Blagojevich prosecution delays protect Obama, Part 1, Blagojevich arrest delayed after 2008 election, Patrick Fitzgerald USDOJ had key witness and crimes

Blagojevich prosecution delays protect Obama, Part 1, Blagojevich arrest delayed after 2008 election, Patrick Fitzgerald USDOJ had key witness and crimes

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells

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

“Blagojevich’s name has been mentioned often. It was brought up at least 30 times Wednesday morning by Stuart Levine, the government’s star witness against Rezko.”…Tony Rezko trial

“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”…Citizen Wells, July 19, 2011

Part 1

The Blagojevich arrest was delayed

Was Barack Obama the original plan for the presidency by the DNC and Chicago Machine? Rod Blagojevich envisioned himself in that office. But in a high
profile position as Governor of Illinois, with brashness by nature and a less stealthy approach to pay to play politics than Obama, the feds began investigating him in 2003 and reports soon hit the Chicago media of corruption in his administration.

The bulk of the charges in the Criminal complaint, indictment and evidentiary proffer and indeed, what the Tony Rezko trial centered around, took place from 2003 to 2005. They include much activity involving the TRS, Teacher Retirement System, Hospital construction approval, a plan to shakedown Children’s Memorial Hospital, appointments to state government such as Ali Ata to the Illinois Finance Authority and real estate transactions involving Blagojevich’s wife Patti.

One of the clearest examples of impacting the citizens of Illinois was the corruption of the TRS.

2003: “Of the five funds, the one in the sorriest shape is the Illinois Teacher Retirement System, which provides the pensions for suburban and downstate
teachers. Its ratio of assets to liabilities stood at a mere 52 percent last year, so poor that it was considered among the five worst-funded plans in the
country.”  Chicago Magazine March 23, 2011

“Rezko’s partner in the Rezmar development company, Daniel Mahru, is referred to as “Individual Z” in the indictment, and according to court filings, Rezko told Mahru that “$500 million” of TRS money was earmarked for their company. Mahru is reportedly cooperating with federal investigators.”

“In addition to lining their own pockets, the money gained through the scheme was funneled to the campaigns of Blagojevich and Obama. Prosecutors have identified two $10,000 payments that were made to Obama’s US Senate campaign through straw donors Joseph Aramanda and Elie Maloof, which originated from a kickback paid by investment firm, Glencoe Capital, to secure approval for a $50 million deal. Evelyn Pringle, “Operation Board games for Slum Lords”

Hospitals:

“The brief conversation was between Levine and Rezko on April 24, 2004, just three days after Levine said he and Rezko had rigged a vote of a state hospital
planning board to approve a controversial hospital in Crystal Lake. Hospital contractor Jacob Kiferbaum was going to pay Levine and Rezko $1 million in
bribes if the Crystal Lake facility won approval, Levine has testified.

Levine testified that he called Rezko on April 24 to set up a meeting to discuss their next shakedown target: Children’s Memorial Hospital. Just minutes
before Levine called Rezko, Levine had hung up with a money manager from the investment banking firm Bear Stearns named Nicholas Hurtgen, who prosecutors say was a confederate in past Levine kickback schemes.” Rezko trial, March 21, 2008 

So, why would the prosecution of Blagojevich be delayed despite the fact that he profoundly affected the citizens and state of IL?

• Obama had a clear role in the rigging of the health planning board.
• Obama played a role in cronyism affecting the TRS, Teacher Retirement System.
• Obama had long time and regular associations with Tony Rezko and was as Blagojevich stated in a wiretap “more tony’d up than me.”
• A blagojevich trial before the 2008 elections would have stopped Obama. Tony Rezko would not talk about Obama, Blagojevich did and would.

The following facts make the argument that Rod Blagojevich should have been arrested long before December 8, 2008 and before Tony Rezko.

• Blagojevich began scheming as soon as he entered office. From the Blagojevich arrest press release. “The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.”
• Pamela Meyer Davis began wearing a secret FBI wiretap  in late 2003 to record conversations involving state health planning board.
• Most of the corruption in the Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine and Rod Blagojevich indictments took place between 2003 and 2005. Counts 1, 2 and 4 in the Blagojevich Indictment were eventualy dropped. Those counts covered that time period and represented approximately half of the indictment.
• “FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, the primary case agent on the investigation into Levine and Rezko, is on the stand now in testimony that is laying the foundation for entering the wiretaps into evidence. Cain said the investigation, dubbed Operation Board Games by the federal agents, began in December 2003 and was prompted by information gleaned from an informant whom he did not identify. That witness, he said, took part in meetings with two other individuals who were in contact with Levine by phone at his home. Cain said Levine had three phone lines in his North Shore home. Federal agents recorded conversations on those lines April 8-May 21, 2004. Those dates span the time when Levine, Rezko and others allegedly were working to rig the hospital board vote on a Mercy Health System hospital proposal for Crystal Lake and other kickback schemes prosecutors claim they were engaged in.” Rezko trial March 12, 2008
• June 7, 2004: Stuart Levine, member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, abruptly resigns. This is the first indication that the Blagojevich administration is under federal criminal investigation.
•  July 2, 2004: Stuart Levine resigns from the state Teachers’ Retirement System board.
•  May 9, 2005: Stuart Levine indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoena issued to Tony Rezko.
•  Sept. 15, 2005: Joseph Cari, former lawyer for the state’s teacher’s pension board pleads guilty to extortion. A high ranking public official is described in court documents only as “Public official A.”
•  Oct. 25, 2005: The Chicago Tribune reports about a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration.
•  Aug. 5, 2006: The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.
• Sometime  between May 9, 2005 and August 5, 2006, Levine has begun cooperating with the feds. Levine knows almost as much as Rezko and becomes the key witness in the Rezko trial and other prosecutions. The Feds know plenty about Blagojevich at this point.
•  Oct. 11, 2006: Tony Rezko is indicted on federal charges he sought millions of dollars in kickbacks and campaign donations from firms seeking state business.
• So far everything seems normal and makes sense.  The next move should be to indict Blagojevich. Blagojevich, the governor, versus Rezko, the businessman, has the power to corrupt state government, has been doing so and thanks to Levine, the Feds know the details. If you have any doubts about this, read the transcripts of the Rezko trial. For example: “Gov. Rod Blagojevich has avoided answering questions about the corruption trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the other day declaring, “I’m not in that case.” But Blagojevich’s name has been mentioned often. It was brought up at least 30 times Wednesday morning by Stuart Levine, the government’s star witness against Rezko. Rezko trial March 19, 2008.
• Patrick Fitzgerald and the feds wait over 2 years, until December 9, 2008 to arrest Blagojevich and then state they are trying to protect the citizens of Illinois. From the Government’s Sentencing Memorandum, signed by Patrick Fitzgerald and filed on November 30, 2011: “By way of comparison, Antoin Rezko,…received a sentence of 126 months imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko:(a) held no elected office of trust;”
• Oct. 22, 2006: Obama publicly states he is considering a run for the Presidency.
• Oct. 27, 2006: Stuart Levine pleads guilty in a scheme to squeeze millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. Court papers contain  allegations that Rezko and  Christopher Kelly were using their influence for corrupt purposes.
• November 7, 2006 USA Today reports: “Despite scandal, Gov. Blagojevich wins re-election in Illinois” “U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has said he is investigating “very serious” allegations of hiring fraud at multiple agencies under Blagojevich.”

  http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/IL/2006-11-07-governor_x.htm

• January 16, 2007:”Judicial Watch filed an open records lawsuit against the office of Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), who is under federal investigation on several fronts, including corrupt hiring practices. Judicial Watch’s lawsuit, filed on January 16, 2007 in the Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court, specifically seeks, among other documents, any and all grand jury subpoenas received by the Governor’s office or any state agencies under the Governor’s control.”  http://www.judicialwatch.org/blagojevich
• October 28, 2007 the Chicago Tribune reports: “Removing a governor” “The public disappointment in Rod Blagojevich, whose tenure follows the corrupt regime of George Ryan, should launch a public debate: Do the people of this state want a way to say to their politicians, “You are serving your interests, not ours. You are dismissed.”" http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/11/gnad.html
• May 2, 2008 a governor recall initiative was narrowly defeated. “State government is hemorrhaging with scandal and corruption,”  Sen. Dan Cronin, sponsor.
• June 4, 2008 Tony Rezko convicted on 16 of 24 counts. Counts 1, 11, 12, 14, 15 were related to Mercy Hospital and the rigging of the Planning Board.
• Dec. 9, 2008 Blagojevich is arrested. “Fitzgerald said, “We make no allegations” that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”
• Jan. 9, 2009 IL House votes 114 to 1 to impeach Blagojevich.
•  Jan 29, 2009 IL Senate removes Blagojevich from office.

Having read the above, forget for a moment the supposition that Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department were protecting Obama and ask the simple question:

Why was Blagojevich left in office until December 2008?

Good question, eh?

Some truths are ageless and I often quote Shakespeare.

For example:

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

Patrick Fitzgerald stated after the Blagojevich arrest:

“The complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever.”

“We make no allegations that he’s aware of anything.”

“But we ask that the press, in particular, recognize that we are not casting aspirsions on people other than the two people we charged and bear that in mind and be responsible.”

Fitzgerald admits that the crime spree had been going on for years.

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

Yes, disturbing.

And I would add, criminal.

I stand by earlier statements that the selling of the senate seat was a well crafted diversion. The facts presented above and in coming articles will make this intuitively obvious.

Below are some resources for further reading.

Blagojevich arrest press release

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01.pdf

Blagojevich Criminal Complaint

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01a.pdf

Blagojevich Second superceding indictment

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2010/pr0204_02a.pdf

Blagojevich Evidentiary Proffer

http://blogs.suntimes.com/blago/PROFFER.pdf

Rezko trial transcripts

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/03/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335592,00.html

Rezko trial transcripts related to the rigging of the planning board

http://citizenwells.com/2010/06/02/blagojevich-trial-transcripts-rezko-trial-testimony-il-health-planning-facilities-board-obama-chairman-of-il-senate-committee-blagojevich-rezko-levine-obama/

Evelyn Pringle articles

http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/evelyn-pringles-operation-board-games-and-curtain-time-for-obama/

Blagojevich trial pre trial events and facts

http://citizenwells.com/2010/05/22/blagojevich-trial-pre-trial-events-and-facts/

Stuart Levine death threat, Who benefits most from Levine death?, Who benefited most from death of Jones Young Lt. Harris Kelly Gwatney Breitbart?, Obama knowledge lethal

Stuart Levine death threat, Who benefits most from Levine death?, Who benefited most from death of Jones Young Lt. Harris Kelly Gwatney Breitbart?, Obama knowledge lethal

“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

“Thomas said Rezko floated the names of several people to sit on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which the government claims Rezko corrupted with the help of board member Stuart Levine. And Thomas said Rezko at one point made it clear that he wanted to see Levine reappointed to the panel, which was being overhauled by the governor in 2003.”…Rezko trial March 11, 2008

“At Rod Blagojevich’s December sentencing Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar called Levine one of the most significant cooperators the Dirksen Federal Courthouse had ever seen.”…Natasha Korecki, Chicago SunTimes

Who benefited most from the suicide/murder of Orlando Jones?

Who benefited most from the murder of Donald Young?

Who benefited most from the murder of Lt. Quarles Harris Jr.?

Who benefited most from the suicide/murder of Christopher Kelly?

Who benefited most from the murder of Bill Gwatney?

Who benefited most from the death/murder of Andrew Breitbart?

Tony Rezko is in prison.

Rod Blagojevich is in prison.

Who would benefit most from Stuart Levine’s death?

Not sure?

Stuart Levine worked closely with Tony Rezko and they both had close associations with Barack Obama.

If you have not shared this video or wiretaps with your friends & associates, shame on you.

Patrick Fitzgerald leaves office, Media portrays Fitzgerald as fearless crime fighter, Patrick Fitzgerald protected Obama delayed Blagojevich prosecution

Patrick Fitzgerald leaves office, Media portrays Fitzgerald as fearless crime fighter, Patrick Fitzgerald protected Obama delayed Blagojevich prosecution

“Patrick Fitzgerald’s office knew from an informant and wiretaps beginning in December of 2003 that there was corruption in Blagojevich’s administration. The Chicago Tribune on October 25, 2005 reported about a federal grand jury investigation of the Blagojevich administration. The Chicago Tribune on August 5, 2006 reported that Stuart Levine was cooperating with the federal investigation. Stuart Levine was the key witness in Operation Board Games.

Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?

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

“Patrick Fitzgerald stated after the Blagojevich arrest: ‘I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy’

‘I think that would be irresponsible.’

Fitzgerald did wait to arrest Blagojevich and there are other words to describe his actions. Criminal, conspiracy and Chicago pay to play.”…Citizen Wells

“Antoin Rezko, …recently received a sentence of 126 months’ imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with  Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko: (a) held no elected office of trust;”…Patrick Fitzgerald’s Government Sentencing Memorandum

“The people in power,the first thing they have to do,they have to get control of the media.The perfect example was my case.The main person that I attempted to give information on,the person who was in charge of a lot of things the person who was able to pick all the judges,was one of my main targets.While he also happens to be the same person who’s able to give out all the money ,in the city, he’s Chairman of Finance Committee in Chicago.He was able to hire the U.S. Attorney who was supposed to prosecute him,pay him huge sums of money and he never got prosecuted.There was no explanation as to why he didn’t .He just was not prosecuted.To this day he continues there in that same position where he’s able to pick all the judges,he’s Chairman of the Democratic Judicial Slating Committee.He picks all the judges in Chicago.After I reported what I did and it was out there,that he was fixing murder cases and molesting cases, himself and his wife.His wife afterwards was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court where she sits today.When she ran for re-election nobody dared oppose her.I mean that’s the basic problem with Chicago and why Chicago will not change,because the people in charge are the most powerful people,have the media in their pockets.”…FBI Informant and attorney Robert Cooley

With all of the attention on the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, the sad state of the economy and the 2012 elections, Patrick Fitzgerald left his post with the US Justice Department with glowing remarks from the mainstream media.

From the Chicago SunTimes June 29, 2012.

“After 11 years as U.S. attorney in Chicago, Fitzgerald steps aside”

“The relentless U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois ended his 11-year run as Chicago’s top federal prosecutor Friday, retiring from an office that brought countless criminals to justice.

“I think his legacy will be that he raised the bar of what it means to be a U.S. Attorney in Chicago. It’s a great office with a great history. Pat came from outside and over 10 years built upon that history to leave the office better than he found it,” said Zachary Fardon, who prosecuted former Gov. George Ryan under Fitzgerald and now is a defense lawyer.

“He did that through hard work, but most important was his purity of intentions, the earnestness of his convictions, and his kindness of heart, all of which motivated everyone around him to be better. That’s hard to act to follow.”

The end of Fitzgerald’s run was a sprint to the finish.

On Thursday, his office announced a significant public corruption investigation against two former elected officials — Joseph Mario Moreno and Ambrosio Medrano.

Last week, the FBI arrested Raghuveer Nayak, a political fund-raiser who was a key figure in the Rod Blagojevich corruption case as well as a man close to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.”

“Under Fitzgerald’s tenure, the state saw the dismantling of the power structures beneath two governors and then the convictions of the governors themselves — Ryan, a Republican, and Blagojevich, a Democrat.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/13486581-418/after-11-years-as-us-attorney-in-chicago-fitzgerald-steps-aside.html

 

Oh really?

 

I began smelling a rat in 2008 before the election and when Fitzgerald waited until after the election, in December 2008, to  arrest Rod Blagojevich, the stench became overwhelming.

 

From Citizen Wells June 22, 2012.

 

“From the Blagojevich Criminal Complaint.

Since approximately 2003, the government has been investigating allegations
of illegal activity occurring in State of Illinois government as part of the administration of Governor ROD BLAGOJEVICH. As further detailed below, the investigation has developed evidence that: (a) beginning not later than in or about 2002, ROD BLAGOJEVICH has conspired with multiple individuals”
From the Washington Post December 22, 2008.

“The wide-ranging public corruption probe that led to the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got its first big break when a grandmother of six walked into a breakfast meeting with shakedown artists wearing an FBI wire.
Pamela Meyer Davis had been trying to win approval from a state health planning board for an expansion of Edward Hospital, the facility she runs in a Chicago suburb, but she realized that the only way to prevail was to retain a politically connected construction company and a specific investment house. Instead of succumbing to those demands, she went to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald in late 2003 and agreed to secretly record conversations about the project.

Her tapes led investigators down a twisted path of corruption that over five years has ensnared a collection of behind-the-scenes figures in Illinois government, including Joseph Cari Jr., a former Democratic National Committee member, and disgraced businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko.””

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/stuart-levine-sentencing-june-28-2011-rezko-blagojevich-obama-crony-levine-among-most-valuable-witnesses-in-3-decades-blagojevich-arrest-delayed/

 

From American Thinker February 29, 2012.

 

“Some ‘Splainin’ to do in Chicago”

 

“On February 27, a Chicagoland website, Illinois PayToPlay, cited the star witness in the Operation Gambit trials of the early ’90s, Robert Cooley, as a primary source for the news that Daniel Frawley says he gave $400,000 in cash to Tony Rezko, who then passed it on to Barack Obama.

In case you missed Cooley’s story, James Peterson, writing for Andrew Breitbart’s Big Journalism, noted that “[i]n the mid-1980′s, Chicago Outfit Lawyer Robert Cooley voluntarily went undercover for the FBI as part of an investigation called Operation Gambat. Cooley wore a wire on, among others, [Alderman Ed] Burke’s good friend and made-man, Alderman Fred Roti. The Chief Judge of Cook County’s Chancery Court and an Assistant Senate Majority Leader of the Illinois State Senate were also targeted. Cooley’s work eventually led to the only judge in U.S. history being convicted of fixing a murder trial.”
Cooley is a Chicago legend.

As the star witness for the prosecution back then, Cooley’s credibility was validated by 26 convictions. Now, Cooley is back on the Chicago scene along with news that leaves a number of current, and former, Chicagoans with some splainin’ to do. Among the short list are these persons of interest.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald: It requires what one well-known politician once called “the willing suspension of disbelief” to think that the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) was unaware of this allegation by Frawley. Did Fitzgerald’s staff investigate it? Or did this fall into the “Wired for Silence: Fitzgerald’s Rezko Watchers” arrangement, recently suggested in the Chicago Daily Observer, where three key moles close to Rezko never testified in Rezko’s trial, nor were any conversations they taped made public?

Chicago Sun-Times: A July 11, 2011 Times article stated that, “Details about Frawley’s cooperation with the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and the Illinois attorney general’s office can be gleaned from a 65-page court deposition he gave seven months ago in a legal-malpractice lawsuit that he filed against his former longtime lawyer, George Weaver. In the lawsuit, Frawley accuses Weaver of having overbilled him and telling him to ‘withhold certain information from the government’ when he was cooperating with authorities.”

What “certain information?” Did the Sun-Times aggressively pursue an answer to that question, or merely “glean”?

That 65-page deposition was executed on December 1, 2010 — but hold that thought.

Attorney Daniel F. Konicek: He represented Frawley’s former lawyer, George Weaver, in the deposition. The Times highlighted the following exchange between Konicek and Frawley: “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.’”

Where did that question come from? Konicek? Weaver? Did Konicek expect Frawley to answer?

Makes you wonder: was the whole deposition a kabuki dance intended to send a message to the USAO, and others, that Frawley knows some things, and might tell them to the world if he gets jammed up by the feds?

Back to Patrick Fitzgerald: Not two months after the December 2010 deposition, Frawley was hit with a bank fraud charge that was past the statute of limitations. Coincidence?

Or was it payback for filing the Weaver lawsuit, and a warning to Frawley that he’d better keep his mouth shut about the $400,000…and who knows what else? (Like maybe something about Companion Security?)”

“Chicago Big Media: Why did it take an obscure website to break this story when the Sun-Times has those three-musketeer journalists they call the WATCHDOGS?

And when the Trib has equally dogged sleuths like John Kass and John Chase?

Did either paper have knowledge concerning what Illinois Pay To Play reported and decide to sit on the information?

Thanks to the legendary Bob Cooley, yet again, some current and former Chicagoans got some ‘splainin’ to do. But, what we’ll most likely hear instead is the sound of crickets.”
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/some_splainin_to_do_in_chicago.html#ixzz20Aeedyxi

Patrick Fitzgerald.

 

Pawn,  idiot or corrupt?”

 

I believe that Fitzgerald is at least 2 of the above.

 

 

 

Obama John Glennon both damaged IL TRS, Teachers Retirement System, Glennon on TRS board, Glencoe Capri Capital, Obama doing to US what he did to Illinois

Obama John Glennon both damaged IL TRS, Teachers Retirement System, Glennon on TRS board, Glencoe Capri Capital, Obama doing to US what he did to Illinois

“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

Obama, Blagojevich and their cronies used the citizens of Illinois, Teachers Retirement System, hospitals and taxpayer dollars for their own benefit.

John Glennon, one of the lesser known and underreported corruption buddies was recently given a slap on the wrist.

From the Chicago Tribune July 21, 2005.
“A one-time top adviser to former Gov. George Ryan was charged Wednesday with aiding and abetting an alleged fraud on a suburban Chicago medical school by acting as a middleman in a kickback scheme.

John Glennon, an influential Republican real estate consultant, helped conceal kickbacks totaling $700,000 paid by the owner of a construction firm, authorities charged. The construction firm won an $18 million contract to build an addition at the school.

The indictment alleged that Stuart Levine, then on the board of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science in North Chicago and a friend of Glennon’s, extorted the kickbacks in 2001 as the price to win the construction contract.

To conceal the fraud, Jacob Kiferbaum, the construction firm owner, used a sham marketing contract to steer the kickbacks to Glennon’s consulting company, North American Capital Opportunities, until early 2004, the charges alleged.

Levine, a wealthy Republican insider, and Kiferbaum, who was also on the medical school’s board, were initially indicted in May for that fraud and other schemes. Glennon was added Thursday to the indictment. He was charged with three counts of aiding and abetting Levine in the one scheme.”

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-07-21/news/0507210141_1_indictment-john-glennon-scheme

From Citizen Wells March 26, 2012.

“John Glennon, a former top aide to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, leaves the Dirksen Federal Building after his sentencing was continued on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Glennon pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities about his role in helping cover up kickbacks involving Stuart Levine under Blagojevich.

A federal judge in Chicago said Wednesday he has no intention of sending businessman John Glennon, a lesser-known figure caught up in the corruption scandal involving former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, to prison.

U.S. District Judge John Grady told Glennon he would delay his sentencing until April 9 and that he plans to sentence him then to probation and community service.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/obama-corruption-pals-in-news-john-glennon-gets-no-time-john-harris-and-alonzo-monk-sentenced-this-week-rep-aaron-schock-il-obama-ties-to-chicago-machine/

Connecting the dots.

What do Obama and John Glennon have in common aside from associations with Stuart Levine and other Chicago corruption figures?

Involvement with the IL TRS, Teachers Retirement System.

What else do they have in common?

They were both involved with the TRS in 2002 and 2003.

What is significant about these years?

2003: “Of the five funds, the one in the sorriest shape is the Illinois Teacher Retirement System, which provides the pensions for suburban and downstate teachers. Its ratio of assets to liabilities stood at a mere 52 percent last year, so poor that it was considered among the five worst-funded plans in the country.”

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/March-2011/Illinois-Teacher-Pensions-Always-in-Distress-Mode/

From the LA Times April 7, 2008.

In 2002, the year after Obama made the pitch, the Illinois Teacher Retirement System reported an 18% increase in assets managed by minority-owned firms. Ariel’s share grew to $442 million by 2005.

In 2006, after the federal investigation became public, the teacher pension board severed its relationship with Ariel, concluding that Ariel’s investment returns were insufficient.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamarezko.html

From the Common Conservative October 1, 2008.

“On Feb. 10, 2007, Senator Barack Obama launched his bid for the White House in Springfield, setting himself on a course that has become one for the history books. But Obama might not have made it even to the Old State Capitol Building that frigid day if not for a private meeting he had with friends and advisers in late 2002 as he was mulling a run for the U.S. Senate. In a South Side high-rise overlooking the lake, the junior state senator vetted his lofty political ambitions with a group of Chicago’s African American business elite that included Frank M. Clark Jr., Valerie B. Jarrett, Quintin E. Primo III, James Reynolds Jr., and John W. Rogers Jr.”
http://thecommonconservative.com/?p=161

From Citizen News June 15, 2010.
“Today, Tuesday, June 15, 2010, testimony in the Rod Blagojevich trial continues. Joseph Aramanda, with ties to Blagojevich, Rezko and Obama is expected to testify soon.”

“Rezko’s partner in the Rezmar development company, Daniel Mahru, is referred to as “Individual Z” in the indictment, and according to court filings, Rezko told Mahru that “$500 million” of TRS money was earmarked for their company. Mahru is reportedly cooperating with federal investigators.”

“In addition to lining their own pockets, the money gained through the scheme was funneled to the campaigns of Blagojevich and Obama. Prosecutors have identified two $10,000 payments that were made to Obama’s US Senate campaign through straw donors Joseph Aramanda and Elie Maloof, which originated from a kickback paid by investment firm, Glencoe Capital, to secure approval for a $50 million deal.
Aramanda and Maloof also each gave Obama $1,000 for his failed run for Congress in 2000. Once Obama became a US Senator, Aramanda’s son was granted a coveted intern position in Obama’s Senate office in Washington during the summer of 2005, based on a request which the Obama’s camp has admitted came from Rezko.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/blagojevich-trial-joseph-aramanda-testifies-soon-aramanda-linked-to-blagojevich-rezko-obama-open-thread-june-15-2010/

Perhaps you have not seen this.

“Glencoe Capital Partners

On a motion by Cynthia O’Neill, seconded by Stuart Levine, it was resolved:

To invest $25 million in Glencoe Capital Partners III, L.P. and invest up to $25 million to Glencoe Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., subject to the satisfactory completion of contract and fee negotiations. Source of funds will be the TRS Cash Flow account.
Minutes – Board Meeting

August 15, 2003
Page 6

Roll call resulted in affirmative voice votes from Trustees Bruner, Cleveland, Glennon, Klickna, Leggett, Levine, O’Neill, Phalen, and Schmidt. Motion CARRIED.”

For more information about Obama’s impact on the TRS:

“In 2000, after losing a Congressional race, Barack Obama was looking to revive his political fortunes. And he soon found a springboard — a group of black entrepreneurs also trying to break out.

Month after month, Mr. Obama, then an Illinois state senator, showed up at the Chicago group’s meetings, listening to members’ concerns about the difficulties they faced in getting government and corporate business, and asking them what he could do to help.

And help them he did. Members of the group, the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs, say Mr. Obama checked into their problems and helped start a drive that enabled minority investment executives to win millions of dollars in business from the state’s giant pension funds.”

“Mr. Obama also recently pointed to his work on the Illinois pension issue as a model for what he would do as president to promote minority-owned companies.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/obama-role-in-corrupting-il-teacher-retirement-system-pensions-cellini-trial-2007-ny-times-article-where-is-tony-rezko-where-is-house-judiciary-committee/

 

Obama corruption pals in news, John Glennon gets no time, John Harris and Alonzo Monk sentenced this week, Rep Aaron Schock Il Obama ties to Chicago machine

Obama corruption pals in news, John Glennon gets no time, John Harris and Alonzo Monk sentenced this week, Rep Aaron Schock Il Obama ties to Chicago machine

“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

From the Chicago SunTimes March 21, 2012.

“Judge: I won’t send former Blagojevich aide to prison”

“John Glennon, a former top aide to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, leaves the Dirksen Federal Building after his sentencing was continued on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Glennon pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities about his role in helping cover up kickbacks involving Stuart Levine under Blagojevich.

A federal judge in Chicago said Wednesday he has no intention of sending businessman John Glennon, a lesser-known figure caught up in the corruption scandal involving former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, to prison.

U.S. District Judge John Grady told Glennon he would delay his sentencing until April 9 and that he plans to sentence him then to probation and community service.

Glennon was charged in 2005 with covering up kickbacks involving state boards controlled by insiders connected to the now-imprisoned Blagojevich.

In 2007, Glennon pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony, a crime that carries a maximum three-year prison term.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/11442207-418/sentencing-wednesday-in-blagojevich-related-case.html

More on John Glennon later.

From the Chicago SunTimes March 19, 2012.

“Five snared with Blago to be sentenced in next three months”

“With Rod Blagojevich now in prison, five others snared in the investigation that put the ex-governor behind bars are to be sentenced soon. All but one, William Cellini, has pleaded guilty. Wednesday:

John Glennon, a former adviser to now-imprisoned ex-Gov. George Ryan, is to be sentenced for covering up kickbacks that involved Stuart Levine, convicted of corrupting two state boards Blagojevich controlled.

March 28: John Harris, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, is to be sentenced after admitting he helped Blagojevich try to sell an appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

March 29: Alonzo ‘Lon’ Monk, another former Blagojevich chief of staff, is to be sentenced after testifying that he schemed with Blagojevich to get rich off state deals.

June 14: Ali Ata, former head of the Illinois Finance Authority, is to be sentenced after admitting he lied to the FBI when he said that campaign contributions he had made to Blagojevich didn’t help him land his state job.

June 15: Cellini, a longtime political power broker, is to be sentenced for attempting to extort $1.5 million for Blagojevich’s campaign fund.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/11344455-452/five-snared-with-blago-to-be-sentenced-in-next-three-months.html

From the Huffington Post March 21, 2012.

“Aaron Schock Links Obama ‘Team’ To Blagojevich On ‘Morning Joe’”

“U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Tuesday and criticized President Obama’s ties to what he called the “Chicago machine,” claiming that the president is aligned with the same political forces who helped elect former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“Illinois voters, even the most conservative ones, understand Barack Obama better than probably most of the nation, not only because they know President Obama but they also know his team that is really kind of the Chicago machine apparatus who’s run statewide elections here in Illinois for decades,” Schock explained.

“Many of these folks were the same ones that were able to get Governor Blagojevich re-elected to his second term,” the congressman continued. “They know how to run tough and dirty campaigns and we know whoever we nominate is going to go up against President Obama’s stated goal which is a billion dollars in [his] campaign war chest.”"

“Tuesday did not mark the first time Schock has slammed “Chicago-style politics.” While campaigning for Romney in Iowa last year, he commented that, “being in Iowa, you know what it means to be a Chicago politician. You know what kind of races Chicago politicians run.”"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/aaron-schock-on-morning-j_n_1370389.html

In Case you don’t know “what kind of races Chicago politicians run.“

From an interview of hollywood producer Bettina Viviano.

 

Chicago most corrupt city in US, University of Illinois report, Illinois third most corrupt state, Obama most corrupt politician in Washington DC

Chicago most corrupt city in US, University of Illinois report, Illinois third most corrupt state, Obama most corrupt politician in Washington DC

“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

“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

From a report published by the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Political Science and the Illinois Integrity Initiative of the University of Illinois’ Institute for Government and Public Affairs on February 15, 2012.

“Chicago and Illinois,
Leading the Pack in Corruption”

“For a century and a half, public corruption has been a shameful aspect of both
Illinois and Chicago politics. The Governor’s mansion and Chicago City Council
Chambers have long been the epicenters of public corruption. The extent and
pervasiveness of bribery, fraud, stealing from the taxpayers, and illegal patronage have made the city and state national leaders of corruption. Our notorious reputations have provided fodder for scores of comedians and late night talk show hosts. But corruption is a serious problem that hurts all citizens who put their trust – and tax dollars – in the hands of politicians who abuse the power they are given.

New public corruption conviction data from the U.S. Department of Justice shows the Chicago metropolitan region has been the most corrupt area in the country since 1976. In addition, the data reveal that Illinois is the third most corrupt state in the nation. The latest information, just released by the Justice Department, provides new evidence of the need for reforms to reduce rampant corruption in Chicago and Illinois.”

“Capital City of Corruption

Not to be outdone, the City of Chicago has seen its share of convicted officials.
The first conviction of Chicago aldermen and Cook County Commissioners for accepting bribes to rig a crooked contract occurred in1869. Since 1973, 31 more aldermen have been convicted of corruption. Approximately 100 aldermen have served since then, which is a conviction rate of about one-third.”

“In the case of Rod Blagojevich, an attempt was made to extract payment or campaign donations in exchange for appointment to a United States Senate seat. He also created a culture of corruption involving appointments to boards and commissions, campaign contributions and permits to expand hospitals. While Blagojevich represents the most egregious case, at the heart of most convictions is a payoff for something that is a sweetheart contract or a law or permit necessary to do business. This has been the main pattern of corruption in the city and the state for over 150 years.

Recent conviction data shows that the Chicago is the most corrupt area in the
United States, and the State of Illinois is the third most corrupt state.”

“Conclusion

Corruption is not funny and it is not free. It costs the taxpayers of Illinois more
than $500 million per year. Governor Blagojevich’s well-publicized corruption antics led to a lowering of the state’s bond rating, which cost the state more than $20 million during its last bond issue. Corruption also takes time and resources away from police and prosecutors. Blagojevich’s first trial cost tens of millions of dollars to investigate and prosecute, and after a hung jury resulted in a retrial, the taxpayers footed the bill for Blagojevich’s new attorneys. And so it goes – in a time of deep budget deficits, we are wasting taxpayer money and raising taxes and fees on citizens who can ill afford to pay for corruption any longer.

What has come to be called “The Chicago Way” or “The Illinois Way” of public
corruption has undermined the in voters’ sense of political efficacy. Why apply for a city or state job if you know only patronage employees or politician’s relatives will be hired anyway? Why report corrupt officials, if you know they won’t be punished and they may turn the powers of the government on you? Voters may laugh at times at the antics of public officials, but in the end, they feel powerless, lose their faith in government and vote less often because they believe the “fix is in.””

http://cbschicago.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/leadingthepack.pdf

And speaking of Chicago corruption and the most corrupt politician in Washington, DC, Barack Obama….

From Illinois Pay to Play March 1, 2012.

“Since at least last January 22nd, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has known of Daniel Frawley’s claim that he gave Tony Rezko $400,000 in cash that Rezko then passed on to U.S. Senator Barack Obama. We believe, though, that that knowledge goes back much earlier.

In a December 11, 2011 Illinois Pay To Play (IP2P) article entitled “The Fitz Solution to Corruption: The Citizens Report It,” we noted that “While commenting on Blago’s prison sentence, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald repeated what has become for him a common theme: Illinois citizens are responsible for stopping corruption by reporting it to the authorities.”

Along with that article, IP2P posted a video clip wherein Fitzgerald stated that there needed to “be a change in the public’s attitude. People seem resigned to corruption at times and…they’re afraid to say ‘no’ when someone in power asks them for something they shouldn’t. The people in power should be afraid to ask.”

So it’s a fact that the U.S. Attorney has, on several occasions, encouraged average citizens to get involved in fighting corruption.

Well, we found one citizen who did just that, back on January 22nd – six weeks ago. Here’s the email thread the citizen sent.

From: Address Deleted
To: “Randall Samborn” <Address Deleted@usdoj.gov>, “Kimberly Nerheim” <Adress Deleted@usdoj.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 9:15:44 PM
Subject: Public outreach/safety.

Mr Randall Samborn and Ms. Kimberly Nerheim

I am more than a little concerned by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s complete lack of response to the serious matter that has been brought to his attention below. Mr. Fitzgerald made a very public outreach encouraging people to report corruption to his office. Hopefully he will not disappoint those he urged to risk so much ?

Concerned Citizen

XXXXXXXXXXXXX”

“Mr. Randall Samborn

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has repeatedly challenged the public to do something about corruption in Illinois by bringing information of illegal acts directly to him. Mr. Samborn, while I agree the premise of reporting crime to the U.S. Attorney is a logical step in fighting corruption, I do not underestimate the serious danger those who do are put in.

Need I remind you, it was also Patrick Fitzgerald who acknowledged that his office may be the source for information being leaked to the very criminals he urges the public to inform on. With this in mind, please personally hand a copy of this email to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and ask him to personally send me a response addressing concerns I have about his office and my personal safety. At the very least Mr Fitzgerald can acknowledge the risk I am taking exposing corruption at the highest levels.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

> ———- Forwarded message ———-
> From: Dan Frawley <Address Deleted@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 08:08:15 -0500
> Subject: Frawely vs Weaver
> To: XXXXX XXXXX <XXXXXXXX@gmail.com>
>
> Hi XXXX
> I think the best way to bring this to the public and media is to fact
> plead
> the malpractice case against Weaver.
> I have discussed this with my attorney’s and they are willing to do it at
> the right time and way.
> Instead of a news conference being called like the gay guy did with Obama.
> PUT AS THE GUTS OF THE SUIT THE MEETING AT THE FOUR SEASONS AND THE 4OO
> GRAND GOING TO YOU KNOW WHO AND THE USE OF THE MONEY.
> I would bring this out in the for of a legal action not a personal
> vendetta.
> The media with the right reporters would make sure that was national news.
> When the usual denials are made or the old I don’t remember I hit him with
> the second naming names dates and places.
> Punches are always more effective when thrown in combination.
> know we figure out the best timing.
> DAN

And in response, what did the citizen hear back from the U.S. Attorney’s office?

Absolute silence.”

Read more:

http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2012/03/01/u-s-attorney-fitzgerald-has-known-of-frawleys-obama-bribe-accusation/

It is time for Barack Hussein Obama to be arrested.

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

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

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

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

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

From the Stuart Levine Plea Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Cellini trial, Cellini played Democrats and Republicans, Operation Board Games, Rezko Levine Obama Blagojevich

William Cellini trial, Cellini played Democrats and Republicans, Operation Board Games, Rezko Levine Obama Blagojevich

From the Chicago Tribune September 9, 2011.

“Democrat, Republican — Cellini can play them all”
“Illinois Republicans are often easy to forget, what with the Democrats holding all the key offices, from City Hall West (121 N. LaSalle St.) to City Hall East (1600 Pennsylvania Ave.).

Political historians would tell you that all that power didn’t come from magic spells. It came from big-city Democratic Party patronage armies.

Historians might also tell you that armies travel best on roads.

And in Illinois, for decade upon decade upon decade, all the roads have led to Bill Cellini, the low-key multimillionaire boss hog Republican. Chieftain of the road builders, Cellini was at the heart of the bipartisan Illinois Combine.

Cellini made his fortune through his political connections, working with Republican governors on questionable inside deals from gambling casinos to real estate, all of it from his power base in Springfield. But it’s what he allegedly did with Democrat and convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich that finally landed Cellini in a federal indictment.

On Oct. 3, Cellini will stand trial in federal court in Chicago. If you’re there you’ll see a little guy in his late 70s in a dark suit, unassuming, a thin man wearing a Julius Caesar-style haircut.

And if you’re interested in how Illinois politics works — not the speeches of the puppets and the gamesmanship of their media lickspittles, but the real politics of hard leverage for big money — then you’ll pay attention.”

“”I’ve fought him my entire career,” Sen. Fitzgerald once told me about Cellini. “And for near 40 years, Cellini has been calling the shots from behind the scenes in Springfield. He’s gotten very rich off the taxpayers. Very rich.”

But Cellini stayed to pull the strings. And the Illinois Republican Party ran Pete Fitzgerald out of politics. So don’t tell me there’s not a Combine. The Cellini trial, one of the last chapters of the federal government’s Operation Board Games investigation, will lay out how the Combine works.

Powerful Illinois Republicans team up with powerful Illinois Democrats, and some earthy characters are thrown in. One is convicted political fixer Tony Rezko, fundraiser and real estate fairy to President Barack Obama, and fundraiser to Blagojevich as well.”

“He flew under that radar year after year, without getting much publicity. Fools like Blagojevich preen and demand media attention. Guys like Cellini prefer to count their coin in the shadows.”

“Think of a spider in the middle of a web, and all those silky strands bring him information on what’s coming for dinner.

A spider with hair combed forward over the forehead.

I can’t wait for October.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0909-20110909,0,6270746,full.column

Patrick Fitzgerald apolitical?, Fitzgerald attacked Republicans protected Obama, Chicago Tribune protecting Obama?

Patrick Fitzgerald apolitical?, Fitzgerald attacked Republicans protected Obama, Chicago Tribune protecting Obama?

From the Chicago Tribune August 28, 2011.

“Patrick Fitzgerald’s decade

His apolitical ground war against public corruption argues for keeping
patronage out of these appointments.”

“Which brings us to an excellent argument for keeping these
appointments apolitical: If the traditional patronage system of naming
U.S. attorneys in Chicago consistently had produced the best possible
top prosecutors, would the Illinois culture of political sleaze have
become as rampant, as pervasive, as it had grown by the turn of this
century?”

“U.S. attorneys nationwide serve at the pleasure of the president. Thus
far the current one, Barack Obama, has kept his campaign promise to
leave Fitzgerald in Chicago rather than replace him or, almost as bad,
promote him to oblivion higher in the U.S. Department of Justice.”

“Until he says otherwise, then, we trust that Patrick Fitzgerald will
keep rolling out indictments where they’re warranted.”

Read more:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-fitzgerald-20110828,0,7027468.story

Is it a  coincidence that this story, praising Patrick Fitzgerald for being apolitical, came out the same day that Colin Powell blasted Dick Cheney and his book that reveals the truth about what Powell knew about the Valerie Plame outing and the involvement of Patrick Fitzgerald?

Patrick Fitzgerald apolitical? Hardly!

Why would Obama want Fitzgerald to leave Chicago? Fitzgerald and Holder protect Obama. 

From Citizen Wells July 15, 2010.

Blagojevich trial

Protecting Obama

Part 4

Blagojevich arrest  intentially delayed

“I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy”

“I think that would be irresponsible.”…Patrick Fitzgerald, December 9, 2008, Blagojevich arrest

Those are interesting statements by Fitzgerald.

The question is, why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?

The prosecution in the Rod Blagojevich trial rested their case Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

Tony Rezko has not been called to the witness stand. Nor has Stuart Levine. Nor have a host of others with corruption ties to Blagojevich and Obama.

The US Justice Department had plenty of evidence indicting Rod Blagojevich by 2006. Why did the US Justice Department wait until December 2008, after the election, to arrest Blagojevich?

Who made the decision to wait to indict Blagojevich?

Was Patrick Fitzgerald involved in this decision?

“I think that would be irresponsible.” Yes, Fitzgerald, I agree.

From the Blagojevich complaint December 7, 2008.

“From in or about 2002 to the present, in Cook County, in the Northern District of Illinois, defendants did, conspire with each other and with others to devise and participate in a scheme to defraud the State of Illinois and the people of the State of Illinois of the honest services of ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, in furtherance of which the mails and interstate wire communications would be used, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341,1343, and 1346; all in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1349.
“Since approximately 2003, the government has been investigating allegations of illegal activity occurring in State of Illinois government as part of the administration of Governor ROD BLAGOJEVICH. As further detailed below, the investigation has developed evidence that: (a) beginning not later than in or about 2002, ROD BLAGOJEVICH has conspired with multiple individuals, including, beginning not later than in or about October 2008, JOHN HARRIS, to devise and participate in a scheme, which used and contemplated the use of the mails and interstate wire communications, to defraud the State of Illinois and its residents of the honest services of ROD BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS by corruptly using the office of Governor of the State of Illinois to obtain and attempt to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, for ROD BLAGOJEVICH and third parties with whom he is associated;”
Blagojevich’s involvement in corruption did not begin in 2008.

“From in or about 2002 to the present, in Cook County”

“Since approximately 2003, the government has been investigating allegations of illegal activity occurring in State of Illinois government as part of the administration of Governor ROD BLAGOJEVICH.”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01a.pdf

From the Stuart Levine Indictment, May 9, 2005. (The SPECIAL MARCH 2004 GRAND JURY charges)
“CHICAGO – Three Chicago area executives – one of them a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which controls medical facility construction projects in Illinois, and one a managing director of Bear Stearns & Co., an investment firm that arranges financing for public works projects in Illinois – were indicted on federal charges for allegedly engaging in insider-dealing, influence-peddling, kickbacks and corruption involving their private interests and public duties, federal officials announced today. One defendant, Stuart Levine, a lawyer and businessman, allegedly engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain a total of at least $9.5 million for himself and certain associates,

Stuart Levine – 19 counts of mail fraud, 4 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of misapplication of funds, 2 counts of money laundering and one count of extortion – a businessman whose interests included S.L. Investment Enterprises, L.P., and a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (Planning Board), a state commission appointed by the Governor that grants or denies a permit, known as a “Certificate of Need” (CON), to build hospitals, physician offices or other medical facilities statewide. Levine was also a member of the board of trustees of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, formerly known as Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School (Chicago Medical School or CMS) in North Chicago, and he was chairman of its real estate committee. He was also a trustee of the Northshore Supporting Organization (NSO), a charitable trust that supported Chicago Medical School;”
One of many ties to Rod Blagojevich

“a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (Planning Board), a state commission appointed by the Governor”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/indict/2005/us_v_levine.pdf

Timeline is revealing

Patrick Fitzgerald was aware of Blagojevich’s corruption in 2003

“Pamela Meyer Davis had been trying to win approval from a state health planning board for an expansion of Edward Hospital, the facility she runs in a Chicago suburb, but she realized that the only way to prevail was to retain a politically connected construction company and a specific investment house.

Instead of succumbing to those demands, she went to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald in late 2003 and agreed to secretly record conversations about the project.”

Read more

June 7, 2004: Stuart Levine, a longtime Republican reappointed to the powerful Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, abruptly resigns on the eve of several important hospital expansion votes. The revelation is the first indication that the Blagojevich administration is under federal criminal investigation.

June 27, 2004: The Tribune discloses that an official for one hospital seeking permission to expand was wearing a federal bug during meetings in an effort to expose extortion attempts by Levine and others for contributions to Blagojevich.

July 2, 2004: Levine resigns from his seat on the board of the state Teachers’ Retirement System. It remains undisclosed that federal authorities had secretly taped Levine’s conversations.

May 9, 2005: Levine is indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoenas are issued to numerous administration sources, including top Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko

May 20, 2005: The governor’s office acknowledges to the Tribune that Rezko has an ongoing eight-year professional relationship with Patricia Blagojevich’s home-based real estate brokerage, River Realty Inc.

Sept 15, 2005: Prominent Democratic fundraiser Joseph Cari and a former lawyer for the state’s teacher’s pension board pleads guilty in an extortion scheme that steered state pension business to favored companies in exchange for campaign contributions to a high-ranking public official described in court documents only as “Public official A.”

Oct. 25, 2005: The Tribune discloses a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration, including the governor’s top hiring aide, Joseph Cini.

Sept. 10, 2006: The Tribune reveals that the FBI is investigating allegations by a one-time Blagojevich family friend that she had concerns her state job may have come in return for a $1,500 personal check her husband wrote to one of Blagojevich’s children.

Sept. 17, 2006: The Tribune reports that the Blagojevich administration skirted state hiring rules to give jobs to at least 360 people whose applications were sent through back channels by the governor’s offices and politically connected officials.

Aug. 5, 2006: The Tribune reports that Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.

Oct. 11, 2006: Blagojevich confidant and top fundraiser Rezko is indicted on federal charges he sought millions of dollars in kickbacks and campaign donations from firms seeking state business.

Oct. 27, 2006: Political insider Levine pleads guilty in a scheme to squeeze millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. In court papers, federal authorities spell out allegations that Rezko and another schemer, identified by sources as Blagojevich confidant and top fundraiser Christopher Kelly, were using their influence for corrupt purposes.

Read more

Before the Tony Rezko trial began in March 2008, the USDOJ and the FBI had more than enough to arrest Blagojevich and plenty on Obama. Stuart Levine had already provided the information revealed in the trial and more.
Patrick Fitzgerald obtains more details of Obama’s ties to Rezko and corruption in 2007.

Kenneth J Conner was a whistleblower in the Rezko Obama lot sale transaction. Conner was interviewed by the FBI in 2007.

From the Washington Times, November 4, 2008.
“A former Illinois real estate specialist says FBI agents have questioned him about a Chicago property that had been bought by convicted felon Tony Rezko’s wife and later sold to the couple’s next-door neighbor, Sen. Barack Obama.

The real estate specialist, Kenneth J. Conner, said bank officials replaced an appraisal review he prepared on the property and FBI agents were investigating in late 2007 whether the Rezko-Obama deal was proper.

“Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time, though it took them only a short number of minutes of talking with me while looking at the appraisal to acknowledge what they already seemed to know: The Rezko lot was grossly overvalued,” Mr. Conner told The Washington Times Monday.

“Rezko paid the asking price on the same day Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price to the same seller for his adjacent mansion,” he said. “This begs the question of payoff, bribe, kickback.””

Read more

I have had many conversations with Mr. Conner, on and off the record.
By delaying the arrest of Blagojevich, two important things occurred.

More harm was done to the citizens of Illinois.

Obama was spared prosecution and association with crime figures. This allowed Obama to win the election.

Before the Rezko trial ended, the Illinois senate attempted a recall against Blagojevich.

Why wasn’t Blagojevich arrested by then?

May 2, 2008
“SPRINGFIELD—The Illinois Senate on Thursday narrowly defeated a measure aimed at giving voters a chance to recall Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but lawmakers on both sides of the issue blasted the embattled governor during a debate that raised statehouse tensions to a new level.”

Read more

Here are just a few bits of testimony from the Rezko trial. The government had this information many months before.

March 21, 2008

“Stuart Levine thought he had hit the jackpot when he teamed up with Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich who seemed to be able to get the administration to do anything he wanted. Levine’s third day on the stand at Rezko’s corruption trial was a sometimes wandering exploration of how Levine and Rezko exploited that immense clout in a variety of schemes to allegedly line their pockets.

“I have never been in a better position than I am right now,” Levine was heard bragging on a government wiretap. “Part of the reason is because there’s never been such tight control of the central apparatus. This guy is making decisions ? and can get anything done that he wants done.””
March 19, 2008

“But Blagojevich’s name has been mentioned often. It was brought up at least 30 times Wednesday morning by Stuart Levine, the government’s star witness against Rezko.

At one point, Levine described a flight from New York that he shared with Blagojevich Oct. 29, 2003. Levine had chartered the plane to ferry Blagojevich and others to a series of fundraisers.

On the return to Chicago, Levine said he took the opportunity to thank Blagojevich for re-appointing him to a seat on a state hospital regulatory board that prosecutors now say he and Rezko had corrupted to extort kickbacks from firms seeking regulatory approval.

Levine said the governor responded, “Never discuss any state board with me, discuss them with either Tony Rezko or Chris Kelly.” Kelly, along with Rezko, was a top fundraiser for Blagojevich as well as a close friend.

Then Levine said Blagojevich added: “But you stick with us and you’ll do very well for yourself.”

Asked by a prosecutor to elaborate, Levine said, “I took that to mean you have an opportunity to make a lot of money.””

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rezko-court-story-7,0,5224754.htmlstory

This is important!

Even if the USDOJ was waiting for the Rezko trial to end. It ended in June 2008, well before the election.

Obviously they did not need Rezko’s testimony.
It is obvious from the above that the feds had plenty on Blagojevich.

Now read remarks made by Fitzgerald and the USDOJ.

Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Republicans

Former Gov. George Ryan December 31, 2003

“Mr. Fitzgerald announced that he was prosecuting former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, in a scandal that had been swirling around long before Mr. Fitzgerald got here and that many people thought would never touch the most powerful politicians in Illinois. But there Mr. Fitzgerald was, a week before Christmas, ticking off the details of a 91-page indictment against Mr. Ryan, seemingly from memory.”
Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Fitzgerald declined to be interviewed for this article. Instead, the office issued the four-sentence release. ”Mr. Fitzgerald will become engaged on the matter immediately,” the release said. ”Consistent with the usual practice concerning investigations, Mr. Fitzgerald does not intend to comment any further.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/31/us/man-in-the-news-an-independent-prosecutor-patrick-j-fitzgerald.html?ref=patrick_j_fitzgerald&pagewanted=2
Fitzgerald did not wait years to go after Libby and Rove.

“It was at the insistence of Rove’s lawyer, Donald Luskin, that Rove went back and re-examined his call logs and discovered the call to Cooper. Rove presented that information to the Grand Jury and the astonished Fitzgerald whose team had missed it.

But curiously, Fitzgerald attempted to use this disclosure to accuse Rove of being misleading in earlier testimony where he had failed to recall the phone conversation.

It became clear to Rove that Fitzgerald wasn’t looking for a violation of law in the Plame case but to set a perjury trap and carve another notch on his belt by bagging a top White House honcho.”

http://www.floppingaces.net/2010/06/18/karl-roves-lessons-learned/

MAY 9, 2005
Stuart Levine Indictment

“Individuals who serve on public boards or boards or private institutions and charities must serve the interests of the public or the institution and not steal for themselves,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “Beyond owing basic duties of honesty and integrity, hospital Planning Board members play an important role in providing access to health care while containing costs. The indictment charges that Levine instead sold out his duties and gave out state approvals and hospital contracts on the basis of ‘who you know’ and worse, ‘who you pay,’” he added.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/indict/2005/us_v_levine.pdf
Levine pleads guilty October 11, 2006
“Levine, 60, of Highland Park, a lawyer who also served on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (Planning Board), was charged in the same counts as Rezko in the superseding indictment. Levine, whose attorney, Jeffrey Steinback, authorized the government to disclose that Levine is cooperating with the government, is scheduled to plead guilty in the TRS case on Oct. 27 before U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve.”
““This indictment describes a frenzy of corrupt scheming, particularly in April and May 2004, in which political insiders sought to manipulate the activities of two state boards to fleece investment firms and individuals. The defendants and their associates put the word out loud and clear: you have to pay to play in Illinois,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2006/pr1011_01.pdf

Blagojevich arrest December 9, 2008
“Fitzgerald said, “We make no allegations” that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”

“Fitzgerald called the corruption charges against Blagojevich “a truly new low.””

“Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois’ place in the pantheon of political corruption.

“If it isn’t the most corrupt state in the United States, it’s certainly one hell of a competitor,” Grant said. “Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked.””
“Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place.

“I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy” and bring charges, he said. “I think that would be irresponsible.””

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/us-attorney-fitzgerald-press-conference-blagojevich.html

It is apparent to me that a deal was struck with the US Justice Department and that Patrick Fitzgerald was involved in the decision or minimally, was aware of it. The Justice Dept. had more than enough evidence to indict Blagojevich at the latest by the time Stuart Levine agreed to cooperate by August 5, 2006. They actually had enough wiretap evidence without Levine cooperating. Once Blagojevich was too tainted by investigation and Obama was being groomed for the presidency, Obama had to be protected.

Let me make this perfectly clear. I am accusing the US Justice Department of corruption, of being complicit in delaying the arrest of Rod Blagojevich until after the 2008 elections. Furthermore, the Justice Department has purposefully reworded the Indictment and refrained from calling witnesses and revealing testimony that would be further damning for Blagojevich and Obama. This is a criminal act which must be prosecuted.

I am calling for a congressional investigation.

I am also calling for more whistleblowers to come forward. Your identity will be protected.

More US Justice Department corruption coverage to come.

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/blagojevich-trial-us-justice-department-corruption-protecting-obama-part-4-patrick-fitzgerald-blagojevich-trial-delay-and-selling-of-senate-seat/

Tony Rezko status hearing scheduled September 7, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve

Tony Rezko status hearing scheduled September 7, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve   

A status hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday,   September 7, 2011, for Tony Rezko with  Judge Amy J. St. Eve .

     

Daily Calendar

 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

(As of 08/31/11 at 06:47:51 AM

Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)

1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Rezko                           09:00   Status Hearing             
http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/7.htm