Chicago Tribune Why is Blago’s appeal dragging on and on?, Citizen Wells answer all about protecting Obama, Why was Blagojevich prosecution and adjudication delayed over years?, More pristine on Rezko
“An unusual court delay is keeping Rod Blagojevich’s appeal “out of sight, out of mind.””…Chicago Tribune April 10, 2015
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”…Citizen Wells, July 19, 2011
The Chicago Tribune asks: Why is Blago’s appeal dragging on and on?
A much bigger and more important question is: Why was the Blagojevich prosecution and adjudication delayed over years?
Especially since his administration came under investigation by the feds at least by late 2003.
The answer is: It is all about protecting Obama.
Recently the National Enquirer reported:
“He’s constantly muttering to himself about Obama and blames the president for him being in prison and is sure he will be released within the year,”
“Commentary: Why is Blago’s appeal dragging on and on?”
“It’s been three years since former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich started his 14-year prison sentence for political corruption, including trying to sell Barack Obama’s soon to be vacated U.S. Senate seat. If his appeal is unsuccessful, the earliest he could get out of prison would be around Christmas 2024.
But wait. He appealed his conviction before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago on July 15, 2013. So, he still has a chance his conviction will be overturned and he’ll be released, resentenced or the appellate court may order a new trial on all the charges. There still is a glimmer of hope for the disgraced governor.
This appeal, however, is unique in the annals of appellate jurisprudence. The case was argued before a three-judge panel in December 2013. Normally, a decision is handed down within three to six months after oral argument before the court. In a very rare situation, the decision may not be rendered until nine months after the case was argued.
However, it’s been more than 15 months since the case was argued before the court and “taken under advisement,” more than double the normal time for deciding an appeal.
This extraordinary delay has generated extensive speculation by legal scholars and practitioners as to what is going on in the court’s deliberation over the appeal. Some say the court is really struggling with the central issue of so-called “honest services,” the fuzzy legal distinction between traditional political horse-trading and flat-out corrupt bribery. Others maintain the court is just being particularly careful in light of the national significance of the case. Still others suggest that a lengthy written majority opinion is likely, with an equally lengthy dissenting opinion, both of which likely require drafts and redrafts in an attempt to “get it right.”
Whatever the explanation, this appeal is proving to be out of the ordinary.”
Blagojevich blames Obama for being in prison, Behind bars and going bonkers, White hair, Obama more rezko upped than me, Blagojevich sure he will be released within year
Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”…Citizen Wells, July 19, 2011
From the National Enquirer April 9, 2015.
“WORLD EXCLUSIVE! BLAGO: BEHIND BARS & GOING BONKERS!”
“Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has suffered a breakdown behind bars – and his famous mop top is now a dazzling snow white!
These extraordinary world exclusive photos – snapped by a jailhouse snitch and obtained by The National ENQUIRER – dramatically show how America’s most celebrated political inmate has gone loopy during his three years locked away at a Colorado correctional facility.
“He doesn’t really socialize and is very paranoid of everyone,” The ENQUIRER’s spy said.
Somber Blagojevich – federal inmate No. 40892-424 – whiles away his days bizarrely babbling about President Barack Obama and vowing that he will one day reclaim electoral glory!
“He’s constantly muttering to himself about Obama and blames the president for him being in prison and is sure he will be released within the year,” said the jailhouse source. “He plans to run for president as soon as he can!”
What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing in 2008?
“DATE: 11/12/2008 TIME: 10:44 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 545
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris
BLAGOJEVICH I just talked to Balanoff.
HARRIS Yeah. You called him?
BLAGOJEVICH Yeah.
HARRIS Okay.
BLAGOJEVICH It’s clear he got the message back from them they want no part of me. You know the Rezko thing and…
HARRIS Right, right.
BLAGOJEVICH I thin-, you know, it’s really, I get that I’m a big boy and I can handle that, but it’s really fucking galling, this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. And it’s almost like they fucking conspi-, made a concerted effort and they got the Chicago media to fucking make me wear Rezko more. To fucking dilute it from him.”
Obama Clinton pay to play rewards criminal Ecuadorean family Isaías with US stay, Hundreds of thousands of contributions to Obama et al, Money laundering and immigration fraud, Ghosts of Christmas past and Tony 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
“Now, I don’t get upset when foreign and national journalists fail to mention Tony Rezko, or the Daley boys, or how the Chicago machine plans to staff the Department of Justice, and the new Department of Homeland Casinos.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune July 30, 2008
The ghosts of Christmas past, Tony Rezko like chicanery Haunt Barack Obama.
Chicago pay to play politics.
From the NY Times December 16, 2014.
“The Obama administration overturned a ban preventing a wealthy, politically connected Ecuadorean woman from entering the United States after her family gave tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns, according to finance records and government officials.
The woman, Estefanía Isaías, had been barred from coming to the United States after being caught fraudulently obtaining visas for her maids. But the ban was lifted at the request of the State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton so that Ms. Isaías could work for an Obama fund-raiser with close ties to the administration.
It was one of several favorable decisions the Obama administration made in recent years involving the Isaías family, which the government of Ecuador accuses of buying protection from Washington and living comfortably in Miami off the profits of a looted bank in Ecuador.
The family, which has been investigated by federal law enforcement agencies on suspicion of money laundering and immigration fraud, has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to American political campaigns in recent years. During that time, it has repeatedly received favorable treatment from the highest levels of the American government, including from New Jersey’s senior senator and the State Department.
The Obama administration has allowed the family’s patriarchs, Roberto and William Isaías, to remain in the United States, refusing to extradite them to Ecuador. The two brothers were sentenced in absentia in 2012 to eight years in prison, accused of running their bank into the ground and then presenting false balance sheets to profit from bailout funds. In a highly politicized case, Ecuador says the fraud cost the country $400 million.”
“American diplomats began enforcing the ban against Ms. Isaías, blocking her from coming to Miami for a job with a communications strategist who had raised up to $500,000 for President Obama.”
The Obama administration then reversed its decision and gave Ms. Isaías the waiver she needed to come to the United States — just as tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the family poured into Mr. Obama’s campaign coffers.
An email from Mr. Menendez’s office sharing the good news was dated May 15, 2012, one day after, campaign finance records show, Ms. Isaías’s mother gave $40,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, which provided donations to the president and other Democrats.
“In my old profession as a prosecutor, timelines mean a lot,” said Ken Boehm, a former Pennsylvania prosecutor who is chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, a government watchdog. “When a donation happens and then something else happens, like the favor, as long as they are very, very close, that really paints a story.”
In 2012, the Isaías family donated about $100,000 to the Obama Victory Fund. Campaign finance records show that their most generous donations came just before a request to the administration.”
Obama corruption trial witnesses Blagojevich and Rezko still in prison, Blagojevich appeal drags on, Rezko from Syria remains quiet, One year anniversary of prosecution response
Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”…Citizen Wells, July 19, 2011
Stranger than fiction.
Unbelievable as a novel without an understanding of Chicago pay to play politics and the efforts made to protect Obama.
With our involvement in Syria the past several years, I couldn’t help but wonder if that is why Tony Rezko helped Obama get elected and then kept his mouth shut. Never called as a witness.
The two people who could nail Obama on the witness stand, Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich are still in prison.
Tony Rezko refused to rat on his friend Obama.
Blagojevich, who came under federal investigation by at least late 2003, is still awaiting a decision on his appeal.
It has been one year since the prosecution responded to the appeal filed on JUly 15, 2013.
From Citizen Wells November 13, 2013.
The prosecution of Blagojevich drags on and protects Obama.
From Fox News Illinois November 13, 2013.
“Prosecutors respond to Blagojevich appeal”
“Prosecutors have filed a response to Rod Blagojevich’s corruption conviction appeal. The 169-page government filing submitted late Tuesday urges the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the imprisoned former governor’s request for a new trial. Defense lawyers filed the appeal on the Illinois Democrat’s behalf in July. It asks the Chicago-based appellate court to toss his convictions or at least reduce his 14-year prison sentence.”
“Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich filed an appeal Monday challenging the imprisoned former Illinois governor’s corruption conviction and stiff, 14-year prison term.
The lengthy filing with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago comes more than two years after the Chicago Democrat’s retrial and 16 months after he entered a federal prison in Colorado.
Jurors convicted Blagojevich, 56, of engaging in wide-ranging corruption, including that the two-term governor sought to profit from his power to appoint someone to the U.S. Senate seat that Barack Obama vacated to become president.
The appeal cites a juror who allegedly expressed a bias against Blagojevich who was seated despite the objections of defense attorneys. It also raises longstanding claims that Judge James Zagel barred FBI wiretap evidence that might have aided the defense and argues the judge miscalculated the appropriate prison term.
The appeal was filed about 30 minutes before a midnight deadline to do so.
In June, Blagojevich’s attorneys requested permission to file a longer-than-usual appeal, noting the trial produced 12,000 pages of transcripts. “The issues for appeal are numerous and complicated,” they wrote. The court agreed to let them file the equivalent of about 100 pages, which is what they did.
Blagojevich was convicted on 18 counts over two trials, jurors in the first deadlocking on all but one count. Taking the stand in the second, decisive trial in 2011, Blagojevich insisted his talking about wanting to sell Obama’s seat was just that — talk.
At his sentencing hearing later in 2011, an uncharacteristically deferential Blagojevich asked Zagel for mercy and said he accepted responsibility. He told the court in a hushed voice, “I caused it all.”
Despite those words, Zagel imposed a lengthy prison term, telling Blagojevich he had abused voters’ trust and undermined the democratic process “to do things that were only good for yourself.”
Many observers at the time said Blagojevich’s best hope on appeal wasn’t that a higher court would overturn his convictions but that appellate judges would agree his sentence was too harsh.”
Loretta Lynch Obama Attorney General appointee, Questions for Lynch senate confirmation hearings, Loretta Lynch Eric Holder clone?, Greensboro NC roots, Willing to prosecute Obama and Holder?
“Why has Obama, since taking the White House, used Justice Department Attorneys, at taxpayer expense, to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells
“Based on my firsthand experiences, I believe the dismissal of the Black Panther case was motivated by a lawless hostility toward equal enforcement of the law. Others still within the department share my assessment. The department abetted wrongdoers and abandoned law-abiding citizens victimized by the New Black Panthers. The dismissal raises serious questions about the department’s enforcement neutrality in upcoming midterm elections and the subsequent 2012 presidential election.”…J. Christian Adams
“Why did Justice Department and White House staff yell and curse at CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson over questions about Fast and Furious?”…Citizen Wells
Loretta Lynch, Obama’s Attorney General appointee and I have at least one thing in common.
We were living in Greensboro, NC at the same time.
Was she grounded by her roots or does she carry a grudge?
The fact that Obama chose her probably answers that question.
Here is some more insight from a speech she gave on August 13, 2014.
“U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch For The Eastern District Of New York Delivers Remarks At The Convention On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination”
“Mr. Chairperson, distinguished members of the committee, and representatives of civil society, it is an honor to be a part of the U.S. delegation and share some of the highlights of the Department of Justice’s efforts to eliminate racial discrimination and uphold human rights in the area of criminal justice.
Attorney General Eric Holder – and all of us at the Department of Justice who work on criminal justice issues – take seriously our obligation to protect the safety of all Americans and the security of our nation; to safeguard civil and human rights; to prevent and combat violent crime, financial fraud, and threats to the most vulnerable members of society; and to strengthen collaboration among government, law enforcement and our community partners.
As part of this mission, the department has made great progress in reforming America’s criminal justice system. Our focus is not just on the prosecution of crime, but on eradicating its root causes as well as providing support for those re-entering society after having paid their debt to it.
There is, of course, much work still to be done. Currently our country imprisons approximately 2.2 million people, disproportionately people of color. This situation is a drain on both precious resources and human capital. The Attorney General is committed to reform of this aspect of our criminal justice system.
Last August the Attorney General announced the “Smart on Crime” initiative. Under this initiative, we’re ensuring that stringent mandatory minimum sentences for certain federal drug crimes will now be reserved for the most serious criminals. This is not an abandonment of prison as a means to reduce crime, but rather a recognition that, quite often, less prison can also work to reduce crime. We’re advancing alternative programs in place of incarceration in appropriate cases. And we’re committed to providing formerly incarcerated people with fair opportunities to rejoin their communities and become productive, law-abiding citizens.
As part of this effort, the Attorney General has directed every component of the Justice Department to review proposed rules, regulations or guidance with an eye to whether they may impose collateral consequences that may prevent reintegration into society. He has called upon state leaders to do the same, with a particular focus on enacting reforms to restore voting rights to those who have served their debt to society, thus ending the chain of permanent disenfranchisement that visits many of them.
To further ensure that the elimination of discrimination is an ongoing priority, the Attorney General has created a Racial Disparities Working Group, led by the U.S. Attorney community, to identify policies that result in unwarranted disparities within criminal justice and to eliminate those disparities as quickly as possible
From the reduction of the use of solitary confinement, to the expansion of the federal clemency program, to our support for the retroactive reduction of penalties for non-violent drug offenders to the reduction in the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, we have worked to improve our criminal justice system in furtherance of our human rights treaty obligations. We look forward to the future and the opportunity to do even more.
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these issues with you. Our next speaker is my friend and colleague, Mark Kappelhoff, of the department’s Civil Rights Division.”
Perhaps if the policies of the left, Obama, et al, were more grounded, the unemployment rate of blacks and job prospects would be better and fewer would be incarcerated.
All indications are that Lynch is just another Obama crony like Holder. Preoccupied with skin color
If I were on the senate committee scrutinizing Loretta Lynch, here are just a few of the questions or scenarios I would confront her with.
1. Why is the DOJ so preoccupied with protecting foreigners and illegal aliens over US citizens?
Reported by J. Christian Adams, former DOJ attorney, at Pajamas Media February 12, 2014.
“DOJ Argues to Court Against Rules to Prevent Foreigners From Voting”
“Justice Department lawyer Bradley Heard was in court today trying to stop Kansas from ensuring that only citizens register to vote. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, relying on a United States Supreme Court opinion of last year, asked the federal Election Assistance Commission to permit him to ensure that only citizens were registering to vote.
“REPORT: DOJ NEEDED HOLDER’S SIGNATURE TO GET AP PHONE RECORDS”
“The Associated Press reported Monday that the Department of Justice had secretly seized two months worth of telephone records from reporters and editors working for the global news organization.
Needless to say, news that the DOJ had secretly obtained AP phone records has rocked the media. As it turns out, people really, really don’t like being spied on or having the feds snoop around their personal information.
This is going to take some explaining.
And it looks like it’ll take a lot more than a “low-level employee” to get U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder out of this tight spot.”
4. How about Obama using Justice Dept. attorneys at taxpayer expense to help keep his records hidden. One of those attorneys, Tony West, was rewarded with a high level DOJ job.
You were warned.
Beginning in 2008, and especially with the revelations from the Tony Rezko trial, you were warned that Obama would bring his Chicago Pay to Play Politics to Washington, DC.
It has happened. In one of the worst possible places.
The US Justice Department.
One of the latest and best examples is the promotion of Tony West in the USDOJ.
First, a little background on Tony West.
“But West didn’t have to be elected to become President Barack Obama’s assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Division – just confirmed by the Senate. He now heads the DOJ office charged with defending the federal government in litigation. West has made a career out of handling complex legal issues in criminal and civil trials as well as during negotiations.
West, who is a part of a power family in California, has known Obama since 2004, and he was a top fundraiser for Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. He was finance co-chair of Obama’s California campaign, where the then-senator raised a record total of $65 million.”
“USDOJ attorneys complicit with Obama.
“Here is a list of some of the US Justice Department attorneys who have assisted Obama in keeping his records hidden. Their representation of Obama is a matter of public record. This list does not include the support staffs.
5. The case against the New Black Panther Party was dismissed and whistleblower J. Christian Adams was persecuted for speaking out.
“On the day President Obama was elected, armed men wearing the black berets and jackboots of the New Black Panther Party were stationed at the entrance to a polling place in Philadelphia. They brandished a weapon and intimidated voters and poll watchers. After the election, the Justice Department brought a voter -intimidation case against the New Black Panther Party and those armed thugs. I and other Justice attorneys diligently pursued the case and obtained an entry of default after the defendants ignored the charges. Before a final judgment could be entered in May 2009, our superiors ordered us to dismiss the case.
The New Black Panther case was the simplest and most obvious violation of federal law I saw in my Justice Department career. Because of the corrupt nature of the dismissal, statements falsely characterizing the case and, most of all, indefensible orders for the career attorneys not to comply with lawful subpoenas investigating the dismissal, this month I resigned my position as a Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney.”
6. Obama and Eric Holder guilt in Fast and Furious scandal and subsequent lack of cooperation in investigations.
“The Justice Department is trying to protect its political appointees from the Fast and Furious scandal by concealing an internal “smoking gun” report and other documents that acknowledge the role top officials played in the program that allowed firearms to flow illegally into Mexico, according to the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Kenneth E. Melson, the ATF’s acting director, also told congressional investigators this month that the affidavits prepared to obtain wiretaps used in the ill-fated operation were inconsistent with Justice Department officials’ public statements about the program. Justice Department officials advised him not to raise his concerns with Congress about “institutional problems” with the Fast and Furious operation, Melson said.
“It was very frustrating to all of us,” Melson told congressional investigators in a private meeting over the Fourth of July holiday, “and it appears thoroughly to us that the department is really trying to figure out a way to push the information away from their political appointees at the department.”
Not only was the department slow to react, Melson said, but Justice Department officials indicated they did not want him to cooperate with Congress.”
Blagojevich appeal prediction, Reduced sentence or Obama pardon, 6 Seventh Circuit Appeals Court sessions before Nov 4, Obama protection continues, Obama Rezko ties, Blagojevich fall guy
Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…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 administration of Rod Blagojevich came under FBI scrutiny beginning in late 2003.
Yet, with all the harm Blagojevich et al were doing to the citizens of Illinois, he was not arrested until just after the 2008 election.
His arrest and the timing of his prosecution were clearly coordinated to have the least impact on Barack Obama.
That protection of Obama continues.
The 2010 election cycle has passed.
The 2012 election cycle has passed.
The 2014 election cycle is about to pass.
We have 6 sessions of the US Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit left before the November 4, 2014 elections.
If the decision comes before the election, I predict that Blagojevich will get a reduced sentence.
If not, it is entirely possible that Obama will pardon Blagojevich.
I believe that they have a deal.
Blagojevich “prosecution” history.
From Citizen Wells December 13, 2013.
The Rod Blagojevich appeal hearing is scheduled for today, Friday the 13th of December, 2013, in the US Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.
This is part of a 10 year saga of investigations, prosecutions and perpetual delays.
Blagojevich, who was the presumptive presidential candidate, not Obama, in early 2006, should have been prosecuted before Tony Rezko, with stronger ties with Obama, and most definitely before the 2008 election.
Remember, the Blagojevich Administration was being investigated by the feds at least by late 2003 when the chicanery of Obama buddies Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine was being monitored by wiretap.
Attorney Len Goodman has made some strong arguments for a retrial or new sentencing hearing. Do not be surprised at the outcome.
I personally believe that the fix was in by 2006 and this is why Blagojevich was arrested after the 2008 election.
From Citizen Wells July 16, 2013.
“Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich filed an appeal Monday challenging the imprisoned former Illinois governor’s corruption conviction and stiff, 14-year prison term.
The lengthy filing with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago comes more than two years after the Chicago Democrat’s retrial and 16 months after he entered a federal prison in Colorado.”
“Prosecutors have filed a response to Rod Blagojevich’s corruption conviction appeal. The 169-page government filing submitted late Tuesday urges the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the imprisoned former governor’s request for a new trial. Defense lawyers filed the appeal on the Illinois Democrat’s behalf in July. It asks the Chicago-based appellate court to toss his convictions or at least reduce his 14-year prison sentence.”
Still wondering about the continued delay in the prosecution of Rod Blagojevich, specifically the lengthy delay in his appeal?
Here is one of the reasons.
From Chicago Business March 6, 2013.
“Blagojevich attorney hopes three’s a charm”
“Will three be a charm for Chicago attorney Len Goodman?
He’s on a winning streak that he’s hoping will carry over to his next case — defending former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”
“The next big case on the criminal defense attorney’s plate is the appeal of Mr. Blagojevich, who is in prison in Colorado following his conviction on corruption charges.
“Right now, I’m just trying to get through 10,000 pages of trial transcripts,” says Mr. Goodman, who is the nephew of Chicago financier Lester Crown.
The case likely will go before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals later this year.”
Of course there are other reasons why the appeal of Blagojevich has dragged on so long.
From Citizen Wells January 30, 2013.
“Here is the rest of the story.
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department aggressively prosecuted George Ryan.
Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department, despite the fact that they began wiretaps in late 2003 and had in depth knowledge of corruption in the Rod Blagojevich Administration by 2005 at the latest, delayed the arrest of Blagojevich until after the 2008 election. The production of transcripts required for the Blagojevich appeal were delayed for over half a year by the US Justice Department in 2012, once again delaying the appeal until after the 2012 election.
From Citizen Wells May 27, 2012.
“Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Republican ex Governot of Illinois, George Ryan and unjustly went after Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. Fitzgerald waited until after the 2008 elections to arrest Governor Rod Blagojevich despite the fact that he had details of corruption in the Blagojevich Administration at least by late 2003.
Is Patrick Fitzgerald a pawn, an idiot or corrupt?
From an FBI wiretap:
“You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me.”
Late 2003.
Earliest documented awareness by FBI and Patrick Fitzgerald of corruption in Blagojevich admin. Pamela Meyer Davis agreed to secretly record conversations involving state health planning board with an FBI wire.
December 31, 2003 NY Times.
“Mr. Fitzgerald announced that he was prosecuting former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, in a scandal that had been swirling around long before Mr. Fitzgerald got here and that many people thought would never touch the most powerful politicians in Illinois. But there Mr. Fitzgerald was, a week before Christmas, ticking off the details of a 91-page indictment against Mr. Ryan, seemingly from memory.
That, even Mr. Fitzgerald’s former opponents in the courtroom say, is classic Fitzgerald: dogged, dispassionate and endlessly prepared.”
April 8 – May 21, 2004 (Rezko Trial March 12, 2008; 11:11 a.m.)
“FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, the primary case agent on the investigation into Levine and Rezko, is on the stand now in testimony that is laying the foundation for entering the wiretaps into evidence.
Cain said the investigation, dubbed Operation Board Games by the federal agents, began in December 2003 and was prompted by information gleaned from an informant whom he did not identify. That witness, he said, took part in meetings with two other individuals who were in contact with Levine by phone at his home.
Cain said Levine had three phone lines in his North Shore home. Federal agents recorded conversations on those lines April 8-May 21, 2004. Those dates span the time when Levine, Rezko and others allegedly were working to rig the hospital board vote on a Mercy Health System hospital proposal for Crystal Lake and other kickback schemes prosecutors claim they were engaged in.”
May 9, 2005.
Stuart Levine indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoena issued to Tony Rezko. June 15, 2005.
Obama purchased home next door to Rezko for $1.65 million, $300,000 less than the asking price. June 15, 2005.
Rita Rezko, Tony’s wife purchased plot next door for $625,000 asking price.
October 25, 2005.
The Chicago Tribune reports about a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration.
January 2006.
Rita Rezko sells the Obamas one-sixth of her lot for $104,500.
August 5, 2006.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.”
“December 7, 2008.
Criminal complaint of Blagojevich. Nine individuals is important. Obama helped passed a bill to reduce the number from 15 to 9.
“b. Corruption of the Planning Board”
“At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
“Planning Board” (IL Health Facilities Planning Board) is mentioned 31 times.
“Rezko” is mentioned 170 times.
“Hospital” in context of Mercy Hospital mentioned 8 times. December 9, 2008.
Blagojevich arrested
“Fitzgerald said, “We make no allegations” that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”
February 24, 2011.
Counts 1,2,4 in the Blagojevich Indictment are dropped. This represents approx. half of the indictment and includes numerous corruption ties to Blagojevich and Obama.”
“December 7, 2011.
Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years.
Colin Powell, who has continued to endorse Barack Obama, knew that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were innocent in the Valerie Plame leak. Yet Powell did not share his knowledge with the Bush Administration and thus allowed Patrick Fitzgerald to continue to investigate and prosecute Libby and Rove.
Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?
“FOX Chicago News has learned that Rod Blagojevich’s appeal is still having trouble getting off the ground, because of delays in producing transcripts from his two trials.
For the second time in the last four months, Lauren Kaeseberg, one of the attorney’s handling Rod Blagojevich’s appeal, has been threatened with disciplinary action because she still hasn’t provided a complete copy of the Blagojevichtrial transcripts to the appellate court.
The appellate court won’t set a briefing schedule to get the appeal moving until the transcripts are available.
As FOX Chicago reported exclusively in August, the court reporter responsible for producing the 16,000 pages of transcripts took a leave of absence for five and a half months after Blagojevich was convicted. So, the appellate court agreed to wait until September 28th for the transcripts.
But, now in October, they’re still not completed. On Monday, the court issued an order, warning Kaeseberg again that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions. She responded Tuesday with an explanation, saying transcripts are still missing because they were under seal, or were handled by a different court reporter and she hopes to have them soon.”
“ The court reporter, trial judge James Zagel and the appeals court all have a responsibility to produce transcripts needed for an appeal in a timely manner.”
Citizen Wells for years has been questioning the delayed prosecution of Rod Blagojevich with the obvious intent of protecting Obama.
Today we present a new question that will be explored further soon.
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”
Raghuveer Nayak appeal fails, Obama Blagojevich contributor, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision October 20, 2014, Operation Board Games Chicago IL pay to play politics
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald, instead of protecting the citizens of Illinois as he has touted, prosecute Tony Rezko first, a businessman, instead of Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois.”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
The appeal of Chicago, IL Obama Blagojevich crony Raghuveer Nayak has failed.
“A longtime friend of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.who was at the center of a Senate seat scandal that sent ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to prison was arrested Wednesday in his own federal fraud case, accused of bribing doctors to send patients to his surgical centers.
Raghuveer Nayak, a wealthy businessman and former campaign fundraiser for both politicians, was indicted on charges he secretly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to physicians from 2000 to 2010 to have patients referred to Rogers Park One Day Surgery Center, Lakeshore Surgery Center and other Chicago-area facilities he owned.
The investigation of his businesses had hung over Nayak’s head for years, and his lawyer, Thomas McQueen, said the charges were not unexpected. “He knew this had never gone away,” McQueen said after the FBI arrested his client at Nayak’s Oak Brook home.
A frowning Nayak appeared Wednesday at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in a rumpled shirt and entered a plea of not guilty to the 19 fraud counts against him. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez ordered him released on a $10 million bond secured by six properties in Illinois and Indiana after Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Niewoehner told the court that Nayak has “rather significant assets” and ties to India.
Nayak left the courthouse without commenting.
In making their case against Blagojevich, federal authorities alleged that it was Nayak, a longtime friend of the Jackson family, who offered up to $6 million in campaign money in exchange for Jackson being named a senator. Blagojevich was found guilty on corruption charges last year that included counts involving the attempted sale of the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after his 2008 election to the presidency.
Nayak was never charged in the Blagojevich case, and he quickly spoke with authorities after Blagojevich’s arrest in a bid for leniency. But he never was used as a witness, either, and investigators continued to look into his businesses.
Jackson testified at Blagojevich’s trial that he had no knowledge of a scheme to buy the Senate seat.
The indictment of Nayak is seen as one of the final offshoots of the sweeping federal investigation known as Operation Board Games, which in addition to Blagojevich led to convictions of fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, formerAld. Edward Vrdolyak, Republican power broker William Cellini and others. One of the final sentences in cases connected to that probe could be handed down as soon as next week, when political insider turned federal witness Stuart Levine is expected to learn his punishment.
Sources have confirmed that the Board Games investigation is wrapping up. U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald is leaving office at the end of the month, and one of the lead prosecutors against Blagojevich, Reid Schar, already has left.
Although he raised money for politicians for more than a decade, Nayak mostly worked under the radar until his connections to Blagojevich and Jackson surfaced in 2008 as part of the burgeoning federal investigation into the governor’s office.”
“The indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges as part of the scheme that “physicians deceived their patients by not disclosing that they were being paid for making referrals to Nayak’s facilities,” but Nayak was the only person charged. He allegedly created false contracts to disguise some of the illicit payments, describing them as money for advertising, according to the document.
Prosecutors are seeking $1.8 million in “alleged fraud proceeds” in the case.
In one kickback scheme, prosecutors alleged, Nayak paid one person, identified only as “Individual A,” more than $2 million in checks drawn on his surgery centers’ accounts. In return, “Individual A” gave Nayak cash equaling about 70 percent of the value of the checks, according to the indictment.
In the Blagojevich case, Nayak’s friend Bedi testified that Nayak issued about $2 million in checks to a Bedi-owned company. Bedi testified he provided cash in return and said he knew Nayak was cheating on his taxes by making the payments.
Nayak’s businesses have over the years needed the approval of state regulators and auditors, and Nayak became a big campaign bundler and contributor, donating more than $779,000 to elected officials including Blagojevich, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Obama from the late 1990s until his name surfaced in the Blagojevich scandal.
The Tribune previously reported that after Nayak first opened several Chicago drugstores in the early 1980s, his businesses faced multiple audits by state and federal authorities. His name also came up repeatedly in one of the largest health care fraud investigations in Illinois history.
That multiyear federal probe resulted in the shuttering of two hospitalsDoctors Hospital and Edgewater Medical Centerand the convictions of seven doctors and administrators. Nayak, who then owned a lab testing company called NR Laboratories as well as an outpatient surgery center, was among numerous people who came under scrutiny, the Tribune had reported.
Some of Nayak’s associates and friends were convicted in the scheme, which included charges that two patients died from unnecessary procedures performed by doctors looking to collect fraudulent public aid checks.”
“MARCH 18, 2008 ARTICLE ON NAYAK, BLAGOJEVICH, REZKO, WEISNER
“Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Move Over Rezko; Weisner-Blagojevich Crony Raghuveer Nayak
Continues to Spend Thousands on Elected Officials…in Iowa?
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, boytoy Gerry Galloway and
crony Raghuveer Nayak are viewing a property in downtown
Aurora in the path of a major development back in 2005.
Nayak is spreading his money around. All the way to Iowa.”
“Raghuveer Nayak, the campaign crony who has dumped tens of
thousands of dollars into the campaign pockets of Aurora
Mayor Tom Weisner and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, seems
to in a race to compete with another star campaign donor
from Illinois, Tony Rezko, to see how many people he can
contribute to and apparently “influence.”
While Rezko’s list includes some power names in Illinois,
including our local political rockstar, U.S. Senator and
Presidential candidate Barack Obama, Nayak seems to be
broadening his geographical reach (and Nayak is a Hillary
Clinton buddy).””
“The Case Against Barack Obama reveals Shomon connection
SHOMON CONNECTIONS TO WEISNER AND AURORA, IL
“Dan Shomon, who’s background is in media, has a lobbying
contract for the City of Aurora (scroll down or click for
our post on how Dan Shomon is fleecing the taxpayers of
Aurora). He got that contract after helping to secure a
political endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for then-candidate
for Mayor of Aurora, Tom Weisner. That’s after
Obama said he wan’t going to be a “kingmaker” in Aurora.
We think it’s HIGHLY unethical of Dan Shomon or Tom Weisner
to exploit the taxpayers of Aurora for political purpose.
Barack Obama’s credibility is also risked in the process of
Shomon and Weisner’s games at the expense of taxpayers.”
“Like the ill-advised connection to Obama in Aurora, thanks
to Dan Shomon, Obama is mentioned in the same discusion with
all these problems with Giannoulias. Not good for a
political rockstar who otherwise could be on his way to
becoming President of the United States.””
“Aurora Mayor Thomas J. Weisner gave Shomon the lobbying
gig in exchange for political work, including getting the
endorsement of Barack Obama back in 2005 when Obama first
said he would remain “neutral” in the heated mayoral race.
Shomon’s main activities are political campaigns and helping
Obama and his friends like Alexi Giannoulias who is now the
Treasurer for the State of Illinois.”
“Plus, when all hell breaks loose on Weisner’s various problems
with cronyism and allegations of corruption (and it WILL),
it’s probably in Obama’s interest that Dan Shomon has nothing
to do with Weisner any longer.”
Blagojevich appeal update August 19, 2014, US court of appeals seventh circuit decision, Empress Casino Joliet Corp v John Johnston et al, Quid pro quo between racetracks and Governor Blagojevich
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?”…Citizen Wells
“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich
We are still awaiting a decision from the US Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit on the Blagojevich appeal.
Yesterday the court of appeals presented their decision on Empress Casino Joliet Corp v John Johnston, et al.
Some of the most damning wording for Blagojevich is the following:
“The summary judgment record contains considerable evidence that, if credited, would support the allegation of a quid pro quo between the Racetracks and Governor Blagojevich. When Blagojevich did not immediately sign the ’08 Act into law, Racetracks executive Johnston stated to a colleague in an email: “We are going to have to put a stronger bit in his mouth!?!” Johnston complained to Blagojevich’s chief of staff Monk that the delays in signing the bill were costing Johnston $9,000 per day. A factfinder could conclude that Blagojevich was talking about Johnston’s commitment to pay $100,000 when he informed Monk that he would “like some separation between that and signing the bill.” After the FBI recorded Monk and Blagojevich scheming about getting Johnston to pay, Monk met with Johnston and, according to Monk, delivered the message that the bill would not be signed until he paid.”
“Reviving a lawsuit accusing racetrack owners of offering a bribe to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a federal appeals court has addressed when political horse-trading crosses the line “from the merely unseemly to the unlawful.”
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not rule on the merits of the claim that Blagojevich in 2008 signed legislation favored by the racetrack industry in return for the promise of a $100,000 campaign contribution.
But the court ruled there is enough evidence — if true — to support a finding of a quid pro quo exchange between Blagojevich and the industry.
And assuming such an exchange took place, the court continued, it directly harmed four riverboat casinos in northern Illinois by leading to the implementation of the Horse Racing Act.”
“The casinos do not allege that members of the Illinois General Assembly were offered or took any bribes to pass the bill, the panel wrote.
And deeming officials’ support of legislation to be illegal merely because campaign contributions were solicited and received about the time the legislation was enacted, the panel wrote, would leave the officials open to prosecution for conduct long thought legal.
Such an action, the panel continued, quoting McCormick v. United States, 500 U.S. 257 (1991), also would lead to prosecutions for conduct “that in a very real sense is unavoidable so long as election campaigns are financed by private contributions or expenditures, as they have been from the beginning of the nation.”
It’s a different story, the panel wrote, when it comes to the 2008 renewal legislation.
Evidence that Blagojevich signed the bill in exchange for the promise of a $100,000 contribution included the criminal trial testimony of Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, Alonzo Monk, and Johnston’s admission that he offered the bribe, the panel wrote.
Johnston received immunity from prosecution, and Monk pleaded guilty to corruption charges.”
This transaction is the only time I recall the appeals court judges stating that Blagojevich was clearly involved in a quid pro quo activity. During the initial oral arguments phase and in the lastest decision they otherwise question whether or not he was involved in traditional political activities.
This fact coupled with the earlier irregularities in the Blagojevich trials and subsequent delays in producing the transcripts leads me to believe that Blagojevich will get a reduced sentence.
Hunter Biden director of company preparing to drill shale gas in East Ukraine, Burisma Holdings, Biden sons Hunter and Beau tied to Obama controversies
“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
“Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show.”
“Obama’s spokesman also acknowledged lobbying for Mercy Hospital, another client of Hunter Biden.”…Washington Post August 27, 2008
“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″
From Zero Hedge July 25, 2014.
“Company In Which Joe Biden’s Son Is Director Prepares To Drill Shale Gas In East Ukraine”
“Recall what we said earlier today: the proxy Ukraine war just like that in Syria preceding it, “is all about energy.”
Recall also the following chart showing Ukraine’s shale gas deposits, keeping in mind that the Dnieper-Donets basin which lies in the hotly contested eastern part of the nation and where as everyone knows by now a bloody civil war is raging, is the major oil and gas producing region of Ukraine accounting for approximately 90 per cent of Ukrainian production and according to EIA may have 42 tcf of shale gas resources technically recoverable from 197 tcf of risked shale gas in place.
Finally, recall our story from May that Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, just joined the board of the largest Ukraine gas producer Burisma Holdings. From the press release:
R. Hunter Biden will be in charge of the Holdings’ legal unit and will provide support for the Company among international organizations. On his new appointment, he commented: “Burisma’s track record of innovations and industry leadership in the field of natural gas means that it can be a strong driver of a strong economy in Ukraine. As a new member of the Board, I believe that my assistance in consulting the Company on matters of transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities will contribute to the economy and benefit the people of Ukraine.””
“In a nutshell Ukraine (or rather its puppetmasters) has decided to let no crisis (staged or otherwise) or rather civil war, go to waste, and while the fighting rages all around, Ukrainian troopers are helping to install shale gas production equipment near the east Ukrainian town of Slavyansk, which was bombed and shelled for the three preceding months, according to local residents cited by Itar Tass. The reason for the scramble? Under peacetime, the process was expected to take many years, during which Europe would be under the energy dictatorship of Putin. But throw in some civil war and few will notice let alone care that a process which was expected to take nearly a decade if not longer while dealing with broad popular objections to fracking, may instead be completed in months!”
What do Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Attorney General
Beau Biden and Hunter Biden have in common? Ties to crime,
corruption and lobbyists. The fabricated warrant from Delaware
against larry Sinclair that was recently dismissed, originated
in the office of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden.
As you read below, notice the ties to Mercy Hospital.
The Washington Post has an article dated August 27, 2008 about
Hunter Biden, the lobbyist son of Senator Joe Biden and his
connection to Barack Obama. However, after reading about Hunter
Biden’s activities, it is readily apparent that he is connected
to Obama’s web of deception. Here are exerpts from the Washington
Post article:
“Obama, Biden’s Son Linked by Earmarks
Candidate Got Funding for Nursing Program
Now that Sen. Joseph Biden, left, is the Democratic vice presidential candidate, congressional ties to his lobbyist son Hunter, right, are coming under scrutiny.
By James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, August 27, 2008″
“Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show.”
“Obama’s spokesman also acknowledged lobbying for Mercy Hospital, another client of Hunter Biden.”
“The younger Biden started his career as a lobbyist in 2001 and has registered to represent about 21 clients that have brought in $3.5 million to his Washington firm, according to lobbying disclosure forms.
Sen. Biden has collected more than $6.9 million in campaign contributions from lobbyists and lawyers since 1989, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.”
“From 2001 to 2005, Hunter was paid an undisclosed amount by the credit card giant, which has since been purchased by Bank of America. It has been widely reported that he received $100,000 a year.
At the time, Sen. Biden led a successful, high-profile battle in the Senate for a bankruptcy bill that ultimately benefited credit card companies. The law makes it more difficult for people to file for personal bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7.”
Read more of the article here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603894.html?nav=emailpage
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 of the article here: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1122691,CST-NWS-hosp23.article From the Federal indictment against Dr. Robert Weinstein:
“The false statements count alleges that on May 24, 2004, Weinstein lied to an FBI agent when he said that Levine never told him that Rezko had influence over the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, the state board that regulates hospital construction and expansion. In fact, the indictment alleges Weinstein knew that he and Levine had discussed Rezko’s influence over the Planning Board, including in a recorded conversation on April 21, 2004, in which Levine explicitly advised Weinstein of Rezko’s role in manipulating the Planning Board’s vote earlier that day on the Certificate of Need application of Mercy Health System Corp. Hospital and other matters.”
Read the indictment here:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr0627_01.pdf 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.”
FDIC v Amrish Mahajan et al update July 12, 2014, Obama Rezko lot Mutual bank loan, Mary Hakken-Phillips pleads fifth, Board minutes altered by Mahajan and Regas
“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?”…Citizen Wells
“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
From a memorandum opinion and order by Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim July 9, 2014 we learn.
“Background
Previous opinions resolving Defendants’ motions to dismiss, see FDIC v.
Mahajan, No. 11 CV 7590, 2012 WL 3061852, at *1-3 (N.D. Ill. July 26, 2012), and the FDIC’s motion to strike, see FDIC v. Mahajan, 923 F. Supp. 2d 1133, 1135-36 (N.D. Ill. 2013), describe the details of this case’s background facts and procedural history. What follows are the facts and allegations most pertinent to the questions presented in the current motion.
According to the FDIC, in November 2009, FDIC representatives interviewed
Hakken-Phillips concerning her work as the secretary of the Bank’s Board of
Directors and as the administrative assistant to Bank President Amrish Mahajan.
(R. 289, Mot. ¶ 1.) In support of its current motion the FDIC submitted an affidavit from Tina Solis, one of the FDIC’s attorneys, stating that during the interview Hakken-Phillips described preparing handwritten Board minutes which she then submitted to senior officers. (R. 289-1, Mot., Ex. A ¶¶ 4-5.) According to Attorney Solis’s affidavit, Hakken-Phillips said Defendants Mahajan and James Regas altered the minutes to remove references to “certain adverse matters,” and that she signed the final minutes “feeling that she had no choice but to do so.” (Id. ¶ 4.) The affidavit goes on to say that Hakken-Phillips discussed the Bank’s lending and credit administration practices, compiling reports on the Bank’s real estate portfolio and loan deficiencies, document shredding at the Bank, and Regas’s role in Bank operations. (Id. ¶¶ 5-6.) The FDIC alleges that several weeks after the interview, Hakken-Phillips voluntarily provided the FDIC with her handwritten draft Board minutes and handwritten “diaries” describing tasks, meetings, and communications with the Bank’s senior officers. (R. 289, Mot. ¶ 3.)
On October 25, 2011, the FDIC sued Defendants, each of whom was a
director, officer, board member, or attorney for the Bank. (See R. 1, Compl.) When the FDIC deposed Hakken-Phillips on October 31, 2013, she chose to invoke the Fifth Amendment in response to every question except those asking for her name, address, and educational background. (See R. 289-7, Mot., Ex. G, Hakken-Phillips Dep.) The FDIC filed the instant motion on June 2, 2014, to compel her testimony regarding the authenticity of the draft minutes, the explication of certain passages in those minutes, and the process of preparing the Bank’s final minutes. (R. 289, Mot. ¶ 16.) Hakken-Phillips filed a response on June 19, 2014, in which she requested leave to provide the court with “additional information” regarding the basis of her Fifth Amendment privilege assertion for an in camera review. (R. 302, Opp. ¶ 2.) With the court’s leave, Hakken-Phillips submitted her “additional information” on June 24, 2014, ex parte. (R. 304.) On June 26, 2014, the FDIC filed a reply in support of the current motion. (R. 306, Reply.)”
“The FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, et al is still alive.
Amrish Mahajan, the former president of Mutual Bank of Harvey, the bank that loaned Rita Rezko the money to buy the lot subsequently sold to the Obamas, has been barred from banking.
From Chicago Business July 1, 2013.
“Politically connected ex-Mutual Bank president barred from banking”
“Amrish Mahajan, former president of failed Mutual Bank of Harvey and a major fundraiser for imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has been barred from future participation in the banking industry under a newly released regulatory order.”
Citizen WElls 