“Sen. Obama has refused to instruct Harvard Law School to release any information about his time there as a student, or about his student loans.”

“Where did he find the money? Did it come from friends of Khalid Al Mansour? And why would a radical Muslim activist with ties to the Saudi royal family be raising money for Barack Obama?

That’s the question the Obama campaign still won’t answer.”

Read more:

http://www.newsmax.com/KenTimmerman/obama-harvard-/2009/12/14/id/342454

FBI investigating Obama?, Citizen Wells opinion, Clear Obama for 2012 election, Improve image of Patrick Fitzgerald and Justice Department, Like birth certificate ploy

FBI investigating Obama?, Citizen Wells opinion, Clear Obama for 2012 election, Improve image of Patrick Fitzgerald and Justice Department, Like birth certificate ploy

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”…Abraham Lincoln

“The (American) press, which is mostly controlled by vested
interests, has an excessive influence on public opinion.”… Albert Einstein

“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 Washington Post presented an article on June 13, 2011.

“FBI agents took box after box of address books, family
calendars, artwork and personal letters in their 10-hour raid in
September of the century-old house shared by Stephanie Weiner and her
husband.

The agents seemed keenly interested in Weiner’s home-based business,
the Revolutionary Lemonade Stand, which sells silkscreened baby
outfits and other clothes with socialist slogans, phrases like “Help
Wanted: Revolutionaries.”

The search was part of a mysterious, ongoing nationwide terrorism
investigation with an unusual target: prominent peace activists and
politically active labor organizers.

The probe — involving subpoenas to 23 people and raids of seven homes
last fall — has triggered a high-powered protest against the
Department of Justice and, in the process, could create some political
discomfort for President Obama with his union supporters as he gears
up for his reelection campaign.

The apparent targets are concentrated in the Midwest, including
Chicagoans who crossed paths with Obama when he was a young state
senator and some who have been active in labor unions that supported
his political rise.”
“All 23 of the activists invoked their right not to testify before a
grand jury, defying U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, whose office is
spearheading the investigation.”

Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/activists-cry-foul-over-fbi-probe/2011/06/09/AGPRskTH_story.html

From Accuracy in Media June 22, 2011.

“One of the targets, Tom Burke, was a union organizer for the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU). He was so confident he would get
a fair shake from the Post that he provided the paper with a photo of
himself shaking hands with Barack Obama. The other apparent intention
was to send a message to the President and Attorney General Eric
Holder that any investigation of Burke might lead to Obama.

The Post suggested that investigations of labor union activists might
jeopardize their support for Obama’s 2012 presidential run. Indeed, it
could therefore threaten his re-election bid, if investigations
determine that the activists did more than “cross paths” with the
President.”

“The Post article has to be seen as a signal to Holder from those
around Obama that he must act quickly to close down these
investigations before they get too close for comfort to the Oval
Office. First, however, he has to make sure that the congressional
investigations don’t get too close to Holder himself. It won’t look
good for the Attorney General to be personally implicated in knowledge
of the federal gunrunning schemes now under Congressional
investigation that provided weapons to Mexican narco-terrorist
cartels. The evidence already shows that federal authorities let guns
fall into the hands of known criminals.”

Read more:

http://www.aim.org/aim-column/is-the-fbi-investigating-obama/

Yesterday was George Orwell’s birthday so I set my decoder ring to double Orwell speak settings and this is the conclusion I have come to.

  • Damage control for the US Justice Department.
  • Gain creditability for Patrick Fitzgerald, a Obama puppet, and therefore Obama.
  • Ultimately this is a ploy to “clear” Obama of associations of carefully selected targets to preemptively disarm political opponent’s questions during the 2012 elections. Like releasing an image represented as a birth certificate, it supposedly puts the issue to rest.

John Thomas FBI mole back in news, Federal corruption informant, Blagojevich Rezko other politicians, Obama Rezko contact informant

John Thomas FBI mole back in news, Federal corruption informant, Blagojevich Rezko other politicians, Obama Rezko contact informant

“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

“FBI mole John Thomas helped investigators “build a record of repeat visits to the old offices of Rezko and former business partner Daniel Mahru’s Rezmar Corp., at 853 N. Elston, by Blagojevich and Obama during 2004 and 2005,“”…Chicago Sun-Times February 10, 2008

From the Chicago Sun-Times June 14, 2011.

“‘John Thomas is back,” John Thomas said. He’s a real estate investor and onetime government informant in federal corruption cases and he had just won an auction for an Uptown office building before uttering his self-evaluation last September.

Thomas aspired to redevelop the old Combined Insurance Co. of America building at 5050 N. Broadway, now vacant. It was to be a career rehabilitator for Thomas, who years ago seemed in the middle of every significant property deal in Chicago, then saw his business decline because of the recession and his own missteps.

He was convicted of felony fraud but avoided prison time because he was an informant in the FBI probe of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other politicians. Thomas has said his work with the FBI is done and he also said he made restitution for his earlier fraud.

As for being “back,” not yet. Thomas couldn’t close on the Uptown site. As of March 31, it’s been in the hands of Imperial Realty Co., which is based on the Northwest Side. Imperial is known for buying distressed properties, fixing them and leasing them back up.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/business/5963254-417/uptown-deal-eludes-ex-mole-for-fbi.html

John Thomas played an important role in repudiating Obama’s lies about his contact with Tony Rezko.

Chicago SunTimes.

February 10, 2008

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

March 14, 2008 interview.

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

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

 

Thanks to commenter Bessie.

Cellini indictment and trial coverage, Republican Bill Cellini not being scrutinized, Chicago Tribune article disappears, Protecting Obama

Cellini indictment and trial coverage, Republican Bill Cellini not being scrutinized, Chicago Tribune article disappears, Protecting Obama

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…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

When was the last time that a Republican, with a history of shady deals, corruption figure connections, tied to Rezko, Blagojevich, et al, indicted for corruption involving a teacher retirement fund and scheduled for trial soon, was not being scrutinized, examined under a microscope and found guilty in the press?

Can you imagine such a scenario?

We have one now in the indictment and upcoming trial of William Cellini.

This is being very much underreported.

Why?

Here is a pretty good summary of Cellini’s background from The Beachwood Reporter October 31, 2008.
“”William Cellini has spent four decades as Illinois’ ultimate insider, cozying up to Republicans and Democrats alike as he wielded power and influence while trying to stay out of the spotlight,” the Tribune reports.

“But the spotlight found Cellini on Thursday when a federal grand jury indicted the millionaire Springfield businessman and pulled him into the center of the ongoing probe of corruption in the administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

Cellini, in fact, is the most classic embodiment of the concept of the Combine – the notion that a group of insiders both Democrat and Republican control the spoils of running state government, regardless of which party is actually, nominally, in power.

“A onetime high school teacher, Cellini latched on to politics early, was elected Springfield’s commissioner of streets and public improvements and, by age 35, became transportation czar in Gov. Richard Ogilvie’s Cabinet. After officially leaving state government, he became an influential fundraiser and powerful lobbyist who headed up the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association,” the Tribune notes.

“His power grew even more during Gov. James Thompson’s 14-year reign when he won state contracts, landed a riverboat casino license in Alton and put together a sweetheart hotel deal that turned into a lemon for taxpayers.

“Under Gov. Jim Edgar, Cellini’s sister, Janis, served as patronage chief, a coveted position overseeing personnel issues in a sprawling government that runs on friends and political favors.

“When George Ryan became governor, Cellini kept a grip on state government through longtime loyalists he spent years placing in sensitive positions.”

When the Democrats finally took the governorship, it didn’t matter, as we now see.

“When we’re in, we’re in,” he once said, as recalled by the Sun-Times today. “And when you’re in, we’re in. We’re always in.”

And who is “we’?

“His business partners are equally powerful men, including Victor Cacciatore, president of Lakeside Bank; Earl Deutsch, a longtime Democratic attorney who, with Cellini, created Commonwealth Realty Advisors, which invests about $1 billion in state pension funds; Michael Marchese, president of Harlem Irving Companies, and Richard Stein, senior managing director of Mesirow Financial’s real estate division.”

And that gang has close ties to Michael Madigan, Ed Burke, and, of course, Richard M. Daley.”

“”Cellini has always been the guy behind the guy,” John Kass writes today.

“The suits making speeches on TV aren’t real politics. They’re just the suits making speeches. It is the men on the inside who matter, flying below the radar to swoop down to the public trough and feed without much notice.””

Read more:

http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/2008/10/
I mentioned that the William Cellini trial has been underreported. Well, it is worse than that. When Cellini’s trial date was set on December 2, 2010, it was reported at Citizen Wells on December 10, 2010.

From the Chicago Tribune December 2, 2010.

“A date has finally been set for the long-delayed trial of a
Springfield businessman charged with illegally plotting to raise
campaign funds for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

At a status hearing Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago scheduled
William Cellini‘s trial for Aug. 22.

Cellini is a longtime fundraiser and behind-the-scenes power broker in
Illinois politics.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–cellinitrial,0,6721744.story

Citizen Wells link:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/william-cellini-trial-date-set-cellini-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama-all-searches-lead-back-to-obama-citizen-wells-open-thread-december-10-2010/

I noticed some time later that the Chicago Tribune article was no longer there. I then searched within the Tribune site and the internet. The article was gone. However, another Chicago site still has the story up.

From Chicago Breaking News December 2, 2010.

“A federal judge today set trial for next summer for William Cellini, a
largely forgotten co-defendant of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Springfield powerbroker is charged with extorting a Hollywood
producer with Chicago connections to make a campaign donation to
Blagojevich in return for business with a state pension investment
board.

At a routine status hearing for Blagojevich today, U.S. District Judge
James Zagel set Aug. 22 for Cellini’s trial.

Zagel previously allowed Cellini to be tried separately from
Blagojevich, who himself is scheduled to be retried on April 20 after
a jury deadlocked last summer on most of the charges against the
former governor.”
http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/12/trial-set-for-blago-co-defendant.html

Perhaps this means nothing.

But where is the press? Why are the attack dogs not all over Cellini?

Cellini’s scheming with Rezko in 2003, 2004 and 2005 hits a little too close to Obama.

Who will be called as a witness at the Cellini trial?

Blagojevich trial jury, William Cellini trial, Obama trial, Operation Board Games players tied to Rezko

Blagojevich trial jury, William Cellini trial, Obama trial, Operation Board Games players tied to Rezko

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

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

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

The jury in the Rod Blagojevich trial has been given their instructions and ordinarily I might say are determining the fate of Blagojevich. However, it is apparent to me that the fate of Blagojevich, Rezko and Obama was sealed in 2006 when the fix was cast. The trial of William Cellini is scheduled to begin in August.

From the Chicago Tribune and John Kass November 16, 2008.

“Watching the quiet little man with the fresh Julius Caesar haircut plead innocent Friday to federal extortion and corruption charges, I wondered:

Was I in Chicago, or in Rome before the fall?

“Not guilty,” said William Cellini, 74, in a whisper.

Cellini wore a nice blue suit. What he didn’t wear was a neon sign on his head pronouncing him the boss hog of the Republican half of the bipartisan Illinois Combine that runs this state with Chicago machine Democrats.
Bill Cellini doesn’t need a neon sign. Everybody who is somebody knows who he is. He’s said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Not bad for public service.

To fully appreciate our politics you’ve got to look at the connections. Sadly, this task is beyond the national press and some locals besotted with our renowned vintage, Combine Kool Aid.”

“Cellini is accused of helping shake down a Hollywood producer and politically connected Chicago investor Thomas Rosenberg for $1.5 million in campaign cash for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Cellini also is accused as a point man in a plot to remove U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald as federal prosecutor.”

“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.

Amazingly, Webb and Cellini are listed together on the board of directors of Lakeside Bank, run by the politically influential Cacciatore family.

One of the original Lakeside Bank investors is Fred Bruno Barbara, the Bridgeport trucking boss, waste management expert and close friend/fashionista of Mayor Richard Daley.

Barbara came up in testimony in the federal Family Secrets trial of mob bosses. A witness said Barbara, who was not charged, went along on fire-bombing runs with Chinatown crew chief Angelo “the Hook” LaPietra.”

“The Combine wants Fitzgerald promoted out of town. But President-elect Barack Obama has promised newspaper editorial boards he would keep Fitzgerald in Chicago to fight political corruption.

That’s the same President-elect Obama with Mayor Daley’s guy Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, and another Daley guy, David Axelrod, as Obama’s chief strategist. The mayor’s brother Billy is one of Obama’s chief economic advisers. Whew!

Some political analysts become quite upset when “Daley machine” and “Obama” are mentioned in my column. They feel compelled to give me a vigorous corrective. But this same Flat Earth society denied the existence of a Combine for years, then shut up for a while when Obama’s real estate fairy Tony Rezko was convicted in the federal government’s Operation Board Games probe.

The case exposed the Combine in detail, illustrating how Republican and Democratic insiders stacked state pension boards to reap millions upon millions in pension investment fees. The Cellini case is fruit of Rezko’s tree.”

Read more:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-11-16/news/0811150753_1_boss-illinois-mayor-richard-daley

Cellini did not get Patrick Fitzgerald removed from Chicago, or did he?

Feb 12, 2009

“US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who brought criminal fraud charges against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will stay on with the Obama administration”…Pete Williams, NBC

July 30,  2009

Patrick Fitzgerald was named interim chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC).

As long as Obama controls the US Justice Department, there will be no Obama trial.

Obama conferred with Rezko, Rezko conspired with Cellini, Obama 2004 constant contact with Rezko during TRS shakedown

Obama conferred with Rezko, Rezko conspired with Cellini, Obama 2004 constant contact with Rezko during TRS shakedown

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…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

What was Barack Obama up to in 2004.

Where is Tony Rezko?

From Citizen News June 11, 2011.

“From the William Cellini Indictment Press Release October 30, 2008.”

“Between February and April 2004 – at the same time Commonwealth Realty Advisors obtained allocations totaling $220 million from TRS – Cellini, Levine, Rezko, and Co-Conspirator A allegedly conspired to use their influence and Levine’s position at TRS to prevent Capri Capital from receiving a planned $220 million allocation of TRS funds unless Rosenberg and Capri agreed to raise or donate a substantial amount of funds for the benefit of Public Official A. In early May 2004, after conversations with Levine, Cellini agreed to and did tell Rosenberg that Capri was not going to receive its $220 million allocation because Rosenberg had not made a significant political contribution for the benefit of Public Official A, the indictment alleges. Once Rosenberg understood the reason Capri was not receiving funds, Cellini and Levine agreed that Cellini would direct Rosenberg to talk with Levine to arrange making the necessary contributions, the charges state.”
“As part of the conspiracy, Cellini, Rezko, and Co-Conspirator A also allegedly agreed to and did engage in secret communications with Levine, other TRS trustees and staff members, including TRS Staffer A, concerning official actions pending before TRS. Cellini was aware that Levine concealed from and failed to disclose to the TRS board the existence of these secret communications, the charges allege. In the summer of 2004, Cellini, Rezko, Co-Conspirator A, and others allegedly discussed moving TRS Staffer A from his position at TRS into another job with a different state entity in an effort to ensure that TRS Staffer A would not cooperate with the government. And, in or around the summer and fall of 2004, in an effort to conceal the conspiracy, Cellini, Rezko and others discussed the possibility of removing the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois in an effort to stop any investigation into the co-conspirators and others, the indictment alleges.”

“What was Barack Obama doing at that time?

From the Chicago SunTimes.

February 10, 2008.

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

During his March 14, 2008 interview,

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

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

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2011/06/11/tony-rezko-witness-at-william-cellini-trial-cellini-rezko-levine-obama-2003-2004/

From Free Republic June 16, 2010.

“The name of President Obama came into play this afternoon at the political corruption trial of former governor Rod Blagojevich as an associate of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko testified that Rezko asked him to write a $10,000 check to Friends of Obama.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported in January 2008 that Glenview businessman Joseph Aramanda, who is testifying today, made the donation as part of a scheme orchestrated by Rezko.

Aramanda gave $10,000 in campaign cash to Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign on March 5, 2004, according to records. The money came from part of a finder’s fee Aramanda received, but did no work for, thanks to Rezko.

The allegation is the first time Obama has been linked to Rezko through first-hand sworn testimony at the corruption trial.”
“Aramanda, who is testifying under a grant of immunity, said in 2004 Rezko offered him a position in a finder’s fee business connected to the state’s teacher pension board.”
“Attorney Michael Gillespie even brought Barack Obama into the mix, getting Aramanda to note that when he met Blagojevich at Rezko’s mansion, Obama was also there.

Aramanda said the event was a fund-raiser for both Obama and Blagojevich. Obama and Rezko were friends when Obama was an aspiring U.S. Senator. Rezko did some fund-raising for Obama and bought property next door to the Obama’s Hyde Park home.”

Read more:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2536179/posts

Blagojevich trial June 6, 2011, Where is Rezko?, Blagojevich taking stand should lead to Rezko as Witness, Senate seat diversion

Blagojevich trial June 6, 2011, Where is Rezko?, Blagojevich taking stand should lead to Rezko as Witness, Senate seat diversion

“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

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

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

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

Where is Tony Rezko?

Tony Rezko, the mastermind of much of the corruption that Rod Blagojevich was involved in and long time supporter and associate of Barack Obama, has not been called by the prosecution as a witness in the first Blagojevich trial and so far not in the second. Blagojevich will return to the witness stand today, June 6, 2011. If there is any justice left in the Justice Department, Rezko will be called to witness. I doubt that will happen. The selling of the senate seat diversion has worked so far. The AP has certainly done it’s part to protect Obama. The AP story today was picked up and regurgitated by news media throughout the country. No mention of Tony Rezko.

From Fox Carolina in Greenville, SC June 6, 2011.

“Rod Blagojevich’s corruption retrial heads into a critical stage, with the prosecution set to begin cross-examining the ousted Illinois governor in depth on Monday.

Reid Schar, the lead government attorney, began a blistering cross-examination at the end of last week with a brief by highly combative hour of questions and answers. Schar is expected to walk through the impeached governor’s testimony point by point as the cross-examination resumes Monday.

The next few days could be decisive, legal expert said, as prosecutors try to reverse whatever gains Blagojevich may have made with the jury while fielding comparatively soft questions from his own attorney last week. Monday will be Blagojevich’s sixth day on the stand.

“The next few days are it,” said Jeff Cramer, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago. “The first deadlocked trial, the motions, everything that’s happened in the retrial so far – it all comes down to this.”

Blagojevich’s first trial last year ended with jurors deadlocked on all but one count. He was found guilty of lying to the FBI.

What landed Blagojevich in court was his talk – captured on FBI wiretaps – that prosecutors say shows he tried to leverage his power to name someone to President Barack Obama’s old Senate U.S. seat and secure campaign donations, a Cabinet post, an ambassadorship or some other top job in the process.

Now, he’s been trying to talk himself out of this legal mess.

Some legal observers say Blagojevich’s sometimes rambling, repetitive testimony is only digging him in deeper, making it more likely he will be convicted of some or all of the 20 corruption counts he faces at this trial, including attempted extortion and fraud.

Others say he’s done well, at the very least muddying the waters after prosecutors presented a strong three-week case. They allege Blagojevich tried to sell or trade the Senate seat and tried to squeeze executives for campaign cash by threatening state decisions that would hurt their businesses

“I think he has done a nice job and has helped his cause a lot,” said Terry Sullivan, a former state’s attorney who helped prosecute serial killer John Wayne Gacy and who has sat through much of Blagojevich’s testimony.

Blagojevich didn’t flinch from engaging Schar in the verbal brawl when the prosecutor confronted the twice-elected governor as cross-examination began.

“Mr. Blagojevich, you are a convicted liar, correct?” Schar asked, his voice raised in anger.

After the judge overruled objections from defense attorneys, Blagojevich said calmly, “Yes.””

Read more:

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/14843944/blagojevich-faces-more-questions-from-prosecutor