Category Archives: Tony Rezko

Stuart Levine next William Cellini trial witness, October 12, 2011, Levine corrupted Planning Board with help of Rezko and Obama

Posted on October 12, 2011 | 31 comments

Stuart Levine next William Cellini trial witness, October 12, 2011, Levine corrupted Planning Board with help of Rezko and Obama

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

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

Stuart Levine, the key witness in the Tony Rezko trial, is about to be called as the next witness in the William Cellini trial. Levine did the the dirty work for Rezko, the long time associate of Obama.

From the Stuart Levine Plea Agreement.

“In about August 2003, Defendant was re-appointed to the
Planning Board. Prior to that point, Defendant discussed his
possible re-appointment with Individual A and, separately, with
Individual B. Individual A said he’d get back to Defendant about
his request and later called Defendant and said that it would
happen. A short time later, Defendant was at a meeting in Rezko’s
office with Individual B and Individual B said that the board seat
Defendant wanted had been taken care of. Defendant understood from
these conversations that he would be re-appointed to the Planning
Board.

About the time Defendant was re-appointed, Rezko and Defendant
discussed Defendant’s appointment and Rezko said that he had
suggested that Defendant be made the vice-chairman of the Planning
Board and that Rezko expected to influence a certain number of
votes on the Planning Board. In February 2004, the Planning Board
elected Defendant as vice-chairman.

In or about the spring of 2004, Rezko and Defendant agreed
that Defendant, whose term on the TRS Board was due to expire in
May 2004, needed to be reappointed to the TRS Board and that
additional TRS Board members needed to be appointed who would
cooperate with Rezko and Defendant. Rezko agreed to use his
relationships and influence with high-ranking State of Illinois
officials to facilitate these efforts. Rezko subsequently
indicated to Defendant that Rezko had arranged for Defendant to be
re-appointed to the TRS Board, and Defendant was re-appointed on
about May 14, 2004.”

“Shortly before the Planning Board meeting on April 21, 2004,
Defendant had several telephone conversations with another Planning
Board member about Mercy and its application for a CON. That
Planning Board member said he had his “marching orders” from Rezko
and that Rezko wanted to help on Mercy’s application. In another
telephone conversation with the same Planning Board member,
Defendant said that it was important that Rezko’s direction on the
vote be communicated to the other Planning Board members that Rezko
influenced on the Planning Board.

At its meeting on April 21, 2004, the Planning Board
considered Mercy’s application for a CON. At this meeting,
Defendant and a majority of the Planning Board voted in favor of
Mercy’s application. Defendant intentionally concealed from and
failed to disclose to the Planning Board material facts relating to
its consideration of Mercy’s application, including his
arrangements with Rezko and Kiferbaum. After the meeting
concluded, another Planning Board member and Defendant met with
Rezko and discussed the Mercy vote.

After the April 21, 2004, Planning Board meeting, Defendant
directed Kiferbaum to pay the kickback relating to Mercy to
Individual E pursuant to a sham consulting contract. Steve Loren
drafted the contract. Defendant, Kiferbaum, and Individual E
agreed that the purpose of the contract was to make Kiferbaum’s
payments to Individual E look legitimate; that Individual E would
not, in fact, to do any work for Kiferbaum; and that Individual E
would share the Mercy kickback with Defendant.”

 http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/blog/plea.pdf

There is only one way that the Planning Board could be rigged with 5 member’s votes. The board had to be changed from 15 to 9 members.

Obama’s connection to the rigging of the Planning Board is apparent from this timeline.

“Jan. – Aug. 2003:  Obama was Chairman of the IL Senate Health and Human Service Committee.
Feb. 20, 2003: Senate Bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act” filed. Reduced members of IL Health Planning and Facilities Board from 15 to 9.

(Rezko Trial March 13, 2008; 3:09 p.m.)

“Almanaseer was appointed to the planning board in 2003 on Rezko’s recommendation. Prosecutors contend he became part of a five-member voting bloc on the board that followed Rezko’s wishes. Almanaseer said board Chairman Thomas Beck tried to steer his voting.

“He said, ‘If you just don’t know which way to vote, vote the way Mr. Levine votes because that’s the way Tony would want the vote to go,” Almanaseer recalled, referring to Stuart Levine.”

Spring 2003 – Nov 2003: (Rezko trial March 11, 2008; 10:58 a.m.)

“Jennifer Thomas, a former aide to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s patronage chief Joe Cini, continued on the stand Tuesday morning and gave a few more insights into those regular Monday morning meetings she and Cini held in 2003 with Antoin “Tony” Rezko at his office.”

“Thomas said Rezko floated the names of several people to sit on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which the government claims Rezko corrupted with the help of board member Stuart Levine. And Thomas said Rezko at one point made it clear that he wanted to see Levine reappointed to the panel, which was being overhauled by the governor in 2003.”
May 21, 2003: Senate Bill 1332 passed by House and Senate.
June 27, 2003: Blagojevich made this the effective date of Senate Bill 1332.
June 2003: (Rezko trial March 10, 2008; 4:16 p.m.)

“Ziegelmueller asked Hayden about a 2003 e-mail exchange with Lichtenstein, then the governor’s top lawyer, in which Wilhelm made recommendations for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
The name of Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination, also appears in the e-mail as a member of a strategic team reviewing hospital board matters with the governor’s staff when he was a state senator. The hospital board was scheduled to be revamped in the summer of 2003.
Obama was then chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.”
June 30, 2003: Obama gets the following donations.

$5000 Ali Ata was appointed as Director at IFA
$6000 Alison Davis gets appointment on Investment Board
$15,000 Dr. Michael Malek gets appointment on Hospital Facility Board
$5000  Abdelhamid Chaib’s wife gets appointment on Employee Security Board
$10,000 Elie Maloof – Rezko used him as one of several strawmen to donate funds to certain politicians.
$1000  Phil Cacciatore (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) gets seat on Board
$1000  Velma Butler (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) was recommended for Board
$1000  Martello Pollack (Vegas Crystal Comm) received Iraqi Construction contracts
$1000 Jack Carriglio gets appointed to Board
$500  Anthony Abboud gets appointed to Board
$3000 Michael Winter, who helped Rezko in funneling kickbacks through investment firm
$1000 Talat Othman gets appointed to Board
$1000 David Gustman, $1000 from Gustman’s wife after he is appointed Board Chairman”

The US Justice Department has done it’s best to protect Obama in the Operation Board Games investigations and prosecution. They cannot remove the many ties Obama has to Chicago corruption.

31 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, FBI, Federal Court, Illinois, Judges, Jury, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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William Cellini trial witness Steven Loren link to Obama, All Chicago corruption roads lead to Obama

Posted on October 12, 2011 | 15 comments

William Cellini trial witness Steven Loren link to Obama, All Chicago corruption roads lead to Obama

“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

From the Chicago Tribune October 11, 2011.
“Former Teachers’ Retirement System lawyer testifies to power broker’s
role in Blagojevich-TRS corruption axis, misconduct of implicated
board member Levine”

“A small but key group of people involved in the Illinois Teachers’
Retirement System had gathered for a meeting in a Chicago office
building in February 2004.

TRS Executive Director Jon Bauman and board member Stuart Levine were
already there, but longtime Springfield power broker William Cellini,
who had made millions of dollars from investing funds for the pension
system, was running late.

When Cellini arrived, he had warm welcomes — and a hug and a kiss on
the cheek for both Bauman and Levine — as well as a story to tell,
according to testimony Tuesday during the third day of Cellini’s
federal trial on charges of fraud and attempted extortion.

Testifying for the government, Steven Loren said Cellini indicated he
had met with top advisers to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to warn them
they were “moving too fast” and were “going to get themselves in
trouble.” Cellini said he went on to tell the advisers, Antoin “Tony”
Rezko and Christopher Kelly, that they should use “Bill Cellini as an
example,” according to Loren, who was a lawyer for TRS at the time.
Cellini then related to them how in his 30 years in politics he had
stayed “above the fray” and “out of the limelight.”

Cellini is now defending himself on charges that he worked with
Levine, Rezko and Kelly to try to squeeze a campaign contribution for
Blagojevich’s campaign from a Hollywood producer whose investment firm
had substantial TRS business.

Loren testified for about five hours about how Levine and Cellini
plotted with Rezko and Kelly to protect their influence with TRS.

Prosecutors hope Loren’s testimony will be important corroboration for
Levine, the government’s key witness, whose credibility is a central
issue for the defense. Levine — who like Loren has pleaded guilty in
the scandal — could take the witness stand as soon as Wednesday.

Loren testified that Levine had asked him to help defeat a proposal to
merge several state pension boards, a move that would have diluted the
power Cellini and Levine held at TRS. Loren said Levine told him he
showed Cellini a rough draft of some talking points on the issue
prepared by Loren. Cellini thought the ideas looked good but for one
minor tweak — the font should be changed, Loren said.

Loren also talked about how during a car ride with Levine in October
2003 — the last Friday of the month, he repeatedly recalled — he
agreed to help Levine prepare a sham finder’s fee for a man who did
business with the state.

In that same conversation, Levine explained to Loren that Cellini,
Kelly and Rezko had talked about how they would use these sham
finder’s fees to reward Blagojevich campaign contributors and that in
return, Rezko and Kelly would not interfere with the selection of
investment companies for TRS.

Loren endured a lengthy cross-examination by Cellini’s attorney, Dan
Webb, who prodded him about his role in the scandal, what other “acts
of dishonesty” he committed and his friendship with Levine, who in
testimony in Rezko’s 2008 trial admitted to drug binges.

Loren testified that he considered him a close friend but realizes
that Levine kept secrets from him. Webb asked Loren whether Levine
shared details about “his all-night drug parties.”

His head down, Loren said no.

While U.S. District Judge James Zagel blocked some of Webb’s
questions, Loren admitted he had fudged billing records in an
unrelated case.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-cellini-trial-1012-20111012,0,6167122.story

How is Obama connected to Steven Loren?

From the Rod Blagojevich Complaint. (Note bold wording)

“35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy
Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a
hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s
exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was
promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign
contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the
Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD
BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit.

36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on
the Planning Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich.
The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois,
established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor
of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning
Board consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity
seeking to build a hospital, medical office building, or other medical
facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a “Certificate of
Need” (“CON”), from the Planning Board prior to beginning
construction.

37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad
Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial.9 Beck testified
that he asked Rezko to reappoint him to the Planning Board and that
Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions regarding which CON
applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his job
to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of
the Planning Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko.
Beck testified that he understood that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich
administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about particular CONs.
Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted
Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow
Levine’s lead in voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before
certain Planning Board meetings, he received notecards from Beck
indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck testified he
provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of
the Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON
applications.

38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the
Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan
centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital (“Mercy”) that
was attempting to obtain a CON to build a new hospital in Illinois.
Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In
approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine
checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain
its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its
CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to
Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and
Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would
change his view on the Mercy CON.

39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the
Planning Board decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based
on contributions for ROD BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven
Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal
trial and, before that, in the grand jury.11 According to Loren, in
approximately December 2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was
against the Mercy CON. According to Loren, Levine relayed to Loren a
conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine asked Rezko
whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a
difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a
contribution might make a difference.”

There is only one way that the Planning Board could be rigged with 5 member’s votes. The board had to be changed from 15 to 9 members.

Obama’s connection to the rigging of the Planning Board is apparent from this timeline.

“Jan. – Aug. 2003:  Obama was Chairman of the IL Senate Health and Human Service Committee.
Feb. 20, 2003: Senate Bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act” filed. Reduced members of IL Health Planning and Facilities Board from 15 to 9.

(Rezko Trial March 13, 2008; 3:09 p.m.)

“Almanaseer was appointed to the planning board in 2003 on Rezko’s recommendation. Prosecutors contend he became part of a five-member voting bloc on the board that followed Rezko’s wishes. Almanaseer said board Chairman Thomas Beck tried to steer his voting.

“He said, ‘If you just don’t know which way to vote, vote the way Mr. Levine votes because that’s the way Tony would want the vote to go,” Almanaseer recalled, referring to Stuart Levine.”

Spring 2003 – Nov 2003: (Rezko trial March 11, 2008; 10:58 a.m.)

“Jennifer Thomas, a former aide to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s patronage chief Joe Cini, continued on the stand Tuesday morning and gave a few more insights into those regular Monday morning meetings she and Cini held in 2003 with Antoin “Tony” Rezko at his office.”

“Thomas said Rezko floated the names of several people to sit on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which the government claims Rezko corrupted with the help of board member Stuart Levine. And Thomas said Rezko at one point made it clear that he wanted to see Levine reappointed to the panel, which was being overhauled by the governor in 2003.”
May 21, 2003: Senate Bill 1332 passed by House and Senate.
June 27, 2003: Blagojevich made this the effective date of Senate Bill 1332.
June 2003: (Rezko trial March 10, 2008; 4:16 p.m.)

“Ziegelmueller asked Hayden about a 2003 e-mail exchange with Lichtenstein, then the governor’s top lawyer, in which Wilhelm made recommendations for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
The name of Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination, also appears in the e-mail as a member of a strategic team reviewing hospital board matters with the governor’s staff when he was a state senator. The hospital board was scheduled to be revamped in the summer of 2003.
Obama was then chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.”
June 30, 2003: Obama gets the following donations.

$5000 Ali Ata was appointed as Director at IFA
$6000 Alison Davis gets appointment on Investment Board
$15,000 Dr. Michael Malek gets appointment on Hospital Facility Board
$5000  Abdelhamid Chaib’s wife gets appointment on Employee Security Board
$10,000 Elie Maloof – Rezko used him as one of several strawmen to donate funds to certain politicians.
$1000  Phil Cacciatore (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) gets seat on Board
$1000  Velma Butler (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) was recommended for Board
$1000  Martello Pollack (Vegas Crystal Comm) received Iraqi Construction contracts
$1000 Jack Carriglio gets appointed to Board
$500  Anthony Abboud gets appointed to Board
$3000 Michael Winter, who helped Rezko in funneling kickbacks through investment firm
$1000 Talat Othman gets appointed to Board
$1000 David Gustman, $1000 from Gustman’s wife after he is appointed Board Chairman”

The US Justice Department has done it’s best to protect Obama in the Operation Board Games investigations and prosecution. They cannot remove the many ties Obama has to Chicago corruption.

15 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Crime, FBI, Illinois, Judges, Jury, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house, William Cellini

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William Cellini trial update October 11, 2011, Cellini trial coverage from Natasha Korecki of Chicago SunTimes

Posted on October 11, 2011 | 32 comments

William Cellini trial update October 11, 2011, Cellini trial coverage from Natasha Korecki of Chicago SunTimes

From the Chicago Tribune October 11, 2011.

“An Illinois powerbroker on trial for attempted extortion complained that then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s confidants were too overt about seeking benefits from state decisions and should follow the example he set during his decades close to the reins of power, a witness told jurors Tuesday.

The testimony came as prosecutors laid out their case in the week-old trial of millionaire businessman William Cellini. He is accused of conspiring with Blagojevich insiders Tony Rezko and Chris Kelly to shake down the Oscar-winning producer of “Million Dollar Baby” for a $1.5 million campaign contribution to Blagojevich.

Cellini, now 76, arrived late at one meeting in Chicago in February 2004, visibly agitated as he described a recent encounter with Rezko and Kelly, according to witness Steven Loren. Loren is a former attorney for the $30 billion Teachers’ Retirement System, which is central to the case against Cellini.

Cellini grumbled that the Blagojevich confidants “were moving too fast, they were going to get themselves in trouble,” Loren told jurors.

Once known as the King of Clout for the influence he wielded in Illinois politics going back to the 1960s, Cellini said Rezko and Kelly should follow the example he set over a 30-year span close to top-tier Illinois decision makers, and “stay out of the limelight” and “above the fray,” Loren testified.

Cellini, whose trial entered a second week on Tuesday, allegedly plotted with Rezko and Kelly to squeeze Hollywood producer Thomas Rosenberg by threatening to yank $220 million in Teachers’ Retirement System funds from Rosenberg’s investment company unless he came up with the donation.”
“Much of Loren’s testimony Tuesday drew on his interactions with Stuart Levine, a TRS board member at the time and another figure in the alleged conspiracy who is expected to take the stand later.

During cross examination, defense attorney Dan Webb sought to hit at the trustworthiness of Levine, who admitted on the stand at another trial that he abused cocaine and other drugs — sometimes at marathon parties.

“You do know that he had a habit of lying to you, is that correct?” Webb asked Loren about Levine, pacing across the courtroom floor and raising his voice slightly. The judge sustained a prosecution objection before Loren could respond.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-illinoiscorruptio,0,3824432.story

Natasha Korecki of the Chicago SunTimes is providing regular updates on Twitter. Follow them here.

http://citizenwells.net/2011/10/11/william-cellini-trial-live-coverage-by-natasha-korecki-of-chicago-suntimes/

32 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, FBI, Federal Court, Illinois, Judges, Jury, Lawyers, News, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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William Cellini trial opening statements, October 6, 2011, Stuart Levine drug use, Where is Tony Rezko?

Posted on October 6, 2011 | 42 comments

William Cellini trial opening statements, October 6, 2011, Stuart Levine drug use, Where is Tony Rezko?

From The Chicago Tribune October 6, 2011.

“Defense, U.S. disagree if Cellini was shaking down or helping”

“After listening to a federal prosecutor for nearly 40 minutes lay out how Springfield power broker William Cellini allegedly plotted to extort campaign cash from a Hollywood producer, veteran attorney Dan Webb stood up and put a decidedly different spin on the story.

Cellini was only trying to help an old friend, Webb insisted Wednesday to the jury. And in the end, he did, Webb maintained.

“This story does have a happy ending,” Webb said with emphasis as Cellini’s long-awaited trial started in earnest following the selection of 12 jurors and four alternates.

The longtime statehouse insider is charged with trying to shake down producer Thomas Rosenberg in 2004 for a $1.5 million contribution to the campaign of then-Gov.Rod Blagojevich.

Cellini was no innocent victim of circumstances, contended Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Deis in his opening remarks to jurors.

“The defendant didn’t slip, fall and find himself in the middle of an extortion,” he said. “He was in. Eyes wide open.”

Cellini’s federal trial on fraud and attempted extortion charges marks the last of the corruption cases arising from the scandal that toppled Blagojevich and many of his top aides.

On Wednesday, two rows of supporters, many of whom had traveled from Springfield, sat behind Cellini, 76, who has wielded influence behind the scenes in Springfield for four decades.

Webb attacked what he called six flaws in the governnment’s evidence, including the fact that Rosenberg won’t testify that Cellini directly asked him for money. Webb also said that it was Rosenberg who called Cellini for help when his investments at the Teachers’ Retirement System, or TRS, were threatened.

Webb also blasted Stuart Levine, the prosecution’s key witness, as unreliable. He warned jurors that they would be stunned by Levine’s “secret life” of serious drug abuse and “24-hour binge parties.”

But the prosecutor noted that secretly recorded phone calls between Levine and Cellini prove that Cellini was deeply involved in the extortion plot.

Deis portrayed Cellini as a consummate insider with access and influence who could simply pick up a phone and reach decision-makers in state government.

In a low and serious tone, Deis explained how Cellini’s longtime connections in state politics set the stage for the alleged 2004 plot.

After more than a quarter-century of Republican rule in the governor’s office, Democrat Blagojevich’s election posed a dilemma for Cellini, according to the government.

But he secretly made a deal with two of the governor’s key advisers, Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Christopher Kelly, that he would raise campaign money for Blagojevich to keep his influence at TRS, the prosecutor alleged. Levine was a corrupt member of the TRS board.

The government alleges Cellini had a financial reason for the move — an investment company he controlled made millions of dollars in fees from TRS.

At one point Deis noted Cellini’s considerable power by referring to his Downstate nickname — “the pope.”

Cellini, wearing a bright pink tie, sat calmly with his hands folded neatly on the defense table as the two sides told jurors what they believe the evidence will be as the trial unfolds over the next several weeks.

On a screen in the courtroom in the U.S. Dirksen Courthouse, Webb flashed a litany of Levine’s flaws, called him a con man and then listed five illegal drugs abused by Levine.

Webb told the jury of “24-hour binge parties” in hotels, including the infamous “Purple Hotel.”

“You’re gonna be flabbergasted by Stuart Levine’s secret life,” Webb told jurors.

The sordid details had played out at Rezko’s 2008 trial. Levine was a key witness for the government then as well.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-jury-selected-for-trial-of-powerbroker-william-cellini-20111005,0,6016446,full.story

Tony Rezko does not have a drug problem, but he does have a Obama problem.

Where is Tony Rezko?

42 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Defense, Federal Court, Government, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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Tony Rezko sentencing delayed again until November 22, 2011, October 3, 2011 hearing, Rezko sentenced after Cellini trial

Posted on October 3, 2011 | 41 comments

Tony Rezko sentencing delayed again until November 22, 2011, October 3, 2011 hearing, Rezko sentenced after Cellini trial

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

From the Chicago SunTimes October 3, 2011.

“Sentencing delayed — again — for Tony Rezko”

“A federal judge in Chicago has again delayed the sentencing of convicted political fixer Tony Rezko, the onetime top adviser to and campaign fund-raiser for ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

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.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8009054-418/sentencing-delayed-again-for-tony-rezko-former-fund-raiser-for-rod-blagojevich.html

 

Thanks to commenter Bessie.

41 Comments

Posted in Chicago, Chicago SunTimes, corruption, Illinois, Judges, News, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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William Cellini trial jury selection, October 3, 2011, Tony Rezko status hearing, Rezko witness?

Posted on October 3, 2011 | 20 comments

William Cellini trial jury selection, October 3, 2011, Tony Rezko status hearing, Rezko witness?

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

The jury selection process begins in the William Cellini trial today, Monday, October 3, 2011. Even though he was convicted in June of 2008 and not yet sentenced, there is no indication that Tony Rezko will be called as a witness despite the fact that his name is mentioned throughout the Cellini Indictment. Rezko has a status hearing scheduled today as well.

Daily Calendar    

Monday, October 3, 2011  (As of 10/03/11 at 05:46:58 AM 
Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)         
1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Rezko                           08:45   Status Hearing
Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)         

           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         10:30   Jury Trial

20 Comments

Posted in Barack Obama, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Federal Court, Illinois, Judges, News, Obama, Rezko, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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Bill Cellini trial, Illinois Republican political boss, Springfield insider, Blagojevich Rezko Obama, Judge James Zagel

Posted on October 2, 2011 | 11 comments

Bill Cellini trial, Illinois Republican political boss, Springfield insider, Blagojevich Rezko Obama, Judge James Zagel

From John Kass of the Chicago Tribune October 2, 2011.

“Cellini flies into court under the radar, and that’s the way he likes it”

“Will this week’s federal corruption trial of longtime Illinois Republican political boss and gazillionaire William Cellini get as much media coverage as the trial of former Gov. Dead Meat?

Of course it won’t. And that’s unfortunate, since the Cellini case appears to be the last in the federal government’s Operation Board Games investigation into bipartisan Combine sleaze.
 
When Gov. Dead Meat was on trial, the media flocked to cover him. There were dozens of news cameras in the lobby of the federal building. Weird, desperate groupies hung outside, begging Dead Meat to acknowledge them, to touch them, to sign their skin.

But Bill Cellini?

Who?

Cellini has been charged with extortion and other crimes, for allegedly using his political influence with government officials (both Democrats and Republicans) to squeeze people.

His attorney, the distinguished former federal prosecutor Dan Webb, has dismissed the prosecution’s case, calling it weak. And Webb also makes the valid point that while Cellini is indeed a wealthy man, there is nothing illegal about becoming wealthy and knowing politicians.

Cellini has made fortunes in state-licensed casino gambling ventures, real estate development with state and Chicago City Hall connections, and management of state pension funds.

So it was probably just an amazing coincidence that a rather timid-looking former high school physics teacher made a killing in all these high-powered, politically leveraged businesses.

Is it a miracle? Or is this just another political story with an Illinois happy ending?

Webb had hoped to narrow the scope of the trial, to have it focus strictly on whether Cellini did or did not use his connections on state pension boards to muscle a Hollywood producer for campaign cash for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Hollywood producer is Tom Rosenberg, and he’s no shrinking violet, and no stranger to hardball Illinois politics.

But U.S. District Judge James Zagel signaled that he will allow — at least in the early stages of the trial — more background and context. That will help jurors fully understand the extent of the political muscle involved.

Unfortunately, I’ve got a feeling that Cellini on trial won’t generate the publicity buzz he deserves.”

Perhaps part of the reason involves titles of great prestige. Blagojevich, a Democrat, got oodles of publicity before, during and after his corruption trials.

Dead Meat was, after all, a governor. So he had a title. He worked closely with President Barack Obama’s real estate fairy and convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko. And Dead Meat had big hair.”

“For four decades now, Bill Cellini has worn many magic hats in Springfield. One gave him remarkable power over governors. Another was his hat as boss of Springfield. And then there was the cunning cap of media invisibility.

But he also wore a road builder’s hat. It’s more like a crown. For years, Cellini was the boss of the road builders. The kings of concrete and asphalt would flock to him for advice on “shovel-ready projects.”

And so Republican Cellini told the guys they should give money to Democrat Blagojevich.

But after the fundraiser, an amazing thing happened.

Glynn testified that Blagojevich’s senior adviser, Christopher Kelly — the same fellow who was later indicted and then committed suicide — came to see her.

Kelly asked her to wipe Cellini’s name from the fundraiser, and give credit instead to Rezko and former state Sen. James A. DeLeo, D-How You Doin?

Glynn said Kelly wanted her to call it the Rezko-DeLeo-Roadbuilders fundraiser for Blagojevich.

“Chris Kelly told us to call it that,” Glynn testified.

Combine? What Combine?

Good hair or bad hair, jury selection in the Cellini trial is scheduled for Monday.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-1002-20111002,0,1626862,full.column

11 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, FBI, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Pay to play politics, Rezko, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, William Cellini

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Patrick Fitzgerald agenda, Protect Obama, Rezko testimony withheld, Fitzgerald attacked Republicans Ryan Libby Rove, Cellini trial

Posted on October 1, 2011 | 13 comments

Patrick Fitzgerald agenda, Protect Obama, Rezko testimony withheld, Fitzgerald attacked Republicans Ryan Libby Rove, Cellini trial

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

The William Cellini trial begins Monday, October 3, 2011. From all indications, and in spite of key Witness Stuart Levine being tainted with a drug use history, the prosecution will not call Tony Rezko as a witness. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, a prosecutor who aggresively went after former IL Governor Ryan and Scooter Libby and Karl Rove, is the reason.

From Nuclear Chicago May 25, 2011.

“US Attorney Patrick “The Sandbagger” Fitzgerald: Winning Thru Intimidation of Citizen Journalists?”

“As an update to my continuing effort to construct a biography of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as well as provide special reporting related to the retrial of Milorad Blagojevich, I am writing this morning to officially report upon and inform The May Report and NuclearChicago readership of the following:

At approximately 9:15a this past Thursday morning (May 19th), while en route to the Federal Courts to continue our coverage of USA v. Blagojevich – Nuclear Chicago published the following headline:

USA v. Blagojevich Retrial: US Attorney Patrick “The Sandbagger” Fitzgerald?

http://www.nuclearchicago.com/2011/05/nuclear-chicago-usa-v-blagojevich-retrial-u-s-attorney-patrick-the-sandbagger-fitzgerald/

Among other factors, the prevailing basis for same sensational headline as well as related analysis was due to the fact that Antoin “Tony” Rezko – Uber Confidante to Blagojevich, Obama and Nadhmi Auchi – had not yet testified as a Federal Government Witness in USA v. Blagojevich.

Same refusal by US Attorney Fitzgerald to place Rezko in the Witness Box to bury Blagojevich further corroborates the brutal realities that US Attorney Fitzgerald has been running egregious political interference to both benefit and protect Team Obama (i.e., Allison Davis, Dr. Eric Whitaker, Marty Nesbitt, et al).

Simply put – Antoin “Tony” Rezko is the only witness that can bury Blagojevich and the Chicago Political Thuggery Machine.  Why is Fitzgerald holding back Rezko?  What has been promised or implied to Fitzgerald as a “reward” for Fitzgerald’s blatant sandbagging efforts.

Same egregious political interference by Fitzgerald can be traced back to as early as 2006 when the Chicago Tribune was preparing to publish an exclusive scoop that convicted felon and Federal Goverment informant John Thomas (formerly Bernard Barton) was parading around Chicago procuring taped conversations and other evidence against politicians that were visiting Rezko’s real estate office on the near north side of the City. Evidently, same surveillance efforts procured damaging information against then US Senator Obama and Governor Blagojevich.

As reported in an earlier update (and according to a well-placed source at the Chicago Tribune), the Chicago Tribune finally capitulated to Fitzgerald’s demands and efforts to stop same exclusive John Thomas scoop only when Fitzgerald informed the Tribune that same exclusive John Thomas scoop would impair a 2008 Obama Presidential campaign. Upon being informed of 2008 Obama Presidential campaign implications – the Tribune terminated its efforts.  Same scoop was ultimately published in May 2007 via Crain’s Chicago Business to serve as a ‘heads-up’ to Obama for America Treasurer and Chicago Housing Authority Chairman Marty Nesbitt.  Same ‘heads-up’ was yet another example of political interference as John Thomas was actively trying to purchase prime real estate owned by the Chicago Housing Authority – 626 West Jackson.

US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald — a modern day Elliot Ness with a Harvard Law Degree?

Hardly.

Fitzgerald is a dangerous, unaccountable Federal Bureaucrat with highly-charged political ambitions.  Recent history has demonstrated that nothing is sacred for Fitzgerald when it comes to his highly-charged political ambitions (i.e., Journalist Judith Miller, Scooter Libby, Blago-Gate, et al).

To further demonstrate the highly-charged political behavior of US Attorney Fizgerald, within 2-hours of publishing our Thursday morning update – “US Attorney Patrick ‘The Sandbagger’ Fitzgerald”, which was highly-critical of Rezko being surgically-removed from trial by Fitzgerald – I was detained by US Marshal Service, prohibited from re-entering 25th floor courtroom and escorted out of the Federal Courts Building.”

Read more:

 http://www.nuclearchicago.com/2011/05/nuclear-chicago-us-attorney-patrick-the-sandbagger-fitzgerald-winning-thru-intimidation-of-citizen-journalists/

We discovered recently that Colin Powell knew that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were not the source of leaks in the Valerie Plame CIA story.  We also knew the truth from Robert Novak on July 12, 2006.

“Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has informed my attorneys that, after two and one-half years, his investigation of the CIA leak case concerning matters directly relating to me has been concluded. That frees me to reveal my role in the federal inquiry that, at the request of Fitzgerald, I have kept secret.

I have cooperated in the investigation while trying to protect journalistic privileges under the First Amendment and shield sources who have not revealed themselves. I have been subpoenaed by and testified to a federal grand jury. Published reports that I took the Fifth Amendment, made a plea bargain with the prosecutors or was a prosecutorial target were all untrue.

For nearly the entire time of his investigation, Fitzgerald knew — independent of me — the identity of the sources I used in my column of July 14, 2003. A federal investigation was triggered when I reported that former Ambassador Joseph Wilson?’s wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was employed by the CIA and helped initiate his 2002 mission to Niger. That Fitzgerald did not indict any of these sources may indicate his conclusion that none of them violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act.”

“In my sworn testimony, I said what I have contended in my columns and on television: Joe Wilson’s wife’s role in instituting her husband’s mission was revealed to me in the middle of a long interview with an official who I have previously said was not a political gunslinger. After the federal investigation was announced, he told me through a third party that the disclosure was inadvertent on his part.

Following my interview with the primary source, I sought out the second administration official and the CIA spokesman for confirmation. I learned Valerie Plame’s name from Joe Wilson’s entry in “Who’s Who in America.””

Read more:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15988

Some more insight into Patrick Fitzgeralds activities from Sweetness & Light May 25, 2006.

“Patrick Fitzgerald Ratchets Up Attack On Cheney
From the DNC’s house organ, the Washington Post:”

“There’s nothing “alleged” about Plame’s sending Joe to Niger. It’s documented in the 9/11 Commission’s report.

But notice that the Washington Post never uses “alleged” when it is leveling the most preposterous charges against Libby and Cheney.

If there was ever any doubt that Fitzgerald is a political whore, this should clear that up. There is no reason on earth for him to have released this information to the press. It is just more of the DNC’s smear machine at work.”

Read more:

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/fitzgerald-ratchets-up-attack-on-cheney

May 2006, does that ring a bell with anyone? Like the time when Patrick Fitzgerald began protecting Obama, when Blagojevich dropped any presidential aspirations and Obama began planning his presidential bid.

I am not through with Patrick Fitzgerald!

13 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, Colin Powell, corruption, FBI, Federal Court, Illinois, Joe Wilson, Judicial misconduct, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house, William Cellini

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William Cellini trial overview, Tony Rezko not sentenced, Rezko unlikely witness, Patrick Fitzgerald collusion

Posted on September 29, 2011 | 7 comments

William Cellini trial overview, Tony Rezko not sentenced, Rezko unlikely witness, Patrick Fitzgerald collusion

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

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“Why were Stuart Levine and Tony Rezko not called as witnesses in the Blagojevich trials? FBI agent Daniel Cain testified in the Rezko trial. Why was agent Cain not questioned more in the Blagojevich trial?…Citizen Wells

As I have stated before, the first letters in Wells are WE. This has always been a group effort and will continue that way. Below are 2 comments from regulars here. I wish that the rest of the country was paying this much attention.

From Bessie on 2011/09/28 at 8:00 pm.

“It was made perfectly clear in the 2 trials of Rod Blagojevich that
the prosecution and the judge were more concerned with protecting
Obama than they were with a guilty verdict….first they never called
Rezko who’s testimony would have prevented a second trial and he would
have been found guilty on all charges…second, their refusal to turn
over the 302′s and thier lame excuse, “I read them and theres nothing
there”…third, the leaker??? was it someone inside the fbi or U.S.
Attorney’s office or was it John Wyma himself…fourth, Patrick
Fitzgerald’s lack of interest in “who” tipped off John Chase, “It
wasn’t me”, just doesn’t cut it….We can be certian who ever was the
leaker also tipped off Obama and his staff…fifth, Rezko never being
called to testify and him waiting for over 3 years to be sentenced.
sixth, the current law suit of Frawley vs. Weaver, it answers numerous
questions including payments made from Rezko to Obama…which we can all
be pretty sure that the feds knew about this for years…am I forgetting
anything????”

From Pete on 2011/09/29 at 12:54 pm.

“I read a little background about our mutual prosecutor Fitzpatrick the other day. Seems he was famous before being involved in the Chicago crime, we call Obama’s past. Fitzgerald brought a guy in to testify for a grand jury, knowing the whole time that the person he was interviewing had nothing to do with the crime he was investigating. He did this to ‘entrap’ the witness. The witness was Scooter Libby, and he didn’t have ANYTHING to do with Valerie Plame or her public outing at the hands of a Colin Powel aid.

So, we know that Fitzgerald is a political hack for the DEMOCRATS and has no interest in unbiased justice. He is directly INVOLVED in cover-up for Obama and his associations with Blago, Levine, the hospital board, the sale of the illegal senate seat, his illegal housing gift from Rezco, and some 600 million dollars of Iraq reconstruction aid that went mysteriously missing.

I believe it’s all corrupt, to the very core, and the American people are starting to smell and feel the stench of our dear democratic party people. Just remember to remind EVERYONE you see that while politicians may be ‘dirty’ this sort of all out criminal administration has NO PEER in the last 150 years, and is starting to resemble Ulysses Grant for illegal behavior and pay to play.”

Here is a decent overview of the William Cellini trial.

http://www-tc.pbs.org/video/media/swf/PBSPlayer.swf

Watch the full episode. See more Chicago Tonight.

I stated in 2008 before the election that Obama had to win to avoid prosecution. Since taking the White House he has controlled Eric Holder and the US Justice Department. Obama may lose control of Holder for a number of reasons.

Many rumors are circulating about Obama not running in 2012 or having competition in the primaries. I posed the question months ago of who would throw Obama under the bus. At this point I give it a 50 50 chance of his running in 2012. He still has some of the same problems of actually being investigated for a number of indiscretions. So Obama will have to work out a deal with someone(s). Watch closely. This may happen.

Wells

7 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, FBI, Federal Court, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pay to play politics, Prosecution, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house, William Cellini

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Chicago and Illinois delays in sentencing, Rezko Blagojevich Ryan, Will Tony Rezko testify?

Posted on September 27, 2011 | 32 comments

Chicago and Illinois delays in sentencing, Rezko Blagojevich Ryan, Will Tony Rezko testify?
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”…William Shakespeare, “Hamlet”

From the Chicago Tribune September 27, 2011.

“Delays in determining prison terms for some high-profile Illinois criminals”

“With former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s sentencing postponed indefinitely, here’s a look at how long it took to sentence other high-profile public corruption figures after their convictions by federal juries. It’s been 92 days since Blagojevich was found guilty June 27.”

“George Ryan: 142 days. The former governor was found guilty in 2006 of more than a dozen felony charges, including racketeering, tax and mail fraud and lying to the FBI. He is in prison.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko: 3+ years: A top fundraiser for Blagojevich, Rezko was convicted in 2008 of extorting millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. His sentencing was indefinitely postponed earlier this year.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-talk-sentencings-20110927,0,3329613.story

Why has the sentencing of Tony Rezko been delayed over 3 years without his being called as a witness?

Obama

32 Comments

Posted in Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Chicago, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Federal Court, Illinois, Judges, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Pay to play politics, Rezko, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, US Department of Justice

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