Category Archives: Tony Rezko

Rod Blagojevich sentencing live coverage, Susan Berger freelance journalist, Judge James Zagel, December 6 and 7, 2011, John Wyma motion denied

Rod Blagojevich sentencing live coverage, Susan Berger freelance journalist, Judge James Zagel, December 6 and 7, 2011, John Wyma motion denied

“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

The Rod Blagojevich sentencing hearing will take place this Tuesday and Wednesday, December 6 and 7, 2011. Susan Berger, a freelance journalist, will be covering the hearing live and reporting on Twitter. The live reports can be found here:

http://es.twitter.com/Msjournalist

Or here:

http://citizenwells.net/2011/12/05/rod-blagojevich-sentencing-live-coverage-december-6-and-7-2011-susan-berger-freelance-journalist-judge-james-zagel/

A comment was placed on this site recently asking about the outcome of the Blagojevich defense motion regarding John Wyma testimony. Susan Berger reported.

“Judge Zagel denied motion to vacate as untimely. Also denied Wyma motion as threshold not met I.e. No new evidence”

John Wyma testimony, Blagojevich hearing, December 2, 2011, Wyma Chicago corruption ties, Media and Justice department protect Obama

John Wyma testimony, Blagojevich hearing, December 2, 2011, Wyma Chicago corruption ties, Media and Justice department protect Obama

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

“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

A hearing is scheduled today, Friday, December 2, 2011, in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel for Rod Blagojevich.

Daily Calendar

Friday, December 2, 2011  (As of 12/02/11 at 08:46:51 AM

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Blagojevich    11:30   Motion Hearing

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

Most of what we are fed from the media about Blagojevich is in regard to the alleged selling of Obama’s senate seat. As I have stated repeatedly, that was a cleverly crafted diversion. The Justice Department has added to this charade by dropping counts 1,2 and 4 against Blagojevich which contain references to much of the earlier corruption tied to Obama, specifically the rigging of the IL Health Planning Board. Today’s hearing is in regard to a motion about the testimony of John Wyma. I was pleased to find that 2 reports out of Chicago did not limit references to just the alleged selling of the senate seat.

From the Chicago Tribune November 29, 2011.

“With one week to go before former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is sentenced for widespread public corruption, his attorneys have asked a federal judge to consider what they say is new evidence regarding a key government witness.”

“In the filing, Blagojevich’s defense team referenced the recent sentencing of Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Rezko was sentenced to 10 1/2 years in prison last week.

In their filing, Blagojevich’s attorneys say prosecutors failed to tell the judge who approved wiretaps for the Blagojevich investigation that then-staffer John Wyma, who was a confidential informant for the government, had cut a deal to avoid being investigated.

But Wyma’s attorney denied his client had any agreement with the government in 2008 when he agreed to be a confidential informant.

“There was never any understanding he would not be investigated,” attorney Zach Fardon said. “He cooperated truthfully with no preconditions.”

Wyma later received immunity from the government when he was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury.

The defense also questioned whether the government fully investigated Rezko’s allegations — which were the subject of recent court filings — that Wyma was involved in a specific bribery scheme at the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-blagojevich-filings-20111129,0,3280336.story

From the Chicago SunTimes November 28, 2011.

“Blago’s lawyers want hearing based on new John Wyma information

Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers are asking for a special hearing to discuss what they say is new information regarding a key witness at the former governor’s trial.

They are asking U.S. District Judge James Zagel for an evidentiary hearing regarding the testimony of onetime Blagojevich friend and lobbyist John Wyma, arguing they weren’t allowed to properly cross examine him at trial. It was Wyma’s cooperation in 2008 that led to FBI wiretaps against the now-convicted ex-governor.

In a weekend filing, lawyers questioned whether the government properly vetted information against Wyma that was provided by a cooperating Tony Rezko. Rezko, a onetime fund-raiser to Blagojevich convicted on 16 counts of corruption, was sentenced to 10 ½ years last week.

In filings regarding Rezko’s sentencing, Wyma’s cooperation with the government is discussed, including that Rezko told prosecutors that he tried to extract a campaign contribution through Wyma from Provena Health, whom Wyma represented as a lobbyist at the time.

Lawyers question whether bribery was involved when Provena was granted a certificate of need from an Illinois hospital board. Rezko told prosecutors in private sessions that Provena had a dispute with someone on the hospital board and resolved it by paying the board member, according to the Blagojevich defense filing. Prosecutors say the charge was unsubstantiated.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/9114418-417/blagos-lawyers-want-hearing-based-on-new-john-wyma-information.html

Perhaps the effort to throw Obama under the bus is underway.

More on John Wyma corruption ties forthcoming.

Rod Blagojevich sentencing, Don’t let Blago’s sentencing distract you from other political theatrics, Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board

Rod Blagojevich sentencing, Don’t let Blago’s sentencing distract you from other political theatrics, Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board

“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 John Kass and the Chicago tribune December 1, 2011.

“Don’t let Blago’s sentencing distract you from other political theatrics”

“Former Gov. Dead Meat is scheduled to be sentenced at a hearing scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, as Illinois taxpayers watch another corrupt governor head to prison.

Rod Blagojevich has been convicted on 17 counts of corruption, including trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat. In a court filing on Wednesday, federal prosecutors asked that Dead Meat sit in federal stir for the next 15 to 20 years.
 
During his machinations surrounding the appointment of a United States senator, and the shakedowns of hospital and racetrack executives, the defendant revealed his corrupt, criminal character,” federal prosecutors said in their court filing.

But this is still Illinois, where politics is often about distraction. So with our second consecutive governor doing the long goodbye in federal court, try to keep your eye on the shell with the pea inside.

The deadline for petitions of candidacy for judges and legislators is 5 p.m. Monday. So let’s not forget all those who get the petitions signed, all those patronage and union workers, precinct captains, guys who owe guys for favors, and just plain decent citizens who care about goodness and honesty in government.

Before it’s over, Dead Meat’s nemesis, House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Lisa’s Daddy, will certainly exert his influence here. The Lord of Madiganistan doesn’t want you to look too closely, but he always has something to say about who gets to wear the black robes. He’s chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, and those boys still decide who wields the gavel from the county level to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Then on Tuesday, as the Blagojevich hearing begins, more unrelated theatrics are scheduled at City Hall. City Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino, the airports czarina, has been invited to appear before the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Aviation.”

“Then on Wednesday, as Blago is likely to be standing before U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel to plead for mercy, there will be yet another important hearing in another government building.

This time, it’s a state panel, a meeting of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which OKs new hospital construction.

And here’s the irony. The state board is scheduled to consider a proposal by a Wisconsin hospital group — Mercy Health System — to build a medical facility in Crystal Lake. (Mercy Health System is not affiliated with Mercy Hospital and Medical Center of Chicago.)

In 2003, Mercy Health System sought the state board’s approval on a similar project.

As federal testimony in a number of cases has explained, there was much behind-the-scenes intrigue. FBI agents got involved and by the time they were done, the federal Operation Board Games probe had exposed Republican and Democratic corruption throughout state government and led to Blagojevich’s indictment.

The feds brought down Stuart Levine, a member of the state hospital board, who pleaded guilty to extortion, bribery and money laundering. Levine rolled over and testified against others, including the recently convicted Republican boss, William Cellini.

In April of 2003, Mercy Health System hired a Levine confederate, Jacob Kiferbaum, of Kiferbaum Construction, to build the hospital. Levine testified that he thought he’d get his kickback from Kiferbaum. The state hospital panel controlled by Levine gave Mercy Health System the go-ahead for the Crystal Lake project.

Soon the feds were all over it. In 2005, a judge overturned the state board’s ruling. Kiferbaum pleaded guilty to attempted extortion in an unrelated hospital shakedown.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-1201-20111201,0,286190.column

USA V Blagojevich Cellini Harris Kelly Monk, December 1, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, 10:15 AM, Courtroom 2503 (JBZ), Notice of Motion

USA V Blagojevich Cellini Harris Kelly Monk, December 1, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, 10:15 AM, Courtroom 2503 (JBZ), Notice of Motion 

“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

“Why has the Blagojevich defense team been denied access to the government wiretaps?”…Citizen Wells

I noticed the following Notice of Motion for today, Thursday, December 1, 2011, in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel.

Daily Calendar

Thursday, December 1, 2011  (As of 12/01/11 at 06:47:08 AM 

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Blagojevich                     10:15   Notice of Motion           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         10:15   Notice of Motion           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Harris                          10:15   Notice of Motion           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Kelly                           10:15   Notice of Motion           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Monk                          10:15   Notice of Motion

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

The Chicago Tribune reports the following December 1, 2011.

“Prosecutors seek 15-20 years for Blagojevich, his lawyers seek compassion”

“Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich asked a federal judge to impose “a compassionate and proportionate sentence” on the former governor, in sharp contrast to the 15- to 20-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors earlier in the day.

“…Despite a strong and seemingly defiant exterior, no one is more acutely aware of the tragedy that has become of his life’s work and aspirations as is Mr. Blagojevich himself,” the defense said in its 69-page filing Wednesday evening.

Blagojevich’s lawyers continued to maintain his innocence despite the verdicts of two separate juries and argued that Blagojevich shouldn’t be hit with a lengthy prison sentence because the prosecution and publicity has already resulted in his “personal ruination, public scorn and criminal conviction.”

Without elaborating, the filing said the three years since Blagojevich’s arrest have “taken a toll” on his mental and physical health and resulted in “anxiety, stress and uncertainty” for his two daughters.

The lawyers referred to Blagojevich’s media offensive, saying it was a response “for good or for bad” to press coverage, and said that his and wife Patti’s reality show appearances weren’t intended to garner public support but rather to make money to support their daughters.

”His family is close to bankruptcy,” the defense wrote. “He has suffered every kind of public ridicule and humiliation imaginable – to the point that foreign tourists can often be found posing for photos on the outside staircase to his family home.”

But in their 21-page filing, prosecutors say Blagojevich merits much harsher punishment because he “repeatedly committed serious criminal acts that have done enormous damage to public confidence in Illinois government. He has refused to accept any responsibility for his criminal conduct and, rather, has repeatedly obstructed justice and taken action to further erode respect for the law.

“While the government is not unsympathetic to the plight that Blagojevich, like many criminals, has inflicted upon his family through his criminal acts, Blagojevich has nobody to blame but himself for the criminal conduct in which he engaged.”

The sentencing memo highlights some of Blagojevich’s misdeeds, including his attempt to trade an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama for $1.5 million in campaign cash, his shakedown of a CEO of a children’s hospital for $25,000 and his stalling of a bill to help the state horse industry in an effort to earn another $100,000 in campaign contributions.

“Over the course of a relatively brief period of time, during his machinations surrounding the appointment of a United States Senator, and the shakedowns of hospital and racetrack executives, the defendant revealed his corrupt, criminal character,” prosecutors said. “But, as the evidence and Blagojevich’s conduct at his trials established, these were not isolated incidents. They were part and parcel of an approach to public office that defendant adopted from the moment he became governor in 2002.”

Prosecutors noted that Blagojevich was elected governor in 2002 on a platform to end “pay-to-play” politics and decried corruption following the conviction in 2006 of his predecessor, Gov. George Ryan.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-prosecutors-want-1520-years-for-blagojevich-20111130,0,4535135.story

Rod Blagojevich sentencing, December 6, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, 10:00 AM, Courtroom 2503 (JBZ), Tapes motion denied, John Wyma Testimony?

Rod Blagojevich sentencing, December 6, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, 10:00 AM, Courtroom 2503 (JBZ), Tapes motion denied, John Wyma Testimony?

“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

“Why has the Blagojevich defense team been denied access to the government wiretaps?”…Citizen Wells

Rod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, is scheduled for sentencing next Tuesday, December 6, 2011 in the courtroom of Judge James B Zagel.

Daily Calendar

Tuesday, December 6, 2011  (As of 11/29/11 at 05:47:57 AM 

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Blagojevich                     10:00   Sentencing

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

Once again the Blagojevich defense team has been denied access to over 150 wiretaps. Of course this means we have been denied access as well.

From the Chicago Tribune November 28, 2011.

“Judge denies Blagojevich request to hear new tapes”

“The federal judge who will sentence Rod Blagojevich had harsh words for the former Illinois governor’s attorneys as he denied a request Monday to play new federal wiretap tapes in court.

Blagojevich was convicted at two separate trials on 18 corruption counts, including allegations he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich will be sentenced next week, and his lawyers last week submitted a list of 180 secret tape recordings the FBI made of the governor and others.

Parts of some recordings were played during his trials, but Blagojevich has long argued that authorities should “play all the tapes.” He says some of the recordings hold evidence demonstrating his innocence.

But Judge James Zagel said Blagojevich’s attorneys hadn’t said what they specifically wanted to prove and what sections of the tapes they wanted to use, echoing complaints made by federal prosecutors.

“What this motion requests is my blind approval of the use of whatever excerpts it decides are relevant to `lack of ill intent’ and admissible … at sentencing,” Zagel said. “That request is denied.””

“The judge scheduled a Friday hearing on another Blagojevich request related to a government witness, John Wyma. Blagojevich’s attorneys are questioning whether Wyma helped the government “in exchange for a government benefit.” Prosecutors denied that allegation at trial.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-us-blagojevichtrial-,0,1987167.story

From the Chicago SunTimes November 28, 2011.

“Blago’s lawyers want hearing based on new John Wyma information”

“Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers are asking for a special hearing to discuss what they say is new information regarding a key witness at the former governor’s trial.

They are asking U.S. District Judge James Zagel for an evidentiary hearing regarding the testimony of onetime Blagojevich friend and lobbyist John Wyma, arguing they weren’t allowed to properly cross examine him at trial. It was Wyma’s cooperation in 2008 that led to FBI wiretaps against the now-convicted ex-governor.

In a weekend filing, lawyers questioned whether the government properly vetted information against Wyma that was provided by a cooperating Tony Rezko. Rezko, a onetime fund-raiser to Blagojevich convicted on 16 counts of corruption, was sentenced to 10 ½ years last week.

In filings regarding Rezko’s sentencing, Wyma’s cooperation with the government is discussed, including that Rezko told prosecutors that he tried to extract a campaign contribution through Wyma from Provena Health, whom Wyma represented as a lobbyist at the time.

Lawyers question whether bribery was involved when Provena was granted a certificate of need from an Illinois hospital board. Rezko told prosecutors in private sessions that Provena had a dispute with someone on the hospital board and resolved it by paying the board member, according to the Blagojevich defense filing. Prosecutors say the charge was unsubstantiated.

“Blagojevich did not have any knowledge about and was absolutely unaware of the Provena activities of Rezko and Wyma,” the filing says.

It says after Rezko gave the information to prosecutors, Wyma was hit with a subpoena.

“Shortly after Wyma received this grand jury subpoena, he agreed to be, and became, an informant for the government. This allowed the government to obtain a wiretap on Blagojevich’s telephones,” lawyers wrote.

After the taps were secured, Blagojevich’s lawyers said, prosecutors deemed Rezko’s information “not substantiated.”

“If the incriminating evidence against Wyma was not substantiated because it was not investigated, the government’s statement is misleading,” defense lawyers wrote.

Provena officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Blagojevich’s lawyer, Shelly Sorosky, said the new information was based on filings before Rezko’s sentencing, where both sides agree Rezko’s cooperation led the government to Wyma.”

Read more:
http://www.suntimes.com/9114418-417/blagos-lawyers-want-hearing-based-on-new-john-wyma-information.html

Stuart Levine Steven Loren status hearing, Judge Amy J. St. Eve, Thursday, December 1, 2011, Obama Rezko problem

Stuart Levine Steven Loren status hearing, Judge  Amy J. St. Eve, Thursday, December 1, 2011, Obama Rezko problem

“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

“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

Tony Rezko has been sentenced to 10.5 years. Rezko was clearly the fall guy. That is why he was prosecuted before Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, and kept away from the public and the press. That doesn’t mean that Obama doesn’t have a Rezko problem. Rod Blagojevich and Daniel Frawley have not been sentenced yet and Stuart Levine and Steven Loren have a status hearing next Thursday, December 1, 2011 in the courtroom of  Judge  Amy J. St. Eve.              

Daily Calendar

Thursday, December 1, 2011  (As of 11/24/11 at 02:47:58 PM 

Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)

1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Levine                          08:45   Status Hearing             
1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Loren                           08:45   Status Hearing

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

Tony Rezko sentenced to 126 months, November 22, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve, Rezko never called as witness, 10 1/2 year sentence

Tony Rezko sentenced to 126 months,  November 22, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve, Rezko never called as witness, 10 1/2 year sentence

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells

“I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?” …Attorney Daniel Konicek, Frawley Deposition

“I just think it’s very, very disturbing that we have these pay-to-play allegations going on for years.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

“Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?”…Citizen Wells

Tony Rezko, a longtime associate and friend of Barack Obama, who was convicted in June 0f 2008 and never called as a witness, was sentenced today in the courtroom of Judge Amy J. St. Eve. Rezko was sentenced to 126 months.

Live feeds from courtroom by Natasha Korecki of the Chicago SunTimes:

“Line for Rezko sentencing already stretching down court hallway. Two rows of his family in place in courtroom.”

“Rezko looks over to his daughter briefly and she grows emotional. His lawyer now giving Rezko history to judge.”

“Rezko lawyer says Lon Monk far more culpable in Blagojevich probe but got 24-month deal.”

“Lawyer says Rezko, 56, is bankrupt and will never act criminally again.. ” I cannot overstate how remorseful Mr. Rezko is.””

“Prosecutor’s turn now in Rezko. Says his conduct was “about as bad as it gets in a pol corruption case…Illinois was for sale.”

“Rezko clearly agitated as prosecutor says Rezko overstated bad conditions in county jail. Says Rezko got sunlight — through skylights.”

“Tony Rezko sentenced to 126 months in prison. He’s already served about 44.”

http://twitter.com/#!/natashakorecki

Tony Rezko sentencing Tuesday, November 22, 2011, Rezko history since conviction, Rezko fall guy?, Daniel Frawley sentencing delayed

Tony Rezko sentencing Tuesday, November 22, 2011, Rezko history since conviction, Rezko fall guy?, Daniel Frawley sentencing delayed

“The last thing Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich needed was that letter written by convicted Illinois influence peddler Tony Rezko promising he’d never rat out his pals.”… John Kass, Chicago Tribune

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

“Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?”…Citizen Wells

Tony Rezko is scheduled to be sentenced today, Tuesday, November 22, 2011 in the courtroom of Judge Amy St. Eve at 9:30 AM. Rezko, convicted in June of 2008 has never been called as a witness. Here is a history of Rezko activity since being convicted.

June 8, 2008 conviction.

Breakdown of Counts
• Guilty on 12 of 15 counts mail/wire fraud
• Not Guilty on 1 count attempted extortion
• Guilty on 2 of 6 counts corrupt solicitation
• Guilty on 2 counts money laundering

August 28, 2008

“As his sentencing nears, pressure is mounting on Tony Rezko to cooperate with federal investigations into some of the highest-profile politicians in the state — including Gov. Blagojevich.”

“Now, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Rezko has been seen at the federal courthouse as many as a dozen times since his June conviction. He’s been held since then at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.”

“If Rezko’s cooperating, that would be a major development in “Operation Board Games,” the government’s ongoing probe into state boards that’s widened into a broader corruption probe.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/rezko-obama-tony-rezko-talking-john-thomas-chicago-suntimes-article-august-28-2008-is-rezko-working-with-the-feds/

October 9, 2008

“A federal judge this morning officially postponed the sentencing of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko as he continues his discussions with the government.

U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve indefinitely delayed Rezko’s Oct. 28 sentencing date and told the parties to meet again for a status in the case in December.
The sentencing, originally scheduled for Oct. 28, just before the election, was likely to bring unfavorable publicity to Rezko’s onetime friend Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Prosecutors and Rezko lawyers said this morning they did not want to set a future date for sentencing.

Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said they sought the delay to “work together to agree to otherwise narrow differences at sentencing.”

The agreement comes as Rezko is talking to federal prosecutors. The Sun-Times first reported Rezko’s meetings with the feds in August and sources close to the investigation later confirmed the talks last month.”

(Link not active)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/1208918,rezko100808.article

December 16, 2008

“Jailed political fundraiser Tony Rezko’s sentencing for corruption was delayed indefinitely Tuesday, most likely adding to the legal problems of embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The sentencing date of Jan. 6 was erased by U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve. The action appeared to signal that Rezko’s on-again, off-again relationship with the federal prosecutors investigating Illinois government was on again.

Both federal spokesman Randall Samborn and Rezko’s chief defense counsel, Joseph Duffy, declined to comment after the hearing. Duffy responded to a blizzard of questions by saying, “Merry Christmas, everybody.”

Rezko was a major adviser to Blagojevich and raised more than $1 million for his campaign fund. He started talking to federal prosecutors last summer, a few weeks after he was convicted of fraud, money laundering and bribery-related counts in June.

Then he stopped talking and demanded to be sentenced as soon as possible. Now that January date is canceled.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/tony-rezko-sentencing-delayed-judge-st-eve-delays-again-december-16-2008-rezko-blagojevich-and-obama-linked-rezko-contributions-to-obama-obama-indictment-next/

February 3, 2009

“Convicted businessman Tony Rezko — who is poised to become a crucial witness in the massive corruption case against ex-Gov. Blagojevich — was quietly moved out of a downtown jail and into another facility last month, the Sun-Times has learned.
Authorities seeking Rezko’s cooperation pushed for the move after Rezko complained about being held in the tough confines of solitary imprisonment, known as “the hole,” even as he was providing information to prosecutors, sources said.”

 
“Rezko’s relocation is a sign that even with thousands of taped conversations of the governor, investigators still highly value Rezko’s potential as a witness.”
“Rezko, who served as an adviser and fund-raiser to Blagojevich, provided authorities with substantial information involving the governor and bolstered pay-to-play testimony by former Illinois Finance Authority director Ali Ata, as well as talking about other alleged deals.”

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2009/02/prosecutors_help_move_rezko_ou.html

July 21, 2010

“What unholy alliance prevented Tony Rezko from being called as a prosecution witness? Was it a pact between Rezko, Blagojevich and Obama? Is the US Justice Department complicit in a coverup? Was there pressure from entities in the Middle East? Perhaps a combination of those forces. ”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/blagojevich-trial-us-justice-department-corruption-protecting-obama-part-5-tony-rezko-and-stuart-levine-are-best-witnesses-where-is-tony-rezko-why-hasnt-rezko-been-sentenced/

November 5, 2010

“Antoin “Tony” Rezko, once a top adviser and contributor to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be sentenced Jan. 28 for his role in a scheme to solicit kickbacks from companies seeking state contracts.

Rezko was not at the hearing this morning at which U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve set the sentencing date.

Rezko has agreed to cooperate against Blagojevich but wasn’t called to testify at the former governor’s trial last summer. With Blagojevich’s retrial set to begin in April, Rezko’s sentencing months before could signal he is unlikely to be called again. Defendants usually aren’t sentencing until after their cooperation has been completed.

A sentencing date was not set today for Rezko’s co-defendants, Stuart Levine, Joseph Cari and Steven Loren, who will next return to federal court for a status hearing in March.”

https://citizenwells.com/2010/11/05/rezko-sentencing-january-28-2011-rezko-witness-at-blagojevich-trial-rezko-agreed-to-cooperate/

January 8, 2011

“With the agreement of lawyers on both sides, a federal judge on Thursday indefinitely postponed the sentencing of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, keeping open the possibility that the government could call the former top fundraiser for Rod Blagojevich at the former governor’s retrial.

Prosecutors didn’t call Rezko at Blagojevich’s trial last year, but the government could be re-evaluating that since the jury deadlocked on all but one count against the former governor. He was convicted of lying to the FBI.

Rezko began to cooperate with investigators after a federal jury convicted him in 2008 of extorting millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. He was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28. He also faces sentencing for a separate conviction stemming from a fraudulent loan scheme.”

“Prosecutors gave no indication if Rezko would be called to testify in the Blagojevich retrial or the trial of co-defendant William Cellini, a Springfield powerbroker, in August.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/rezko-sentencing-delayed-indefinitely-blagojevich-trial-cellini-trial-obama-trial/

January 29, 2011

“A federal judge has set a new sentencing date for a convicted influence peddler and one-time fundraiser for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Judge Amy St. Eve told attorneys at a hearing Friday that she’ll sentence Tony Rezko on Oct. 21.

Rezko’s attorneys and prosecutors had asked the judge earlier to delay Rezko’s sentencing to allow for the possibility he could testify at two upcoming trials, including Blagojevich’s corruption retrial in April.

At Friday’s hearing, the defense also argued in favor of a new trial for Rezko based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling scaling back so-called honest services laws.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/tony-rezko-sentencing-october-21-2011-blagojevich-trial-witness-rezko-blagojevich-obama-board-rigging/

March 3, 2011

“A federal judge has denied a request from a former fundraiser for impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to throw out his 2008 convictions and grant him a new trial.”

“But Judge Amy St. Eve writes in a Thursday ruling that straightforward kickbacks and bribery underpinned Rezko’s convictions — not the disputed legal notion that he failed to provide honest services.”

“Prosecutors accused Rezko of squeezing kickbacks from people seeking state business. Rezko’s cooperated with prosecutors in Blagojevich’s ongoing corruption case and agreed to delay his sentencing until after the former governor’s retrial.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/rezko-denied-new-trial-judge-amy-st-eve-denied-request-rezko-cooperated-in-blagojevich-trial-why-rezko-not-a-witness/

May 31, 2011

“As a pale, thin-looking Tony Rezko admitted Thursday his two-plus years in jail is wearing on him, the convicted businessman became a possible factor in former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s April retrial.

Rezko’s January sentencing was postponed to leave open the possibility that the onetime powerful political fund-raiser could testify in either Blagojevich’s trial or that of Downstate businessmen William Cellini, Rezko’s lawyer said. However, prosecutors did not say whether they would tap Rezko.

Meanwhile, Rezko, who spoke briefly at a federal court hearing Thursday, revealed for the first time where he’s being housed — about 150 miles away inside the Dodge County, Wis., lock-up.

“These have been very tough times. … I’ve not seen the outside,’’ Rezko told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve. “I have no contact with my family since I’ve been moved to Dodge.’’

A Dodge County jail official said Rezko was moved to the facility Dec. 16, 2008.”
“Rezko’s lawyers said the convicted businessman would like to reap the benefits of testifying and possibly receive a lighter sentence. But he will not seek a delay in sentencing beyond September.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/tony-rezko-may-2011-court-hearing-rezko-witness-in-blagojevich-trial-rezko-jailed-in-dodge-countywisconsin/

October 3, 2011

“U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve agreed Monday to a request by prosecutors to delay Rezko’s sentencing — which was most recently set for Oct. 21 — until Nov. 22 so the sentencing doesn’t interfere with the trial of Springfield businessman and longtime political power broker William Cellini.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/tony-rezko-sentencing-delayed-again-until-november-22-2011-october-3-2011-hearing-rezko-sentenced-after-cellini-trial/

Daniel Frawley, an ex partner of Rezko, scheduled for sentencing yesterday, apparently had his sentencing delayed.

The sentencing of Tony Rezko today will be revealing. Will Rezko be the fall guy or will the deal struck in 2006 protect Rezko as well?

Daniel Frawley Tony Rezko sentencing, November 21 and November 22, 2011, Companion Security partners, Obama investigation witnesses, Fall guys or deals, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

Daniel Frawley Tony Rezko sentencing, November 21 and November 22, 2011, Companion Security partners, Obama investigation witnesses, Fall guys or deals, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells

“I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?” …Attorney Daniel Konicek, Frawley Deposition

“I just think it’s very, very disturbing that we have these pay-to-play allegations going on for years.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

Next week Daniel Frawley and Tony Rezko are scheduled to be sentenced. Frawley on Monday, November 21 and Rezko on Tuesday, November 22. Both have information about Obama shady dealings. Both were partners. Both should be witnesses in an Obama investigation.

Next week we will learn if Tony Rezko is the fall guy in Operation Board Games. Set up to protect Obama. Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich prosecuted first? Why wasn’t Tony Rezko sentenced earlier? Rezko was never called as a witness.
We have a corrupt US Justice Department, with a corrupt prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, headed by a corrupt Attorney General, Eric Holder, headed by a corrupt occupant of the White House, Barack Obama.

We have little if any checks and balances left.

Where is the House Judiciary Committee?

From the  House Judiciary Committee website.

About the Judiciary Committee
The jurisdiction of the The House Committee on the Judiciary as follows:

1.The judiciary and judicial proceedings, civil and criminal.
2.Administrative practice and procedure.
3.Apportionment of Representatives.
4.Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.
5.Civil liberties.
6.Constitutional amendments.
7.Criminal law enforcement.
8.Federal courts and judges, and local courts in the Territories and possessions.
9.Immigration policy and non-border enforcement.
10.Interstate compacts generally.
11.Claims against the United States.
12.Members of Congress, attendance of members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner; and their acceptance of incompatible offices.
13.National penitentiaries.
14.Patents, the Patent and Trademark Office, copyrights, and trademarks.
15.Presidential succession.
16.Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
17.Revision and codification of the Statutes of the United States.
18.State and territorial boundary lines.
19.Subversive activities affecting the internal security of the United States.

Committee Members

Republicans
Hon. Smith Chairman (R) Texas, 21st

Hon. Sensenbrenner Jr. (R) Wisconsin, 5th

 Hon. Coble (R) North Carolina, 6th

 Hon. Gallegly (R) California, 24th

Hon. Goodlatte (R) Virginia, 6th

Hon. Lungren (R) California, 3rd

Hon. Chabot (R) Ohio, 1st

Hon. Issa (R) California, 49th

Hon. Pence (R) Indiana, 6th

Hon. Forbes (R) Virginia, 4th

Hon. King (R) Iowa, 5th

Hon. Franks (R) Arizona, 2nd

Hon. Gohmert (R) Texas, 1st

Hon. Jordan (R) Ohio, 4th

Hon. Poe (R) Texas, 2nd

Hon. Chaffetz (R) Utah, 3rd

Hon. Griffin (R) Arkansas, 2nd

Hon. Marino (R) Pennsylvania, 10th

Hon. Gowdy (R) South Carolina, 4th

Hon. Ross (R) Florida, 12th

Hon. Adams (R) Florida, 24th

Hon. Quayle (R) Arizona, 3rd

Hon. Amodei (R) Nevada, 2nd
  
Democrats
Hon. Conyers Jr. Ranking Member (D) Michigan, 14th

Hon. Berman (D) California, 28th

Hon. Nadler (D) New York, 8th

Hon. Scott (D) Virginia, 3rd

Hon. Watt (D) North Carolina, 12th

Hon. Lofgren (D) California, 16th

Hon. Jackson Lee (D) Texas, 18th

Hon. Waters (D) California, 35th

Hon. Cohen (D) Tennessee, 9th

Hon. Johnson (D) Georgia, 4th

Hon. Pierluisi (D) Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner

Hon. Quigley (D) Illinois, 5th

Hon. Chu (D) California, 32nd

Hon. Deutch (D) Florida, 19th

Hon. Sánchez (D) California, 39th

http://judiciary.house.gov/index.html

Daniel Frawley deposition and testimony could lead to Obama arrest or investigation, Ulsterman White House Insider report, FDIC vs Mutual Bank, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

Daniel Frawley deposition and testimony could lead to Obama arrest or investigation, Ulsterman White House Insider report, FDIC vs Mutual Bank, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

On March 9, 2011, Ulsterman reported the following White House Insider report.

“You said earlier that Obama was more confident these days though…

He is.  Pelosi backed off.  Issa appears to have done the same.  Holder is holding the line.  Information coming out of Chicago is still being limited – clamped down upon.  That doesn’t mean they aren’t nervous.  They are.
 Watch the Blagojevich thing – the trial.  The deal to be made.  Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.  And what happened to Rezko?  That’s part of the same deal.  A company called Companion Security…Blago, Rezko, the Feds.  It’s all brewing – maybe boiling over?  Of course the national media is burying all of this.  Most of it – that’s partly why we gotta back off.  The risk, the exposure, it’s too great.  We need help – help that I thought was coming but never fully materialized.

Rezko?  That could still be a problem for Obama?

(Laughs)  Yeah – do you think?  Hell yeah it could be a problem.  The guy has been holed up in jail waiting for sentencing.  Why?  Why so long?  Holder’s people are all over that thing – just like Blago.  Obama is in the mix of that mess for sure.  Does anybody really dispute that?  But you see, it’s the Justice Department’s complicity in protecting Obama during the ongoing investigations – talking current crimes here now… that is what can really sink them.  Not that there is just bank fraud, RICO  laws that were broken, payoffs, intimidations, – that’s all basic Chicago business as usual, right?  But now add the White House’s handling of all of that since Obama became President  – now you got a presidential scandal.  Now you got an investigation that leads to uncovering all of that mess.  Now you got grounds to legally go after Holder, Jarrett, and even the President of the United States.  Hell, throw in the First Lady too…

So you think President Obama should be impeached?

Impeached?  -Expletive- no.  That’s too good for him.  President Obama should be arrested. What’s that word you used a while back – sedition?  Well there you go – that pretty much sums up this whole stinking cesspool of a White House right there.   Look, I was suspicious of this guy before – but based on what I was told these past few months…the man, those around him (pauses) …this president is the most corrupt thing to have sat in the White House in our lifetimes.  Being part of that campaign in 2008…it makes me sick.  Do you understand what I’m saying?  Sick.  To have played any part in getting him elected…Obama isn’t just incompetent…he’s something else. Something worse.  I’ve been around a lot of asshole-arrogant politicians.  Plenty of those.  Even a few outright criminals.  This is different.  This is a whole other level of corrupt.”

http://newsflavor.com/politics/world-politics/white-house-insider-president-obama-should-be-arrested/

On July 11, 2011 the Chicago SunTimes presented 2 articles.

Daniel Frawley sentencing delayed.

 “Ex-Rezko partner’s sentencing delayed”

“After this story was published Monday morning, U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman canceled Daniel T. Frawley’s sentencing hearing, which had been scheduled for Tuesday. Court records did not indicate why Guzman did this. Frawley’s sentencing had not been re-scheduled.

Daniel T. Frawley once teamed with Tony Rezko — the political fixer who’s now in jail — in what turned out to be a doomed effort to open a training school for Iraqi security forces in western Illinois. Now, Frawley faces a federal prison stretch of his own.

On Tuesday, the 60-year-old onetime Chicago cop is set to appear before a federal judge for sentencing after pleading guilty in February in a $4.4 million bank fraud.

The scheme appears to have no connection to Rezko, the Wilmette businessman who was once a prolific campaign fund-raiser for politicians including the current president, Barack Obama, and the recently convicted former governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Still, federal prosecutors are seeking a reduced sentence for Frawley — of a year and a half in prison, rather than the 35 years he could face — apparently because Frawley has been secretly cooperating since at least 2006 in their investigation of Rezko, who was found guilty in June 2008 of having used his clout with the Blagojevich administration to enrich himself and his business associates.

Details about Frawley’s cooperation with the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and the Illinois attorney general’s office can be gleaned from a 65-page court deposition he gave seven months ago in a legal-malpractice lawsuit that he filed against his former longtime lawyer, George Weaver. In the lawsuit, Frawley accuses Weaver of having overbilled him and telling him to “withhold certain information from the government” when he was cooperating with authorities.

That sworn statement, given Dec. 1, 2010, is posted at suntimes.com/news/watchdogs. In it, Frawley talks about three meetings he’s had with law enforcement authorities since 2006. The deposition outlines how he secretly recorded Rezko, and it raises a new and unsubstantiated question about Rezko’s once-close relationship with Obama — an issue that dogged the then-U.S. senator during his presidential campaign four years ago.

Frawley says in the deposition that on March 13, 2006, he was in the Dirksen Federal Building at 219 S. Dearborn, making a phone call to Rezko’s cell phone and secretly recording him when attorney Weaver walked in and interrupted him.

Also in the room at the time, according to Frawley, were: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Stern; James “Sam” Dorger Jr., of the Illinois attorney general’s office’s public-integrity unit; an “FBI agent whose name I do not recall”; and Thomas Durkin, a criminal attorney also representing Frawley.

“I was on the phone, making a phone call to Tony Rezko,” Frawley says, according to the transcript. “I had a luncheon engagement with him. George was outside of the room where I was making the telephone call, and the purpose of the call was for me to keep my luncheon engagement with Tony Rezko and to go over and to record Tony Rezko.

“George saw and heard me on the phone, came running in and went like this [demonstrating]: Cut it,” drawing his hand across his throat.

Later in the deposition, Weaver’s lawyer, Daniel F. Konicek, asks Frawley about what specific information Weaver is supposed to have told Frawley to withhold from federal authorities.

“I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?” Konicek asks Frawley.

Frawley doesn’t answer. So Konicek presses him: “Am I correct it was about Obama being paid by Rezko?”

Frawley replies: “I’m not answering that question, based upon my attorney’s instructions.”

Nobody directly involved with the deposition — including Frawley and his lawyers, Weaver and his lawyers, and the FBI and U.S. attorney’s office — would comment.

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama’s presidential campaign, called Konicek’s suggestion that Rezko might have made any cash payments to Obama “utter nonsense.”

Besides the Rezko-Obama issue, Konicek also asks Frawley during the deposition, without any explanation, about “the $1.5 million from Rezko.”

One of Frawley’s lawyers objects to the question, and there’s no explanation about what Konicek is talking about.

At Rezko’s trial in 2008, Rezko’s lawyers disclosed in a court filing that federal authorities had accused Rezko of paying a $1.5 million bribe to obtain the security-training contract from the Iraqi government. Rezko’s lawyers then called that allegation completely false. Prosecutors have declined to comment.”

 http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/6394342-452/ex-rezko-partner-being-sentenced-tuesday.html

Tony Rezko’s $50 million Iraq deal  (reprinted from August 7, 2007)
“Two years ago, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity gave a $50 million contract to a start-up security company owned by now-indicted businessman Tony Rezko and a onetime Chicago cop with a checkered financial past. Within a month, an Iraqi leadership change left the deal in limbo.

Now the company, Companion Security, is working to revive its contract to train Iraqi power-plant guards in the United States.

Companion found support last summer from Gov. Blagojevich, whose staff offered to let the company lease a military facility in western Illinois. Since then, Companion has been lobbying officials from Washington to Baghdad about its Iraqi deal, according to documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Blagojevich’s offer to assist Companion came as a federal investigation into Rezko’s state-government dealings was heating up. A former top fund-raiser for the governor and other politicians, Rezko was indicted on corruption charges in October — four months after Blagojevich’s homeland security chief wrote a letter inviting Companion to train the guards at the Savanna Army Depot.

The governor’s spokeswoman said state officials didn’t know Rezko had ties to Companion until the Sun-Times began asking questions. Blagojevich and his staff also didn’t know that Companion’s chief executive, former cop Daniel T. Frawley, had a history of financial problems, she said.

It’s unclear if Frawley and Rezko remain partners. They declined to comment.

After the state found a proposed training site, Frawley went to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) last August.

Obama’s staff declined to help.

“The Senate staff had two meetings, one conference call, and sporadically e-mailed with representatives of Companion Security about their request for Sen. Obama to write a letter introducing the company to senior officials in the Iraqi government,” Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said. “That is not the kind of action Sen. Obama usually takes for individual companies, and our staff concluded on that basis to decline the requested assistance.”

LaBolt said Obama’s staff was unaware Companion had any ties to Rezko, who has raised campaign donations for Obama.

Companion beefed up its lobbying efforts in March, hiring a Washington attorney who has contacted the U.S. State and Commerce departments. Frawley wants U.S. officials to persuade the Iraqi government to honor the contract he signed on April 18, 2005, when Aiham Alsammarae, another friend of Rezko’s, ran Iraq’s electricity agency.”

“As Frawley sought to revive the contract in spring 2006, Blagojevich’s chief of staff, John Harris, directed the state’s homeland security adviser, Jill Morgenthaler, to find “a military site for the training of Iraqi police forces,” Morgenthaler wrote in an April 26, 2006, e-mail. She wrote the letter in June 2006 offering the Savanna site.

Two months later, Frawley sought help from Obama, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is now running for president. Frawley met with Seamus Ahern, who runs Obama’s Moline office. Frawley and Ahern discussed the proposal over a period of about six months.

Obama and Blagojevich viewed Frawley’s efforts as a chance to create jobs in the Quad Cities area.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/6452990-418/tony-rezkos-50-million-iraq-deal.html

We have a corrupt US Justice Department.

Daniel Frawley is scheduled for sentencing, Monday, November 21, 2011. Frawley sentencing should be delayed.

I would like to hear more about the “payments made by Rezko to Obama” from the Frawley deposition.

The FDIC lawsuit against Mutual Bank and it’s officers also brings the ghost of Christmas past to Obama again.

Where is the House Judiciary Committtee?

There have been questions about the White House Insider report from Ulsterman as being real. Well, he was spot on about Companion Security and bank fraud in March of 2011.