Tag Archives: Tony Rezko

Blagojevich trial, Christopher Kelly, John Stroger, Orlando Jones, Dead men don’t talk or do they?

Three deaths.
Christopher Kelly  ( Suicide ?? )
John Stroger       ( Stroke complications )
Orlando Jones      ( Suicide ?? )
All three with connections to Rod Blagojevich and Barack Obama.
All three are mentioned in this article from March 29, 2008 by Evelyn Pringle.

“Any claim that Obama was unaware of the investigations into the corrupt dealings of Rezko with Illinois politicians in June 2005 is ridiculous. On February 15, 2005, the Chicago Tribune reported:

“Gov. Rod Blagojevich long has vowed to purge the Illinois tollway of cronyism, yet two of his closest friends and political advisers have links to food vendors awarded lucrative contracts to operate inside the toll road’s sleek new oases, government records show.” …

“The Subway sandwich shops and Panda Express Asian restaurants now being installed in the tollway’s seven revamped rest stops are controlled by firms with strong ties to the food-service empire of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a Blagojevich confidant who has seeded the governor’s cabinet with former business underlings.”

Christopher Kelly, Blagojevich’s chief fundraiser, “who also recommended the tollway’s executive director for his job, is an investor in at least one Rezko-controlled food firm,” the Tribune wrote. On March 16, 2005, the Tribune reported that:

“City officials alleged Tuesday that a minority contractor at O’Hare International Airport acted as a front for a firm run by Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a top adviser and fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich….

“Rezko, a member of Blagojevich’s kitchen cabinet of advisers, has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following questions about his links to operators of new tollway oasis franchises. The revamp of the oases is a showcase project for the Blagojevich administration.”

On May 15, 2005, the Sun-Times reported that the accusations by his father-in-law that Blagojevich doled out jobs for campaign contributions had “resulted in dozens of grand jury subpoenas being sent to the governor’s office, his unpaid advisers, agency directors and his top fund-raisers”.

Among those subpoenaed for documents, sources told the Times, were “Blagojevich’s biggest money men, Christopher Kelly and Antoin “Tony” Rezko.”

On May 20, 2005, less than a month before Obama bought the mansion, the Tribune reported that Resko, “has had a business relationship with First Lady Patti Blagojevich for eight years, the governor’s office acknowledged Thursday.”

Six months before Obama bought the strip of land from Rezko’s “wife” to enlarge his yard, on August 28, 2005, Natasha Korecki reported in the Sun-Times that, “there’s so much corruption to investigate in the Chicago area, the FBI is adding manpower.”

Robert Grant, FBI Special Agent in Charge, told the Times that he had reorganized the bureau to add a third public corruption squad, giving Chicago the largest corruption unit in the country, even bigger than those in New York and Los Angeles.”

“The “fashion show” was chaired by Rita Rezko, co-chaired by the Governor’s wife, Patti Blagojevich, and Michelle Obama was a special guest that day, according to Merriner.

Two weeks after the “fashion show,” on November 17, 2006, the Sun-Times reported that Blagojevich’s wife Patti got nearly $50,000 from a real estate deal in late 2002 involving Rezko.

In terms of dollar amounts of campaign contributions directly from Rezko in Illinois, the top four earners were, the now deceased President of the Cook County Board, John Stroger, Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor, Richard Daley, and Obama — in that order.

Rezko was the head of Stroger’s campaign finance committee at the same time that he served on Obama US Senate finance committee. 

When it came time for Stroger’s reelection campaign, in the midst of the erupting Rezko scandals in the media, on April 8, 2005, the Tribune reported that Stroger “has selected beleaguered businessman and political powerbroker Antoin “Tony” Rezko as one of the honorary chairs of his campaign fundraiser next month.”

Stroger appointed Rezko’s wife Rita to the Cook County Employee Appeals Board, which hears cases filed by fired or disciplined workers, at a part-time salary of $37,000 a year.

According to documents filed in the Rezko corruption case, this was Rita’s sole income when she supposedly came up with a $125,000 down payment and secured a $500,000 mortgage to buy the $625,00 lot next to Obama. Less than a year after Obama bought his strip of land, Rita sold the rest of the lot to attorney Michael Sreenan, and made a profit of more than $50,000.

On February 27, 2007, the Sun-Times pointed out that Obama’s “new neighbor, Michael Sreenan,” had contributed $5,000 to Obama’s campaigns. Less than a year after buying the lot, Sreenan put it up for sale for $1.5 million in October 2007.

Of course John Stroger will not be answering any questions about corruption, or any other matter, because he died on January 18, 2008. His former chief of staff and godson, Orlando Jones, will not be talking either because he was found dead of self-inflicted gun wounds in September 2007, “just as a corruption inquiry targeting him was heating up,” according to a September 7, 2007 report by CBS News channel 2 Chicago.”

There is plenty more in the article about the Obama’s and Valerie Jarrett’s ties to chicago corruption.

http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/pringle-barack-obama-wizard-of-oz/

Christopher Kelly dies of apparent suicide, September 12, 2009

“Christopher Kelly, who recently plead guilty to kickback schemes, with strong ties to Rod Blagojevich, Tony Rezko and
ultimately back to Barack Obama, is dead. From the Chicago SunTimes, September 12, 2009.

“Key Blagojevich adviser Christopher Kelly dead”

“Christopher Kelly, a key figure in the federal corruption investigation of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is dead, sources said.

Christopher Kelly, 51, of Burr Ridge, was once the master of Blagojevich’s lucrative campaign fund and the “go-to” guy in the ex-governor’s administration.”

“Kelly was found at 7:01 a.m. by his family, according to a report given to the Cook County Medical Examiner. He was pronounced dead at 10:46 a.m., sources said. Kelly died of an apparent “aspirin overdose,” a law enforcement source said.

Just days ago, after pleading guilty to being involved in an illegal kickback scheme involving O’Hare Airport and his company, BCI Commercial Roofing, Inc., Kelly said he was under pressure from federal prosecutors to cooperate in their corruption probe of Blagojevich.”

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Christopher Kelly death investigated as homicide, September 13, 2009

“Kelly dies of possible overdose
Authorities say death may be suicide but are investigating it as homicide”

“Kelly, 51, who was to report to federal prison officials this week to start serving an 8-year sentence, died Saturday at Stroger Hospital in what authorities said was a possible suicide from an over-the-counter medication. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, and police in Chicago and south suburban Country Club Hills are conducting a death investigation.

Kelly’s death ended a tumultuous year in his life. He twice pleaded guilty to federal charges. He was estranged from his wife. And he faced serious financial problems, partly due to gambling debts. But Kelly indicated he was not going to turn on Blagojevich despite pressure from prosecutors.”

“A street-smart businessman who used connections and savvy to make millions, Kelly parlayed his wealth into power before becoming a member of Blagojevich’s “kitchen cabinet” of advisers. He had been at the former governor’s side through much of his political life since he ran for governor.”

“The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Stroger Hospital officials told them that Kelly apparently died of an overintoxication of salicylate, a drug used in anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications such as aspirin.

Authorities said Kelly was in his 2007 Cadillac Escalade in the parking lot of a lumber yard at 173rd Street and Cicero Avenue in Country Club Hills — a few miles from his Markham office — Friday night when he began vomiting. Sources said a girlfriend of Kelly’s drove him to nearby Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County. The Escalade remained there Saturday afternoon, guarded by police.”

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Dead men don’t talk.

Or do they?

To learn more about Rod Blagojevich, Tony rezko, Barack Obama, et al and the events leading up to the Blagojevich trial visit:

Blagojevich Trial 101