Category Archives: fraud

Blagojevich trial witnesses, Alonzo Monk, Blagojevich chief of staff, Ghost of Christmas Past, Open Thread

Blagojevich trial witnesses, Alonzo Monk, Blagojevich chief of staff

Alonzo Monk, Blagojevich’s chief of staff, may be the first witness callled today, Wednesday, June 9, 2010, day 5 of the Blagojevich trial. You remember Monk, his name popped up more than once at the Tony Rezko trial.

Blagojevich trial prosecution opening statements, Prosecution witnesses, Patrick Fitzgerald, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Blagojevich Rezko Monk others kickbacks

Blagojevich trial prosecution opening statements, Prosecution witnesses, Patrick Fitzgerald

The prosecution side of the Blagojevich trial presented opening statements. I was pleased to see references to the earlier corruption that Blagojevich was involved in, not just the selling of the senate seat.

From the Chicago Tribune June 8, 2010.

“Hamilton ticked off a list of some of the witnesses who will testify against Blagojevich, including former chiefs of staff Lon Monk and John Harris. She did not mention fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who has been cooperating with government agents since his 2008 conviction.

Hamilton also stressed how jurors will get to hear the alleged corruption unfold for themselves on government wiretaps, including the now infamous phrase where Blagojevich describes his power to appoint a successor as senator to President Obama as “(expletive) golden.” As she spoke, those words, in their entirety, were flashed on the screen.

“He corrupted the office of the governor of the state of Illinois for his own personal benefit,” she concluded. “When you hear him say this senate seat is golden and he’s not giving it up for nothing, you are going to know, that’s how he viewed his power.”

Earlier today, Hamilton began her opening statement with the most emotionally packed of the charges against Blagojevich: the government claim that he tried to shake down the CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital.

“On the North Side of Chicago,” she began, “there is a hospital called Children’s Memorial Hospital. It is a non-profit hospital that treats kids no matter where they are from or ability to pay…”

Hamilton then explained how Blagojevich committed to helping the hospital with millions of dollars in increased reimbursements to help pay its doctors. “But there was a catch,” she said. “Now that he decided to help the hospital, he wanted the hospital to pay him.”

Blagojevich is charged with demanding tens of thousands of dollars in fundraising help from the CEO of the hospital before he would release the increased reimbursements.

That was just one of a series of illegal shakedowns that started shortly after Blagojevich became governor in 2003 and extended into 2008, the prosecutor alleged.
“He was trying to use his power as governor to get something of personal benefit for himself,” she said.

Time and again, she continued, “when he was supposed to be asking ‘what about the people of the state of Illinois?’ he was asking, ‘what about me?’”

As Hamilton spoke, a chart was projected on a screen in the courtroom with a picture of  fundraisers Antoin “Tony” Rezko, Christopher Kelly and Alonzo “Lon” Monk, Blagojevich’s college roommate and later chief of staff who has pleaded guilty in the case and is expected to testify for prosecutors.

On the other end of the hall from the 25th-floor courtroom where the case is being heard, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald sat in a different “overflow” courtroom listening to Hamilton’s presentation on an audio hookup. He stared at the ceiling as Hamilton launched into a long laundry list of Blagojevich’s alleged misdeeds.

Proceeding in largely chronological fashion, Hamilton told jurors how Blagojevich, Rezko, Monk and others allegedly schemed to take kickbacks from investment firms seeking state business and squeeze mountains of campaign cash out of contributors in exchange for state action.

Some of the alleged kickbacks to Blagojevich, she said, were funneled to him in the form of $12,000 monthly payments from Rezko through his real estate company to Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, who did no work to earn the money. Patti Blagojevich has not been charged in the case.

Hamilton said the Rezko payments to Patti Blagojevich abruptly ended in May 2004 when another conspirator in the case, political fixer Stuart Levine, was confronted by the FBI.”

Read more:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/blagojevich-on-trial/2010/06/lawyers-begin-opening-statements.html

Rod Blagojevich trial opening statements, Day 4, June 8, 2010, How soon will Obama’s name be mentioned?, Open thread

Rod Blagojevich trial opening statements, Day 4, June 8, 2010

From Citizen News.

“Today, Tuesday, June 8, 2010, jury selection is almost complete and opening statements should begin. How soon will Obama’s name be mentioned? You have heard this before. During the Tony Rezko trial Rod  Blagojevich had not been indicted yet his name kept popping up. The same thing should happen for Obama.

From the Chicago Tribune.

“As courtroom styles go, it is hard to imagine a more stark contrast than the ones that will be on display Tuesday when prosecution and defense lawyers make their opening statements in the federal corruption trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

“Blagojevich’s side, as presented by the often volcanic lawyer Sam Adam Jr., might resemble a passionate plea from a televangelist as much as a legal presentation.

With the preliminaries in the trial all but over after three days of vetting potential jurors, the final panel is set be seated early Tuesday, then the main event will get under way — with an estimated four months of testimony to follow.

At long last, prosecutors will unveil the full weight of the case against a former governor whose administration came under federal scrutiny not long after his election in 2002. It culminated in the bugging of Blagojevich’s campaign office and the tapping of his phones as he allegedly tried to trade official acts for campaign cash and sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

Hamilton is part of the same three-member prosecution team that secured the 2008 corruption conviction of Blagojevich’s fundraiser and friend Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

At her opening in that trial, she exhibited a biting tone of indignation as she explained how Rezko allegedly used his influence with Blagojevich to manipulate state regulatory panels so he and others could pocket kickbacks. On Tuesday, she will go a step further and claim that Rezko was acting on behalf of Blagojevich in an alleged conspiracy that the government has dubbed “the Blagojevich Enterprise.”

“The primary purpose of the Blagojevich Enterprise was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the state of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of defendant Rod Blagojevich, and for the benefit of his family members and associates,” the indictment against the governor states.

Adam will open for Blagojevich’s defense, and his statement promises to be delivered with all the calm of a gospel preacher in full fire and brimstone fury. Arguing with animated passion and sometimes belly-busting humor has become a trademark for the 37-year-old Adam at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue, where he has spent most of his legal career.

“The more you try to say things the way you think people want to hear them, the more you get away from what got you there in the first place,” Adam said in a recent interview.””

https://citizenwells.com/2010/06/08/blagojevich-trial-day-4-june-8-2010-jury-selection-nears-completion-opening-statements-begin-how-soon-will-obamas-name-be-mentioned/

Blagojevich trial day 2, June 4, 2010, Jury selection, Judge James Zagel, Prosecutors and defense attorneys question jurors, Open thread

Blagojevich trial day 2, June 4, 2010, Jury selection, Judge James Zagel

From CBS 2 in Chicago June 4, 2010.

“Day Two Of Blagojevich Jury Selection Set To Begin”

“Before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel begins questioning the next pool of potential jurors, prosecutors and defense attorneys will argue whether any of the 29 jury candidates who were interviewed Thursday should be dismissed because of bias.

Once that process is finished, Zagel will bring in another group of potential jurors for questioning.

Ultimately, the judge and attorneys expect to whittle down an original list of 100 potential jurors to about 45 likely jurors.

Then each side will be allowed to exercise peremptory challenges, which allow them to dismiss jurors without giving a reason. Defense attorneys get 13 such challenges; prosecutors get nine. The attorneys get unlimited challenges “for cause,” meaning there is a reason to believe a potential juror is biased.

The end result will be a panel of 12 jurors and likely six alternates to hear what is expected to be a three- to four-month trial. Jurors are paid $40 a day plus transportation costs for the entire trial.”

“Defense attorneys said both Rod and Rob Blagojevich will testify. They also said Patti Blagojevich will take the stand.

The defense has also subpoenaed White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.”

Read more:

http://cbs2chicago.com/governor/rod.blagojevich.trial.2.1731843.html

For complete Blagojevich trial coverage:

https://citizenwells.com/

Blagojevich trial day 1, June 3, 2010, Jury selection, Rod Blagojevich trial begins, Open thread

Blagojevich trial day 1, June 3, 2010, Jury selection

The Rod Blagojevich trial begins today, Thursday, June 3, 2010.

For complete coverage of the Blagojevich trial, background and events leading up to the trial and Blagojevich ties to corruption in Chicago and IL, including Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine, Barack Obama and others visit:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/05/21/blagojevich-trial-complete-coverage-from-citizen-wells/

For your friends and associates getting their information about the Blagojevich trial from the mainstream media visit:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/06/02/blagojevich-trial-transcripts-rezko-trial-testimony-il-health-planning-facilities-board-obama-chairman-of-il-senate-committee-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama/

I have been informing those around me. The Orwellian brainwashing that has been going on still amazes me.

Blagojevich trial begins Thursday June 3, 2010, Reuters articles ties Obama to trial, Will US Dept of Justice bring justice, Open thread

Blagojevich trial begins Thursday June 3, 2010, Reuters articles ties Obama to trial

From Reuters.

“Among the 24 counts of fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering that could land Blagojevich a long prison sentence are charges he dangled President Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder or demanded a cabinet post for himself in exchange for naming an Obama aide to the seat.”
“Another possible wild card in Blagojevich’s long-awaited trial that begins on Thursday is whether it will entangle Obama and his aides in Illinois’ hurly-burly political theater.”

Read more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6510VY20100602?type=politicsNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

Now, for the rest of the story, stay tuned for the next article from Citizen Wells.

https://citizenwells.com/2010/06/02/blagojevich-trial-transcripts-rezko-trial-testimony-il-health-planning-facilities-board-obama-chairman-of-il-senate-committee-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama/

Thanks to commenter Hero.

Blagojevich trial bigger than Watergate, Nation at mercy of prosecutors, White house must be checked, Archibald Cox defied Nixon, Will Patrick Fitzgerald defy Obama?

Blagojevich trial bigger than Watergate, Nation at mercy of prosecutors

I have stated for some time that the current situation with an ineligible president who is deeply tied to Chicago and Illinois corruption is much bigger than Watergate. Richard Nixon attempted to bypass the US Constitution and separation of powers. Thank God for people like Barry Goldwater, who ignored party affiliation, and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox who stuck to their principles.

We are rapidly approaching another crisis with the Blagojevich trial starting this week on June 3. Except this time the situation is worse. We have the trial of former IL Governor Blagojevich that will most certainly, if prosecutors do their job,  tie Obama to much of the same Chicago corruption. At least with Nixon, we had a natural born citizen not tied to Chicago corruption.

The trial has not begun yet and there are well founded suspicions that continued chicanery, pay to play Chicago style, is going on. It is believed that Obama met with Patrick Fitzgerald recently in Chicago. The question is, will Fitzpatrick and the US Justice Department perform their constitutional duty to check abuse of power in IL and the White House? God help us if they don’t.

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/05/31/blagojevich-trial-watergate-obama-invokes-memory-of-nixon-archibald-cox-defied-nixon-will-patrick-fitzgerald-defy-obama/

Blagojevich trial, AP article, Fluff article on Blagojevich, Journalism or adulation?

Blagojevich trial, AP article, Fluff article on Blagojevich

“The past is whatever the records and the memories agree upon.
And since the party is in full control of all records, and in
equally full control of the minds of it’s members, it follows
that the past is whatever the party chooses to make it. Six
means eighteen, two plus two equals five, war is peace,
freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.”…. George Orwell “1984”

I shook my head in disbelief as I read the following article. Is there a gameplan scripted by the Obama camp controlling articles written by the AP? The AP article written in 2008 regarding the announcement by HI Health Department Director Dr. Fukino was at best misleading and at worst an outright lie. Read the following exerpts and then full article and compare them to the legal documents describing Rod Blagojevich’s activities over many years. See how they mesh.

From the Chicago tribune May 30, 2010.

“Former Ill. governor faces fight of his life”

“In the year and a half since his arrest, Rod Blagojevich has lost his job and become a political pariah and a comic punch line. But he’s maintained the bravado that defined him as governor with repeated declarations of innocence that are vintage Blago: Confrontational. In the limelight. Never giving an inch.

“There has always been a damn-the-torpedoes aspect to his personality,” says State Rep. John Fritchey, a friend-turned-critic.

That’s been obvious as the impeached governor has popped up everywhere: Early morning radio, late-night TV. On stage with Second City comic actors lampooning him. At a block party where the avid Elvis fan crooned one of The King’s songs.

And most recently, Blagojevich, now 53, was on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” where he seemed baffled by a computer, and was, for the second time in a year, fired.

“I think people are intrigued by him, fascinated by him,” claims Glenn Selig, his Florida-based publicist.

So is it wise for Blagojevich to be clowning around while facing serious charges?

“I think he has a great sense of humor and he’s willing to laugh at himself,” Selig says. “Self-deprecation is not necessarily a bad thing. He’s the real deal.””

“”His ego won’t allow him to give up the stage,” says Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of politics at the University of Illinois-Springfield. “He has this supreme confidence in his ability to win people over.”

Blagojevich’s loose-lipped style has some former associates wondering if the ex-governor’s endless patter is designed to show potential jurors he’s full of political bluster, not criminal intent.

Blagojevich has his own explanation.

“I … have this need to tell everyone and anyone who would listen that I didn’t do anything wrong and that I am innocent of any criminal wrongdoing … ,” he wrote in “The Governor.”

Blagojevich maintains he wasn’t trying to sell or trade Obama’s Senate seat and was trying to arrange a deal in which he’d appoint Lisa Madigan, the state’s attorney general. In exchange, her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, his nemesis, would push through a public works bill the governor wanted.”

“Milorad “Rod” Blagojevich has long regarded himself as a fighter for the little people.
He sees his life as an American dream that unraveled into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions: The son of a Yugoslav-born steelworker, he was raised in a blue-collar family, attended law school and climbed the political ladder, he says, only to fall victim to betrayal and jealousy.”

“”He’s personable,” Green says. “He speaks well on his feet. He’s good-looking. … And he was able to raise an awful lot of money.”

When Blagojevich was elected in 2002, he already was eyeing a bigger prize: the White House.

Democrats were thrilled to have one of their own in the governor’s chair for the first time in 26 years. But Blagojevich soon made enemies on both sides of the aisle.

“He enjoyed the sexy part of government, the glad-handing, the attention of followers,” says Fritchey, the state lawmaker. “But at a certain point, you’ve got to get out of campaign mode and into governing. That’s where he had difficulty.””

“Blagojevich claims in his book that he’s a “big picture” guy who didn’t want to be “slowed down by having to spend my time mired in a bureaucracy that could be like quicksand.” ”

“Still, Blagojevich, bolstered by a Democratic majority, racked up a list of accomplishments: He raised the minimum wage (angering some business groups), provided state-subsidized health insurance to every child in Illinois, banned discrimination of gays and lesbians, increased education spending, won approval to expand preschool and increased mammogram and cervical cancer screening for uninsured women.

“He did a lot of good,” says Clifford Kelley, a former Chicago alderman who now is a talk show host on a black radio station and has welcomed Blagojevich as a guest. “Once two ladies called to thank him for saving their lives” with mammograms, he says.”

“Blagojevich plans to testify at his trial, one more step in his high-profile campaign. Will it succeed?

“I don’t know if it’s a plan or it’s just goofy,” Green says. “… If it does work, he’s a genius … and I guarantee you he’ll run for office again — as a victim.””

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-blagojevichtrial-,0,2339978.story?page=1

Sharon Cohen, a national writer for The Associated Press based in Chicago, wrote this article. I wonder if Sharon read the criminal complaint or indictments against Blagojevich?

Blagojevich documents can be found here:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2010/index.html

Obama attorneys facts, Obama and attorneys hide Obama birth certificate, College records, Perkins Coie, Robert F Bauer, Obama not eligible, Obama not natural born citizen, Why has Obama employed a legion of private and government attorneys?

Obama attorneys facts, Obama and attorneys hide Obama birth certificate, College records

Why has Obama employed a legion of private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

 

The above is the “deer in the headlights” question.
There is no argument. There is only one conclusion. Obama is hiding his records, his past.
This position is not intended to override or dispense with other arguments related to Obama not being eligible for the presidency. It is simply a way of clarifying what Obama has done. It is a well documented fact with no rational argument against it. When you are discussing Obama’s natual born citizen status or birth certificate, this is the bottom line statement and question.

Reported at CitizenWells.com May 22, 2010.
“Enquiring minds  want to know (you know, us pesky citizen journalists). So I checked the April Quarterly expenditures for Obama For America. The Total Disbursements for that Period were $ 632,263.18.  Well over a third of that total, $ 261,206.69, was paid to the law firm of Perkins Coie.”

Read more

Let’s say you are a skeptic. You might ask. Maybe Perkins Coie did other legal work for Obama. They probably have. However, they have spent much time helping obama keep his birth certificate, college records and other records hidden. Let’s examine a legal document from the Court cases of attorney Philip J Berg challenging Obama’s eligibility for the presidency.

“Case 2:08-cv-04083-RBS Document 15 Filed 10/06/2008 Page 2 of 10

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
PHILIP J. BERG, :
:
Plaintiff :
:
v. : Civ. Action No. 2:08-cv-04083-RBS
:
BARACK OBAMA, et al., :”
“MOTION OF DEFENDANTS
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER
STAYING DISCOVERY PENDING DECISION ON DISPOSITIVE MOTION
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1), defendants Democratic National Committee
and Senator Barack Obama respectfully move the Court for a protective order staying all
discovery in this action pending the Court’s decision on defendants’ motion to dismiss
the action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted.”
“Respectfully submitted,”
“Robert F. Bauer
General Counsel, Obama for America
PERKINS COIE
607 Fourteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005-2003
Telephone: (202) 628-6600
Facsimile: (202) 434-1690

RBauer@perkinscoie.com
“I. Procedural Background
In his Complaint, plaintiff Berg alleges that Senator Barack Obama, the
Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States, is not eligible to serve as
President under Article II, section 1 of the Constitution because, Mr. Berg alleges
(falsely), Senator Obama is purportedly not a natural-born citizen. Complaint ¶3. Mr.
Berg seeks a declaratory judgment that Senator Obama is ineligible to run for President;
an injunction barring Senator Obama from running for that office; and an injunction
barring the DNC from nominating him.

On September 15, 2008, plaintiff Berg served on Senator Obama’s office a
request for production of seventeen different categories of documents, including copies of
all of the Senator’s college and law school applications, requests for financial aid, college
and law school papers, and “a copy of your entire presidential file pertaining to being
vetted.” Plaintiff also served 56 requests for admission on Senator Obama. On that same
date, plaintiff served on the DNC 27 requests for admission and requests for production
of five categories of documents, including all documents in the possession of the DNC
relating to Senator Obama.1

On September 24, 2008, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim, on the grounds that, as a
matter of law, plaintiff has no standing to challenge the qualifications of a candidate for
President of the U.S. and has no federal cause of action.”

“In this case, as in Weisman and Norfolk Southern Rwy., defendants’ pending
motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction would dispose of the entire
action. The motion does not involve any disputed issues of fact: defendants contend that,
as a matter of law, plaintiff lacks standing to challenge the qualifications of a candidate
for President and that there is no federal cause of action that could serve as a means for
such a challenge. Thus, discovery is not needed in order to rule on the motion. In these
circumstances, a stay of discovery is warranted and appropriate.”

“For the reasons set forth above, the Court should grant the motion of defendants
DNC and Senator Barack Obama for a protective order staying discovery pending a

decision on their motion to dismiss.
Respectfully submitted,”
“Robert F. Bauer
General Counsel, Obama for America
PERKINS COIE
607 Fourteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005-2003
Telephone: (202) 628-6600
Facsimile: (202) 434-1690

RBauer@perkinscoie.com

 ”
This document reveals that Perkins Coie was representing Obama in 2008 in an effort to keep his birth certificate, college records and other records hidden.

Perkins Coie has continued to represent Obama into 2010.
Anyone who continues to argue that Obama  has not hidden his records with the assistance of attorneys is mentally unstable, has severe reading comprehension disabilities or a clear agenda to support Obama to the detriment of this country or some combination of thereof.

Philip J Berg court documents can be found at:

http://obamacrimes.com

Blagojevich trial, Dr Eric Whitaker, Update, May 25, 2010, Eric Whitaker being investigated by feds, Whitaker linked to Obama Blagojevich, Misusing public funds on faith based minority outreach programs

Blagojevich trial, Dr Eric Whitaker, Update, May 25, 2010, Eric Whitaker being investigated by feds

From the Examiner May 25, 2010.

“In yet another scandal-waiting-to-happen linked to the Obama White House, a close friend, advisor and donor of the president’s is being investigated by federal officials for allegedly misusing public funds on faith-based minority outreach programs while he ran the State of Illinois’ health department.

With Obama pal Dr. Eric Whitaker at the helm, Illinois spent millions of taxpayer dollars on highly questionable publicity campaigns to educate African-American and other minorities about common diseases such as AIDS and Herpes in their communities.

Dr. Whitaker was the powerful director of the Illinois Department of Public Health from 2003 to 2007, thanks to a recommendation from his good friend Obama who at the time was a state senator, claims public-interest law group Judicial Watch..

The federal investigation into Whitaker’s minority health programs has been kept under wraps by the Obama Administration but a Chicago newspaper revealed details after obtaining records under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. However, the leftist President’s sycophants within the national news media continue to cover up misdeeds of “all the President’s men — and women.”

Federal grand jury subpoenas obtained by Chicago’s local newspaper disclose that the investigation involves “faith-based initiatives” and health-awareness campaigns funded by the Health Department when Whitaker ran the health agency for the criminally indicted former Illinois Governor-turned court jester Rod Blagojevich.”

“A member of Obama’s tight-knit circle of friends from Chicago’s Hyde Park, Whitaker resigned as Illinois health chief in 2007 to join Michelle Obama as an executive at the University of Chicago.

In 2008, according to Judicial Watch, Whitaker was a fixture within Obama’s presidential campaign and was considered a valued advisor who also helped the then-senator relieve stress with pickup basketball games during campaign stops.

Whitaker and Obama have remained close since meeting during graduate school at Harvard and the doctor has donated money — along with radicals such as Bill Ayers — to Obama’s political campaigns.”

Read more:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-2684-Law-Enforcement-Examiner~y2010m5d25-Another-Obama-Friend-Probed-by-Grand-Jury

This article was sent to me by a patriot on my email list. However, this is not the first time that Dr. Whitaker’s name has surfaced.

From Citizen Wells September 1, 2008.

“From a Chicago Sun-Times article dated August 23, 2008 about
University of Chicago Medical Center. This is where Michelle Obama
worked as a $317,000 a year vice president. This also is the hospital that nearly tripled her salary in 2004, just after Barack Obama was elected to the US Senate.
“Michelle Obama — currently on unpaid leave from her $317,000-a-year job as a vice president of the prestigious hospital”

“Obama’s top political strategist, David Axelrod, co-owns the firm, ASK Public Strategies, that was hired by the hospital last year to sell the program — called the Urban Health Initiative — to the community as a better alternative for poor patients. Obama’s wife and Valerie Jarrett, an Obama friend and adviser who chairs the medical center’s board, backed the Axelrod firm’s hiring, hospital officials said.”

Another Obama adviser and close friend, Dr. Eric Whitaker, took over the Urban Health Initiative when he was hired at U. of C. in October 2007. Whitaker previously had been director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Obama has said he recommended Whitaker for the state job, giving his name to Tony Rezko, who helped Gov. Blagojevich assemble his Cabinet. Rezko, a former fund-raiser for Obama and Blagojevich, was convicted in June on federal corruption charges tied to state deals.””

Read more

Blagojevich trial complete coverage from Citizen Wells.

https://citizenwells.com/2010/05/21/blagojevich-trial-complete-coverage-from-citizen-wells/