Tag Archives: Judge James Zagel

Obama Blagojevich News, Notice of Motion, Judge James Zagel, February 2, 2012

Obama Blagojevich News, Notice of Motion, Judge James Zagel, February 2, 2012

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

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

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

A Notice of motion is scheduled today, Thursday February 2, 2012, in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel for Rod Blagojevich.

Daily Calendar

Thursday, February 2, 2012 (As of 02/02/12 at 04:46:42 AM )

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Blagojevich                     10:15   Notice of Motion

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

I guess the Obama camp was resting under the false illusion that most of Obama’s corruption buddies were in prison or going through a lengthy appeal process that will inevitably drag on through the election cycle and stay out of the news. That is except for Daniel Frawley who linked Obama to a payment from Rezko in a deposition last year.

Of course, there is still the lingering question of why the prosecution of Blagojevich was delayed so long

and why Tony Rezko was never called as a witness

and where is Stuart Levine

and why Patrick Fitzgerald was aggressively pursuing Karl Rove and Scooter Libby

and why Colin Powell did not inform the Bush Administration of Rove’s innocence

and why Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama??????

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William Cellini retrial hearing, Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Judge James Zagel, Where is Daniel Frawley?, Obama GA ballot court challenge, Stuart Levine Steven Loren status hearing

William Cellini retrial hearing, Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Judge James Zagel, Where is Daniel Frawley?, Obama GA ballot court challenge, Stuart Levine Steven Loren status hearing

“Why was Obama promoting Capri Capital and other investment firms at the same time that Rezko, Levine and Cellini were shaking them down?”…Citizen Wells

“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

“Why did Obama employ Robert Bauer of Perkins Coie, to request an advisory opinion on FEC matching funds that he was not eligible for?”…Citizen Wells

“Why is Obama now employing private attorneys to keep his name on state ballots, despite compelling evidence that he is not a natural born citizen?…Citizen Wells

It is going to be a busy court week for Barack Obama. One of his corruption cronies, William Cellini, has a hearing today for a ruling on a possible retrial. Judge James Zagel may make that ruling today. Tomorrow, January 25, 2012, Stuart Levine and Steven Loren have a status hearing in the courtroom of Judge Amy J. St. Eve. And conspicuously absent from the courtroom is Daniel Frawley, ex partner of Tony Rezko. Frawley’s sentencing has been repeatedly delayed. Daniel Frawley linked a payment from Tony Rezko to Barack Obama in a deposition.

And of course, Obama has a court date on January 26, 2012 in GA regarding his eligibility to be on the Georgia ballot and his Natural Born Citizen Status.

Daily Calendar

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 (As of 01/23/12 at 05:47:05 PM)

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         04:00   In Court Hearing

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

Stuart Levine knows almost as much about Obama ties to corruption as Tony Rezko.

January 6, 2012 Obama corruption ties, William Cellini hearing, Judge James Zagel, Media and Justice Department protect Obama

January 6, 2012 Obama corruption ties, William Cellini hearing, Judge James Zagel, Media and Justice Department protect Obama

“Why was Obama promoting Capri Capital and other investment firms at the same time that Rezko, Levine and Cellini were shaking them down?”…Citizen Wells

“The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public’s interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

“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

William Cellini, who was convicted of 2 counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and aiding and abetting the solicitation of a bribe on November 1, 2011, is scheduled for a evidentiary hearing on Friday,January 6, 2012 in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel. The Mainstream media has done it’s part in conjunction with the Justice Department to keep Obama out of this story.

From NBC Chicago  January 3, 2012.

“Illinois powerbroker William Cellini could get a new trial after it was revealed a juror in his recently-ended trial failed to disclose two felony convictions.

Judge James Zagel on Wednesday called for an evidentially hearing to see if the juror was biased and if a new trial is warranted.

Shortly after jurors earlier this month found the clout-heavy millionaire guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion and aiding and abetting bribery, the Chicago Tribune revealed that one of the jurors failed to disclose a felony conviction for crack-cocain possession and an aggravated DUI conviction.

Cellini was accused of conspiring with three other men to shake down the producer of “Million Dollar Baby” for a $1.5 million campaign contribution to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/cellini-new-trial-possible-134415128.html

The following comment placed there proves my point.

“Guilty of a shakedown of a movie producer, that is it? I can only hope there are a pile of cases behind this one that are much more serious when it comes to RICO and Obama.”

There is obviously more to this long story of Chicago corruption and Rezko could have filled in many blanks.

From Citizen Wells October 19, 2011.

“In the media, Obama always made it sound like he rarely saw Rezko, saying they met for breakfast or lunch once or twice a year. However, the 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,“

During his March 14, 2008 interview, the Times told Obama, Thomas is an FBI mole and he “recently told us that he saw you coming and going from Rezko’s office a lot.”

“And three other sources told us that you and Rezko spoke on the phone daily.””

“Following Obama’s efforts, the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System gave Ariel Capital $112.5 million to manage, and added hundreds of millions more over the next few years.”

“Three other minority-run firms — Holland Capital, Loop Capital and Capri Capital Partners — also saw hundreds of millions of assets turned over to them to manage after meeting with Obama and the state pension boards.”

“Capri Capital is a little more interesting.

From the William Cellini Indictment Press Release:”
“Cellini’s alleged crimes – essentially conspiring with others to force Capri Capital, also a real estate investment firm, and Thomas Rosenberg, a principal and part owner of Capri, to raise or donate substantial political contributions for Public Official A – were the subject of testimony earlier this year at the trial of alleged co-conspirator Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Cellini was charged with conspiring with Rezko, former TRS trustee Stuart Levine, the pension fund’s outside lawyer Steven Loren and others between the spring of 2003 and the summer of 2005 to defraud TRS beneficiaries and the people of Illinois of Levine’s honest services as a TRS trustee. TRS, a public pension plan for teachers and administrators in public schools statewide except in Chicago, serves hundreds of thousands of members and beneficiaries and has assets in excess of $30 billion.

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/william-cellini-trial-capri-capital-obama-connection-obama-arrest-prevented-by-corrupt-us-justice-department-where-is-the-house-judiciary-committee/

From Citizen Wells October 18, 2011.
“The significance of Stuart Levine’s testimony in the William Cellini trial yesterday went unnoticed except for those of us watching with great scrutiny and keeping the Obama connection to Chicago corruption stories alive.”
“Stuart Levine says he also paid bribes more than 10 times to the Chicago Board of Education to get contracts for a bus company.”

“We knew from the Rezko trial that Levine had bribed the Chicago Board of Education. We now know that it happened more than 10 times. This was an ongoing activity. When I read this I intuitively knew that Obama was connected. It did not take long to find out.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/stuart-levine-cellini-trial-testimony-reveals-obama-connections-levine-bribed-chicago-board-of-education-arne-duncan-cps-ceo-ariel-capital-management/

From Citizen Wells July 7, 2011.

“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.”
Rezko Trial

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.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/william-cellini-trial-chicago-businessman-the-pope-of-illinois-politics-bill-cellini-101-cellini-101-cellini-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama/

 

William Cellini evidentiary hearing, January 6, 2012, Judge James Zagel

William Cellini evidentiary hearing, January 6, 2012, Judge James Zagel

“Why was Obama promoting Capri Capital and other investment firms at the same time that Rezko, Levine and Cellini were shaking them down?”…Citizen Wells

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

“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

William Cellini, who was convicted of 2 counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and aiding and abetting the solicitation of a bribe on November 1, 2011,  is scheduled for a evidentiary hearing  on January 6, 2012 in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel.

Daily Calendar

Friday, January 6, 2012  (As of 12/30/11 at 05:48:01 AM

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         09:30   Evidentiary Hearing

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

Blagojevich juror questionnaire in high school class motion denied, Judge James Zagel, Daniel Frawley sentencing delayed again

Blagojevich juror questionnaire in high school class motion denied, Judge James Zagel, Daniel Frawley sentencing delayed again

“In the Daniel Frawley Deposition, why did Tony Rezko give Obama money and why did Frawley assert his Fifth Amendment privilege?”…Citizen Wells

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

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

From the Chicago Tribune December 19, 2011.

“Blagojevich jury forewoman says class saw a blank juror questionnaire”

“The jury forewoman in Rod Blagojevich’s second trial denied today that she improperly took a juror questionnaire and showed it to a high school class. The questionnaire in question was just a blank form that she got from the court to explain the civic process to students, forewoman Connie Wilson said.

“Of course, I couldn’t have access to any of my own forms because those are all sealed in court,” said Wilson, explaining that the court clerk sent her blank forms that are regularly issued to government classes and civic teachers.

The questionnaire issue arose last week when the former governor’s legal team filed an emergency motion alleging that Wilson may have flouted the judge’s orders that juror questionnaires be kept under seal and confidential. The motion cited a newspaper article that reported that Wilson showed “copies of her jury summons and questionnaire” to students during an appearance at an Aurora high school.

But in a sharply worded rebuke Monday, U.S. District Judge James Zagel denied the motion, calling it “harebrained” and suggesting that the Blagojevich lawyer who wrote the filing write a letter of apology to the juror.

“This motion was prepared without any adequate forethought,” Zagel said.

Wilson said she found out about the motion on Saturday from her sister, who called to tell her that it was all over the news. On Sunday, Wilson said reporters waited outside her home as she and her family threw their annual Christmas party.

“It was a little disconcerting,” Wilson said. “We’ve been so careful about everything we say and everything we talk about as jurors to make sure we are always appropriate.”

The filing was submitted by Lauren Kaeseberg, one of Blagojevich’s attorneys, but the rest of the legal team was included on the filing – Sheldon Sorosky, Aaron Goldstein and Elliott Riebman.

“If it is found that Ms. Wilson violated court rules, her violations must result in a new trial,” Blagojevich’s attorneys argued.

But Zagel on Monday said the motion “smacks a little bit of retaliatory (motive against) a juror.””

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-blagojevich-attorneys-back-in-court-today-20111219,0,2720986.story

 

Daniel Frawley, Tony Rezko’s ex partner was scheduled for sentencing December 20 and 21. However, according to commenter Bessie.

Submitted on 2011/12/19 at 12:39 pm

“Good Morning All; the sentencing for Daniel T. Frawley has been postponed A G A I N , I don’t know if this is the fifth or sixth time, I have lost track….They have not yet rescheduled his court date, “probably after the New Year”…Right.”

From Citizen Wells December 13, 2011.

“Daniel Frawley, a one time partner of Tony Rezko,  is scheduled for sentencing  Tuesday, December 20, 2011 in the courtroom of Judge Ronald A. Guzman .”

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/daniel-frawley-sentencing-december-20-2011-rezko-partner-deposition-reveals-rezko-payment-to-obama-companion-security-link/

 

Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years, Judge James Zagel, December 7, 2011, Tony Rezko appeal

Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years, Judge James Zagel, December 7, 2011, Tony Rezko appeal

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

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

Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years.

Today we also learn that Tony Rezko, long time associate of Barack Obama and corruption crony, has filed a notice of appeal in his sentence of 10 and a half years for his June 2008 conviction.

From the Chicago Tribune, December 7, 2011.

“Attorneys for Rod Blagojevich’s former top fundraiser announced plans Tuesday to appeal his corruption-related convictions and 10 ½-year prison term, viewed by some as a baseline for the former Illinois governor in his sentencing later today.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko was sentenced last month for his 2008 convictions for fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze more than $7 million from companies seeking to do state business during Blagojevich’s tenure. A federal judge derided him for his “selfish and corrupt actions” in giving him 10 1/2 years, minus time served.

Rezko’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal Tuesday, but had not yet made a formal appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A different judge, James Zagel, will decide Wednesday on a sentence for Blagojevich, convicted of trying to sell or trade a U.S. Senate seat and shaking down officials for campaign contributions.”

“Rezko, 56, was a former Chicago real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur who was well-known in Illinois politics. During Rezko’s trial, prosecutors said he raised over $1 million for Blagojevich and got so much clout in return he could control two powerful state boards. They accused him of plotting to squeeze payoffs from money management firms that sought to invest the assets of the $40 billion state Teachers Retirement System and said he plotted to get a $1.5 million bribe from a contractor who sought state approval to build a hospital.

Observers say Rezko’s sentence increases the odds Blagojevich’s term will be longer.

“Prosecutors are going to say, ‘Hey, Blagojevich was the grandmaster of all this – so he should certainly get even more time than Rezko,’” said Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago.

Rezko raised money for Barack Obama during his campaigns for Illinois senator, but not his presidential campaign. Obama has not been accused of wrongdoing in the case.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-rezko-to-appear-conviction-sentence-20111207,0,7666367.story

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

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

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

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

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

http://es.twitter.com/Msjournalist

Or here:

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

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

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

Rod Blagojevich lawyers request special hearing, John Wyma testimony, Judge James Zagel, Tony Rezko, Provena Health, Evidentiary hearing request

Rod Blagojevich lawyers request special hearing, John Wyma testimony, Judge James Zagel, Tony Rezko, Provena Health, Evidentiary hearing request

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

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

From the Chicago SunTimes November 28, 2011.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Provena officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

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

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

Thanks to commenter Bessie.

Blagojevich attorneys request tapes, Judge James Zagel, Off limits wiretaps, 2 percent played touch Obama

Blagojevich attorneys request tapes, Judge James Zagel, Off limits wiretaps, 2 percent played touch Obama

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

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

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

From NBC Chicago November 25, 2011.

“Blago Attorneys Want Off-Limits Tapes Heard”

“While most Chicagoans were feasting on their own Thanksgiving dinners, convicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich and his family gathered for what was likely one of the former governor’s last holidays at home before he begins serving a term in federal prison.

At the same time, his lawyers were filing the legal equivalent of a Hail Mary as Blagojevich’s sentencing date approaches.
Blagojevich and his attorneys have asked Judge James Zagel for permission to reference portions of until-now confidential undercover recordings. The tapes were previously branded off-limits by Zagel in April of 2009.

“The defense does not seek to play any wiretap recordings in their entirety,” the lawyers wrote. “The brief excerpts of recordings or transcripts that Mr. Blagojevich is seeking to play in court and to reference in his written sentencing submission…do not involve sensitive, personal, or embarrassing comments about, or references to, any individuals.”

The lawyers reference over 150 tapes. While most involve conversations between Blagojevich and his advisors, at least one features the former governor speaking with his wife and daughters. Several involve then-congressman Rahm Emanuel, and still another feature luminaries as diverse as former school board chief Gery Chico, former alderman Ed Smith, and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.”

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Blagojevich-Blago-Attorneys-Tapes-134487403.html

From Citizen Wells July 18, 2011.

“Rod Blagojevich and his lawyers have long complained that prosecutors and the judge in his two trials were fundamentally unfair, but after his sweeping corruption conviction Monday, only a successful appeal built on that belief stands between the former governor and a possible double-digit prison sentence.
From early denials of Blagojevich’s demands to “play all the tapes” in his case, to U.S. District Judge James Zagel’s limiting of the former governor’s defense at his retrial, Blagojevich has always felt handcuffed, said one of his lawyers, Sam Adam Jr.”

“The appeal will likely argue that in both trials, the judge unfairly barred the defense from playing many undercover recordings critical to its case, severely limited cross-examination of government witnesses and allowed too many jurors who professed bias onto the panel, Adam said.
The government was allowed to play at trial more than 90 of the secretly made recordings of Blagojevich, Adam said, while the defense was allowed just four.
“The jury only got to hear one side of the tapes,” Adam said. “If you do that, you’re going to guarantee a conviction.”
In a mistrial motion filed June 9 as closing arguments were under way, the team of defense lawyers at the retrial accused Zagel of bias and having a “closed mind” on the evidence.”

“The Federal rules on discovery are crystal clear.
“Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure”
“IV. ARRAIGNMENT AND PREPARATION FOR TRIAL > Rule 16.
Rule 16. Discovery and Inspection
(a) Government’s Disclosure.
(1) Information Subject to Disclosure.”
“(B) Defendant’s Written or Recorded Statement.
Upon a defendant’s request, the government must disclose to the defendant, and make available for inspection, copying, or photographing, all of the following:
(i) any relevant written or recorded statement by the defendant if:
•the statement is within the government’s possession, custody, or control; and
•the attorney for the government knows — or through due diligence could know — that the statement exists;”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/blagojevich-appeal-federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure-denial-of-tapes-setup-federal-discovery-rules-clear/

Only 2 percent of the wiretaps were released. From that small amount we learn the following.

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

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

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

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

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

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

But Bill Cellini?

Who?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But after the fundraiser, an amazing thing happened.

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

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

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

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

Combine? What Combine?

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

Read more:

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