Category Archives: Rezko

Amrish Mahajan Obama Rezko lot bank president barred from banking, FDIC receiver for Mutual Bank v Mahajan, Rita Rezko loan, Kenneth Conner whistleblower

Amrish Mahajan Obama Rezko lot bank president barred from banking, FDIC receiver for Mutual Bank v Mahajan, Rita Rezko loan, Kenneth Conner whistleblower

“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 Conner after he
challenged the appraisal on the land purchased by Rita Rezko, just
prior to the land sale to Obama?”…Citizen Wells

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.

Mr. Mahajan consented, without admitting or denying unsafe or unsound banking practices, to a May 1 order by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. prohibiting him from participating “in any manner” in the conduct of the affairs of any federally insured institution.

Until early 2009, Mr. Mahajan ran Mutual Bank of Harvey, one of the most active lenders to Indian-American-owned businesses in the Chicago area and an enthusiastic commercial real estate lender in Chicago and other markets around the country. The bank, which had $1.7 billion in assets at its peak, failed spectacularly in 2009, saddling the FDIC’s insurance fund with an estimated $917 million in losses, according to the latest FDIC account. That makes it the costliest Chicago-area bank failure since the beginning of 2009.

Mr. Mahajan is a defendant in an FDIC lawsuit against former officers and directors of Mutual Bank seeking $130 million in damages. That suit, filed in October 2011, is pending and in discovery.”

“Mutual Bank briefly entered the realm of national politics after news surfaced of the bank’s role in financing the purchase of a lot next to the home of then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. The Obama family bought part of the lot from the wife of Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko after Mutual Bank lent her $500,000 to purchase the property. Mr. Rezko is in prison on charges of fraud, among other things.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130701/NEWS01/130709985/politically-connected-ex-mutual-bank-president-barred-from-banking#

Order to bar Amrish Mahajan from banking.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/151128159/Mahajan-Order

Read more about the Mahajan Obama Rezko connection here.

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/obama-rezko-lot-transaction-bank-president-mahajan-fdic-lawsuit-motion-hearing-july-10-2013-judge-virginia-m-kendall-rezkos-sold-lot-to-obamas-kenneth-j-conner-whistleblower/

Blagojevich appeal prosecutor response, November 13, 2013, 169 page plea to reject new trial request, US Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, Blagojevich prosecution drags on Obama protected

Blagojevich appeal prosecutor response, November 13, 2013, 169 page plea to reject new trial request, US Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, Blagojevich prosecution drags on Obama protected

“Why did Judge James Zagel allow only 2 percent of the Blagojevich wiretaps to be released?”…Citizen Wells

“I can tell you that, based on court rules and procedures, Judge James Zagel carries some of the blame for the delay in the transcripts.

The question is, what was Judge Zagel’s motivation?”…Citizen Wells

“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 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.”

Read more:

http://www.foxillinois.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.il/26fb71b1-www.foxillinois.com.shtml#.UoN2XPl4z90

From Citizen Wells July 16, 2013.

“Blagojevich appeals convictions, stiff 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.”

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/16/news/doc51e4d91045f9d865437288.txt?viewmode=fullstory

The appeal.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/154180774/Blagojevich-Appeal

The response.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/183864545/Blagojevich-Appeal-Response-Prosecutors-oppose-new-trial

Raghuveer Nayak pleads guilty to fraud, Obama Blagojevich ties, Bribed doctors to send patients to his surgery centers, By 2008 donated $ 750K to Obama Blagojevich et al

Raghuveer Nayak pleads guilty to fraud, Obama Blagojevich ties, Bribed doctors to send patients to his surgery centers, By 2008 donated $ 750K to Obama Blagojevich et al

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 ghosts of Obama’s past are still appearing.

From the Chicago Tribune September 20, 2013.

“Key figure in Blagojevich saga pleads guilty to fraud

Businessman accused of bribing doctors to perform procedures at his surgery centers”

“Raghuveer Nayak, an influential Chicago businessman who figured in the downfalls of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and ex-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., pleaded guilty Friday in his own criminal case to federal fraud charges that he bribed doctors to send patients to surgery centers he owns.

A major fundraiser for Blagojevich and Jackson, Nayak was never charged in his central role in the Blagojevich corruption saga. But he faced an October trial on multiple counts of fraud and filing false tax returns involving his Illinois and Indiana surgery centers.

In a deal reached Friday, Nayak, 58, pleaded guilty to one count each of impeding the IRS and mail fraud. The mail fraud charge is under the controversial “honest services” provision of federal criminal law. Nayak reserved the right to appeal the mail fraud count if another federal court upholds a challenge to the “honest services” provision in a separate case.

Nayak is seeking as little as 18 months in prison, while prosecutors said they want up to five years and three months. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Jan. 22-23.”

“Nayak made millions of dollars from his surgery centers — private facilities where doctors perform outpatient procedures, from plastic surgery to orthopedics.

Nayak also became a go-to political fundraiser in Chicago’s Indian community. He hosted fundraisers and often contributed himself.

He gave mostly to Democrats, and by 2008 he and his wife had spread more than $750,000 to politicians, including Blagojevich, Obama, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Gov. Pat Quinn.”

Read more:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-20/news/ct-met-nayak-guilty-plea-20130921_1_nayak-sandi-jackson-surgery-centers

Blagojevich appeal delay helps Obama, One of many problems for Obama hidden by Syria crisis and domestic issues, Blagojevich legal scrutiny has lasted 10 years

Blagojevich appeal delay helps Obama, One of many problems for Obama hidden by Syria crisis and domestic issues, Blagojevich legal scrutiny has lasted 10 years

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“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 US Court of Appeals 2012 statistics.

“The median time from filing a notice of appeal or docket date to final disposition decreased from 11 months to 9.8 months.”

http://www.uscourts.gov/Statistics/JudicialBusiness/2012/us-courts-of-appeals.aspx

The Rod Blagojevich Notice of appeal was filed on December 22, 2011.

Almost 2 years later we are nowhere near disposition.

But in the legal scrutiny of Rod Blagojevich, this is a short span considering the fact that the wiretapping of his associates began in late 2003.

“The following facts make the argument that Rod Blagojevich should have been arrested long before December 8, 2008 and before Tony Rezko.

  • Blagojevich began scheming as soon as he entered office. From the Blagojevich arrest press release. “The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.”
  • Pamela Meyer Davis began wearing a secret FBI wiretap  in late 2003 to record conversations involving state health planning board.
  • Most of the corruption in the Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine and Rod Blagojevich indictments took place between 2003 and 2005. Counts 1, 2 and 4 in the Blagojevich Indictment were eventualy dropped. Those counts covered that time period and represented approximately half of the indictment.
  • “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.” Rezko trial March 12, 2008″

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/blagojevich-prosecution-delays-protect-obama-part-1-blagojevich-arrest-delayed-after-2008-election-patrick-fitzgerald-usdoj-had-key-witness-and-crimes/

Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?

Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?

What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing just after the 2008 election and just before Blagojevich was arrested?

ObamaBlagoNov2008

I told you this would happen over 2 years ago.

From Citizen Wells July 19, 2011.

“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.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/blagojevich-appeal-strategy-will-reveal-more-about-setup-protecting-obama-crucify-blagojevich-or-off-the-hook/

Syria distracts, Another Obama diversion, What’s happening while no one is looking, Gun control, Debt ceiling, Real unemployment, AL VT eligibility cases, Blagojevich appeal, FDIC v Mahajan

Syria distracts, Another Obama diversion, What’s happening while no one is looking, Gun control, Debt ceiling, Real unemployment, AL VT eligibility cases, Blagojevich appeal, FDIC v Mahajan

“we do know that Islamic extremists with ties to Al-Qa’ida participated in the attack.”…CIA Benghazi talking points memo
“400 US surface-to-air missiles were ‘STOLEN’ from Libya during the Benghazi attack and are ‘now in the hands of Al Qaeda’, claims whistleblower”…The Mail Online August 13, 2013

“Because I tend to rely on evidence and not on hearsay, I believe we should focus our attention on Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey, not on Giannoulias and the Broadway Bank, if we are to assign names to the financial institution about which Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times has heard “rumblings.” Although Mahajan is not known to readers of No Quarter and to the national media, I imagine they will desire more information on the unscrupulous banker once they read the information I unpack below the fold. And yes, Obama is involved, deeply involved.”…Truthteller, NoQuarterUSA October 12, 2008

 

 

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

If you don’t have one. Create one.

From Zero Hedge August 29, 2013.

“As Syria Distracts, Here’s What’s Happening While No One Is Looking”

“Gun control

Today, the Obama administration announced fresh measures to restrict the availability of firearms in the Land of the Free.

This time around, they want to ban the re-importation of firearms that have been exported from the US to allied nations. They also want to raise the bar on federal background checks.

But rather than go through Congress, the Obama administration is simply going to create a new ‘rule’.

‘Rules’ are a type of regulation created directly by agencies within the Executive Branch. They’re not laws, but they carry the same weight and effect as laws, complete with criminal and civil penalties.

Oftentimes, hundreds of new rules are proposed every single day in the Land of the Free. It’s the easiest way for the President to circumvent the Constitution and simply decree whatever he wants.

Debt ceiling

The US government is once again danger close to defaulting.

Bear in mind, at the start of the ‘credit crisis’ six years ago, US federal debt was just $8.9 trillion. Today, US federal debt stands at $16.738 trillion– 88% higher.

Curiously, the statutory debt limit is $16.699 trillion… so the US government already breached its limit 39 billion dollars ago.

For the last few months, the Treasury Department has been resorting to ‘extraordinary measures’ in order to avoid default (i.e. things that you and I would go to jail for).

But Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is about out of bullets. So the US could be in danger of defaulting at any moment, especially if an unexpected fiscal ‘surprise’ should arise… like, uh, war.

That’s the funny thing about war– they tend to be expensive. And starting another war might very well be the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Read more:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-29/syria-distracts-here%E2%80%99s-whats-happening-while-no-one-looking

I applaud Zero Hedge for pointing out another Obama camp diversion.

However, they left out a few things that Obama might wanted attention diverted away from.

  • The real employment situation. Huge drop in labor force participation, increase in part time employees, etc.
  • AL and VT supreme court Obama eligibility cases.
  • Blagojevich appeal.
  • FDIC v Mahajan lawsuit.
  • Obamacare impact on jobs and health care costs.
  • Add your own Obama problem. Time prohibits listing them all.

Jacob Kiferbaum sentenced, Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama crony, Health Facilities Planning Board rigging, Obama IL senate committee changed members from 15 to 9

Jacob Kiferbaum sentenced, Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama crony, Health Facilities Planning Board rigging, Obama IL senate committee changed members from 15 to 9

“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 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

From My Fox Chicago July 31, 2013.

“Blagojevich-linked figure sentenced to 27 months”

“A piece of unfinished business from the decade-long investigation of Illinois’ imprisoned ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich, was done in federal court in Chicago.

Building contractor Jacob Kiferbaum (KEE’-fur-bowm) pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months. The 61-year-old has admitted he and others with links to Blagojevich threatened to deny state permission for a suburban hospital’s expansion unless it hired Kiferbaum’s firm. Prior to the sentencing a tearful Kiferbaum apologized to the court and his family.”
“A 2003 investigation into the scheme triggered a series of investigations that eventually toppled dozens of powerbrokers, including Blagojevich.”

Read more:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/22978746/a-last-blagojevich-linked-figure-to-be-sentenced

I keep reminding everyone that the investigation began in 2003 and Blagojevich was arrested after the 2008 elections.

Patrick Fitzgerald was diverted on a wild goose chase in the Valerie Plame controversy.

Colin Powell knew this.

I also keep reminding everyone that the rigging of the IL Health Facilities Planning board was only possible with the help of Obama’s IL senate committee.

The number of members was changed from 15 to 9.

From the Kiferbaum indictment press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY MAY 9, 2005

“CHICAGO – Three Chicago area executives – one of them a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which controls medical facility construction projects in Illinois, and one a managing director of Bear Stearns & Co., an investment firm that arranges financing for public works projects in Illinois – were indicted on federal charges for allegedly engaging in insider-dealing, influence-peddling, kickbacks and corruption involving their private interests and public duties, federal officials announced today. One defendant, Stuart Levine, a lawyer and businessman, allegedly engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain a total of at least $9.5 million for himself and certain associates, while the other two defendants, Jacob Kiferbaum, an architect and construction firm executive, and P. Nicholas Hurtgen, a lawyer and investment banker, allegedly participated in the same fraud scheme to obtain multi-million dollar contracts for their businesses through construction kickbacks or other fraudulent deals. Levine and Hurtgen were arrested this morning by federal agents. Kiferbaum is cooperating with the investigation and was not arrested. All three were charged with various counts of fraud and extortion in a 28-count indictment that was returned by federal grand jury last Wednesday and unsealed today, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.”

“Stuart Levine – 19 counts of mail fraud, 4 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of misapplication of funds, 2 counts of money laundering and one count of extortion – a businessman whose interests included S.L. Investment Enterprises, L.P., and a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (Planning Board), a state commission appointed by the Governor that grants or denies a permit, known as a “Certificate of Need” (CON), to build hospitals, physician offices or other medical facilities statewide. Levine was also a member of the board of trustees of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, formerly known as Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School (Chicago Medical School or CMS) in North Chicago, and he was chairman of its real estate committee. He was also a trustee of the Northshore Supporting Organization (NSO), a charitable trust that supported Chicago Medical School;”

“Jacob Kiferbaum – 16 counts of mail fraud, 3 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of misapplication of funds and one count of extortion – chief executive officer of KCC Group Design + Build, Inc., formerly known as Kiferbaum Construction Corp., of Deerfield. Kiferbaum was also a trustee of Chicago Medical School;”

“Mercy Hospital – $1.5 million kickback from Kiferbaum to Levine: Levine solicited a kickback of approximately $1.5 million from Kiferbaum relating to the construction of Mercy Hospital’s $49 million Crystal Lake facility. Kiferbaum agreed to pay a kickback, with the exact amount and manner of the payments to be determined at a later date. Levine used his influence with the Planning Board to ensure that Mercy Hospital received approval of its application to build the Crystal Lake hospital after hiring Kiferbaum’s company. In voting for, and influencing other Planning Board members to vote for, Mercy’s application, Levine concealed from the Planning Board his financial arrangement or contacts with Kiferbaum. After the Planning Board voted to approve Mercy’s application on April 21, 2004, Levine reported to Individual 1 that hiring Kiferbaum did it for Mercy. When Levine told Kiferbaum that no one really knew that Levine was orchestrating the approval, Kiferbaum said he could not thank Levine enough, and Levine said they were in this together. Levine directed that Kiferbaum pay the kickback proceeds to Individual 1 pursuant to a sham consulting contract for $1,728,000, which included the $1.5 million kickback that Levine had solicited and $228,000 that Kiferbaum still owed from the CMS addition kickback. On May 1, 2004, Levine told Individual 1 that other people knew that Mercy received its CON because of the combination of Kiferbaum, Hurtgen and a law firm and that this information would spread like wildfire.”

Blagojevich appeal filed July 15, 2013, Attorney Len Goodman, Lauren Kaeseberg, Judge James Zagel barred FBI wiretap evidence, Juror bias, Why was appeal delayed?

Blagojevich appeal filed July 15, 2013, Attorney Len Goodman, Lauren Kaeseberg, Judge James Zagel barred FBI wiretap evidence, Juror bias, Why was appeal delayed?

“Why did Judge James Zagel allow only 2 percent of the Blagojevich wiretaps to be released?”…Citizen Wells

“I can tell you that, based on court rules and procedures, Judge James Zagel carries some of the blame for the delay in the transcripts.

The question is, what was Judge Zagel’s motivation?”…Citizen Wells

“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 Oakland Press July 16, 2013.

“Blagojevich appeals convictions, stiff 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.”

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/16/news/doc51e4d91045f9d865437288.txt?viewmode=fullstory

The appeal.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/154180774/Blagojevich-Appeal

Obama Chicago corruption ties don’t die, Iraqi billionaire Nahdmi Auchi tied to Obama and Rezko owns lot Chicago wants to develop, Mahajan FDIC lawsuit still alive, Obama Rezko lot transaction

Obama Chicago corruption ties don’t die, Iraqi billionaire Nahdmi Auchi tied to Obama and Rezko owns lot Chicago wants to develop, Mahajan FDIC lawsuit still alive, Obama Rezko lot transaction

“GE obtained a court judgment against Rezko in November 2004 for the $3.5 million it said was outstanding on its loans, but the company put collection efforts on hold during the first half of 2005 as it negotiated with Rezko, court records show.”…San Francisco Chronicle March 3, 2008

“Why did the Rezkos enter into an agreement to purchase the lot next to the Obama house and pay the asking price of $ 625,000 at a time when they were broke and heavily in debt?”…Citizen Wells

“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

 

 

Do not believe the lies that you have been told about the Obama Rezko lot transaction.

Tony Rezko and his wife, with the help of Iraqi billionaire Nahdmi Auchi, with the help of Mutual Bank president Amrish Mahajan, made the lot transaction work for the Obama’s.

From the Chicago Tribune July 10, 2013.

“City aims to jump-start Near South Side development
Land controlled by billionaire once linked to convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko”

“The city is trying to kick-start development of vacant 62-acre parcel near downtown controlled by a controversial Iraqi billionaire once linked to convicted Democratic influence peddler Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

A city development panel on Tuesday recommended giving Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration authority to buy the parcel just west of Dearborn Park on the Near South Side. If the City Council signs off, officials would have the authority to go to court to force a sale. That would take place if Luxembourg-based General Mediterranean Holding SA, which controls the Riverside District LLC that owns the site, was reluctant to sell to a developer, city officials said.

General Mediterranean is led by Nahdmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire living in London who was a onetime business partner of Rezko, city officials said. Auchi once made a $3.5 million payment to Rezko while Rezko awaited trial on the fraud charges that landed him in prison.

Auchi’s conglomerate in 2005 paid $130 million for the site, although Housing and Economic Development Assistant Commissioner Robert McKenna said an assessment needs to be done before the land’s current value can be determined. General Mediterranean acquired the site from Rezmar Corp., which was owned by Rezko and former partner Daniel Mahru.”

A tax increment financing district was formed in 1997 to help develop the site, but nothing was ever done with the property in part because of the controversy surrounding its owners.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-city-property-develop-0710-20130710,0,4340275.story

From Citizen Wells July 10, 2013.

“The FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, former president of Mutual Bank, et al is scheduled for a motion hearing in the courtroom of Judge Virginia M. Kendall on July 10, 2013. Mutual Bank loaned Rita Rezko the money for the lot that was purchased by the Obama’s. It is also the bank that fired whistleblower Kenneth J. Conner after he questioned the appraisal of that lot.”

“The Obama camp, with the full cooperation of the mainstream media and US Justice Dept., has done their best to distance Obama from his numerous close corruption ties in Chicago and Illinois. The delayed and dragged out prosecution of Rod Blagojevich with his mutual ties to Tony Rezko, the failure to call Rezko as a witness and the dropping of counts against Blagojevich that are most damning for Obama, is one good example.”

“Not only was Mahajan a member of Rezko’s bundling network; his bank, the Mutual Bank of Harvey, granted Rita Rezko the $500,000 mortgage she neededin order to purchase the lot on which the Obama mansion in Chicago sits. As many of you may recall, the Obamas could not have purchased the mansion they could not afford unless transactions for the mansion and the lot closed on the same day. Obama needed to locate someone who would buy the lot, and he approached Rezko, the convicted slumlord with whom Obama toured the property before they mutually agreed to the following arrangement:”

“The Mutual Bank of Harvey, of course, for the Mutual Bank of Harvey’s President is a man who is deeply connected to the Chicago machine that backed Barack Obama. Indeed, Amrish Mahajan was one of Mayor Daley’s first political appointments in 1989, when he was named to a seat on Chicago’s Plan Commission, where he would be joined by Obama’s former boss and Rezko’s business partner Allison Davis and by Valerie Jarrett, Daley’s Chief of Staff whochaired the Commission from 1991-1995. Mahajan, in other words, worked with those who devised and profited from Daley’s failed public housing experiment in Chicago, a public housing policy Obama helped fund as state Senator and US Senator.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/obama-rezko-lot-transaction-bank-president-mahajan-fdic-lawsuit-motion-hearing-july-10-2013-judge-virginia-m-kendall-rezkos-sold-lot-to-obamas-kenneth-j-conner-whistleblower/

 

Tony Rezko was deeply in Debt. His wife’s salary was $ 37,000.

Rezko received a loan of 3.5 million from Auchi on May 23, 2005.

From the UK Guardian via WikiLeaks December 18, 2008.

Norman Lamb said he was concerned about how the libel laws act as a constraint on investigative reporting and referred to the case of the British Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi.

He said: “He is a British citizen – an Iraqi exile – and he is reported to be a multibillionaire. He was convicted in France in 2003 of fraud in a trial involving the oil company Elf. Importantly, he continues to assert his innocence of the charges – there was a conviction, but he is pursuing routes of appeal against it. He was barred from entering the United States in 2005.

“My interest in the matter is in his connections to Tony Rezco, who was convicted of fraud, money laundering and bribe-related charges in Illinois, and who is currently in prison pending sentencing. We understand that sentencing has been delayed, and it has been suggested that he should talk to federal prosecutors, especially about allegations against Illinois governor [Rod] Blagojevich, which are being investigated.

“There is political interest in the US because of the connections between Rezko and President-elect Obama. I make no allegation at all relating to the latter.

“There have been reports that a company related to Mr Auchi registered a loan of $3.5m to Tony Rezko on 23 May 2005. That and other alleged connections are obviously of great interest to investigative journalists and others. More to the point, it is legitimate to investigate such a matter, given that Auchi is a prominent British citizen with political connections in this country and overseas. As I said, it is not appropriate to go into more detail, but it is alleged that Mr Auchi and his lawyers, Carter-Ruck, have been making strenuous efforts to close down public debate. Of course, it is absolutely legitimate for any citizen to demand accurate and rigorous investigation and reporting. The question is whether UK libel laws have the disproportionate effect of discouraging legitimate reporting. Many believe that they do.”

Read more:

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/MPs_demand_reform_of_libel_laws

 

Thanks to commenter Bessie

Obama Rezko lot transaction bank president Mahajan FDIC lawsuit, Motion hearing, July 10, 2013, Judge Virginia M. Kendall, Rezkos sold lot to Obamas, Kenneth J. Conner whistleblower

Obama Rezko lot transaction bank president Mahajan FDIC lawsuit, Motion hearing, July 10, 2013, Judge Virginia M. Kendall, Rezkos sold lot to Obamas, Kenneth J. Conner whistleblower

“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

 

 

The FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, former president of Mutual Bank, et al is scheduled for a motion hearing in the courtroom of Judge Virginia M. Kendall on July 10, 2013. Mutual Bank loaned Rita Rezko the money for the lot that was purchased by the Obama’s. It is also the bank that fired whistleblower Kenneth J. Conner after he questioned the appraisal of that lot.

Daily Calendar

Wednesday, July 10, 2013 (As of 07/08/13 at 06:48:24 AM )

Honorable Virginia M. Kendall               Courtroom 2319 (VMK)

1:11-cv-07590   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporatio   09:00   Notice of Motion

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/0.htm

From Citizen Wells June 5, 2012.

The Obama camp, with the full cooperation of the mainstream media and US Justice Dept., has done their best to distance Obama from his numerous close corruption ties in Chicago and Illinois. The delayed and dragged out prosecution of Rod Blagojevich with his mutual ties to Tony Rezko, the failure to call Rezko as a witness and the dropping of counts against Blagojevich that are most damning for Obama, is one good example.

With the best attempts to divert attention away from Obama’s corrupt past, the Ghosts of Obama’s Christmas past continue to linger.

From an article written by truthteller and presented on NoQuarter USA on October 12, 2008.

“”Because I tend to rely on evidence and not on hearsay, I believe we should focus our attention on Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey, not on Giannoulias and the Broadway Bank, if we are to assign names to the financial institution about which Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Timeshas heard “rumblings.” Although Mahajan is not known to readers ofNo Quarter and to the national media, I imagine they will desire more information on the unscrupulous banker once they read the information I unpack below the fold. And yes, Obama is involved, deeply involved.”

My interest in Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey was picqued by this list of contributors in Rezko’s bundling network provided by the Chicago Sun-Times last March. View the second page of the document, and notice the following entry:

Last name First name Obama donations Rezko connection
Mahajan Amrish $2,500 Banker whose bank loaned money to Rezko companies. The bank also loaned Rezko’s wife money to buy a vacant lot next to Obama’s home.

The data available in the Sun-Times spreadsheet is corroborated by the following data, which is democratically available at the Federal Election Commission‘s website:

MAHAJAN, AMRISH
CHICAGO, IL 60607
MUTUAL BANK

OBAMA, BARACK
VIA OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC
12/20/2003 500.00 24020030170
04/14/2004 1000.00 24020461757

Not only was Mahajan a member of Rezko’s bundling network; his bank, the Mutual Bank of Harvey, granted Rita Rezko the $500,000 mortgage she neededin order to purchase the lot on which the Obama mansion in Chicago sits. As many of you may recall, the Obamas could not have purchased the mansion they could not afford unless transactions for the mansion and the lot closed on the same day. Obama needed to locate someone who would buy the lot, and he approached Rezko, the convicted slumlord with whom Obama toured the property before they mutually agreed to the following arrangement:

The home and lot sales closed on June 15, 2005. A land trust controlled by the Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million, and the Obamas secured a $1.32 million mortgage from Northern Trust to complete that purchase. That same day, Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, bought the side lot for $625,000. A $37,000- a-year Cook County employee, she secured a $500,000 mortgage from Mutual Bank of Harvey.

The structure of this transaction begs the following question: What bank would lend a government employee who earns $37,000 per annum a $500,000 mortgage? What bank would assume such a risk?

The Mutual Bank of Harvey, of course, for the Mutual Bank of Harvey’s President is a man who is deeply connected to the Chicago machine that backed Barack Obama. Indeed, Amrish Mahajan was one of Mayor Daley’s first political appointments in 1989, when he was named to a seat on Chicago’s Plan Commission, where he would be joined by Obama’s former boss and Rezko’s business partner Allison Davis and by Valerie Jarrett, Daley’s Chief of Staff whochaired the Commission from 1991-1995. Mahajan, in other words, worked with those who devised and profited from Daley’s failed public housing experiment in Chicago, a public housing policy Obama helped fund as state Senator and US Senator.

Rezko, according to the Boston Globe, was one of the major beneficiaries of Obama’s legislative advocacy for funding of Daley’s public housing experiment. Other major beneficiaries are Jarrett and Allison Davis. Mahajan was also a beneficiary, for his bank had made $3.4 million dollars in loans to Tony Rezko’s slum landlord business since 2002. A banker for one of the slumlords who benefitted from the Daley housing program Obama helped bankroll, Mahajan was returning a favor when he wrote a $500,000 mortgage in 2005 for the wife of one of his clients. Although Tony’s financial problems were mounting in 2005, and although Rita earned only $35,000 per annum, Mahajan underwrote the mortgage. Favors must be reciprocated, I guess, especially when one can satisfy two parties at once: the person with whom one has a complicated relationship in real estate and the politician who helped finance that complicated relationship as state Senator and US Senator.

I doubt federal investigators are interested in the Mahajans solely for their involvement in the property deal involving Obama, Mahajan and the Rezkos. The Mahajans, I believe, are the foci of their probe for many reasons.

The real estate transaction involving Rita Rezko, the Obamas and Mutual Bank of Harvey is just the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, the Mutual Bank of Harvey seems to be at the center of all the corruption in Chicago. To quote former Donald Perillo, Chicago insurance mogul and son of the lawyer for Al Capone, in the Chicago Tribune article I cite above:

Donald Parrillo said he isn’t surprised to see Mahajan mix it up with politics and business. “He got that attitude from the Parrillo family,” the former alderman said. “He wanted to get in the game.”

And Mahajan certainly is in the game. The banker of the Chicago machine, he is also the man who wrote the mortgage for Rita Rezko that facilitated Obama’s purchase the mansion he could not afford. This is why I believe prosecutors are interested in Harvey Mutual Bank. Not only did Rezko receive loans from this institution; this bank is heavily involved in problematic real estate dealings involving Blagojevich and Obama. And if I may quote Rezko in the 9 JUN letter he wrote to Judge Amy St. Eve:

Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened. They are pressuring me to tell them the “wrong” things that I supposedly know aboutGovernor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. I have never been party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator. I will never fabricate lies about anyone else for selfish purposes. I will take what comes my way, but I will never hurt innocent people. I am not Levine, Loren, Mahru , or Winter.”

Rezko is now talking, and prosecutors are presently interested in a politically connected financial institution. I bet Obama now regrets paying Rita Rezko $104,500 for the strip of the land in the lot on which his house sits in January 2006. Acquired with the assistance of a questionable $500,000 mortgage from Amrish Mahajan’s Mutual Bank of Harvey, this lot and Obama’s desire to expand his yard by bit was the catalyst for all the investigative reports into Obama’s deep ties to Rezko. By the way, Rita’s lot is only accessible through the front gate of Obama’s home; it is not a separate property, and it was never intended to be a separate property.

“It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor,” Obama says of the real estate transactions with Rezko. I wonder if now he also believes it was a mistake for him to serve as the legislator who represented and bankrolled Richard Daley, Amrish Mahajan, Valerie Jarrett, Allison Davis and the Chicago Plan Commission. But at least he and Michelle have a house, a house the Mutual Bank of Harvey, the politically connected bank that wrote loans for Rezko, helped them procure in 2005. Too bad that house will be the end of Barack Obama.

obama-home.jpg

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/5382/about-the-financial-institution-mentioned-in-the-sun-times-obama-tony-rezko-amrish-mahajan-the-kenwood-mansion-rita-rezko/

From Citizen Wells November 1, 2011.

“Here is what we know about the purchase of a lot by Barack and Michelle Obama from Rita Rezko in 2006:

1. “In June, 2005, Mutual Bank President and CEO Amrish Mahajan and
other Mutual Bank officers 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.” (Conner lawsuit)

2. “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.”
(Conner lawsuit)

3. “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.” (Conner lawsuit)

4. “On or about October 19, 2006, Mutual Bank received a Grand Jury
Subpoena (GJS) requiring Mutual Bank to produce the Rezko 5050
Greenwood loan file, as well as a Rita Rezko Riverside District
Development LLC checking account and loan file.” (Conner lawsuit)

5. “In October, 2007, Conner had various communications with Mutual
Bank’s Human Resources Department representative, Lana Schlabach. In
an email communication of October 15, 2007, Conner directly referenced
“Resentment over my mentioned discovery of the removal/replacement of
an appraisal review that I conducted. That appraisal review contained
substantial observations and suggestions. The transaction and parties
involved were high profile in the media.I am under the impression that
the FBI has since looked at the file.”” 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.” (Conner lawsuit)

6. “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.” (Conner lawsuit)

7. The FDIC has filed a lawsuit against Mutual Bank, Amrish Mahajan, Richard Barth, et al.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/fdic-mutual-bank-lawsuit-reveals-rezko-obama-corruption-kenneth-j-conner-lawsuit-amrish-mahajan-richard-barth-where-did-rezkos-get-the-money/

From ABC News Chicago August 22, 2011.

“Anita Mahajan, a Chicago businesswoman with ties to former governor Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty to bilking the state of Illinois by submitting bogus bills.

“I’m sorry,” Mahajan said in court Monday while pleading guilty to felony theft for pilfering about $100,000 in taxpayer money through her drug-testing company, K.K. Bio-Science. That company is now defunct.

The 60-year-old received four years of probation, agreed to pay $200,000 in fines and perform 1,500 hours of community service.

Mahajan’s husband, Amrish, was a banker and significant fundraiser for Blagojevich. Also, Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, made more than $100,000 in commissions handling real estate deals for the Mahajans in 2006, which caused a stir in the Blagojevich re-election campaign. The following year, Mahajan was charged with cheating the state of out of $2 million for drug tests that were never performed.

“People of this state were being cheated,” Dick Devine said in 2007 when he was the state’s attorney while announcing a seven-count indictment against Mahajan. The attorney general sued to recover the state’s lost money.

Four years later, Mahajan pleaded guilty to a single, reduced charge of theft instead of the felonies that would have sent her to prison for at least six years.

“Anita Mahajan is another example of the collateral damage that’s been left in the wake of the Rod Blagojevich Tsunami,” Steve Miller, Mahajan’s attorney, said.””

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8320596&rss=rss-wls-article-8320596

From the FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, et al.

“6. The Director Defendants also wasted corporate assets and drained the Bank’s capital by…(c) authorizing $ 495,000 in “bonuses” to pay for the criminal defense costs for the Defendant Amrish Mahajan’s wife who was indicted for Medicaid fraud”

“32. The Director and Officer Defendants failed to establish procedures that would have lessened the risks of the Bank’s improvidant lending practices. The terms of transactions were not accurately documented. Status reports were missing so that records of how an asset was progressing were not available. Terms of loans were changed at closing without board or loan committee approvals or any rcord in the file. Loan guarantees were frequently missing from the files. Appraisers were retained by brokers with an interest in seeing transactions consummated, not by the bank. Appraisals were often received after the loan was funded. Loans were typically non-recourse and dependent on guarantor abilities to repay in the event that the collateral was insufficient. Yet, little or no attention was paid to whether guarantors had sufficient liquidity to protect the Bank’s interest; the officers and the Board did little or no analysis of guarantor or borrower financial strength.”

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/10/26/FDIC.pdf

From the Washington Times November 4, 2008.

“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.””

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/04/fbi-asked-questions-on-rezko-land-deal/

Obama’s Rezko problem is not going away.

 

 

 

Blagojevich prosecutor Reid Schar leads CHA team investigating bid rigging, Demolish Chicago’s high rise low income housing projects, Minority bidder loses contract employees fired

Blagojevich prosecutor Reid Schar leads CHA team investigating bid rigging, Demolish Chicago’s high rise low income housing projects, Minority bidder loses contract employees fired

 
“The squat brick buildings of Grove Parc Plaza, in a dense neighborhood that Barack Obama represented for eight years as a state senator, hold 504 apartments subsidized by the federal government for people who can’t afford to live anywhere else.

But it’s not safe to live here.

About 99 of the units are vacant, many rendered uninhabitable by unfixed problems, such as collapsed roofs and fire damage. Mice scamper through the halls. Battered mailboxes hang open. Sewage backs up into kitchen sinks. In 2006, federal inspectors graded the condition of the complex an 11 on a 100-point scale – a score so bad the buildings now face demolition.”

“As a state senator, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee coauthored an Illinois law creating a new pool of tax credits for developers. As a US senator, he pressed for increased federal subsidies. And as a presidential candidate, he has campaigned on a promise to create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that could give developers an estimated $500 million a year.

But a Globe review found that thousands of apartments across Chicago that had been built with local, state, and federal subsidies – including several hundred in Obama’s former district – deteriorated so completely that they were no longer habitable.”

“Among those tied to Obama politically, personally, or professionally are:

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama’s presidential campaign and a member of his finance committee. Jarrett is the chief executive of Habitat Co., which managed Grove Parc Plaza from 2001 until this winter and co-managed an even larger subsidized complex in Chicago that was seized by the federal government in 2006, after city inspectors found widespread problems.”

“Antoin “Tony” Rezko, perhaps the most important fund-raiser for Obama’s early political campaigns and a friend who helped the Obamas buy a home in 2005. Rezko’s company used subsidies to rehabilitate more than 1,000 apartments, mostly in and around Obama’s district, then refused to manage the units, leaving the buildings to decay to the point where many no longer were habitable.

Campaign finance records show that six prominent developers – including Jarrett, Davis, and Rezko – collectively contributed more than $175,000 to Obama’s campaigns over the last decade and raised hundreds of thousands more from other donors. Rezko alone raised at least $200,000, by Obama’s own accounting.”…Boston Globe June 27, 2008

From the Chicago SunTimes July 8, 2013.
“CHA brings in Blagojevich prosecutor for probe of $3.9 million deal”
“The former federal prosecutor who sent Gov. Rod Blagojevich to prison is leading a Chicago Housing Authority investigation to determine whether the competitive bidding process for a $3.9 million contract to oversee the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of taxpayer-subsidized CHA apartments was rigged, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Reid Schar heads a team of 11 attorneys from the law firm Jenner & Block who have been examining contract bids the CHA received earlier this year from a group of companies led by McKissack & McKissack that oversaw the work for the past 10 years, and three other bidders, the sources say.

Soon after Schar, who was the lead prosecutor in the Blagojevich corruption case, began investigating, the CHA fired two longtime employees of the public housing agency who had overseen the McKissack contract for several years, working with McKissack employees out of the CHA’s Loop offices.

McKissack — a minority-owned company from Washington, D.C., that also has offices in Chicago — ended up offering the lowest price in its effort to hold onto the CHA contract, the sources say.

But the housing authority instead gave the job to Gilbane Inc., awarding it a $3.9 million contract at a special board meeting June 28. Gilbane is set to begin work Monday.”
“McKissack was founded in 1990 by Deryl McKissack, an African-American woman whose family has been in the architectural and engineering business for more than 100 years. It has overseen projects across the United States, including expansions of McCormick Place and O’Hare Airport and construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. McKissack began overseeing the CHA work in 2003. Three years later, she formed a joint venture with two other businesses — the Rise Group and URS Corp. Operating under the name the Partnership for Transformation, the McKissack group won a $16.4 million CHA contract under which it continued to oversee the work. In 2010, the joint venture won a new $9 million contract, extending the deal. That contract expired June 30.

The McKissack group wasn’t initially the low bidder with its proposal to continue overseeing the work beyond that date, according to sources.

They say CHA officials — including the two employees who later were fired — began interviewing representatives from McKissack and the three other bidders. The CHA officials asked the bidders to submit their “best-and-final” offers — a process the CHA repeated twice, ending with McKissack having the lowest bid, according to several sources.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/20961576-761/cha-brings-in-blagojevich-prosecutor-for-probe-of-39-million-deal.html