Category Archives: US Department of Justice

Blagojevich trial corruption, Justice Dept protects Obama, Rezko ties to Obama diminished

Posted on February 27, 2011 | 109 comments

Blagojevich trial corruption, Justice Dept protects Obama, Rezko ties to Obama diminished

“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

The dropping of counts 1,2 and 4 against Blagojevich by the prosecution was the latest move in a long series of maneuvers to protect Obama from being exposed for his long time ties to Tony Rezko and corruption in Chicago. Rezko was not called as a witness in the first Blagojevich trial and the odds are now higher that he will not be called as a witness in the second trial.

Reprinted from Citizen Wells July 21, 2010.

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

“Federal authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for Rezko, who is believed to be traveling abroad.”..Rezko indictment press release
“That was when U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve learned he had received a $3.5 million wire transfer from a business associate abroad.”…Rezko trial transcripts

Blagojevich trial

Protecting Obama

Part 5

Where is Tony Rezko?

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

Citizen Wells August 28, 2008
“As his sentencing nears, pressure is mounting on Tony Rezko to cooperate with federal investigations into some of the highest-profile politicians in the state — including Gov. Blagojevich.”

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

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

Read more

From the Chicago SunTimes October 9, 2008
“A federal judge this morning officially postponed the sentencing of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko as he continues his discussions with the government.

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

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

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

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

Read more:

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

From the Chicago SunTimes February 3, 2009

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

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

Read more:

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

From the Washington Examiner April 20, 2010.

“Where in the world is Tony Rezko?”

“Why is Antoin “Tony” Rezko under lock and key at an undisclosed location, like some sort of CIA-renditioned al Qaeda operative? And why hasn’t he been sentenced yet?

As the June 3 corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell Obama’s former Illinois Senate seat approaches, the whereabouts of the former Blago and Obama fundraiser is literally a state secret.”

“Rezko’s not listed on the federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator, either.”

“Randall Samborn, spokesman for Fitzgerald, told The Examiner that Rezko “remains in federal custody,” although admitting that he didn’t know exactly where the convicted businessman was being held. Samborn also confirmed that “there is no sentencing date,” but would not elaborate. Sources in Chicago tell us that the long delay is “very unusual.””

“Is Rezko being held at another prison facility for his own safety? There are plenty of people in Chicago and Washington who might not want Rezko on the witness stand. They include:

Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias.

Rezko was such an enthusiastic customer of Giannoulias’ failing Broadway Bank that he wrote $450,000 in bad checks against his account to pay off gambling debts.

Alderman Eddie Burke

Rezko hired Burke’s law firm to get a 77 percent reduction in the real estate taxes of a 62-acre property along the Chicago River he planned to develop using $140 million in city subsidies. After assuring the Chicago Board of Ethics that he would abstain from any Council votes on Rezko’s project, Burke voted for it anyway, blaming his conflict of interest on “an error.” The project was later abandoned.

President Barack Obama

Rezko was the president’s “real estate fairy,” as one Chicago columnist likes to put it. Remember how they bought a house together in Chicago? Rezko was one of Obama’s earliest and biggest fundraisers and donors. Obama was one of his go-to guys for housing legislation in the Illinois state Senate.

If I were Tony Rezko, I’d be hiding, too.”

Read more:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/where-in-the-world-is-tony-rezko-91619594.html
It is understandable why the Blagojevich defense team does not want Rezko on the stand. Judge Zagel’s comment about Rezko being a bad witness is at least horsecrap and reeks of conspiracy. Convicted felons of all categories are regularly used as witnesses. Stuart Levine, the key witness in the Rezko trial was not only enmeshed in corruption but was a long time drug user.
Here are the approximate number of times that “Rezko” is mentioned in US Justice Department documents.

Indictment:  100 times.

Criminal complaint:  170 times.

Evidentiary Proffer:  288 times.
Even if a strong argument is made against using Rezko as a witness, and good luck with that argument, Stuart Levine was used extensively as a witness in the Rezko trial, and his name was mentioned approx. 146 times in the Blagojevich Criminal Complaint. And don’t forget, Blagojevich’s name was mentioned at least 30 times on one day of the Rezko trial.

Patrick Fitzgerald, I am damn angry and am speaking up about US Justice Department corruption.

The Chicago Tribune just reported this:
“”I felt all along and believed all along that I was going to testify,” he said. But he said the government case wasn’t as they presented it, without calling witnesses  Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Stuart Levine, both convicted in the federal probe.”

Read more:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/blagojevich-on-trial/2010/07/blago-prosecutors-proved-my-innocence-1.html

I am not the only  person coming to the no brainer conclusion that Rezko or Stuart Levine must be called to the witness stand. From Citizen Wells August 19, 2010.

““If I were a Blago juror …”
“If I were a juror, I’d wonder why we never heard from so many of the allegedly bad guys — Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine — mentioned by the prosecution.”
“As noted in part 5 of this series, Tony Rezko’s name was mentioned approximately 288 times in the Evidentiary Proffer. The above numbers reveal that of the evidence presented in the Proffer, 38 pages are loaded with names and corruption activities tied to Blagojevich from 2002 to mid 2008. And yet neither Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine were called as witnesses. And just as predicted and warned about here, the focus of the trial was the selling of Obama’s senate seat.””

“An expert on law has commented on Rezko and Levine being called as witnesses. Leonard Cavise is a DePaul University law professor.”

“But Leonard Cavise, a DePaul University professor, suggested the government will need to do more at the retrial, possibly leading to a longer presentation of evidence. He said he believes the government may try to avoid another deadlocked jury by using fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko and political fixer Stuart Levine as witnesses.
Both men have agreed to cooperate, but prosecutors chose not to call them this summer in part because of the baggage both bring.
“If the prosecution insists on going forward, I have two words for them: Rezko and Levine,” Cavise said. “They know where all the bodies are buried.””

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/blagojevich-retrial-rezko-and-levine-must-be-witnesses-leonard-cavise-depaul-university-law-professor-evidentiary-proffer/

109 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Crime, Criminal Complaint, Eric Holder, FBI, Federal Court, fraud, Government, Grand Jury Indictment, Illinois, indictment, Judges, Justice, Lawyers, Lies, News, Obama, Obama indictment, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , ,

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept controlled by Obama weakens case, Blagojevich prosecuton designed to protect Obama

Posted on February 26, 2011 | 41 comments

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept controlled by Obama weakens case, Blagojevich prosecuton designed to protect Obama

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

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

Yesterday the Citizen Wells blog presented the latest efforts by the US Justice Department to dilute the prosecution of Rod Blagojevich and ultimately protect Obama.

“Prosecutors in the Blagojevich trial have dropped 3 counts from the indictment against him. That is approximately 15 %. That does not appear on the surface to be significant. However, counts 1 and 2 represent about half of the indictment and mention numerous Chicago corruption figures with ties to Obama. Get the picture?”

“Most of you know by now that the US Justice Department is corrupt, as evidenced by recent whistleblowers, and that Obama and Eric Holder have no regard for the US Constitution. The manner in which the Blagojevich trial has played out, beginning with the delay of his arrest, the diversion of the selling of the senate seat, inept prosecution in the first trial and manipulation of charges, all are further proof of Obama’s usurpation and control of the Justice Dept.

Remember in 2008 I told you that Obama had to win the election to avoid prosecution.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/blagojevich-trial-update-3-counts-dropped-half-of-indictment-dropped-obama-protected-justice-dept-corruption/

Notice the following statement I made last year:

“C) Is count one too large and thus more difficult to convict him on? Was this deliberate? This count has most of the references to earlier corruption that can be linked to Obama.”

It appears that my crystal ball worked well, or is it that the Obama controlled Justice Dept. is just too predictable.

Reprinted from Citizen Wells May 16, 2010.

As many of you know, The Citizen Wells blog has presented numerous articles on Chicago corruption involving Rod Blagojevich, Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine, Barack Obama and a host of others. The first article on Blagojevich was presented in April of 2008. This blog called for the arrest and indictment of Blagojevich and Obama  long before Blagojevich was arrested.
You are probably also aware of one of my biggest concerns about the Blagojevich trial. That it was being downplayed and misrepresented by Blagojevich in concert with the mainstream media and recently affected by Google manipulating search engine results. Almost every reporting of the trial portrays it as simply as Blagojevich attempting to profit from selling Obama’s old US Senate seat.
I am currently analyzing the second superseding indictment against Blagojevich and I have some concerns about it’s content and structure. This blog has several legal experts who comment frequently, other website owners and others who pay attention and certainly care about this country. I am seeking two responses from you.
1. Read the criminal complaint from December 2008. Then read the superseding indictment and then the second superseding indictment. Here are just some of my concerns.

A) Are too many of the earlier references to Blagojevich’s ties to corruption that could link him to Obama diluted in the second superseding indictment?

B) Are there too many counts associated with the senate seat selling?

C) Is count one too large and thus more difficult to convict him on? Was this deliberate? This count has most of the references to earlier corruption that can be linked to Obama.
2. Contact as many people, entities as possible. Have them read the indictment. Counteract the Orwellian attempts to misrepresent this colossal coverup.
Here is just the “Tip of the iceberg” from the Criminal Complaint.

“b. Corruption of the Planning Board
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.
9 Beck and Almanaseer testified pursuant to immunity orders.
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.10
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,
10 manipulated the Mercy vote based on Mercy’s
agreement to make a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, which agreement he states was
communicated to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, but denies that Levine offered a personal bribe to
Rezko as well.
11 In connection with this investigation, Steven Loren pled guilty to interfering with
the due administration of the Internal Revenue Service. In exchange for his continued and
truthful cooperation, the government has agreed to move the Court for a 5K1.1 departure and
his counsel is free to seek any sentence, including probation. Loren has no other criminal
history. Pursuant to his cooperation agreement, Loren testified at the Rezko Trial.
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.

40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer,
as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck
that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had
been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that
there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.
41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a
public Planning Board meeting.12 The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning
Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified
under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he
saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what
had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote.
Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy
CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: “The Governor wanted it to pass.”

12 There was extensive testimony regarding the irregularity of the vote at the Planning
Board meeting. In summary, during the vote, Levine got up from his seat and went to speak
to Beck and to Almanaseer. After these discussions, Almanaseer then changed his vote to
be in favor of Mercy receiving its CON. Beck then voted in favor as well and by a vote of
5 to 4, Mercy’s application for a CON passed.
Almanaseer understood the reference to “Governor” to be a reference to ROD
BLAGOJEVICH.”
Read more:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01a.pdf
Superceding indictment.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2009/pr0402_01a.pdf
Second superceding indictment.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2010/pr0204_02a.pdf
I know that some of you may not understand my passion for staying focused on this. However, I consider it crucial, perhaps almost as important as changing congress in the 2010 elections. This is something we can work on now. I promise you, the spectre of the general public finding out about this scares the hell out of the Obama camp. Just recently, Google has tried to hide my articles. Do not let the Orwellian Obama thugs win!

Wells

41 Comments

Posted in Attorney General, Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Bribes, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Criminal Complaint, Defense, Government, Grand Jury Indictment, Illinois, indictment, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama indictment, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Prosecution, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , ,

Blagojevich trial update, 3 counts dropped, Half of indictment dropped, Obama protected, Justice Dept corruption

Posted on February 25, 2011 | 200 comments

Blagojevich trial update, 3 counts dropped, Half of indictment dropped, Obama protected, Justice Dept corruption

“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

Regulars on this blog know that I have written about two aspects of Obama with zeal. The Orwellian efforts to hide Obama’s past and the Blagojevich trial and corruption and Obama’s ties to this corruption. What I am about to present will come as no surprise to you.

Prosecutors in the Blagojevich trial have dropped 3 counts from the indictment against him. That is approximately 15 %. That does not appear on the surface to be significant. However, counts 1 and 2 represent about half of the indictment and mention numerous Chicago corruption figures with ties to Obama. Get the picture?

From the Chicago Tribune February 24, 2011.

“Two racketeering charges and a wire fraud count against impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich were dropped at a pretrial hearing on Thursday in Chicago — as prosecutors bid to strengthen their cases by simplifying ahead of a spring retrial.

Prosecutors’ initiative to dismiss the three counts and defense lawyers’ agreement at the status hearing cuts the number of charges Blagojevich will face at his corruption trial do-over to 20 from 23. The retrial is scheduled to start April 20.

Prosecutors took courtroom observers by surprise at a Wednesday hearing by telling U.S. District Judge James Zagel they wanted to toss the charges to streamline the case. They added that the allegations of wrongdoing in the dropped charges are duplicated in ones that remain.

The charges were formally dismissed after the defense, as expected, told Zagel on Thursday that they had no objections to the prosecution’s move to throw out counts 1, 2 and 4 from the original indictment, Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky explained after the hearing.”

“Blagojevich on Wednesday characterized the government’s move as good news.

But the federal attorneys clearly hope that scratching the more intricate, convoluted counts will boost their chances of winning convictions. At minimum, it will sharply cut down on the book-sized, 100-plus page instructions that jurors relied on as a guide during deliberations at the first trial.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-blagojevichtrial,0,2697557.story

Blagojevich indictment.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2009/pr0402_01a.pdf

Most of you know by now that the US Justice Department is corrupt, as evidenced by recent whistleblowers, and that Obama and Eric Holder have no regard for the US Constitution. The manner in which the Blagojevich trial has played out, beginning with the delay of his arrest, the diversion of the selling of the senate seat, inept prosecution in the first trial and manipulation of charges, all are further proof of Obama’s usurpation and control of the Justice Dept.

Remember in 2008 I told you that Obama had to win the election to avoid prosecution.

More details to come.

Spread this far and wide including the House Judiciary Committee.

200 Comments

Posted in Attorney General, Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, constitution, corruption, Courts, Crime, Criminal Complaint, Defense, FBI, Federal Court, Government, Grand Jury Indictment, Illinois, indictment, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama indictment, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Prosecution, The Case Against Barack Obama, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , , , ,

Blagojevich trial update, February 23, 2011, Synchronous corruption crony events

Posted on February 23, 2011 | 256 comments

Blagojevich trial update, February 23, 2011, Synchronous corruption crony events

“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

On the same day that another one of Obama’s corruption cronies, Rahm Emanuel, got elected to mayor, the Blagojevich defense team filed a motion requesting that some charges be dropped.

From the Chicago Tribune February 22, 2011.

“Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is trying again to have several corruption charges thrown out based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that curtailed an anti-fraud law used by prosecutors nationwide to convict politicians.

In a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Tuesday, the defense asks Judge James Zagel to dismiss bribery, extortion and other counts because of the ruling on honest services laws last year. Such laws bar public officials from denying taxpayers honest services.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-blagojevichtrial-,0,1895010.story

It will take more than manipulating votes in Chicago in 2012 to reelect Obama.

256 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Chicago Tribune, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Crime, Criminal Complaint, Defense, Election 2012, Government, Grand Jury Indictment, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Rahm Emanuel, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , , ,

Blagojevich trial update, February 21, 2011, Attorneys request not playing wiretaps for jurors

Posted on February 21, 2011 | 95 comments

Blagojevich trial update, February 21, 2011, Attorneys request not playing wiretaps for jurors

“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 February 21, 2011.

“Attorneys for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked a federal judge on Monday to bar prosecutors from playing any FBI wiretap recordings to jurors at his upcoming retrial, arguing that the evidence at the very heart of the government’s case is unreliable.

The motion argues that Judge James Zagel should throw out the hundreds of recordings of Blagojevich — made in the days before his Dec. 9, 2008, arrest — because many contain gaps where vital context needed to understand the taped conversations may be missing. The 54-year-old Blagojevich faces an April 20 retrial on 23 charges, including that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Monday’s motion cites the best-known secret recording of Blagojevich in which he is heard saying about the seat: “I’ve got this thing and it’s (bleepin’) golden. … I’m just not giving it up for (bleepin’) nothing.”

The motion claims three gaps totaling four minutes in that one call raise sufficient doubts, though the defense did not offer an alternative interpretation for what Blagojevich might have meant.

Federal agents secretly monitoring wiretapped phones are required to limit what they record to conversations pertinent to an investigation. That can lead them to frequently switch recording devices on and off, a process called “minimization.”

Blagojevich’s attorneys, however, argue that the “pattern of inconsistent and improper minimizations” in the hundreds of recordings in the investigation of the impeached governor justify tossing them all out as evidence.”

“In one motion filed last week, defense attorneys asked Zagel to lift a court-ordered seal on all evidence, including the hundreds of hours of wiretap recordings, arguing that the 2-year-old order barring the public release of evidence impairs Blagojevich’s lawyers more than prosecutors.

Monday’s motion says while defense attorneys don’t want jurors at the retrial to hear any of the recordings, they still want to be able to release them to the public.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-blagojevich-asks-court-to-bar-wiretaps-20110221,0,250022.story

95 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Bribery, Bribes, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Criminal Complaint, FBI, Government, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, The Case Against Barack Obama, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , , ,

Bamani Obadele sentenced, Blagojevich appointment, Obama connection, More Chicago corruption cronies

Posted on February 18, 2011 | 178 comments

Bamani Obadele sentenced, Blagojevich appointment, Obama connection, More Chicago corruption cronies

“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

From the Chicago Tribune February 17, 2011.

“A former deputy director at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — who was appointed by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich — was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday for steering DCFS funds to companies in which he had a stake and then pocketing much of the money.

Bamani Obadele had become friends with Blagojevich more than 20 years ago after the two met when Obadele was a teen who shined shoes. His appointment to head up the state agency’s external affairs was controversial.

Obadele, 38, a South Side preacher with five children, apologized for his misconduct and sought mercy, pointing out he was now also the caretaker for two sons of a brother who recently died.

U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras sentenced Obadele to six months in prison followed by an additional six months confined to his home, though he would be free to leave his home for work and a limited number of other reasons. The judge said he felt compelled to send a message that “the law is deserving of respect.” Obadele faced up to almost two years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. His lawyers sought probation.

Obadele pleaded guilty in October to one count of mail fraud for directing DCFS contractors to buy promotional items — including magnets, yo-yos and tote bags for public functions sponsored by DCFS — from a company he secretly owned. He also admitted steering DCFS vendors into contracts with another organization in which he had a financial interest.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-blagojevich-appointee-sentence20110217,0,2785956.story

From Chicago News Cooperative March 19, 2010.

“Mr. Obama worked 20 years ago as a community organizer in the Altgeld Gardens public housing development on Chicago’s South Side. There, Bamani Obadele, who runs a youth program in Roseland, and Cheryl Johnson, who runs an environmental justice organization at the sprawling development, recently discussed Mr. Obama and the We Count event.

Mr. Obadele said Mr. Obama attended several antiviolence rallies that Mr. Obadele organized in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing development in the 1990s.

“He helped me carry a casket through the streets,” Mr. Obadele said, referring to an antiviolence mock funeral. “He absolutely understands the struggle of black folks. But he’s not the same Barack I knew. The Barack I knew wouldn’t bail out the banks and let the people go hungry. I think his advisers are giving him bad advice.””

Read more:

http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/a-delicate-balancing-act-for-the-black-agenda/

“Birds of a feather flock together.” 

178 Comments

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

Tagged , , ,

Blagojevich defense motion requests releasing all evidence, All wiretaps, Prominent public figures recorded

Posted on February 17, 2011 | 159 comments

Blagojevich defense motion requests releasing all evidence, All wiretaps, Prominent public figures recorded

“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

We apparently have only had access to about 2 percent of the wiretap evidence in the Blagojevich trial. In one of the wiretaps Blagojevich reveals the truth about Obama and Rezko.

All of the wiretap evidence should be released and put before the public. That is just what the Blagojevich defense is requesting.

From the Chicago Tribune February 17, 2011.

“Attorneys for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich continued their barrage of pretrial motions with a new one Thursday that asks a federal judge to lift a court-ordered seal on all evidence, including hundreds of hours of secret FBI wiretap recordings.

The seven-page motion filed at the U.S. District Court in Chicago early Thursday — two months before Blagojevich’s corruption retrial is slated to start — argues the two-year-old order barring the public release of evidence impairs Blagojevich lawyers’ more than prosecutors.

“It is a fundamentally unfair playing field,” the motion says.

Blagojevich, 54, faces an April 20 retrial on 23 charges, including that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat. He’s also accused of trying to shake down donors for campaign cash. At his first trial, jurors deadlocked on all but one count of lying to the FBI.

Of hundreds wiretap recordings, only a small percentage were played at the first trial. The rest are barred from release by the seal order, including recordings of conversations between Blagojevich or his aides with prominent public figures not accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

Thursday’s filing also accuses the government of selectively releasing out-of-context excerpts before the first trial that “poisoned the jury pool,” arguing that the seal — called a protective order — makes it impossible for the defense to respond.

“The protective order has only served to permit the government to present half-truths and distortions and has handicapped Blagojevich’s ability to fight back against false government allegations and set the record straight,” the motion says.

In the most notorious wiretap outtake released by prosecutors before the first trial, Blagojevich is heard saying about Obama’s vacated seat: “I’ve got this thing and it’s (bleepin’) golden. . . . I’m just not giving it up for (bleepin’) nothing.”

U.S. Attorney’s office spokeswoman Kim Nerheim declined any comment on Thursday’s motion.

One justification for the seal on evidence, the motion says, was the possibility that making the evidence public could interfere with other pending prosecutions. But the motion says it understands the investigation in the case has essentially ended.

The latest motion is the third within two weeks. Presiding Judge James Zagel had set Feb. 15 as a deadline to file all pretrial motions, but the defense this week asked for another few days. The next status hearing is Feb. 22, during which Zagel could accept or reject those motions.

Thursday’s filing says prosecutors played just 2 percent of “thousands” of recordings at Blagojevich’s first trial. It argues that prosecutors should now have no interest in keeping all the tapes under wraps.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-blagojevich-trial-motion,0,255807.story

159 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Chicago Tribune, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Federal Court, Government, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , ,

Blagojevich trial lawyers ask to play more than 100 undercover recordings, Senate seat controversy

Posted on February 15, 2011 | 137 comments

Blagojevich trial lawyers ask to play more than 100 undercover recordings, Senate seat controversy

“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

From the Chicago Tribune February 14, 2011.

“Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich asked a federal judge Monday to let them play more than 100 undercover recordings at the former governor’s retrial, maintaining they disprove the heart of the government’s charges that he was trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat.

Within a few hours, the prosecution fired back, calling the request a “redux” of arguments from the first trial and questioning Blagojevich’s intentions.

“It is unclear what purpose the defendant’s motion serves other than to potentially influence prospective jurors,” the government wrote.

Blagojevich’s legal team also accused the government in its filing of trying to sway public opinion, calling prosecution assertions at the time of his arrest that Blagojevich was selling the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama a “sensationalized false narrative” that “tainted the jury pool.”
Jurors deadlocked on 23 of the 24 counts against Blagojevich in his first corruption trial last summer, finding him guilty on one count of lying to federal investigators. He faces a retrial on April 20 on the 23 counts on which the jury deadlocked.

The defense team contends the 115 undercover recordings would show jurors that Blagojevich was not trying to sell the Senate seat but rather was negotiating a political deal to name Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the spot.”

“In a separate filing Monday, Blagojevich also asked Zagel to order that Antoin Rezko and Stuart Levine, both convicted of wrongdoing in the Blagojevich probe, be made available for questioning by the former governor’s attorneys because both might be “crucial witnesses for the prosecution” at the retrial. Neither, however, testified at the first trial, and the government hasn’t revealed if they will be called at the retrial.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-blagojevich-defense-recordings20110214,0,6418023.story

I agree with the following statement:

“Blagojevich’s legal team also accused the government in its filing of trying to sway public opinion, calling prosecution assertions at the time of his arrest that Blagojevich was selling the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama a “sensationalized false narrative” that “tainted the jury pool.””

The Citizen Wells blog has consistently stated that the alleged selling of the senate seat was a clever diversion from the many years of corruption that Blagojevich, Rezko, Levine and Obama were involved in.

Do you suppose that the defense team is ready to throw Obama under the bus?

“In a separate filing Monday, Blagojevich also asked Zagel to order that Antoin Rezko and Stuart Levine, both convicted of wrongdoing in the Blagojevich probe, be made available for questioning by the former governor’s attorneys because both might be “crucial witnesses for the prosecution” at the retrial.”

137 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Crime, Criminal Complaint, Federal Court, Government, Illinois, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged ,

William Cellini trial, Chicago Tribune article removed?, Blagojevich Cellini Rezko Levine Obama, Chicago Pay to play politics

Posted on February 12, 2011 | 126 comments

William Cellini trial, Chicago Tribune article removed?, Blagojevich Cellini Rezko Levine Obama, Chicago Pay to play politics

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

I was doing some followup research on William Cellini, who was a codefendant in the original Blagojevich indictment and later indicted separately, and referencing Citizen Wells and Chicago Tribune articles. I noticed two interesting things when I searched the internet and Tribune site for articles on Cellini. There seemed to be a lack of articles from 2010 and when I clicked on a Citizen Wells article link to the Tribune, the article was missing. This is what I discovered.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–cellinitrial,0,6721744.story

The missing article contained this statement:

“Cellini is a longtime fundraiser and behind-the-scenes power broker in Illinois politics”

“I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, but allow me to introduce myself.
I’m Colonel Tribune, the Web ambassador for chicagotribune.com.

Perhaps I can help you find what you wanted when you hit this error page? Try our search or our topics pages. If you are looking for an article that is more than a month old, you may find it in our archives.

If that doesn’t work, please feel free to leave us a question here.

Meantime, I hope I run into you surfing the Web. You can find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Have a good day!”

A internet search on “2010 chicago tribune William Cellini” yielded:

” Search ResultsBlago trial has a mover and shaker ready to blow – Chicago TribuneGuys like the indicted gazillionaire Bill Cellini don’t do time for anybody. August 13, 2010|By John Kass. The jury deliberating the fate of former Illinois …
articles.chicagotribune.com › Collections – CachedProsecutors, lawyers seek to drop William Cellini from Blagojevich …Nov 14, 2009 … You are here: ChicagoTribune.com>Collections. Prosecutors …
articles.chicagotribune.com › Collections – CachedClout St: Read the Cellini indictment documents – Chicago TribuneOct 30, 2008 … Posted by Tribune staff at 12:46 p.m. A federal grand jury …
newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/…/read-the-cellin.html – Cached – SimilarClout St: Rezko trial – Chicago TribuneOct 20, 2009 … Political heavyweight William Cellini, who was indicted …
newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/rezko_trial/ – Cached – SimilarShow more results from chicagotribune.comCitizen WElls | Obama eligibility, Obama news – 226 visits – 5:51amWilliam Tecumseh Sherman. Bill O’Reilly and Barack Obama will be holding their narcissim …. From John Kass of the Chicago Tribune November 18, 2010. …
citizenwells.wordpress.com/ – Cached – SimilarWilliam Cellini – News, photos, topics, and quotesThe latest news on William Cellini, from thousands of sources worldwide. … Chicago Tribune logo Chicago Tribune 1 month ago. Rod Blagojevich. …
www.daylife.com/topic/William_Cellini – CachedWilliam Cellini: Latest News, Videos, PhotosSee William Cellini Latest News, Photos, Biography, Videos and Wallpapers. … At a routine status… Full Article at Chicago Tribune …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/William-Cellini – CachedThe Life and Death of Blago Aide Christopher Kelly – Chicago …Kelly was also implicated (along with William Cellini, Stuart Levine, and Tony Rezko) in … This article appears in the May 2010 issue of Chicago Magazine. …
www.chicagomag.com/Chicago…/May-2010/…/index.php?…4… – CachedTony Rezko – Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama that Chicago Tribune reporter ….. William F. Cellini, Sr., Indicted – fbi.gov – October 30, 2008; ^ now Miner, Barnhill & Galland. …. This page was last modified on 25 October 2010 at 12:29 . …”

A Chicago Tribune search on “2010 William Cellini” Yielded:

“April 15, 2009 |Article
Big money
…investments. Blagojevich and Springfield businessman William Cellini face federal charges stemming from alleged pension fund…both fiscal year 2009 ($550 million) and fiscal year 2010 ($2.3 billion), which would further weaken pension…
TAGS: Death, Rod Blagojevich, Cook County Board of Commissioners, Employees, Executive Branch
December 5, 2008 |Article
Feds taped Blagojevich
By Jeff Coen, John Chase and David Kidwell ,Tribune staff reporters
…governor, a Democrat contemplating seeking a third term in 2010, has not been charged with any wrongdoing and has denied…came in October, when longtime Springfield power broker William Cellini was accused of extorting campaign contributions for Blagojevich…”

The December 10, 2010 Citizen Wells article referencing the Tribune article is reprinted:

“(Highlighting done by Citizen Wells)

From the Chicago Tribune December 2, 2010.

“A date has finally been set for the long-delayed trial of a Springfield businessman charged with illegally plotting to raise campaign funds for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

At a status hearing Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago scheduled William Cellini‘s trial for Aug. 22.

Cellini is a longtime fundraiser and behind-the-scenes power broker in Illinois politics.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–cellinitrial,0,6721744.story

All searches lead back to Obama and Rezko

From Citizen Wells November 1, 2010.

“I was following up on news on Obama corruption cronies in Chicago and Illinois and the Blagojevich trial saga and came across an article that was probably much unnoticed.”

“From the Chicago Tribune November 16, 2008 reported on Citizen Wells April 29, 2010.

“Connections could touch every somebody”

“To fully appreciate our politics you’ve got to look at the connections. Sadly, this task is beyond the national press and some locals besotted with our renowned vintage, Combine Kool Aid.”

“Cellini is accused of helping shake down a Hollywood producer and politically connected Chicago investor Thomas Rosenberg for $1.5 million in campaign cash for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Cellini also is accused as a point man in a plot to remove U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald as federal prosecutor.”

“Cellini really began to pile up the cash when then-Gov. Thompson gave him a state gaming license. Webb and Zagel were young prosecutors under then-U.S. Atty. Thompson. Later, Zagel was director of the state’s Department of Revenue under Thompson. Webb ran the State Police.
Everybody knows somebody. So, no, Illinois politics isn’t a Robert Ludlum novel.
Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”

“The Combine wants Fitzgerald promoted out of town. But President-elect Barack Obama has promised newspaper editorial boards he would keep Fitzgerald in Chicago to fight political corruption.

That’s the same President-elect Obama with Mayor Daley’s guy Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, and another Daley guy, David Axelrod, as Obama’s chief strategist. The mayor’s brother Billy is one of Obama’s chief economic advisers. Whew!

Some political analysts become quite upset when “Daley machine” and “Obama” are mentioned in my column. They feel compelled to give me a vigorous corrective. But this same Flat Earth society denied the existence of a Combine for years, then shut up for a while when Obama’s real estate fairy Tony Rezko was convicted in the federal government’s Operation Board Games probe.”

“Obama was chairman of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in January 2003. A few articles in the media have mentioned that Obama sat on a committee that reviewed matters related to the Planning Board in conjunction with the Governor’s staff but none have discussed his integral part in getting the bill passed.

A review of senate records from January 2003 to August 2003, shows Obama played a major role as chairman of that committee, in pushing through Senate Bill 1332, that led to the “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, making the votes much easier to rig.”

“The bill was filed with the senate secretary on February 20, 2003, and assigned to Human Services Committee for review on February 27. Less than a month later, as chairman, Obama sent word that the bill should be passed on March 13, 2003.

On May 31, 2003, the House and Senate passed the bill and the only senator listed in the “yes” votes mentioned in the Board Games indictments is Obama.

Blagojevich made the effective date June 27, 2003, and the co-schemers already had the people lined up to stack the Board and rig the votes with full approval from Obama.”

“During the trial, Stuart Levine testified that when he sought reappointment to the Planning Board, he told Republican co-schemer, Bill Cellini, to tell the Blagojevich administration he would vote however they wanted when approving projects.”

“A June 2003 email exchange produced in the trial shows Obama was one of eight officials who received the names of the nominees for the new Board ahead of time, from the office of David Wilhelm, who headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor.”

“Corrupt appointees fund Obama and Blagojevich campaigns”

“A few weeks later, Beck said, Rezko called to say he would be reappointed along with a Republican holdover Levine. Beck also testified that Rezko told him Blagojevich was set to appoint Rezko’s three doctor friends to complete the rigged voting bloc. He said he met the doctors in August 2003, at the first meeting of the new Board.

Dr Michel Malek gave Obama $10,000 a little over a month before the first meeting on June 30, 2003. He also donated $25,000 to Blagojevich three weeks later on July 25, 2003, and gave Obama another $500 in September 2003. Malek was an investor in Riverside Park.

Dr Fortunee Massuda donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003, and gave a total of $2,000 to Obama on different dates. Massuda’s husband, Charles Hannon, is a co-schemer in the pension fund case and testified against Rezko in the trial.

Dr Imad Almanaseer contributed a total of $3,000 to Obama after he landed the appointment. On March 13, 2008, Almanaseer testified against Rezko and told the jury he was an investor in Rezko’s fast-food businesses.”
https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/william-cellini-obama-rezko-levine-et-al-all-searches-lead-back-to-obama-and-rezko-citizen-wells-open-thread-november-1-2010/

”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/william-cellini-trial-date-set-cellini-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama-all-searches-lead-back-to-obama-citizen-wells-open-thread-december-10-2010/

The missing article contained the following statement:

“Cellini is a longtime fundraiser and behind-the-scenes power broker in Illinois politics”

William Cellini’s trial is scheduled August 22, 2011.

Perhaps this was a reminder that the trials of Blagojevich and Cellini really are about the rampant corruption in Chicago, not just about the diversion of selling the senate seat, and most definitely the involvement of Obama.

126 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Chicago Tribune, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Government, Grand Jury Indictment, Illinois, indictment, Internet, Internet scrubbing, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Obama thugs, Pay to play politics, Rezko, Stuart Levine, The Case Against Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington Post, white house

Tagged , , ,

Blagojevich trial juror names secret, Judge James Zagel, Questionnaires not released

Posted on February 9, 2011 | 169 comments

Blagojevich trial juror names secret, Judge James Zagel, Questionnaires not released

“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

From the Chicago Tribune February 8, 2011.

“The federal judge presiding over the retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich ruled today that he intends to keep the names of jurors secret until after the verdict and won’t publicly release the written questionnaires they fill out.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said he intends to destroy the questionnaires to “help ensure full candor of responses.” He took the same action after the first trial last year.

The judge also said he would identify jurors by number during the trial and only release their names eight hours after the verdict is returned. He released the names moments after the verdict was announced last time.

Zagel wasn’t specific about why he made the change, writing, “Incidents occurring after juror names were released following the first trial counsels the wisdom of providing a short delay in releasing jurors’ names, even after the verdict is returned.””

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-judge-blagojevich-jurors-to-remain-secret-20110208,0,2705694.story

169 Comments

Posted in Attorneys, Barack Obama, Blagojevich, Blagojevich trial, Chicago, Chicago machine, Citizen News, Citizens for the truth about Obama, CitizenWells, corruption, Courts, Crime, Criminal Complaint, Defense, Federal Court, Government, Illinois, indictment, Judges, Lawyers, News, Obama, Obama indictment, Obama lies, Obama Nation, Obama records, Pay to play politics, Rahm Emanuel, The Case Against Barack Obama, United States, US Department of Justice, Washington DC, white house

Tagged , ,