Category Archives: US Department of Justice

Eric Holder perjury, Fast and Furious aka Project Gunrunner, Holder speech April 2 2009, USDOJ website

Eric Holder perjury, Fast and Furious aka Project Gunrunner, Holder speech April 2 2009, USDOJ website

From TheBlaze July 8, 2011.

“Did the Attorney General Mislead Congress on Operation ‘Fast and Furious’?”

“Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says he does not believe Attorney General Eric Holder gave accurate testimony under oath to Congress during the House Judiciary Committee on May 3.
Asked in May when he learned of Operation “Fast and Furious” and “Project Gunrunner,” Holder claimed he ‘probably’ learned of it ‘over the last few weeks.’ In the testy exchange that followed, Issa pointed out that two Americans were killed by weapons associated with the botched operation, and that in the end, no major criminals were brought to justice. Issa also implies that the Department of Justice was deliberately slow-rolling the request for documentation about the program. You can watch the exchange between Holder and Issa here.

As for the Attorney General’s timeline of the last few weeks, Operation ‘Fast and Furious’ was reported in major news outlets across the country starting not weeks, but months before the May 3 hearing, including a 4-page article in the Washington Post in February naming the program and explaining how it was supposed to work.”

Read more:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-the-attorney-general-mislead-congress-on-operation-fast-and-furious/

Eric Holder made the following speech on April 2, 2009.

“Attorney General Eric Holder at the Mexico/United States Arms Trafficking Conference
CUERNAVACA, MEXICO ~ Thursday, April 2, 2009
Remarks as prepared for delivery.
First, let me express my thanks to Attorney General Medina Mora and Secretary of Government Gomez Mont for making this conference possible.

 This is my first trip to another country as Attorney General.   I wanted to come to Mexico to deliver a single message: We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight against the narcotics cartels.  The United States shares responsibility for this problem and we will take responsibility by joining our Mexican counterparts in every step of this fight.

 And, together, we will win – thanks in large part to the courage of my Mexican colleagues here today, who are on the front lines every day, and with whom I am proud to collaborate.

 The topic that has been addressed over the past two days could not be more important – the development of an arms trafficking prosecution and enforcement strategy on both sides of the border. 

 I would like to thank the Mexican and U.S. experts who have worked so hard on this issue.  On our side, Secretary Napolitano and I are committed to putting the resources in place to increase our attack on arms trafficking into Mexico.

 Last week, our administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels.  My department is committing 100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest border in the next 100 days to supplement our ongoing Project Gunrunner, DEA is adding 16 new positions on the border, as well as mobile enforcement teams, and the FBI is creating a new intelligence group focusing on kidnapping and extortion.  DHS is making similar commitments, as Secretary Napolitano will detail.

 But as today’s conference has emphasized, the problem of arms trafficking will not be stopped at the border alone.  Rather, as our experts emphasized, this is a problem that must be met as part of a comprehensive attack against the cartels – an attack in depth, on both sides of the border, that focuses on the leadership and assets of the cartel.  This is the type of full-bore, prosecution-driven approach that the U.S. Department of Justice took to dismantle La Cosa Nostra – once the most powerful organized crime group operating in the United States. 
 With partners like those we have here today, I am confident that together, we will defeat these narcotics cartels in exactly the same way.  I am proud to stand with you, and to join you in this fight.  Thank you again for inviting me here.”

Read more:

http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090402.html

From the US Department of Justice website.

“American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides $2.7 billion to the Office of Justice Programs; $1 billion to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program; $225 million to the Office on Violence Against Women; and $10 million to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.”

http://www.justice.gov/recovery/

From the US Justice Department ATF plan June 1, 2010.

The Department of Justice’s (Department) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received $10 million of the Federal aid issued through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The Recovery Act provides additional funding for Project Gunrunner, an
existing ATF program, which is aimed at disrupting arms trafficking between the United States and Mexico.

http://www.justice.gov/recovery/pdfs/atf-plan.pdf

Fast and Furious funded by stimulus, ATF Project Gunrunner 10 million from 2009 Act, Media lies

Fast and Furious funded by stimulus, ATF Project Gunrunner 10 million from 2009 Act, Media lies

Today we learned that the unemployment rate is back up to 9.2 percent.

Rush Limbaugh on his radio show a few minutes ago stated that 10 million dollars from the Stimulus Bill, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, went to Operation Fast and Furious. Fox News has reported this also.

Media Matters, over an hour ago reported:

“Fox News Baselessly Claims Stimulus Funds Went To ATF’s Operation Fast And Furious”

“Fox News is baselessly reporting that funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 went to Operation Fast and Furious, a controversial initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) operation Project Gunrunner in which agents knowingly allowed guns to be trafficked across the border to Mexico in order to identify other members of a trafficking network. In fact, stimulus funds earmarked for Project Gunrunner were not distributed in Arizona, where a GOP report indicates Fast and Furious took place.”

http://mediamatters.org/research/201107080018

Here is the allocation of 10 million dollars to the ATF for the sourthern border of the US to “combat criminal narcotics activity.”

“H. R. 1—16

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE”

“For an additional amount for ‘‘State and Local Law Enforcement
Assistance’’, $40,000,000, for competitive grants to provide
assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the
Southern border and in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas to
combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the Southern
border, of which $10,000,000 shall be transferred to ‘‘Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Salaries and Expenses’’
for the ATF Project Gunrunner.”

This is found on page 16:

http://readthestimulus.org/hr1_final.pdf

Media Matters, is the following an Orwellian word smithing and attempt to discredit the report?

“In fact, stimulus funds earmarked for Project Gunrunner were not distributed in Arizona, where a GOP report indicates Fast and Furious took place.”

We know that the ATF purchased the weapons for Project Gunrunner, aka Fast and Furious. The Stimulus Bill paragraph states:

“to provide  assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the
Southern border and in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas to 
combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the Southern
border”

Arizona is still on the southern border isn’t it?

Media Matters, if you have some real evidence, you know, like a Bill to repudiate these facts, please respond.

Tony Rezko key witness, Rezko tied to Obama Blagojevich Cellini, Legal documents reveal ties

Tony Rezko key witness, Rezko tied to Obama Blagojevich Cellini, Legal documents reveal ties

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

In case you have forgotten or not seen this, here are some exerpts from the subpoena of Barack Obama issued by the Blagojevich defense team in 2010.

“Case 1:08-cr-00888 Document 327 Filed 04/22/10 Page 1 of 11
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )
                         )
v.                       ) 08CR888
                         )
                         ) Judge James B. Zagel
ROD BLAGOJEVICH          )

MOTION FOR THE COURT TO ISSUE A TRIAL SUBPOENA TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Now Comes Defendant Rod Blagojevich, by and through his counsels and hereby requests this court issue a subpoena ad testificandum for President Barack Obama.”

“21. Tony Rezko is one of the government’s main witnesses.8 Mr. Rezko’s credibility is extremely relevant in this trial. In many instances, Mr. Rezko is the government’s crucial witness to prove up their allegations.9 Mr. Rezko wrote a letter to a federal judge stating “the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened. They are pressuring me to tell them the “wrong” things that I supposedly know about Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. I have never been a party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator. I will never fabricate lies about anyone else for selfish purposes.” (Exhibit A)
22. However, the defense has a good faith belief that Mr. Rezko, President Obama’s former friend, fund-raiser, and neighbor told the FBI and the United States Attorneys a different story about President Obama. In a recent in camera proceeding, the government tendered a three paragraph letter indicating that Rezko “has stated in interviews with the government that he engaged in election law violations by personally contributing a large sum of cash to the campaign of a public official who is not Rod Blagojevich. … Further, the public official denies being aware of cash contributions to his campaign by Rezko or others and denies having conversations with Rezko related to cash contributions. … Rezko has also stated in interviews with the government that he believed he transmitted a quid pro quo offer from a lobbyist to the public official, whereby the lobbyist would hold a fundraiser for the official in exchange for favorable official action, but that the public official rejected the offer. The public official denies any such
conversation. In addition, Rezko has stated to the government that he and the
public official had certain conversations about gaming legislation and
administration, which the public official denies having had.”10

23. President Obama is the only one who can testify as to the veracity of Mr. Rezko’s allegations above.

24. President Obama has pertinent information as to the character of Mr. Rezko. President Obama can testify to Mr. Rezko’s reputation for truthfulness as well as his own opinion of Mr. Rezko’s character. See, Fed. R. Evid. 405(a) and 608. Mr. Rezko and President Obama became friends in 1990. According to President Obama, Mr. Rezko raised as much as $60,000 in campaign contributions for Obama.11

25. Based on the relationship that President Obama and Mr. Rezko had, President Obama can provide important information as to Mr. Rezko’s plan, intent, opportunity, habit and modus operandi. See, Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) and 406. For example, in June 2005, President Obama purchased a house for $1.65 million, $300,000 below the asking price. On the same day Tony Rezko’s wife, Rita, paid full price — $625,000 — for the adjoining land. In January 2006, Obama paid Mr. Rezko $104,500 for a strip of the adjoining land. The transaction took place when it was widely known that Mr. Rezko was under investigation.12 President Obama’s relationship with Tony Rezko is
relevant and necessary Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) and 406 evidence.”

“10 The defense has a good faith belief that this public official is Barack Obama. See, “Obama on Rezko deal: It was a mistake”, Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco, and Mark Brown, Chicago Sun Times, November 5, 2006. Senator Barack Obama was asked: “Did Rezko or his companies ever solicit your support on any matter involving state or federal government? Did Al Johnson, who was trying to get a casino license along with Tony Rezko, or Rezko himself ever discuss casino matters with you?” Senator Obama answered: “No, I have never been asked to do anything to advance his business interest. In 1999, when I was a State Senator, I opposed legislation to bring a casino to Rosemont and allow casino gambling at docked riverboats which news reports said Al Johnson and Tony
Rezko were interested in being part of. I never discussed a casino license with either of them. I was a vocal opponent of the legislation.” Obama’s involvement with Tony Rezko and this legislation coincides with the three paragraph summary the government has provided to the defense referenced above.”

http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/docs/obama-subpoena.html

Where is Tony Rezko?

“21. Tony Rezko is one of the government’s main witnesses.8 Mr. Rezko’s credibility is extremely relevant in this trial. In many instances, Mr. Rezko is the government’s crucial witness to prove up their allegations.”

Tony Rezko’s name is prominent in the William Cellini indictment.
“It was further part of the conspiracy that CELLINI later told Levine that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A had agreed to the proposal to use their influence with high-ranking State of Illinois officials to oppose the pension consolidation plan in exchange for CELLINI’s agreement to use his influence at TRS and Levine’s position at TRS to ensure that TRS invested money with and hired firms chosen by Rezko and Co-Conspirator A. CELLINI and Levine understood that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A were going to expect under the agreement that CELLINI would use his influence at TRS and Levine would use his position at TRS to help firms that made contributions for the benefit of Public Official A.”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01a.pdf

I am certain that the US Justice Department will continue to protect Obama leading up to and during the William Cellini trial. However, if you think that Obama’s name could not come up during the trial, think again.

William Cellini trial, Chicago businessman, The Pope of Illinois politics, Bill Cellini 101, Cellini 101, Cellini Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama

William Cellini trial, Chicago businessman, The Pope of Illinois politics, Bill Cellini 101, Cellini 101, Cellini Blagojevich Rezko Levine Obama

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

The William Cellini trial is scheduled for October 3, 2011. Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine have not been sentenced. Until recently, the major news sources have been mostly quiet about Cellini even though, as John Kass of the Tribune stated “Illinois is six degrees of Cellini.”  Here are some recent articles.

From the Chicago Tribune July 3, 2011.

“The marquee event in a federal investigation into Rod
Blagojevich’s governorship, Blagojevich’s own trial, is over — but the
legal saga that stretches back nearly a decade isn’t quite at an end.

The last big trial in the case is that of businessman William Cellini,
a Springfield Republican dubbed “The Pope” of Illinois politics for
his influence in the halls of state power dating back to the 1960s.”

“Both Blagojevich and the jailed Rezko are expected to be sentenced
toward the end of the year. Two former chiefs of staff for
Blagojevich, John Harris and Lon Monk — both of whom testified against
their former boss at his retrial — must also be sentenced.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-il–blagojevichtrial-whatsnext,0,1657391.story

From the Rockford Register Star July 3, 2011.

“Cellini’s trial for fraud and extortion conspiracy, set to start Oct.
3, is the next case related to Operation Board Games, a sprawling
probe by federal prosecutors in Chicago into corruption in the
administration of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

“The trial had been scheduled for Aug. 22, but in a motion agreed to by
Cellini, prosecutors said they had “unforeseen personal conflicts”
with that date and asked that it be delayed. In its filing, the
government estimated the trial could take up to four weeks.”

“Cellini lost a bid in 2009 to suppress wiretapped conversations.
However, motions regarding that request have been sealed or heavily
redacted, so it’s unclear what the substance of those conversations
was.”

“Key dates

Spring 2003: According to the federal indictment, William Cellini and
Stuart Levine agree to ask Chris Kelly and Tony Rezko to use their
influence in the Rod Blagojevich administration to defeat a plan to
consolidate the Teachers’ Retirement System with other state
retirement systems.

Spring 2004: Blagojevich reappoints Levine to the TRS board.

April 2004: Levine tells Rezko they could force Capri Capital to pay
to get $220 million in TRS funds to investment, according to the
indictment. Levine is to have Cellini tell Capri principal Thomas
Rosenberg that Capri will not receive the investment allocation unless
Rosenberg contributes to Blagojevich’s campaign.

May 2004: Cellini agrees to deliver the ultimatum to Rosenberg,
according to the indictment.

May 7, 2004: Cellini allegedly tells Rosenberg that Capri has not
received the investment funds because it had not made campaign
contributions.

May 8, 2004: Cellini tells Levine that Rosenberg threatened to inform
law enforcement of the alleged extortion attempt, according to the
indictment.

May 10, 2004: Cellini tells Kelly about Rosenberg’s threats, the
indictment says. Cellini and Levine talk about ways to convince
Rosenberg not to go to law enforcement.

May 11, 2004: Cellini, Kelly, Levine and Rezko agree that it’s too
risky to withhold investment funds from Capri Capital, according to
the indictment. But they agree that Capri Capital will not receive
more money.

May 25, 2004: The TRS board agrees to give Capri Capital $220 million to invest.

Summer 2004: Cellini, Kelly and Rezko discuss having TRS executive
director Jon Baumann moved from his position so that he won’t
cooperate with law enforcement, according to the indictment.

Summer and fall 2004: Cellini and Rezko discuss having Chicago-area
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald removed from his position to stop a
criminal investigation, the indictment says.

June 4, 2008: Rezko is convicted on 16 of 24 charges. However, the
eight charges on which Rezko is found not guilty include those
involving Cellini, Rosenberg and Capri Capital.

Oct. 30, 2008: Cellini indicted for the first time. He faces four counts.

April 2, 2009: Cellini indicted for a second time, along with Rod and
Robert Blagojevich, Lon Monk, John Harris and Kelly. Cellini faces
three counts in the new indictment.

Sept. 12, 2009: Kelly commits suicide.

Nov. 16, 2009: Cellini’s case separated from the trial of the
Blagojevich brothers.

Oct. 3, 2011: Cellini case scheduled to go to trial.”

Read more:

 http://www.rrstar.com/top_stories/x1721565876/Attorney-Businessman-connected-to-Blagojevich-ready-for-trial

In the Chicago Tribune article, Paul Green, who teaches politics at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, states “Very little is known about him except by inside players,”.

Oh really? 

My hat is off to the Rockford Register Star for posting an article about William Cellini with substance. However, there are a few items from many mentions of Cellini at the Tony Rezko which should be noted.

March 6, 2008

“Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton talks about how Highland Park businessman
Stuart Levine is central to the government case “

“She also explains how William Cellini, a powerful Republican power
broker, was also allegedly central to many of the alleged kickback
schemes at the Teacher’s Retirement System.
Hamilton finished remarks after an hour. She did not mention the name
of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, whose U.S. Senate
campaign in 2004 allegedly was the beneficiary of $20,000 in campaign
cash from intermediaries in the kickback schemes the government says
were orchestrated by Rezko.”

March 21, 2008

“That’s where Levine’s testimony is headed right now as he details how
he and Republican insider William Cellini staged a coup to take
control of the Teachers’ Retirement System, the $30 billion pension
fund for most Illinois teachers. Cellini had worked with Levine in the
past on corrupt business deals, Levine has testified. Prosecutors say
Levine and Rezko corrupted the pension fund, plotting to steer tens of
millions of dollars in investments to favored money managers in
exchange for a secret split of finder’s fees for those investments.”

 

To learn more about William Cellini and Chicago corruption.

Cellini 101

Obama under the bus? Democrat Party or Rezko Or Cellini, Too late for Blagojevich?

Obama under the bus? Democrat Party or Rezko Or Cellini, Too late for Blagojevich?

“Why has the mainstream media avoided coverage of the William Cellini trial? Why are Chicago news stories being scrubbed or altered?”…Citizen Wells

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

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

Blagojevich has been convicted of 17 of 20 counts. An appeal is certain. Obama controls the US Justice Department and Blagojevich may have missed an opportunity to throw Obama under the bus.

However….

The William Cellini trial is coming up in August 2011. Will Cellini or his attorney or Tony Rezko throw Obama under the bus?

Also…

I am not certain if Obama controls the Democrat party and they are concerned about 2012. Will the Democrats throw Obama under the bus?

FBI Obama records, Operation board games, Middle eastern ties, Questionable associations

FBI Obama records, Operation board games, Middle eastern ties, Questionable associations

The FBI knows plenty about Obama’s corruption ties in Chicago and Illinois from Operation Board Games, the investigation that netted Stuart Levine, Tony Rezko, Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini, et al. With the extensive list of dubious ties to the middle east, socialists, communists and radical bombers that Obama has, his FBI dossier, if not destroyed, must be enormous. I am still certain that the recent Washington Post article on the FBI investigation involving Patrick Fitzgerald is a political ploy.

From Citizen Wells June 17, 2010.

“You now know that Obama’s name was mentioned again during the Rod Blagojevich trial. You were advised of this earlier at Citizen Wells and Citizen News.

There are many opportunities for Obama’s name to surface during the Blagojevich trial, just as Blagojevich’s name surfaced during the Tony Rezko trial. Obama is deeply enmeshed in Chicago and Illinois corruption. There is another side of Obama, his connections and allegiance to Muslims and Arabs. Now, as Paul Harvey always said, “The rest of the story.”
Ali Ata is another name likely to surface soon as a witness. Apparently, or at least from the documentation I have read, Ata was more involved in corruption than Joseph Aramanda. Perhaps not. Ali Ata has ties to Barack Obama.
From Citizen Wells December 19, 2008.
“Why Barack Obama should be indicted
Part 9″
“Longtime Blagojevich friend Ali Ata, in a plea bargain on charges of lying to the FBI, said that he handed $25,000 to a Blagojevich fundraiser and that the governor immediately brought up the subject of getting Ata a state job.”
“Obama’s ties to Ali Ata

“The morning after the prosecution announced that Loren would testify, Hamilton dropped another bombshell by informing the judge that Jordanian-native and co-schemer, Ali Ata, the former head of the Illinois Finance Authority, had pled guilty and entered into a plea agreement and he would testify that he received the same information in 2004.”

“Maloof is one of the donors used to funnel two $10,000 contributions to Obama through bank accounts from Rezko‘s pizza businesses from the pension fund kickback. An exhibit produced for the jury shows Maloof also made a $10,000 contribution to Blagojevich.”

“As predicted, on May 1, 2008, Ata testified that he was assured there was a plan in place to remove Fitzgerald after Bush was reelected in 2004. “Mr. Rezko informed me that they had just finished meeting with Mr. Kjellander and that there will be a change in U.S. attorney’s office come the new administration,” he said.”

“Ata told the jury he delivered one $25,000 contribution to Blagojevich at Rezko’s office in the latter part of 2002, and the three men discussed the prospects of Ata getting an appointment in the administration. He said people at the office that day included Blagojevich’s campaign chief and later chief of staff, Lon Monk, Christopher Kelly, and state Representative Jay Hoffman.”

““The way Ali Ata described it, the waiting room in the North Side office of Antoin “Tony” Rezko seemed as busy as an airport terminal,” the Tribune noted on May 1, 2008.

Ata brought another $25,000 check to a fundraiser on July 25, 2003, and he was appointed to lead the Finance Authority.

Ata made a $5,000 donation to Obama less than a month earlier on June 30, 2003. Ata is also an investor in Riverside Park. Almost without fail, the people identified in the Board Games cases as investors in Riverside Park contributed to Obama’s US senate campaign.””

““The corruption in this case involves the Illinois Finance Authority. The IFA was established, “to support the Governor of Illinois’ economic development agenda,” and “IFA approves about $3 billion in project financing each year,” according to its web site.

Co-schemer Ali Ata was appointed to lead the IFA. He made a $5,000 donation to Obama on June 30, 2003.”
“Talat Othman was appointed to the IFA Board, and he donated $1,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.

David Gustman was made chairman, and his wife, Lisa, also gave Obama $1,000 on June 30.

Co-schemer Abdelhamid Chaib is the former the director of Rezko Concessions. Chaib’s wife was appointed to the Department of Employment Security Review Board. Obama received $5,000 from Chaib on June 30, 2003.”

 
“As part of the scheme, Ata signed a letter on Finance Authority letterhead that falsely made it appear that Dr Paul Ray had applied for financing with the IFA for acquisition of the pizza restaurants. The letter stated that Ray’s financing would be recommended for approval by the IFA Board on March 15, 2004, and that the IFA would guarantee 50% of the total $16 million.”

“But Ata said Rezko scoffed at the concerns. “He said as far as the publicity, he will get the governor’s office to approve the transaction, and as far as the board,” Ata told the jury, Rezko said, “We put them there.”””
“”Ata is a former president of the Chicago Chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. He represents “a deeper corruption” in the Arab American community, “an aspect of the story that has not received much attention,” according to a May 2, 2008 report by Ray Hanania in the Southwest News-Herald.”

“In his report, Hanania explains how Ata and others would help organize political dinners attended by Arab Americans from the suburbs at which politicians where “honored.”

“These Arab community “leaders,” he says, “would tell the community that if they bought tickets to their “candidate’s nights,” their organization fundraisers or donated through them to local politicians, these politicians would respond by giving the Arab American community empowerment.”

“In truth,” Hanania says, “these political leaders lied.”

“They did get jobs, contracts and clout,” he notes, “but the people who benefited were not members of the community but rather the relatives, children, friends and business associates of these leaders.”””

“More Obama ties to Ata and slumlords

“”The Illinois Finance Authority was established by Blagojevich in 2004. Its “role is to support the Governor of Illinois’ economic development agenda,” and “IFA approves about $3 billion in project financing each year,” according to the its site.

Rezko business associate, Ali Ata, was appointed to head the Finance Authority. He is now under indictment in a separate criminal case in which Rezko is also charged. On June 30, 2003, Ata contributed $5,000 to Obama’s US senate campaign.

On June 13, 2007, the Sun-Times reported that as a state senator, “Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens.”

“I am writing in support of the New Kenwood LLC’s proposal to build a ninety-seven unit apartment building at 48th and Cottage Grove for senior citizens,” Obama wrote in October 28, 1998 letters to both city and state housing officials. “This project will provide much needed housing for Fourth Ward citizens.””
“In the Times, Novak reported that the deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and Davis, while Obama was still working at the Davis law firm, for a bid on a project that was “four blocks outside Obama’s state Senate district.”””

Read more

You knew this

And this.

From the LA Times April 10, 2008

“Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Obama”

“It was a celebration of Palestinian culture — a night of music, dancing and a dash of politics. Local Arab Americans were bidding farewell to Rashid Khalidi, an internationally known scholar, critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinian rights, who was leaving town for a job in New York.

A special tribute came from Khalidi’s friend and frequent dinner companion, the young state Sen. Barack Obama. Speaking to the crowd, Obama reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi’s wife, Mona, and conversations that had challenged his thinking.”

 
“Their belief is not drawn from Obama’s speeches or campaign literature, but from comments that some say Obama made in private and from his association with the Palestinian American community in his hometown of Chicago, including his presence at events where anger at Israeli and U.S. Middle East policy was freely expressed.

At Khalidi’s 2003 farewell party, for example, a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, “then you will never see a day of peace.”

One speaker likened “Zionist settlers on the West Bank” to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been “blinded by ideology.””

Read more:

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/10/nation/na-obamamideast10

Did you know this?

From Islam for Today, April 10, 2001.

“Halal Food Act Passed In Illinois Senate
In a landmark event for Illinois’ more than 400,000 Muslim, the Illinois senate has unanimously passed the Halal Food Act on Thursday to safeguard the interests of the Muslim consumer.”

“It also specifically defines the term “Halal” as food “prepared under and maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion including but not limited to those laws and customs of zabiha/zabeeha (slaughtered according to appropriate Islamic code), and as expressed by reliable recognized Islamic entities and scholars.”

“The Illinois Halal Food Act was sponsored by Sen.Christine Radogno (R-La Grange) with Senators Thomas Walsh, Barack Obama, Louis Viverito, and Ira Silverstein as Chief Co-Sponsors.”

Read more:
http://www.islamfortoday.com/illinois2.htm

***  Update June 17, 2010 5:30 ET ***

Right on cue, Ali Ata’s name was mentioned during the Blagojevich trial today.

Jill Hayden, director of boards and commissions, testified today and brought up Ali Ata as Tony Rezko’s friend and a member of the IFA, Illinois Finance Authority.”

Let’s not forget this significant connection.

From NewsMax September 23, 2008.

“How exactly did Barack Obama pay for his Harvard Law School education?

The way the Obama campaign has answered the question was simply hard work and student loans.

But new questions have been raised about Obama’s student loans and Obama’s ties to a radical Muslim activist who reportedly was raising money for Obama’s Harvard studies during the years 1988 to 1991.

The allegations first surfaced in late March, when former Manhattan Borough president Percy Sutton told a New York cable channel that a former business partner who was “raising money” for Obama had approached him in 1988 to help Obama get into Harvard Law School.

In the interview, Sutton says he first heard of Obama about twenty years ago from Khalid Al-Mansour, a Black Muslim and Black Nationalist who was a “mentor” to the founders of the Black Panther party at the time the party was founded in the early 1960s.

Sutton described al-Mansour as advisor to “one of the world’s richest men,” Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Prince Alwaleed catapulted to fame in the United States after the September 11 attacks, when New York mayor Rudy Guiliani refused his $10 million check to help rebuild Manhattan, because the Saudi prince hinted publicly that America’s pro-Israel policies were to blame for the attacks.

Sutton knew Al-Mansour well, since the two men had been business partners and served on several corporate boards together.

As Sutton remembered, Al-Mansour was raising money for Obama’s education and seeking recommendations for him to attend Harvard Law School.

“I was introduced to (Obama) by a friend who was raising money for him,” Sutton told NY1 city hall reporter Dominic Carter. “The friend’s name is Dr. Khalid al-Mansour, from Texas.””

“Sen. Obama has refused to instruct Harvard Law School to release any information about his time there as a student, or about his student loans.”

“Where did he find the money? Did it come from friends of Khalid Al Mansour? And why would a radical Muslim activist with ties to the Saudi royal family be raising money for Barack Obama?

That’s the question the Obama campaign still won’t answer.”

Read more:

http://www.newsmax.com/KenTimmerman/obama-harvard-/2009/12/14/id/342454

FBI investigating Obama?, Citizen Wells opinion, Clear Obama for 2012 election, Improve image of Patrick Fitzgerald and Justice Department, Like birth certificate ploy

FBI investigating Obama?, Citizen Wells opinion, Clear Obama for 2012 election, Improve image of Patrick Fitzgerald and Justice Department, Like birth certificate ploy

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”…Abraham Lincoln

“The (American) press, which is mostly controlled by vested
interests, has an excessive influence on public opinion.”… Albert Einstein

“The past, he reflected, had not merely been altered, it had
actually been destroyed. For how could you establish, even
the most obvious fact when there existed no record outside
your own memory?”…George Orwell, “1984

The Washington Post presented an article on June 13, 2011.

“FBI agents took box after box of address books, family
calendars, artwork and personal letters in their 10-hour raid in
September of the century-old house shared by Stephanie Weiner and her
husband.

The agents seemed keenly interested in Weiner’s home-based business,
the Revolutionary Lemonade Stand, which sells silkscreened baby
outfits and other clothes with socialist slogans, phrases like “Help
Wanted: Revolutionaries.”

The search was part of a mysterious, ongoing nationwide terrorism
investigation with an unusual target: prominent peace activists and
politically active labor organizers.

The probe — involving subpoenas to 23 people and raids of seven homes
last fall — has triggered a high-powered protest against the
Department of Justice and, in the process, could create some political
discomfort for President Obama with his union supporters as he gears
up for his reelection campaign.

The apparent targets are concentrated in the Midwest, including
Chicagoans who crossed paths with Obama when he was a young state
senator and some who have been active in labor unions that supported
his political rise.”
“All 23 of the activists invoked their right not to testify before a
grand jury, defying U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, whose office is
spearheading the investigation.”

Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/activists-cry-foul-over-fbi-probe/2011/06/09/AGPRskTH_story.html

From Accuracy in Media June 22, 2011.

“One of the targets, Tom Burke, was a union organizer for the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU). He was so confident he would get
a fair shake from the Post that he provided the paper with a photo of
himself shaking hands with Barack Obama. The other apparent intention
was to send a message to the President and Attorney General Eric
Holder that any investigation of Burke might lead to Obama.

The Post suggested that investigations of labor union activists might
jeopardize their support for Obama’s 2012 presidential run. Indeed, it
could therefore threaten his re-election bid, if investigations
determine that the activists did more than “cross paths” with the
President.”

“The Post article has to be seen as a signal to Holder from those
around Obama that he must act quickly to close down these
investigations before they get too close for comfort to the Oval
Office. First, however, he has to make sure that the congressional
investigations don’t get too close to Holder himself. It won’t look
good for the Attorney General to be personally implicated in knowledge
of the federal gunrunning schemes now under Congressional
investigation that provided weapons to Mexican narco-terrorist
cartels. The evidence already shows that federal authorities let guns
fall into the hands of known criminals.”

Read more:

http://www.aim.org/aim-column/is-the-fbi-investigating-obama/

Yesterday was George Orwell’s birthday so I set my decoder ring to double Orwell speak settings and this is the conclusion I have come to.

  • Damage control for the US Justice Department.
  • Gain creditability for Patrick Fitzgerald, a Obama puppet, and therefore Obama.
  • Ultimately this is a ploy to “clear” Obama of associations of carefully selected targets to preemptively disarm political opponent’s questions during the 2012 elections. Like releasing an image represented as a birth certificate, it supposedly puts the issue to rest.

Obama and Robert Bauer override Justice Department and Pentagon attorneys, Jeh C. Johnson and Caroline D. Krass call Libya actions hostilities

Obama and Robert Bauer override Justice Department and Pentagon attorneys, Jeh C. Johnson and Caroline D. Krass call Libya actions hostilities

“Why has Obama, since taking the White House, used Justice Department Attorneys, at taxpayer expense,  to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

“Why did Obama make Robert F. Bauer, an attorney with Perkins Coie, who helped Obama keep his records hidden before taking control of the White House, part of his administration as White House Counsel?”…Citizen Wells

Barack Obama and Robert Bauer are once again at odds with accepted legal norms in this country.

From the New York Times June 16, 2011.

“Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon general counsel, and Caroline D. Krass, the acting head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, had told the White House that they believed that the United States military’s activities in the NATO-led air war amounted to “hostilities.” Under the War Powers Resolution, that would have required Mr. Obama to terminate or scale back the mission after May 20.

But Mr. Obama decided instead to adopt the legal analysis of several other senior members of his legal team — including the White House counsel, Robert Bauer, and the State Department legal adviser, Harold H. Koh — who argued that the United States military’s activities fell short of “hostilities.” Under that view, Mr. Obama needed no permission from Congress to continue the mission unchanged.

Presidents have the legal authority to override the legal conclusions of the Office of Legal Counsel and to act in a manner that is contrary to its advice, but it is extraordinarily rare for that to happen. Under normal circumstances, the office’s interpretation of the law is legally binding on the executive branch.”

““It should come as no surprise that there would be some disagreements, even within an administration, regarding the application of a statute that is nearly 40 years old to a unique and evolving conflict,” Mr. Schultz said. “Those disagreements are ordinary and healthy.”

Still, the disclosure that key figures on the administration’s legal team disagreed with Mr. Obama’s legal view could fuel restiveness in Congress, where lawmakers from both parties this week strongly criticized the White House’s contention that the president could continue the Libya campaign without their authorization because the campaign was not “hostilities.”

The White House unveiled its interpretation of the War Powers Resolution in a package about Libya it sent to Congress late Wednesday. On Thursday, the House speaker, John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, demanded to know whether the Office of Legal Counsel had agreed.

“The administration gave its opinion on the War Powers Resolution, but it didn’t answer the questions in my letter as to whether the Office of Legal Counsel agrees with them,” he said. “The White House says there are no hostilities taking place. Yet we’ve got drone attacks under way. We’re spending $10 million a day. We’re part of an effort to drop bombs on Qaddafi’s compounds. It just doesn’t pass the straight-face test, in my view, that we’re not in the midst of hostilities.”

A sticking point for some skeptics was whether any mission that included firing missiles from drone aircraft could be portrayed as not amounting to hostilities.

As the May 20 deadline approached, Mr. Johnson advocated stopping the drone strikes as a way to bolster the view that the remaining activities in support of NATO allies were not subject to the deadline, officials said. But Mr. Obama ultimately decided that there was no legal requirement to change anything about the military mission.

The administration followed an unusual process in developing its position. Traditionally, the Office of Legal Counsel solicits views from different agencies and then decides what the best interpretation of the law is. The attorney general or the president can overrule its views, but rarely do.

In this case, however, Ms. Krass was asked to submit the Office of Legal Counsel’s thoughts in a less formal way to the White House, along with the views of lawyers at other agencies. After several meetings and phone calls, the rival legal analyses were submitted to Mr. Obama, who is a constitutional lawyer, and he made the decision.”

Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/world/africa/18powers.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1

So, “Mr. Obama, who is a constitutional lawyer” what is your constitutional interpretation of using taxpayer dollars and resources to keep your records hidden for years?

 

Thanks to commenter Pat1789

Blagojevich trial June 17, 2011, Jurors head home, No verdict, Lawyers met with Judge Zagel

Blagojevich trial June 17, 2011, Jurors head home, No verdict, Lawyers met with Judge Zagel

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

“FBI mole John Thomas helped investigators “build a record of repeat visits to the old offices of Rezko and former business partner Daniel Mahru’s Rezmar Corp., at 853 N. Elston, by Blagojevich and Obama during 2004 and 2005,“”…Chicago Sun-Times February 10, 2008

From the Chicago Sun-Times June 16, 2011.

“Jurors in Rod Blagojevich’s case concluded their fifth day of deliberations Thursday without reaching a verdict. But they did send the judge their first substantive question.

The panel of 11 women and one man sent U.S. District Judge James Zagel a note asking for clarification on an instruction of law that had to do with the wire fraud counts against the impeached governor. Out of the 20 counts pending against Blagojevich, 10 of them are wire fraud counts that largely deal with an allegation that he tried to trade an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama for a campaign contribution or job. To conclude Blagojevich was guilty of wire fraud, jurors must find the prosecution proved he committed four elements of wire fraud beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“Meanwhile, Sam Adam Jr., one of Blagojevich’s lead attorneys during his first trial and who is still listed as an attorney in the case, was seen in the courthouse Thursday shortly after lawyers were called to meet privately with Zagel. The typically outspoken Adam, who has given TV and radio interviews discussing the Blagojevich case as recently as earlier this week, would not answer media questions on Thursday.

“I must decline comment,” he said. “I cannot tell you why.””

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/6002345-417/jurors-in-blagojevich-case-head-home-for-weekend-without-reaching-verdict.html

Howard Coble lawsuit against Obama, Robert Bauer, US in Libya, Congressional authority, Coble’s office informed of Obama and Bauer

Howard Coble lawsuit against Obama, Robert Bauer, US in Libya, Congressional authority, Coble’s office informed of Obama and Bauer

“Why has Obama, since taking the White House, used Justice Department Attorneys, at taxpayer expense,  to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

“Why did Obama make Robert F. Bauer, an attorney with Perkins Coie, who helped Obama keep his records hidden before taking control of the White House, part of his administration as White House Counsel?”…Citizen Wells

Howard Coble has joined a lawsuit against Obama and his actions in Libya. Once again Obama is being defended by Robert Bauer.

From Citizen News June 16, 2011.

“Republican U.S. Reps. Walter Jones of Farmville and Howard Coble of Greensboro are among 10 House members suing the Obama administration over the U.S. involvement in Libya.

Jones and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, led the effort to file suit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. They accuse President Barack Obama of violating the Constitution by going to war without congressional authority. Also named in the suit is Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

“We may be in a lose-lose regardless of what we do,” Coble said in the release, “but I’m getting tired of funding money by the billions and then seeing our people come back either dead or disabled for life.””

“We are acting lawfully,” said Harold H. Koh, the State Department legal adviser, who expanded on the administration’s reasoning in a joint interview with the White House counsel, Robert Bauer.”

“ Mr. Bauer and Mr. Koh said that the 1980 memorandum remained in force, but that their legal argument was not invoking any constitutional challenge to bolster their interpretation of hostilities. ”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2011/06/16/howard-coble-joins-lawsuit-against-obama-libya-actions-obama-again-defended-by-robert-bauer/

From Citizen News June 7, 2011.
“One of the attorneys, Robert Bauer, who helped Obama in 2008 and early 2009 keep his records hidden, worked for the firm of Perkins Coie. Bauer, since early 2009, has assisted Obama as White House Counsel.”

“Several months ago I made a series of at least 3 visits to one of Congressman Howard Coble’s NC offices. I shared my concerns about the Blagojevich trial, Obama’s corruption ties and the facts behind Obama’s birth certificate controversies. I prepared a summary and I was told it was forwarded to Coble’s DC office. I have received no response.

From the email sent to Howard Coble’s office:”

“On August 21, 2008, Philip J. Berg filed a lawsuit questioning Obama’s eligibility. My blog was one of the first to report this and I have had numerous conversations with Mr. Berg, a lifelong Democrat. More lawsuits were filed and a trend developed. Unlike John McCain, who when questioned about eligibility presented a legitimate birth certificate, Obama employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records. One of those attorneys was Robert Bauer.”

“People like Glenn Beck have attacked “birthers” yet they have not asked the  simple question above. Where are our watchdogs? Where are our checks and balances?  Where is Howard Coble and Congress?

I let John Boehner have it when he misquoted the US Constitution. No one, including Howard Coble, a long time favorite of mine, is immune from scrutiny.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2011/06/07/obama-uses-taxpayer-dollars-to-hide-records-robert-bauer-and-us-justice-department-attorneys-howard-coble-congress-and-media-silent/