William Cellini evidence leads to Obama Blagojevich Rezko et al, Cellini trial scheduled for August 22
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“Connections could touch every somebody”
“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune
William Cellini, with connections to many of the corruption figures in Chicago and Illinois, is scheduled for trial August 22, 2011. Before I present more details about Cellini, here is an article from 2008 that reveals the far reaching impact of that corruption on the citizens of Chicago. Of course, Obama’s name surfaces again.
From The Provocateur, October 31, 2008.
“The Indictment of William Cellini and Illinois’ Shadow Government
Yesterday, the Federal Prosecutor for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald handed down several indictments for one William Cellini. Who is William Cellini? Even if you reside in Illinois Cellini is likely a name you weren’t aware of until reading this piece. Yet, according to the indictment, Cellini, and other power brokers like Anton Rezko and Stuart Levine, made up a shadow government that really made the shots in the state government. These power brokers made decisions based on one motivation only…their own pocket books. It should also be noted that Cellini is a life long Republican. He got into bed with Democrats like Rezko and Levine to make up this shadow government that was really calling the shots behind the scenes of the Blagojevich administration.
How did all of this work? First, folks like Cellini and Rezko became top fundraisers for the likes of Governor Rod Blagojevich (and one former State Senator now on the cusp of being President). Once they became indispensable allies of the man in charge, they used that influence to influence most of the political apparatus of the state government.
For instance, one of the charges that Cellini is facing is influencing the Teachers’ Retirement System. After raising millions for Governor Blagojevich, Stuart Levine, one of Cellini’s associates, became a member of the board of the TRS. Then, Levine, Rezko and Cellini worked behind the scenes to put as many of their cronies on the board. Then, the TRS doled out contracts and other monies to Levine, Rezko, Cellini and their friends.
This was the modus operendi for Rezko, Levine, Cellini and other political insiders. They bought influence by becoming top fundraisers for politicians like Governor Blagojevich. Then, they used that influence to put themselves and their own cronies in as many influential places as possible throughout the State Government apparatus. Once in place, the shadow government was in a position to dole out as much State government money as possible to themselves and their friends. This Boston Globe report shows exactly how the likes of Tony Rezko used this same shadow government and its results.
The boon on this scheme for Rezko and his friends was about $200,000,000, and so was the tab to the Illinois tax payer. The result was low income housing that is no longer livable.”
Daniel Cain testimony limited in Blagojevich trial, Prosecution case diluted, Counts 1 2 4 dropped, Justice Dept protects Obama
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“Why were Stuart Levine and Tony Rezko not called as witnesses in the Blagojevich trials? FBI agent Daniel Cain testified in the Rezko trial. Why was agent Cain not questioned more in the Blagojevich trial?…Citizen Wells
“The past, he reflected, had not merely been altered, it had
actually been destroyed. For how could you establish, even
the most obvious fact when there existed no record outside
your own memory?”…George Orwell, “1984″
The so called prosecution has complete their “case” against Rod Blagojevich. The Case was steadily diluted against Blagojevich beginning with word changes from the Criminal Complaint to the second superceding Indictment, followed by the dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 which had the most substance of corruption activity in 2003 and 2004 and ultimately linked Obama to the board rigging. The second trial, as in the first, had little testimony and few witnesses. The question begged to be asked by this site as well as legal experts was why Tony Rezko was not called as a witness. Even Judge Zagel chimed in calling Rezko a bad witness. The terms streamlining and simplifying were used for the terse prosecution, but those are just Orwellian attempts at justifying a far less than complete effort. It must be obvious to even the casual observer that the US Justice Department is protecting Obama.
Tony Rezko has not been sentenced. Rezko has been called a bad witness, yet Stuart Levine, steeped in corruption and a drug user, was the key witness in the Rezko trial and Rezko was convicted on most of the counts. FBI agent Daniel Cain was called to the stand in the Rezko trial to back up the testimony of Levine. Agent Cain recently testified in the Blagojevich trial. Daniel Cain could have been called to corroborate the testimony of Tony Rezko, but since counts 1, 2 and 4 were dropped, it wasn’t necessary.
Apparently no one else is covering this. Here is an exclusive report on FBI Agent Daniel Cain, what he was involved in investigating Operation Board Games and why he should have been asked more questions about the Chicago corruption world in 2003 and 2004 involving Blagojevich Rezko, Levine, Obama, et al.
Lon Monk testifies Rezko gave him $70,000 to $90,000, Blagojevich trial testimony, May of 2004, Health Planning Board Rigging with Obama help
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune
From the Chicago SunTimes May 17, 2011.
“Rod Blagojevich’s running buddy, onetime law school roommate and former chief of staff Lon Monk testified that he took $70,000 to $90,000 in cash payments from fundraiser Tony Rezko.
Monk said he took the money while he worked as chief of staff for Blagojevich and Rezko was a major fund-raiser.
Before his 2008 conviction, Rezko was a major political donor, forging ties with numerous politicos, including one Barack Obama.
The cash payments from Rezko started in May of 2004, according to Monk.
“I’d gone to him to recommend a car dealership where I could buy a particular car,” Monk said of Rezko. “He gave me that recommendation and at that time told me he wanted to help me buy the car.”
Rezko then helped him buy his car. He continued paying Monk about $10,000 in cash on different occasions. Monk did not deposit it because he didn’t want anyone seeing large cash deposits in his bank account.
Jurors heard the disclosure after Monk described how he, Blagojevich, fund-raiser Chris Kelly and Rezko were close and had met on occasion to discuss ways to make money off of state business. Monk’s testimony was not as detailed as it was in last summer’s trial, when he described Rezko at a drawing board describing ways to divvy up potential state deals. ”
This may be as close as we come in this trial to linking Obama to the Chicago corruption due to the efforts of Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department to dilute the prosecution and protect Obama.
Look at the period of time from March – May 2004 and examine what Monk, Rezko, Levine and Obama were up to.
Alonzo Monk testifies in Blagojevich retrial, Blagojevich Chief of Staff and college pal controlled by Rezko
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune
From the Chicago Tribune May 17, 2011.
“Prosecutors say they intend to call Alonzo “Lon” Monk to the stand on Tuesday.
A third week into testimony, Monk could be one of the last major government witnesses.
At the first trial, he wasn’t always an effective witness. He often seemed defensive and ill-at-ease.
Monk can address the earlier years of Blagojevich’s governorship, as well as alleged shakedowns of businessmen in 2008.
He’s claimed Blagojevich and an inner circle plotted to profit from gubernatorial decisions from the outset of Blagojevich’s first term. He told jurors last year that the plan was to split ill-gotten gains after Blagojevich left office.”
“”He called me and he said we need to move on Stuart Levine,” Hayden testified. Hayden said Rezko told her he had already spoken to her boss, Blagojevich chief of staff Lon Monk, about the Levine reappointment and been assured the appointment would go through.
Hayden said Rezko laughed when she said she would have to check with Monk herself. “I took that to mean that I could go ahead and ask him, but it was already a done deal,” she recalled.”
March 19, 2008
“Levine also said that Rezko told him that he and fellow Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly “exercised the most influence” in Blagojevich’s kitchen cabinet. And Levine said Rezko told him that “all the major decisions in the governor’s office were cleared through [chief of staff] Lon Monk and through Mr. Rezko.”
“Mr. Rezko told me that he was able to have individuals appointed to state boards and was able to have individuals hired into state agencies and that he spoke very often — and in fact went over decisions — that Lon Monk would put into place,” Levine said.”
April 15, 2008
“Cari said he met with Stuart Levine at Rezko’s office in January that year. Rezko said he had the power to award contracts and get consultants hired through the governor’s then-chief of staff, Lon Monk, Cari said.
“Mr. Monk took direction from [Rezko],” Cari told the jury.
Rezko illustrated his clout by picking up the phone and apparently calling Monk in front of him, Cari said.”
FBI chart presented to the jury on April 28, 2008, shows 257 calls from Rezko’s phones to Blagojevich’s chief of staff, Lon Monk, between March 2004 and May 2004 alone.
Blagojevich trial avoids tainting Obama with Rezko, Obama and Patrick Fitzgerald violate US Constitution
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune
The Citizen Wells blog has for several years pointed out the efforts of Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department to protect Obama in the “prosecution” of Rod Blagojevich.
From Nuclear Chicago May 12, 2011.
“As an update to my continuing effort to construct a biography of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as well as provide special reporting related to the retrial of Milorad Blagojevich, I am writing this morning to officially report upon and inform The May Report and NuclearChicago readership of the following:
Speculative Scenario A). Is Team Blagojevich sandbagging or laying-upon its sword to benefit both the Obama and Emanuel Administrations (i.e., The-Fix-is-In )? or
Speculative Scenario B). Does Team Blagojevich feel that its picked the “perfect” Jury to simply peddle a softly-dark comedy – Blago & The Bad News Bears?
Under either of the above-scenario’s…..U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald (and we the Taxpayers) may be auditioning for a coveted-spot on NBC’s The Biggest Loser.”
“4). To date, I have already witnessed a series of very telling moments during the retrial that often go unreported by our local mainstream media. Another telling moment that often goes unreported in our local media is just how strategic, cerebral and calculating Governor Blagojevich comes across during the replay of the wiretaps. Same political calculus and cunning often get marginalized by the more sensational “F-Bomb laced recordings” played in open court. As an aside, the “F-Bomb laced recordings” are, at times, piss-in-your-pants hilarious.
Specifically, Blagojevich mentions (via wiretaps) on several occasions just how toxic and politically-nuclear his mere presence is to the then pending Obama Administration visa vi Blagojevich’s relationship with Obama confidante – Atoin “Tony” Rezko.
Aside from often complaining on the wiretaps about how the Mainstream Press often displaces “everything Rezko” on Blagojevich while providing Obama’s Rezko involvement with a Hall Pass, Blagojevich clearly incorporates this same Rezko toxicity factor into tactics Blagojevich used in developing his Quid Pro Quo strategy with the Obama Administration (and emissaries) as, per the wiretaps, Blagojevich clearly communicates a legitimate option of inserting himself as the bona fide replacement for Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Further, it is my understanding that statutorily – Blagojevich had a legitimate legal basis for self-appointment to same U.S. Senate Seat.”
“5). I will expand upon the relevance of the Blagojevich self-appointment (and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s presumable understanding of relevance based upon his actions) in a later report as same relevance has gone under-reported via mainstream media, however, it is important for readership to understand that the “exponentially enhanced probability” of a Blagojevich self-appointment was politically-nuclear and toxic to The Obama Administration. Moreover, its become very clear via the wiretaps that Rod Blagojevich attempted to leverage (or blackmail) the Obama Administration with same politically-nuclear-Rezko-toxicity under the prevailing logic that the Obama Administration wants to surgically remove itself from All-Things-Rezko.
In this sense, rather than Rod Blagojevich be “rewarded” for shielding the Obama Administraton from All-Things-Rezko-toxicity, U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald appears to be further positioning himself and running interference for the Obama Administration to perhaps procure a “bennie” by shielding Obama Administration from same Rezko-political-toxicity logic (or blackmail). Again, please keep in mind that same interference has been taking place since 2006 when U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald demanded that the Chicago Tribune not publish a report that identified the identity of Federal Informant John Thomas or related Federal Investigation.
And folks…the All-Things-Rezko-political-toxicity is clearly a high-stakes political game of leverage and political toxicity that both Blagojevich and U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald are playing – make no mistake about it!
Further, what is the basis for the delay in Rezko’s sentencing? What is the scope of Rezko’s involvement and/or cooperation with U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald and Federal Authorities?
The fact that Rezko and the following cooperating Federal Government witnesses have not yet been sentenced:
inherently creates highly-germane issues and environs that create ‘major conflicts and concerns’ in both the U.S. Attorney’s ability to dispense equitable justice, and in issues related to The White House’s ability to establish continuity related to policy development and implementation. Simply put, until All-Things-Rezko are concluded at 219 South Dearborn – an Obama Administration is, in theory, “politically-bricked” and “boxed-in” by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald as its already been reported upon that Fitzgerald’s Federal Informant – John Thomas – has logged-in visits by Blagojevich and Obama to Rezko’s offices (http://bigjournalism.com/acary/2010/05/19/tony-rezko-barack-obama-the-fbi-mole-and-the-chicago-msm/).
To further demonstrate the highly-charged political nature of the above circumstances, ask yourself this — in the event U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald is, in fact, positioning himself for a “major bennie” (i.e., FBI Director) or “another consideration” visa vi his handling (or running political interference) in the Blagojevich Retrial – what happens if a previously-agreed upon understanding between Obama Administration and Fitzgerald becomes moot based upon an outcome that fully-exonerates Blagojevich (or another Hung Jury)?
Keep in mind that anything short of a conviction, substantial dilutes U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald’s credibility, and standing as well as leverage.
In the event of a Blagojevich hung jury or exoneration, how does U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald ‘play-his-cards’ as, to date, Fitzgerald maintains a ‘very-strong-hand’ visa vi the sentencing hangovers (and possibilities/implicit threats of future indictments) that Fitzgerald is inherently holding-over the heads of the following parties:
* Daley Family (Richard M. Daley, Patrick Daley, Robert Vanecko, R.J. Vanecko, et al).
* Other Obama supporters and, possibly, Obama himself (Allison Davis, Dr. Eric Whitaker, Marty Nesbitt, et al).
* Rezko investigation collateral damage (Blagojevich, Joe Cari, John Harris, et al).
To this end, the most powerful man in America appears to be U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald – an unaccountable and unelected Federal Bureaucrat since becoming an Assistant United States Attorney in New York City in 1988.”
“The United States Constitution is about WE THE PEOPLE….not the selfish, political agendas of Milorad Blagojevich or U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald.
This retrial is, indeed, an eye-opener for our country as we’re witnessing major violations in our Public Trust and our uber-sacred United States Constitution from both the Defendant as well as the U.S. Attorney.”
Rezko and Blagojevich protected by Obama Justice Department?, Where is Tony Rezko?, Streamlined lie being told
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”…Joseph Goebbels
What deals have been made between Obama, Blagojevich, Rezko and the US Justice Department?
From the Chicago Tribune May 14, 2011.
“Heading into the third week of the ousted Illinois governor’s
corruption retrial, it’s clear prosecutors are guided by the adage
that less is more as they streamline what jurors in the first trial
complained was an overly complicated case.
“They’ve made the case a lot of easier to follow,” said James
Matsumoto, who was the foreman at the initial trial and has attended
much of the testimony at the second, this time sitting on spectator
benches rather than in the jury box.
Prosecutors have been right, he added, to begin their presentation by
focusing primarily on the allegation Blagojevich sought to sell or
trade President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign
cash or a top job. Last year, they waited weeks before getting to it.”
“Laying out such a truncated case does carry its own risks: Jurors
impressed by sheer volumes of testimony and exhibits could be left
wanting more, if not necessarily better, evidence.
What’s not in doubt is that the stripped-down case has thrown off
defense lawyers, who likely spent weeks preparing to ask
cross-examination questions about subjects that prosecutors didn’t
bring up this time.”
“prosecutors are guided by the adage that less is more as they streamline what jurors in the first trial complained was an overly complicated case.”
Joseph Goebbels and George Orwell could not have said it better.
From the Chicago Tribune January 28, 2011.
“A federal judge has set a new sentencing date for a convicted influence peddler and one-time fundraiser for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Judge Amy St. Eve told attorneys at a hearing Friday that she’ll sentence Tony Rezko on Oct. 21.
Rezko’s attorneys and prosecutors had asked the judge earlier to delay Rezko’s sentencing to allow for the possibility he could testify at two upcoming trials, including Blagojevich’s corruption retrial in April.
At Friday’s hearing, the defense also argued in favor of a new trial for Rezko based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling scaling back so-called honest services laws.”
Where is Tony Rezko, Citizen Wells February 27, 2011.
“The dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 against Blagojevich by the prosecution was the latest move in a long series of maneuvers to protect Obama from being exposed for his long time ties to Tony Rezko and corruption in Chicago. Rezko was not called as a witness in the first Blagojevich trial and the odds are now higher that he will not be called as a witness in the second trial.”
From The Chicago Breaking News Center, November 4, 2010.
“Antoin “Tony” Rezko, once a top adviser and contributor to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be sentenced Jan. 28 for his role in a scheme to solicit kickbacks from companies seeking state contracts.
Rezko was not at the hearing this morning at which U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve set the sentencing date.
Rezko has agreed to cooperate against Blagojevich but wasn’t called to testify at the former governor’s trial last summer. With Blagojevich’s retrial set to begin in April, Rezko’s sentencing months before could signal he is unlikely to be called again. Defendants usually aren’t sentencing until after their cooperation has been completed.
A sentencing date was not set today for Rezko’s co-defendants, Stuart Levine, Joseph Cari and Steven Loren, who will next return to federal court for a status hearing in March.”
Blagojevich trials truth, Blagojevich Rezko Obama, Mockery of justice, Obama had to get elected, Obama controls Justice Dept
“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
“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,“… February 10, 2008 Sun-Times
“Ziegelmueller asked Hayden about a 2003 e-mail exchange with Lichtenstein, then the governor’s top lawyer, in which Wilhelm made recommendations for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
The name of Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination, also appears in the e-mail as a member of a strategic team reviewing hospital board matters with the governor’s staff when he was a state senator. The hospital board was scheduled to be revamped in the summer of 2003.
Obama was then chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. Other legislative leaders, including Madigan, were part of that review panel as well, according to the e-mail.”…March 10, 2008 Tony Rezko trial
Some people were paying attention before Obama became a serious contender in 2008. The Chicago Tribune even covered corruption in the Blagojevich Administration long before the Rezko trial. The Tribune and a few others even connected the dots from Rezko to Obama. And then….
I wrote the following on October 3, 2008.
“Barack Obama appears desperate to win the presidential election. The more
I know about Obama, the more I have come to the conclusion that he
believes he must win the presidency. Consider the following:
Obama has no Law License
Obama relinquished his Illinois law license in early 2007. Why would
Obama give up something that provided his primary source of income
and something he spent so much time and energy obtaining? Andy Martin
filed a complaint in IL on March 13, 2007 stating that Obama had lied
on his IL bar application. Obama had 17 outstanding traffic violations
that he had failed to take care of. Mr. Martin discovered that Obama
would not be prosecuted because he no longer had his law license. I contacted Andy Martin and this was his response:
“Nothing. Obama had already resigned as a lawyer and so they had no jurisdiction over him.”
“Not if they have lost jurisdiction over the individual. They can’t punish someone who has resigned, which is why so many corrupt lawyers in Illinois resign before they are disbarred.“
Obama ties to Crime and Corruption
Obama had many close ties to crime and corruption in Chicago and Illinois.
Tony Rezko and Obama, close associates for many years, are at the center
of investigations and prosecutions by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.
Tony Rezko has been tried and convicted of multiple counts of corruption
and is awaiting sentencing. he is also talking. Stuart Levine, the star
witness at the Rezko, has been convicted. Dr. Robert Weinstein has been
indicted and is awaiting trial. Rod Blagojecvich, the governor of Illinois,
was endorsed by Obama and will probably be indicted or impeached.
Obama has many ties to these corruption players and his name was mentioned regularly during the Rezko trial. Will Obama be indicted next?
From the Petition to Impeach, expel Senator Obama:
Whereas: Senator Barack Obama used the office of IL Senator to
facilitate the vote rigging in Chicago as chairman of the Illinois Senate
Health and Human Services Committee. Mr. Obama pushed legislation in Senate Bill 1332 to reduce the number of members of the Health Facilities Planning Board from 15 to 9. Mr. Obama did conspire with Stuart Levine, Tony Rezko and Rod Blogojevich to rig the committee and was rewarded with campaign contributions. The new members appointed included 3 doctors who contributed to Mr. Obama. On April 21, 2004, Stuart Levine explicitly advised Dr. Robert Weinstein, who is now indicted, of Tony Rezko’s role in manipulating the Planning Board’s vote.
Philip J Berg Lawsuit – Obama is a Indonesian citizen
Philip J Berg filed a lawsuit in federal court on August 21, 2008 that
states Obama is not qualified to be president. The lawsuit is based on
many documented facts, with the prominent fact being that Obama became
an Indonesian citizen and never pledged allegiance to the US. Instead
of offering proof of US citizenship in the form of a vault copy of his
birth certificate and a pledge of allegiance, Obama filed a motion to
dismiss Mr. Berg’s lawsuit. John McCain provided a vault COLB to congress.
Why am I certain that Obama is desperate to become president?
During the Tony Rezko investigation and trial, it was discovered that
Rezko told Stuart Levine not to worry, he would see to it that Patrick
Fitzgerald would be removed as prosecutor.
If Obama is elected, he certainly would see to it that Fitzgerald is
“reassigned”.
If the Philip J Berg lawsuit is delayed until after the election, Obama
believes that the current congress would never impeach him. I am certain
most people would agree.”
The Blagojevich trial clearly could have and should have happened before the 2008 elections. Refer to the Citizen Wells Evidentiary Proffer.
After Obama took control of the White House, he appointed his buddy Eric Holder as Attorney General. This gave Obama control of the US Justice Department.
July 30, 2009: Patrick Fitzgerald, the top prosecutor in Illinois’ Northern District, was named interim chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC).
The first Blagojevich trial, which obviously was delayed to protect Obama, was a farce. From Citizen Wells August 23, 2010.
“If you read the press coverage of this verdict, it is clear that public reaction to the verdict is nearly universal: “One count? That’s it!? Is this a joke?”
No, it’s no joke. And, truthfully, this is the result I expected after the government wrapped up its case. It looked like the prosecution’s case was distorted in order to protect President Obama, Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett. It’s that simple.”
“It looked to me that the trial was turning into a political nightmare for the Obama White House. And this may explain why the prosecution shut their case down a month early.”
“Let’s hope prosecutors get it right this time. I suspect that Eric Holder’s politicized Justice Department interfered with the investigation conducted by the reputedly independent U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.”
“Have any of the big media players pointed this out? Blagojevich was convicted on one count of lying to the FBI in 2005. At the absolute latest they had this nailed down by the Tony Rezko trial in early 2008.”
“If I were a juror, I’d wonder why we never heard from so many of the allegedly bad guys — Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine — mentioned by the prosecution.”
“As noted in part 5 of this series, Tony Rezko’s name was mentioned approximately 288 times in the Evidentiary Proffer. The above numbers reveal that of the evidence presented in the Proffer, 38 pages are loaded with names and corruption activities tied to Blagojevich from 2002 to mid 2008. And yet neither Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine were called as witnesses. And just as predicted and warned about here, the focus of the trial was the selling of Obama’s senate seat.”
“But Leonard Cavise, a DePaul University professor, suggested the government will need to do more at the retrial, possibly leading to a longer presentation of evidence. He said he believes the government may try to avoid another deadlocked jury by using fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko and political fixer Stuart Levine as witnesses.
Both men have agreed to cooperate, but prosecutors chose not to call them this summer in part because of the baggage both bring.
“If the prosecution insists on going forward, I have two words for them: Rezko and Levine,” Cavise said. “They know where all the bodies are buried.”””
More evidence of corruption in the US Justice Department surfaces.
J Christian Adams and Christopher Coates speak out.
““Politicizing the Law”
“Eric Holder’s Justice Department has exiled Christopher Coates to South Carolina.
Coates, you may recall, is a career attorney at Justice, the chief of the Civil Rights Division’s (CRD) Voting Section. More to the point, Coates recommended that the CRD file a lawsuit for voter intimidation against the New Black Panther party and several of its members, who were in paramilitary uniforms (one of them waving a nightstick) threatening elderly white voters at a polling station in Philadelphia during last year’s elections.
Political appointees at the Justice Department overrode Coates’s recommendation. They ordered him to dismiss the lawsuit against all but one of the defendants, even though they were in default because they did not defend themselves. The eventual injunction against the defendant with the weapon was laughably weak.”
““That brings us to the real bone of contention, the final reason Coates has been transferred: the voter-intimidation case against the New Black Panther party. NBPP members were hurling racial epithets and threatening voters at a polling place in Philadelphia. It was among the most blatant cases of voter intimidation the CRD had seen in decades. Adams was one of three lawyers assigned to the case by Coates, no doubt because, unlike the other career lawyers in the Voting Section, Adams would not refuse to sue non-white perpetrators of voter intimidation. The other two lawyers on the New Black Panther party case were Robert Popper and Spencer Fisher, both highly dedicated voting-rights attorneys as well.”
“One former Voting Section career lawyer who had left the Justice Department to go to work for the NAACP, Kristen Clarke, admitted to the Washington Times that she talked to the new political leadership after Obama was inaugurated, berating them for not dismissing the case. Sources at Justice tell me Clarke made an identical pitch to her former colleagues in the Voting Section once Obama and Eric Holder came to power.”
Case against Blagojevich and ultimately Obama weakened by Justice Department dropping counts 1,2,4 against Balgojevich.
From Citizen Wells February 26, 2011.
““Prosecutors in the Blagojevich trial have dropped 3 counts from the indictment against him. That is approximately 15 %. That does not appear on the surface to be significant. However, counts 1 and 2 represent about half of the indictment and mention numerous Chicago corruption figures with ties to Obama. Get the picture?”
“Most of you know by now that the US Justice Department is corrupt, as evidenced by recent whistleblowers, and that Obama and Eric Holder have no regard for the US Constitution. The manner in which the Blagojevich trial has played out, beginning with the delay of his arrest, the diversion of the selling of the senate seat, inept prosecution in the first trial and manipulation of charges, all are further proof of Obama’s usurpation and control of the Justice Dept.
Remember in 2008 I told you that Obama had to win the election to avoid prosecution.””
Obama mansion, Rezko, William Miceli, Probate Judge Jane L Stuart, Harvey Wineberg, Kenneth J Conner fired
“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 do 3 supporters own Obama’s home?”…World Net Daily
From World Net Daily April 20, 2011.
“This, the first of a series of articles on the Obama home at 5046 S. Greenwood, establishes that three individuals other than Obama are listed in public records as owners and taxpayers on the property.
Barack Obama is not among at least three people listed as current owners and taxpayers of the mansion his family calls home in Chicago’s upscale Kenwood neighborhood, according to public records.
WND reported in December 2008 that William Miceli, the attorney for convicted political operative Tony Rezko and a fundraiser for Obama, owns the Obama home at 5046 S. Greenwood.
Miceli is a lawyer at the Chicago law firm Miner, Barnhill & Galland, which employed Obama when he did legal work for Rezko.
Now, WND has discovered that, along with Miceli, there are at least two other people listed in public records as owners and taxpayers of 5046 S. Greenwood in the South Side neighborhood of Kenwood, an oasis of pricey homes that has attracted professors at nearby University of Chicago.
The Cook County Recorder of Deeds website shows the property was purchased by the Northern Trust Company, with the mortgage recorded Dec. 19, 2005. The records suggest a Northern Trust Company trust, perhaps headed by Miceli, was the deed holder.
There are no Cook County records that show Barack or Michelle Obama own 5046 S. Greenwood Ave., although the likelihood is that the couple are the owners of the Northern Trust Company trust established to buy the property.
Rezko found the new residence for Obama when the Rezko family lived across the street.
In the 2008 presidential campaign, Rezko’s role in the purchase created a scandal that threatened to derail Obama’s presidential hopes. The list price for the home was $1.95 million. But the Obamas reportedly were able to negotiate a price of $1.65 million when Tony Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, closed on the purchase of an adjacent vacant lot for $625,000 on the same day. The Obamas later bought one-sixth of the adjacent lot from Rita Rezko, creating a buffer.
Obama was grilled on the transactions before the election in meetings with the editorial staff of Chicago’s two major newspapers, the Sun-Times and the Tribune. He admitted to the Sun-Times that it was a “boneheaded move” but denied he coordinated the purchase with the Rezkos. Critics pointed out that any coordination with supporters would be a clear violation of Senate ethic rules.
Now, a search of records shows that, in addition to Miceli, the Obama mansion is owned by Chicago Probate Judge Jane L. Stuart and Obama accountant Harvey Wineberg, both of whom are paying taxes on the property.
WND was assisted in the inquiry by an expert debt collector who had access to professional databases used by debt collection agencies and skip-tracing companies with proprietary “skip-trace” software designed to find debtors who have attempted to run away to avoid payment.
WND’s source wishes to remain anonymous to prevent the type of retaliation faced by other experts who have been cut off from using proprietary databases in their attempt to search Obama’s records.
The expert lives in the U.S. Southeast and has more than 10 years of experience in the financial and debt collection industries. He describes himself as a libertarian who voted for Obama in 2008, only to become disillusioned with what he sees as attacks on medical freedom in Obama’s health-care reform.”
From the Kenneth J. Connor lawsuit reported at Citizen Wells on February 10, 2011.
“9. In June, 2005, Mutual Bank President and CEO Amrish Mahajan and other Mutual Bank olfficers approved a loan to Rita Malki Rezko (Rita Rezko) which was guaranteed by Antonin Rezko so that Rita Rezko could purchase a 9,090 square foot vacant parcel of real estate at 5050 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago. As part of the Mutual Bank loan underwriting process, Mutual Bank obtained a real estate appraisal from Adams Valuation Corporation (Adams Appraisal) which purported to provide an opinion of value of the subject 5050 S. Greenwood real estate (the collateral for the Rezko loan) at $ 68.76 per square foot. A copy of the Adams Appraisal is attached as Exhibit C. In June, 2005, Rita Rezko closed on the purchase of the 5050 S. Greenwood property at a purchase price of $ 625,000.00 along with the loan from Mutual Bank in the amount of $ 500,000.00 with Mutual bank obtaining a first mortgage lien position on the Greenwood vacant parcel.”
“10. On or about January 4, 2006, Rita Rezko entered into an agreement with Senator Barack and Michelle Obama (Obamas) to sell a ten-foot strip of the 5050 S. Greenwood property to the Obamas. A copy of the Obama/Rita Rezko contract is attached as Exhibit D. As a result of that transaction, the Rezkos requested that Mutual Bank release it’s first collateral position to the ten-foot strip parcel transferred to the Obamas. In that same general time frame, Richard Barth, Mutual Bank Senior VP of construction lending and James Murphy, Mutual Bank Senior VP Internal Auditor/Risk Manager, requested that Conner perform an appraisal review of the Adams Appraisal attached hereto as Exhibit C.”
“11. In late 2005 or early 2006, Conner performed an appraisal review of the Adams Appraisal (Exhibit C) per the directive of Richard Barth and James Murphy. Conner prepared a written Appraisal Review report (ARR) opining that the Adams Appraisal overvalued the Greenwood lot by a minimum of $ 125,000.00 and that a reasonable and fair valuation for Mutual Banks’s underwriting purposes should be no greater than $ 500,000.00 for the entire 5050 S. Greenwood parcel as originally purchased by Rita Rezko. In that same general time frame an appraisal was performed for the 5050 S. Greenwood property by Howard B. Richter, MAI which valued the 5050 S. Greenwood property at $ 54.00 per square foot but then discounted the ten-foot strip being transferred by Rita Rezko to the Obamas by fifty percent, as the ten-foot strip was unbuildable standing alone…The valuation by the Richter Appraisal for the 5050 S. Greenwood lot was substantially to Conner’s ARR valuation.”
“18. On October 23, 2007, eight days after Conner’s October 15, 2007 email to Schlabach attached as Exhibit J, Mutual Bank terminated Conner’s employment for pretextual reasons.”
“A former Illinois real estate specialist says FBI agents have questioned him about a Chicago property that had been bought by convicted felon Tony Rezko’s wife and later sold to the couple’s next-door neighbor, Sen. Barack Obama.
The real estate specialist, Kenneth J. Conner, said bank officials replaced an appraisal review he prepared on the property and FBI agents were investigating in late 2007 whether the Rezko-Obama deal was proper.
“Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time, though it took them only a short number of minutes of talking with me while looking at the appraisal to acknowledge what they already seemed to know: The Rezko lot was grossly overvalued,” Mr. Conner told The Washington Times Monday.
“Rezko paid the asking price on the same day Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price to the same seller for his adjacent mansion,” he said. “This begs the question of payoff, bribe, kickback.””
Blagojevich trial two begins, Jury Selection, April 20, 2011, Jury questionnaires, Obama Justice Dept.
“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
From the Chicago Tribune.
“Rod Blagojevich’s second corruption trial is set to get under way with nearly all the same evidence as the first trial, just packaged and presented in a whole new way.
Would-be jurors were expected to begin filling out questionnaires Wednesday meant to help weed out anyone with strong biases for or against the ousted Illinois governor.
Since Blagojevich’s first trial last year that ended with jurors deadlocked on all but one count, federal prosecutors have honed and simplified their case, dropping complex racketeering charges to address complaints by the previous jury that the evidence was too hard to follow.
For his part, Blagojevich, now 54, is returning with a scaled-down, more bookish defense team that no longer includes lead lawyer Sam Adam Jr., whose courtroom theatrics in round one often drew the judge’s ire. And this time, Blagojevich will be the lone defendant after authorities dropped all charges against his brother.”
“The former contestant on TV’s “Celebrity Apprentice” faces 20 charges, including that he sought to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat.
Already, he could get up to five years in prison for the lying conviction at the first trial. And the stakes are as high as ever this time: A conviction on just one offense could mean a decade or more behind bars.”
“In pretrial preparations, prosecutors have been working to simplify everything.
The dropped racketeering charges, which have stupefying legal points and subpoints. They also dismissed all charges against Blagojevich’s brother and co-defendant, Robert Blagojevich, allowing them to focus entirely on the former governor.
They even sought to edit out what they consider irrelevant chit-chat on hours of FBI wiretap recordings, evidence at the heart of the government case, including a reference in one conversation to Blagojevich’s famously bountiful locks.
“They’ve been like a ship tossing excess baggage over board to get through a storm,” said David Morrison of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
With the prosecution pursuing a condensed case, many experts say it would behoove the defense to call at least a few witnesses — in contrast to the first trial, when they chose not to put on a case.
Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor, said he would normally adhere to conventional wisdom that it’s almost always a bad idea to expose a defendant to blistering cross-examination. But he said the defense may want to consider putting Blagojevich on the stand.”
Counts 1,2,4 were dropped several months ago. Those counts had the strongest ties to Obama. Anyone surprised by that or not calling Tony Rezko in the first trial since Obama’s pal Eric Holder controls the Justice Dept.
Blagojevich retrial Rezko and Obama, Judge James Zagel cautions Blagojevich, Justice Dept. corruption
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
The Rod Blagojevich retrial begins tomorrow, if you can call it a trial.
From the Chicago Tribune April 18, 2011.
“Federal prosecutors called Rod Blagojevich’s a ‘liar’ on Monday, and a judge warned the ousted Illinois governor to watch what he says to the media because some of his comments could be used against him at his upcoming corruption retrial.
Looking down sternly from his bench, Judge James Zagel cautioned Blagojevich’s lawyers during a status hearing in Chicago held two days before the ex-governor’s retrial is scheduled to start Wednesday.
“You can consider my remarks a red flag,” Zagel said.
His admonishment came after lead prosecutor Reid Schar complained about Blagojevich accusations in recent media appearances that federal attorneys had tried to hide evidence that might clear the ex-governor.”
“Schar singled out alleged comments Blagojevich made on television, in which the ex-governor claimed the government had the power to publicly release more FBI wiretap recordings. That power lies with the judge, Schar noted.”
In the first “trial” approximately 2% of the wiretaps were released and neither Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine, who were heavily enmeshed in the corruption Blagojevich was involved in, and tie Obama to it, were called as witnesses.
Reprinted from Citizen Wells.
The dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 against Blagojevich by the prosecution was the latest move in a long series of maneuvers to protect Obama from being exposed for his long time ties to Tony Rezko and corruption in Chicago. Rezko was not called as a witness in the first Blagojevich trial and the odds are now higher that he will not be called as a witness in the second trial.
Reprinted from Citizen Wells July 21, 2010.
“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”…John Kass, Chicago tribune
“Federal authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for Rezko, who is believed to be traveling abroad.”..Rezko indictment press release
“That was when U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve learned he had received a $3.5 million wire transfer from a business associate abroad.”…Rezko trial transcripts
Blagojevich trial
Protecting Obama
Part 5
Where is Tony Rezko?
What unholy alliance prevented Tony Rezko from being called as a prosecution witness? Was it a pact between Rezko, Blagojevich and Obama? Is the US Justice Department complicit in a coverup? Was there pressure from entities in the Middle East? Perhaps a combination of those forces. In Blagojevich’s own words.
Citizen Wells August 28, 2008
“As his sentencing nears, pressure is mounting on Tony Rezko to cooperate with federal investigations into some of the highest-profile politicians in the state — including Gov. Blagojevich.”
“Now, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Rezko has been seen at the federal courthouse as many as a dozen times since his June conviction. He’s been held since then at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.”
“If Rezko’s cooperating, that would be a major development in “Operation Board Games,” the government’s ongoing probe into state boards that’s widened into a broader corruption probe.”
From the Chicago SunTimes October 9, 2008
“A federal judge this morning officially postponed the sentencing of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko as he continues his discussions with the government.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve indefinitely delayed Rezko’s Oct. 28 sentencing date and told the parties to meet again for a status in the case in December.
The sentencing, originally scheduled for Oct. 28, just before the election, was likely to bring unfavorable publicity to Rezko’s onetime friend Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Prosecutors and Rezko lawyers said this morning they did not want to set a future date for sentencing.
Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said they sought the delay to “work together to agree to otherwise narrow differences at sentencing.”
The agreement comes as Rezko is talking to federal prosecutors. The Sun-Times first reported Rezko’s meetings with the feds in August and sources close to the investigation later confirmed the talks last month.”
“Convicted businessman Tony Rezko — who is poised to become a crucial witness in the massive corruption case against ex-Gov. Blagojevich — was quietly moved out of a downtown jail and into another facility last month, the Sun-Times has learned.
Authorities seeking Rezko’s cooperation pushed for the move after Rezko complained about being held in the tough confines of solitary imprisonment, known as “the hole,” even as he was providing information to prosecutors, sources said.”
“Rezko’s relocation is a sign that even with thousands of taped conversations of the governor, investigators still highly value Rezko’s potential as a witness.”
“Rezko, who served as an adviser and fund-raiser to Blagojevich, provided authorities with substantial information involving the governor and bolstered pay-to-play testimony by former Illinois Finance Authority director Ali Ata, as well as talking about other alleged deals.”
“Why is Antoin “Tony” Rezko under lock and key at an undisclosed location, like some sort of CIA-renditioned al Qaeda operative? And why hasn’t he been sentenced yet?
As the June 3 corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell Obama’s former Illinois Senate seat approaches, the whereabouts of the former Blago and Obama fundraiser is literally a state secret.”
“Rezko’s not listed on the federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator, either.”
“Randall Samborn, spokesman for Fitzgerald, told The Examiner that Rezko “remains in federal custody,” although admitting that he didn’t know exactly where the convicted businessman was being held. Samborn also confirmed that “there is no sentencing date,” but would not elaborate. Sources in Chicago tell us that the long delay is “very unusual.””
“Is Rezko being held at another prison facility for his own safety? There are plenty of people in Chicago and Washington who might not want Rezko on the witness stand. They include:
Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias.
Rezko was such an enthusiastic customer of Giannoulias’ failing Broadway Bank that he wrote $450,000 in bad checks against his account to pay off gambling debts.
Alderman Eddie Burke
Rezko hired Burke’s law firm to get a 77 percent reduction in the real estate taxes of a 62-acre property along the Chicago River he planned to develop using $140 million in city subsidies. After assuring the Chicago Board of Ethics that he would abstain from any Council votes on Rezko’s project, Burke voted for it anyway, blaming his conflict of interest on “an error.” The project was later abandoned.
President Barack Obama
Rezko was the president’s “real estate fairy,” as one Chicago columnist likes to put it. Remember how they bought a house together in Chicago? Rezko was one of Obama’s earliest and biggest fundraisers and donors. Obama was one of his go-to guys for housing legislation in the Illinois state Senate.
If I were Tony Rezko, I’d be hiding, too.”
Read more:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/where-in-the-world-is-tony-rezko-91619594.html
It is understandable why the Blagojevich defense team does not want Rezko on the stand. Judge Zagel’s comment about Rezko being a bad witness is at least horsecrap and reeks of conspiracy. Convicted felons of all categories are regularly used as witnesses. Stuart Levine, the key witness in the Rezko trial was not only enmeshed in corruption but was a long time drug user. Here are the approximate number of times that “Rezko” is mentioned in US Justice Department documents.
Indictment: 100 times.
Criminal complaint: 170 times.
Evidentiary Proffer: 288 times.
Even if a strong argument is made against using Rezko as a witness, and good luck with that argument, Stuart Levine was used extensively as a witness in the Rezko trial, and his name was mentioned approx. 146 times in the Blagojevich Criminal Complaint. And don’t forget, Blagojevich’s name was mentioned at least 30 times on one day of the Rezko trial.
Patrick Fitzgerald, I am damn angry and am speaking up about US Justice Department corruption.
The Chicago Tribune just reported this:
“”I felt all along and believed all along that I was going to testify,” he said. But he said the government case wasn’t as they presented it, without calling witnesses Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Stuart Levine, both convicted in the federal probe.”
I am not the only person coming to the no brainer conclusion that Rezko or Stuart Levine must be called to the witness stand. From Citizen Wells August 19, 2010.
““If I were a Blago juror …”
“If I were a juror, I’d wonder why we never heard from so many of the allegedly bad guys — Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine — mentioned by the prosecution.”
“As noted in part 5 of this series, Tony Rezko’s name was mentioned approximately 288 times in the Evidentiary Proffer. The above numbers reveal that of the evidence presented in the Proffer, 38 pages are loaded with names and corruption activities tied to Blagojevich from 2002 to mid 2008. And yet neither Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine were called as witnesses. And just as predicted and warned about here, the focus of the trial was the selling of Obama’s senate seat.””
“An expert on law has commented on Rezko and Levine being called as witnesses. Leonard Cavise is a DePaul University law professor.”
“But Leonard Cavise, a DePaul University professor, suggested the government will need to do more at the retrial, possibly leading to a longer presentation of evidence. He said he believes the government may try to avoid another deadlocked jury by using fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko and political fixer Stuart Levine as witnesses.
Both men have agreed to cooperate, but prosecutors chose not to call them this summer in part because of the baggage both bring.
“If the prosecution insists on going forward, I have two words for them: Rezko and Levine,” Cavise said. “They know where all the bodies are buried.””
Citizen WElls 