Blagojevich appeal update, One year prison anniversary, Appeal opening brief April 25, 2013, Attorneys Goodman and Kaeseberg, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals

Blagojevich appeal update, One year prison anniversary, Appeal opening brief April 25, 2013, Attorneys Goodman and Kaeseberg, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals

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

“Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?”…Citizen Wells

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”…Citizen Wells

Today, March 15, 2013 is the one year anniversary of Rod Blagojevich’s 14 year prison sentence.

From Politico March 15, 2013.

“A year in prison, Rod Blagojevich in good spirits”
“It’s been a year since Rod Blagojevich entered a federal prison in Colorado to start serving his 14-year sentence for corruption — and his attorney says while the former Illinois governor misses his family, he remains in “good spirits” and is “hopeful” the conviction will be overturned.

Blagojevich’s appellate lawyer Len Goodman — who, along with attorney Lauren Kaeseberg, is working on the appeal — told POLITICO that Blagojevich’s family visits him “as often as they can make the trip” to Englewood, a low-security facility in Littleton, Colo.”

“And next up for the former governor, Goodman said, is his case on appeal in the 7th Circuit. Blagojevich’s opening brief is due April 25, Goodman noted.

“He is hopeful that his appeal will be successful and that his conviction will be overturned,” Goodman wrote.”

“Goodman, meanwhile, said he is currently busy working his way through thousands of pages of trial transcript as he works on Blagojevich’s appeal.”

Read more:

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/rod-blagojevich-jail-88904.html?hp=r6

Still wondering what Obama and Blagojevich were discussing shortly before Blagojevich was arrested in 2008.

And…..

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”

Blagojevich appeal update, March 7, 2013, 10000 pages of delayed trial transcripts, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Later in 2013, Fitzgerald US Justice Dept. delayed prosecution

Blagojevich appeal update, March 7, 2013, 10000 pages of delayed trial transcripts, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Later in 2013, Fitzgerald US Justice Dept. delayed prosecution

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

“Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?”…Citizen Wells

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”…Citizen Wells

Still wondering about the continued delay in the prosecution of Rod Blagojevich, specifically the lengthy delay in his appeal?

Here is one of the reasons.

From Chicago Business March 6, 2013.

“Blagojevich attorney hopes three’s a charm”

“Will three be a charm for Chicago attorney Len Goodman?

He’s on a winning streak that he’s hoping will carry over to his next case — defending former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

“The next big case on the criminal defense attorney’s plate is the appeal of Mr. Blagojevich, who is in prison in Colorado following his conviction on corruption charges.

“Right now, I’m just trying to get through 10,000 pages of trial transcripts,” says Mr. Goodman, who is the nephew of Chicago financier Lester Crown.

The case likely will go before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals later this year.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130306/BLOGS03/130309878/blagojevich-attorney-hopes-threes-a-charm

Of course there are other reasons why the appeal of Blagojevich has dragged on so long.

From Citizen Wells January 30, 2013.

“Here is the rest of the story.

Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department aggressively prosecuted George Ryan.

Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department, despite the fact that they began wiretaps in late 2003 and had in depth knowledge of corruption in the Rod Blagojevich Administration by 2005 at the latest, delayed the arrest of Blagojevich until after the 2008 election. The production of transcripts required for the Blagojevich appeal were delayed for over half a year by the US Justice Department in 2012, once again delaying the appeal until after the 2012 election.

From Citizen Wells  May 27, 2012.

“Fitzgerald aggressively prosecuted Republican ex Governot of Illinois, George Ryan and unjustly went after Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. Fitzgerald waited until after the 2008 elections to arrest Governor Rod Blagojevich despite the fact that he had details of corruption in the Blagojevich Administration at least by late 2003.

Is Patrick Fitzgerald a pawn, an idiot or corrupt?

From an FBI wiretap:

“You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me.”

Late 2003.

Earliest documented awareness by FBI and Patrick Fitzgerald of corruption in Blagojevich admin. Pamela Meyer Davis agreed to secretly record conversations involving state health planning board with an FBI wire.

December 31, 2003 NY Times.

“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.

That, even Mr. Fitzgerald’s former opponents in the courtroom say, is classic Fitzgerald: dogged, dispassionate and endlessly prepared.”

April 8 – May 21, 2004 (Rezko Trial March 12, 2008; 11:11 a.m.)

“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.”

May 9, 2005.

Stuart Levine indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoena issued to Tony Rezko.
June 15, 2005.

Obama purchased home next door to Rezko for $1.65 million, $300,000 less than the asking price.
June 15, 2005.

Rita Rezko, Tony’s wife purchased plot next door for $625,000 asking price.

October 25, 2005.

The Chicago Tribune reports about a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration.

January 2006.

Rita Rezko sells the Obamas one-sixth of her lot for $104,500.

August 5, 2006.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.”

“December 7, 2008.

Criminal complaint of Blagojevich. Nine individuals is important. Obama helped passed a bill to reduce the number from 15 to 9.

“b. Corruption of the Planning Board”
“At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”

“Planning Board” (IL Health Facilities Planning Board) is mentioned 31 times.

“Rezko” is mentioned 170 times.

“Hospital” in context of Mercy Hospital mentioned 8 times.
December 9, 2008.

Blagojevich arrested

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

February 24, 2011.

Counts 1,2,4 in the Blagojevich Indictment are dropped. This represents approx. half of the indictment and includes numerous corruption ties to Blagojevich and Obama.”

“December 7, 2011.

Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years.

Colin Powell, who has continued to endorse Barack Obama, knew that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were innocent in the Valerie Plame leak. Yet Powell did not share his knowledge with the Bush Administration and thus allowed Patrick Fitzgerald to continue to investigate and prosecute Libby and Rove.

Why did Colin Powell allow Patrick Fitzgerald to be pulled away from the Blagojevich prosecution?

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/george-ryan-released-from-prison-former-il-governor-patrick-fitzgerald-aggressively-prosecuted-ryan-blagojevich-arrest-and-appeal-delayed-past-elections/

From Citizen Wells October 26, 2012.

“FOX Chicago News has learned that Rod Blagojevich’s appeal is still having trouble getting off the ground, because of delays in producing transcripts from his two trials.

For the second time in the last four months, Lauren Kaeseberg, one of the attorney’s handling Rod Blagojevich’s appeal, has been threatened with disciplinary action because she still hasn’t provided a complete copy of the Blagojevichtrial transcripts to the appellate court.

The appellate court won’t set a briefing schedule to get the appeal moving until the transcripts are available.

As FOX Chicago reported exclusively in August, the court reporter responsible for producing the 16,000 pages of transcripts took a leave of absence for five and a half months after Blagojevich was convicted. So, the appellate court agreed to wait until September 28th for the transcripts.

But, now in October, they’re still not completed. On Monday, the court issued an order, warning Kaeseberg again that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions. She responded Tuesday with an explanation, saying transcripts are still missing because they were under seal, or were handled by a different court reporter and she hopes to have them soon.”

“ The court reporter, trial judge James Zagel and the appeals court all have a responsibility to produce transcripts needed for an appeal in a timely manner.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/corrupt-obama-justice-department-delays-blagojevich-appeal-transcripts-still-not-ready-delay-in-appeal-protects-obama-obama-still-has-a-rezko-problem/

 

Citizen Wells for years has been questioning the delayed prosecution of Rod Blagojevich with the obvious intent of protecting Obama.

Today we present a new question that will be explored further soon.

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of Illinois, wiretapped at least by 2005 when it was known in 2003 that there was widespread corruption in his administration?”

Jesse Jackson pleading guilty good for constituents, Jackson used congressional health insurance to his advantage, Illegal spending of campaign contributions, Obama corruption buddy

Jesse Jackson pleading guilty good for constituents, Jackson used congressional health insurance to his advantage, Illegal spending of campaign contributions, Obama corruption buddy

“BLAGOJEVICH Um, didn’t know quite what to make of my request. Uh, Barack rea-, really wants to get away from Illinois politics.”

“P. BLAGOJEVICH (Speaking in background) I think he wouldn’t want to resign until he knows that, you know… BLAGOJEVICH Till he knows I’ll do Valerie Jarrett.”

“BLAGOJEVICH He wants to get out of Chicago politics. Okay. That’s their way of saying Rezko.”… Blagojevich wiretap

“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 the Daily Illini February 18, 2013.

“Pleading guilty is the last good thing Jackson Jr. can do for his constitutents (sic)”
“All things considered, it could be worse for Jesse Jackson Jr.

On Friday, the former Chicago congressman was charged with a number of counts centering around his illegal spending of campaign contributions, which totaled $750,000. With the money he bought a $43,000 Rolex watch, fur coats and a fedora once owned by Michael Jackson. He and his wife, Sandi, also found creative ways to spend campaign contributions to pay down personal debts and fund vacations. Sandi Jackson, a former Chicago alderman, has already pled guilty to falsifying tax returns for the couple, and multiple sources report that Jackson will also plead guilty, most likely in a plea bargain.

And for the voters of Illinois, especially Jackson’s congressional district, that’s the best news possible at a time like this.

No one wants to turn on the 6 o’clock news night after night to see yet another Illinois politician grasping at straws to defend himself for months on end. Jackson is doing the right thing by trying to wrap up a trial before it begins, not taking up valuable federal court resources, just to end up debating the nuances of just how guilty he is in one instance over another.

This admission of guilt comes at the end of a long saga of cat-and-mouse games between federal investigators and Jackson. In 2008, Jackson reportedly involved himself in a bid for President Barack Obama’s Senate seat, the attempted sale of which indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is currently serving prison time. Though Jackson was never charged in that case, it was a hit to his public reputation.

Last summer, Jackson disappeared from public view, his office later issuing a statement that Jackson was being treated for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.”

“The people of Illinois deserve better. When he went “into hiding” in the summer, Jackson chose to use his Congressional health insurance to his advantage, having an extensive stay in a top-rated hospital. He had another chance to come clean after his treatment but chose to continue on the campaign trail with little effort, garnering even more campaign contributions along the way. Jackson completely neglected the people of his district — a population that legitimately needs attention with respect to policy — and instead used his post for his own political gain. “

http://www.dailyillini.com/opinion/editorials/article_9d138410-7980-11e2-a2c1-0019bb30f31a.html

Another Obama corruption tie, using the people of the state of Illinois for his own personal gain.

Obama corruption tie court cases update, February 5, 2013, Blagojevich appeal delayed, FDIC Mutual Bank lawsuit drags on, Obama Rezko ties linger, Die slowly?

Obama corruption tie court cases update, February 5, 2013, Blagojevich appeal delayed, FDIC Mutual Bank lawsuit drags on, Obama Rezko ties linger, Die slowly?

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

“this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. …. they got the Chicago media to f…ing make me wear Rezko more. To f…ing dilute it from him.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008

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

 

General Douglas MacArthur stated: ”Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

Perhaps the same sentiment could be used for court cases that tie Obama to Chicago corruption and Tony Rezko.

There are two active court cases that touch Obama and his dealings with Tony Rezko and other Chicago corruption figures.

The FDIC filed a lawsuit against Mutual Bank (Rezko lot loan bank) and it’s officers on October 25, 2011.

Here is some background information.

From Citizen Wells October 25, 2012.

“Here is what we know about the purchase of a lot by Barack and Michelle Obama from Rita Rezko in 2006:

1. “In June, 2005, Mutual Bank President and CEO Amrish Mahajan and
other Mutual Bank officers approved a loan to Rita Malki Rezko (Rita
Rezko) which was guaranteed by Antonin Rezko so that Rita Rezko could
purchase a 9,090 square foot vacant parcel of real estate at 5050 S.
Greenwood Avenue, Chicago.” (Conner lawsuit)

2. “On or about January 4, 2006, Rita Rezko entered into an
agreement with Senator Barack and Michelle Obama (Obamas) to sell a
ten-foot strip of the 5050 S. Greenwood property to the Obamas.”
(Conner lawsuit)

3. “In late 2005 or early 2006, Conner performed an appraisal review
of the Adams Appraisal (Exhibit C) per the directive of Richard Barth
and James Murphy. Conner prepared a written Appraisal Review report
(ARR) opining that the Adams Appraisal overvalued the Greenwood lot by
a minimum of $ 125,000.00 and that a reasonable and fair valuation for
Mutual Banks’s underwriting purposes should be no greater than $
500,000.00 for the entire 5050 S. Greenwood parcel as originally
purchased by Rita Rezko.” (Conner lawsuit)

4. “On or about October 19, 2006, Mutual Bank received a Grand Jury
Subpoena (GJS) requiring Mutual Bank to produce the Rezko 5050
Greenwood loan file, as well as a Rita Rezko Riverside District
Development LLC checking account and loan file.” (Conner lawsuit)

5. “In October, 2007, Conner had various communications with Mutual
Bank’s Human Resources Department representative, Lana Schlabach. In
an email communication of October 15, 2007, Conner directly referenced
“Resentment over my mentioned discovery of the removal/replacement of
an appraisal review that I conducted. That appraisal review contained
substantial observations and suggestions. The transaction and parties
involved were high profile in the media.I am under the impression that
the FBI has since looked at the file.”” On October 23, 2007, eight days after Conner’s October 15, 2007 email to Schlabach attached as Exhibit J, Mutual Bank terminated Conner’s employment for pretextual reasons.” (Conner lawsuit)

6. “On October 23, 2007, eight days after Conner’s October 15, 2007
email to Schlabach attached as Exhibit J, Mutual Bank terminated
Conner’s employment for pretextual reasons.” (Conner lawsuit)

7. The FDIC has filed a lawsuit against Mutual Bank, Amrish Mahajan, Richard Barth, et al.”

From the FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, et al.

“6. The Director Defendants also wasted corporate assets and drained the Bank’s capital by…(c) authorizing $ 495,000 in “bonuses” to pay for the criminal defense costs for the Defendant Amrish Mahajan’s wife who was indicted for Medicaid fraud”

“32. The Director and Officer Defendants failed to establish procedures that would have lessened the risks of the Bank’s improvidant lending practices. The terms of transactions were not accurately documented. Status reports were missing so that records of how an asset was progressing were not available. Terms of loans were changed at closing without board or loan committee approvals or any rcord in the file. Loan guarantees were frequently missing from the files. Appraisers were retained by brokers with an interest in seeing transactions consummated, not by the bank. Appraisals were often received after the loan was funded. Loans were typically non-recourse and dependent on guarantor abilities to repay in the event that the collateral was insufficient. Yet, little or no attention was paid to whether guarantors had sufficient liquidity to protect the Bank’s interest; the officers and the Board did little or no analysis of guarantor or borrower financial strength.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/obama-rezko-lot-transaction-bank-president-mahajan-fdic-lawsuit-motion-hearing-october-25-2012-judge-virginia-m-kendall-rezkos-sold-lot-to-obamas/

The FDIC lawsuit against Amrish Mahajan, former president of Mutual Bank, et al is scheduled for a status hearing in the courtroom of Judge Virginia M. Kendall on February 12, 2013. Mutual Bank loaned Rita Rezko the money for the lot that was purchased by the Obama’s. It is also the bank that fired whistleblower Kenneth J. Conner after he questioned the appraisal of that lot.

Daily Calendar

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 (As of 02/05/13 at 07:50:47 AM)

Honorable Virginia M. Kendall               Courtroom 2319 (VMK)

1:11-cv-07590   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporatio   09:00   Status Hearing

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

Of course the delay in prosecuting Rod Blagojevich and his subsequent appeal process is the “elephant in the room.” Some say he is awaiting a pardon from Obama.

From Citizen Wells December 5, 2012.

“The Blagojevich arrest was delayed until after the 2008 election.

The Blagojevich appeal has been delayed until after the 2012 election by the Obama Justice Department.”

“A perfect Chicago Crime?

From Citizen Wells October 26, 2012.

“The transcripts needed for the Rod Blagojevich appeal, overdue by almost a year, are still not ready and the appeals court judge is faulting Blagojevich attorney Lauren Kaeseberg, despite the fact that the appeals court has responsibility in this matter.”

“Who engineered these delays and who is responsible?

What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing in 2008?

“Just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it is not true.”

“It is obvious to any rational person paying attention that this delay was orchestrated by the Obama controlled US Justice Department to keep Obama corruption ties out of the election cycle news.””

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/blagojevich-appeal-delayed-until-after-2012-election-blagojevich-arrested-after-2008-election-transcripts-completed-appeal-in-federal-court-system-obama-justice-department/

Blagojevich appeal delayed until after 2012 election, Blagojevich arrested after 2008 election, Transcripts completed, Appeal in federal court system, Obama Justice Department

Blagojevich appeal delayed until after 2012 election, Blagojevich arrested after 2008 election, Transcripts completed, Appeal in federal court system, Obama Justice Department

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

“this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. …. they got the Chicago media to f…ing make me wear Rezko more. To f…ing dilute it from him.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008

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

The Blagojevich arrest was delayed until after the 2008 election.

The Blagojevich appeal has been delayed until after the 2012 election by the Obama Justice Department.

From Chicago CBS Local November 10, 2012.

“Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has headed from the kitchen to the library at the federal prison in suburban Denver, as he continues his 14-year sentence for corruption charges.

WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports Blagojevich’s former defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. said the ex-governor began his prison sentence in March like any other inmate; washing dishes, pots, and pans.

But Adam said Blagojevich found that job painfully boring, and he’s looking for a change.

“He’s either in the library, or just about to get in the library,” Adam said.

Even before the library gig, Blagojevich was busy reading to relieve the boredom, thanks to books sent to him by Adam’s father and fellow defense attorney, Sam Adam Sr.

“He and my father now are studying Ulysses S. Grant. He sends presidential books every month, and now they’re up to Grant,” Adam Jr. said.

He said the experience has been good for Blagojevich and his father.

“I told you, Blago is the son my father never had. He’s the intellectual,” Adam said.

He said he remains confident Blagojevich will win his appeal, which is making its way through the federal court system. Adam said Blagojevich’s morale is holding up, because he’s also confident about the appeal.

“My understanding is all the transcripts have been at least done, and they’re starting the process of writing that appeal,” Adam said.

He asserted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence won’t be the final word in the case.

“I’ll predict it,” Adam said. “The very question of did you get a right to present your defense has been very good for the defendant – not very good on other things – very good for the defendant. Did you get a right to present your defense? And he clearly did not, and I think that’s a very good issue.”

Adam left the Blagojevich defense team after the first trial ended in a hung jury on all but one count, and is not directly involved in the appeal.”

Listen to WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody Report:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/10/blagojevich-to-start-working-in-prison-library/

The delay in the prosecution and appeal of Rod Blagojevich.

A perfect Chicago Crime?

From Citizen Wells October 26, 2012.

“The transcripts needed for the Rod Blagojevich appeal, overdue by almost a year, are still not ready and the appeals court judge is faulting Blagojevich attorney Lauren Kaeseberg, despite the fact that the appeals court has responsibility in this matter.

From Fox News Philly October 23, 2012.

“Blago attorney questioned about continued delay in appeal process”

“FOX Chicago News has learned that Rod Blagojevich’s appeal is still having trouble getting off the ground, because of delays in producing transcripts from his two trials.

For the second time in the last four months, Lauren Kaeseberg, one of the attorney’s handling Rod Blagojevich’s appeal, has been threatened with disciplinary action because she still hasn’t provided a complete copy of the Blagojevichtrial transcripts to the appellate court.

The appellate court won’t set a briefing schedule to get the appeal moving until the transcripts are available.

As FOX Chicago reported exclusively in August, the court reporter responsible for producing the 16,000 pages of transcripts took a leave of absence for five and a half months after Blagojevich was convicted. So, the appellate court agreed to wait until September 28th for the transcripts.

But, now in October, they’re still not completed. On Monday, the court issued an order, warning Kaeseberg again that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions. She responded Tuesday with an explanation, saying transcripts are still missing because they were under seal, or were handled by a different court reporter and she hopes to have them soon.

Kaeseberg told the appellate court that Blagojevich is aware of the delay. Attorneys who talk with him say he never fails to ask about the progress of his appeal.”

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/19896931/blagojevichs-attorney-responsible-for-continued-delay-in-appeal-process

Delays in the appeal clearly help Obama.

From Citizen Wells August 7, 2012.

“DATE: 11/12/2008
TIME: 12:36 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 558
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris

BLAGOJEVICH I mean think about that. I mean they, they want me here in Illinois. That’s a faraway Illinois problem from my old life.

HARRIS Mm-hmm.

BLAGOJEVICH The governor’s got that problem with Rezko, boom. But if I’m in the Senate it’s not just mine anymore, it’s his too. Isn’t it? If the Rezko thing got worse?

HARRIS Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm. Well we’ve always thought that.

BLAGOJEVICH And, and from a legal stand point on the substance of, you know, did, did you do something wrong or didn’t do something wrong it doesn’t change that. But in terms of the, the people who are trying to chase all that down and does it change any dynamic if you’re there verses being left back here.

(gap)

BLAGOJEVICH But don’t forget uh, Obama’s gonna have uh, you know, do something about that. And is Obama more or less likely to wanna contain that if I’m out there with him. I mean I’ve got this theory that even Knapp says could be possible and Balanoff. You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me. And hardly about…

HARRIS Yeah, in other words, they focus their,they focus their attention on you. They couldn’t make it go away so the bes-, next best strategy is deflect it.

BLAGOJEVICH Right.

HARRIS This is somewhere where it, it’ll satisfy the, the hunger of the beast, being the media.

BLAGOJEVICH Right, right.

HARRIS Yeah, it makes sense. It’s not a stretch. If I’m, if I’m his message advisor, media advisor or whatever, operative, yeah I’m gonna try to feed the beast by giving ‘em something else to eat on.

BLAGOJEVICH So, if I wanna be safe from Rezko, am I a little bit safer over there with him.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/blagojevich-appeal-delayed-waiting-on-transcripts-court-clerk-5-12-month-leave-of-absence-delays-help-obama-transcripts-of-blagojevich-wiretaps-hurt-obama/

The court reporter, trial judge James Zagel and the appeals court all have a responsibility to produce transcripts needed for an appeal in a timely manner.

From Citizen Wells August 25, 2012.

“Vol 6: Court Reporting

Ҥ 130.20.20 District Court
Each district court must develop a Court Reporting Management Plan.”

“(g) Providing for avoidance of backlogs of transcripts and assuring prompt
delivery of high quality transcripts, particularly for cases on appeal to the
court of appeals; “
Ҥ 440.60 Judge Appointed (Involuntary) Use of Substitute Reporter

§ 440.60.10 Introduction

A district judge or the chief judge of a circuit may appoint a substitute reporter in the event a court reporter is unable to complete transcripts in a timely fashion.”

“(1) Appeals to a Circuit from a District Court
Transcripts for appealed cases should be delivered within 30 days from the date ordered or from the date satisfactory arrangements for payment have been made.”

Ҥ 540 Transcripts for Cases on Appeal

§ 540.10 Introduction

Cases appealed to the United States courts of appeals require the timely transmission of the record from the lower court. A transcript of the proceedings normally is a required part of the record to be transmitted to the court of appeals.”

Ҥ 540.20.20 Rule 11, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (Forwarding the Record)
The statute states:”
“(B)
If the transcript cannot be completed within 30 days of the reporters receipt of the order, the reporter may request the circuit clerk to grant additional time to complete it. The clerk must note on the docket the action taken and notify the parties.”
“(D)
If the reporter fails to file the transcript on time, the circuit clerk must notify the district judge and do whatever else the court of appeals directs.”

Who engineered these delays and who is responsible?

What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing in 2008?

“Just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it is not true.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/blagojevich-appeal-delay-perfect-chicago-crime-prosecution-and-appeal-delay-protect-obama-help-blagojevich-judge-zagel-usdoj-violate-federal-court-rules/

It is obvious to any rational person paying attention that this delay was orchestrated by the Obama controlled US Justice Department to keep Obama corruption ties out of the election cycle news.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/corrupt-obama-justice-department-delays-blagojevich-appeal-transcripts-still-not-ready-delay-in-appeal-protects-obama-obama-still-has-a-rezko-problem/

William Cellini motion, December 4, 2012, Cellini appeal, Obama corruption crony, Judge James B. Zagel, Teachers Retirement System kickbacks

William Cellini motion, December 4, 2012, Cellini appeal, Obama corruption crony, Judge James B. Zagel, Teachers Retirement System kickbacks

“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.”…LA Times April 7, 2008

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

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,  and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, has a motion hearing today, December 4, 2012 in the courtroom of Judge James Zagel.

Daily Calendar

Tuesday, December 4, 2012 (As of 12/04/12 at 05:47:05 AM)

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         10:15   Notice of Motion

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

From the Chicago Tribune October 19, 2012.

“William Cellini, the once-powerful Springfield fundraiser and lobbyist, asked a federal judge Thursday to allow him to remain free on bond pending his appeal on a public corruption conviction, claiming that a juror who withheld her felony background from the court raises “unprecedented” legal questions.

Cellini was among the last of more than a dozen political insiders to be convicted in the federal Operation Board Games probe that also snared former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

He is scheduled to report to federal prison in January to serve one year and one day for his role in a plot to extort campaign contributions for Blagojevich from a Hollywood producer seeking to retain his lucrative state business.

In a filing to U.S. District Judge James Zagel, Cellini’s lawyers argued that he has a strong case for appeal, highlighting the legal issues raised after the Tribune revealed following the verdict that juror Candy Chiles had withheld disclosure of felony convictions during jury selection.

The questions raised are so “substantial” that Zagel should release Cellini during the appeal, in part because he could complete his prison sentence before a higher court could act on the legal issues, the motion says.

Three weeks after Cellini was convicted, the Tribune reported that Chiles did not disclose a 2000 felony drug conviction and a 2008 felony DUI conviction on a jury form and when Zagel questioned her in the courtroom.

Cellini’s lawyers sought a new trial, arguing that Chiles lied and that if they had known of her felony background they could have tried to remove her from the jury. They also argued that her felony background should have barred her from jury service.

After a contentious hearing in which a defiant Chiles testified, Zagel denied a new trial, saying she had not deliberately lied and that her failure to disclose her criminal background did not taint Cellini’s 2011 trial. Zagel also dismissed the defense argument that she was not eligible to serve as a convicted felon.

But in his filing Thursday, Cellini argued that the legal questions could earn a reversal from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

“The Court’s decision turned on numerous difficult, hotly contested legal and factual questions that were very close and could be decided the other way — and there is no doubt that if Cellini prevails on that issue on appeal, he will be entitled to a new trial,” Cellini’s lawyers wrote.

Federal prosecutors had no comment Thursday on the request.”

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-19/news/ct-met-cellini-release-appeal-20121019_1_william-cellini-candy-chiles-convictions-during-jury-selection

From Citizen Wells January 5, 2012.

“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.”

“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.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/january-6-2012-obama-corruption-ties-william-cellini-hearing-judge-james-zagel-media-and-justice-department-protect-obama/

Corrupt Obama Justice Department delays Blagojevich appeal, Transcripts still not ready, Delay in appeal protects Obama, Obama still has a Rezko problem

Corrupt Obama Justice Department delays Blagojevich appeal, Transcripts still not ready, Delay in appeal protects Obama, Obama still has a Rezko problem

“this guy is more Tony’d up than I am. …. they got the Chicago media to f…ing make me wear Rezko more. To f…ing dilute it from him.…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008
“BLAGOJEVICH: You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me. And hardly about…

HARRIS: Yeah, in other words, they focus their,they focus their attention on you. They couldn’t make it go away so the bes-, next best strategy is deflect it.

BLAGOJEVICH: Right.

HARRIS: This is somewhere where it, it’ll satisfy the, the hunger of the beast, being the media.

BLAGOJEVICH: Right, right.

HARRIS: Yeah, it makes sense. It’s not a stretch. If I’m, if I’m his message advisor, media advisor or whatever, operative, yeah I’m gonna try to feed the beast by giving ‘em something else to eat on.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 12, 2008

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich wiretap November 7, 2008

The transcripts needed for the Rod Blagojevich appeal, overdue by almost a year, are still not ready and the appeals court judge is faulting Blagojevich attorney Lauren Kaeseberg, despite the fact that the appeals court has responsibility in this matter.

From Fox News Philly October 23, 2012.

“Blago attorney questioned about continued delay in appeal process”

“FOX Chicago News has learned that Rod Blagojevich’s appeal is still having trouble getting off the ground, because of delays in producing transcripts from his two trials.

For the second time in the last four months, Lauren Kaeseberg, one of the attorney’s handling Rod Blagojevich’s appeal, has been threatened with disciplinary action because she still hasn’t provided a complete copy of the Blagojevichtrial transcripts to the appellate court.

The appellate court won’t set a briefing schedule to get the appeal moving until the transcripts are available.

As FOX Chicago reported exclusively in August, the court reporter responsible for producing the 16,000 pages of transcripts took a leave of absence for five and a half months after Blagojevich was convicted. So, the appellate court agreed to wait until September 28th for the transcripts.

But, now in October, they’re still not completed. On Monday, the court issued an order, warning Kaeseberg again that she could face monetary or disciplinary sanctions. She responded Tuesday with an explanation, saying transcripts are still missing because they were under seal, or were handled by a different court reporter and she hopes to have them soon.

Kaeseberg told the appellate court that Blagojevich is aware of the delay. Attorneys who talk with him say he never fails to ask about the progress of his appeal.”

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/19896931/blagojevichs-attorney-responsible-for-continued-delay-in-appeal-process

Delays in the appeal clearly help Obama.

From Citizen Wells August 7, 2012.

“DATE: 11/12/2008
TIME: 12:36 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 558
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris

BLAGOJEVICH I mean think about that. I mean they, they want me here in Illinois. That’s a faraway Illinois problem from my old life.

HARRIS Mm-hmm.

BLAGOJEVICH The governor’s got that problem with Rezko, boom. But if I’m in the Senate it’s not just mine anymore, it’s his too. Isn’t it? If the Rezko thing got worse?

HARRIS Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm. Well we’ve always thought that.

BLAGOJEVICH And, and from a legal stand point on the substance of, you know, did, did you do something wrong or didn’t do something wrong it doesn’t change that. But in terms of the, the people who are trying to chase all that down and does it change any dynamic if you’re there verses being left back here.

(gap)

BLAGOJEVICH But don’t forget uh, Obama’s gonna have uh, you know, do something about that. And is Obama more or less likely to wanna contain that if I’m out there with him. I mean I’ve got this theory that even Knapp says could be possible and Balanoff. You know, Axelrod and Obama’s people, you know, clearly turned, you know, got the Chicago media to make Rezko all about me. And hardly about…

HARRIS Yeah, in other words, they focus their,they focus their attention on you. They couldn’t make it go away so the bes-, next best strategy is deflect it.

BLAGOJEVICH Right.

HARRIS This is somewhere where it, it’ll satisfy the, the hunger of the beast, being the media.

BLAGOJEVICH Right, right.

HARRIS Yeah, it makes sense. It’s not a stretch. If I’m, if I’m his message advisor, media advisor or whatever, operative, yeah I’m gonna try to feed the beast by giving ‘em something else to eat on.

BLAGOJEVICH So, if I wanna be safe from Rezko, am I a little bit safer over there with him.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/blagojevich-appeal-delayed-waiting-on-transcripts-court-clerk-5-12-month-leave-of-absence-delays-help-obama-transcripts-of-blagojevich-wiretaps-hurt-obama/

The court reporter, trial judge James Zagel and the appeals court all have a responsibility to produce transcripts needed for an appeal in a timely manner.

From Citizen Wells August 25, 2012.

“Vol 6: Court Reporting

Ҥ 130.20.20 District Court
Each district court must develop a Court Reporting Management Plan.”

“(g) Providing for avoidance of backlogs of transcripts and assuring prompt
delivery of high quality transcripts, particularly for cases on appeal to the
court of appeals; “
Ҥ 440.60 Judge Appointed (Involuntary) Use of Substitute Reporter

§ 440.60.10 Introduction

A district judge or the chief judge of a circuit may appoint a substitute reporter in the event a court reporter is unable to complete transcripts in a timely fashion.”

“(1) Appeals to a Circuit from a District Court
Transcripts for appealed cases should be delivered within 30 days from the date ordered or from the date satisfactory arrangements for payment have been made.”

Ҥ 540 Transcripts for Cases on Appeal

§ 540.10 Introduction

Cases appealed to the United States courts of appeals require the timely transmission of the record from the lower court. A transcript of the proceedings normally is a required part of the record to be transmitted to the court of appeals.”

Ҥ 540.20.20 Rule 11, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (Forwarding the Record)
The statute states:”
“(B)
If the transcript cannot be completed within 30 days of the reporters receipt of the order, the reporter may request the circuit clerk to grant additional time to complete it. The clerk must note on the docket the action taken and notify the parties.”
“(D)
If the reporter fails to file the transcript on time, the circuit clerk must notify the district judge and do whatever else the court of appeals directs.”

Who engineered these delays and who is responsible?

What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing in 2008?

“Just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it is not true.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/blagojevich-appeal-delay-perfect-chicago-crime-prosecution-and-appeal-delay-protect-obama-help-blagojevich-judge-zagel-usdoj-violate-federal-court-rules/

It is obvious to any rational person paying attention that this delay was orchestrated by the Obama controlled US Justice Department to keep Obama corruption ties out of the election cycle news.

Obama raises $ 181 million in September 2012, Suspicions raised again, Obama for America 2008 audit and fine, Robert Bauer, 98% of contributions under reporting threshold

Obama raises $ 181 million in September 2012, Suspicions raised again, Obama for America 2008 audit and fine, Robert Bauer, 98% of contributions under  reporting threshold

“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 was Democrat Ellen L. Weintraub, a former Perkins Coie employee, allowed to remain at the FEC , long after her scheduled tenure, by Barack Obama?”…Citizen Wells

“In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party
candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election.”…Barack Obama

From Breitbart News October 6, 2012.

“WINDFALL: OBAMA RAISES $181 MILLION, ONLY AROUND 2% OF DONATIONS REPORTABLE”

“The Obama campaign dropped a bombshell this morning. It announced that, combined with the DNC, the campaign raised a staggering $181 million in September. The windfall is a huge increase over July and August, when the campaign raised around $100 million, although it is slightly down from the $193 million it raised in September 2008. The news should raise eyebrows.

The campaign said that just over 1.8 million people made donations to the campaign last month. According to the campaign, over 500k of these were brand-new donors, having neither given in 2008 nor 2012. 98% of contributions were under the reporting threshold of $250. Of these, the average contribution was $53.

Its really a tale of two worlds. 35k people gave an average of $2,600, while just over 1.7 million people gave an average of $53. Half the campaign’s haul came from people giving around the maximum amount and half from people who don’t have to be disclosed. Seems a bit odd.

The average of $53 from small donors is particularly noteworthy. Contributions under $200 don’t have to be disclosed, but the campaign still has to keep track of the donor’s name, in case subsequent donations push their contribution over the reporting threshold.

For contributions under $50, however, the campaign doesn’t even have to keep track of the donor’s name. It is effectively considered a “petty cash” donation. A person could theoretically make 10 $49 donations and never be reported, even though their total contributions are above the FEC’s reporting threshold.

With an average donation of $53 from small donors, Obama has A LOT of donors who will never be disclosed and whose names aren’t even known to the campaign. Tens of millions of dollars worth.

Today’s report certainly adds a great deal of interest to this news story from last week.”

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/06/windfall-obama-raises-181-million-only-2-reportable

From Citizen Wells April 20, 2012.

From the FEC April 19, 2012.

Weekly Digest

Week of April 16 – 20
AUDITS

“Final Audit Report on Obama for America. On April 19, the Commission made public the Final Audit Report of the Commission on Obama for America (OFA) covering campaign finance activity between January 16, 2007 and December 31, 2008. The Commission approved a finding that OFA failed to file required 48-hour notices totaling $1,972,266 received in 2008.”

http://www.fec.gov/press/press2012/20120420digest.shtml

From the audit.

“Final Audit Report of the
Commission on
Obama for America
(January 16, 2007 – December 31, 2008)”

“Part I
Background
Authority for Audit

This report is based on an audit of Obama for America (OFA), undertaken by the Audit Division ofthe Federal Election Commission (the Commission) in accordance with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act). The Audit Division conducted the audit pursuant to 2 U.S.C. §438(b), which permits the Commission to conduct audits and field investigations of any political committee that is required to file a report imder 2 U.S.C. §434. Prior to conducting any audit under this subsection, the Commission must perform an intemal review of reports filed by selected committees to determine if the reports filed by a particular committee meet the threshold requirements
for substantial compliance with the Act. 2 U.S.C. §438(b).

Scope of Audit

Following Commission-approved procedures, the Audit staff evaluated various risk factors and as a result, this audit examined:
1. the receipt of excessive contributions;
2. the receipt of contributions from prohibited sources;
3. the disclosure of contributions received;
4. the disclosure of individual contributors’ occupation and name of employer;
5. the consistency between reported figures and bank records;
6. the completeness of records; and
7. other committee operations necessary to the review.

Audit Hearing

Obama for America declined the opportunity for an audit hearing before the Commission on the matter presented in this report.”

“• Treasurer During Period Covered by Audit Robert R. Bauer January 16,2007 – May 9,2007, Martin H. Nesbit May 10,2007 – Present”

“Part III

Summary

Commission Finding

Failure to File 48-Hour Notices
Based on audit fieldwork, OFA did not file required 48-hour notices for 1,312
contributions, totaling $1,972,266, that were received prior to the general election. OFA provided no further information regarding this matter in response to the Interim Audit.

Report recommendation.

The Commission approved a finding that OFA failed to file required 48-hour notices in 2008. (For more detail, see page 4)”

“Facts and Analysis

A. Facts

During fieldwork. Audit staff compared OFA’s 48-hour notices with contributions of $1,000 or more that had been reported as received during the 48-hour notice filing period.’ This review identified 1,312 contributions, totaling $1,972,266, for which OFA failed to file the required notices. A majority of the missing 48-hour notices arose from a transfer reported on October 24,2008 from the Obama Victory Fund (OVF), a joint fundraising committee composed of OFA and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In order to verify whether the contributions in question had been received between October 16 and October 23, Audit staff traced contributions attributed to the October 24 transfer to the disclosure reports filed by OVF.”

“Commission Conclusion

On March 8,2012, the Commission considered the Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum, in which the Audit Division recommended that the Commission adopt a finding that OFA failed to file required 48-hour notices in 2008.
The Commission approved the Audit staffs recommendation.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/fec-audit-reveals-obama-for-america-failed-to-file-notice-of-nearly-2-million-dollars-in-contributions-in-2008-1312-contributions-prohibited-sources/

From Citizen Wells May 25, 2012.

From the FEC  May 25, 2012.
“ENFORCEMENT”

“MUR 6524

RESPONDENTS: Biden for President, Inc.; and Melvyn Monzack, in his official capacity as treasurer
COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
SUBJECT: In the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission found that Biden for President, Inc. (the Committee) and Monzack, in his official capacity as treasurer, did not retain adequate records to document the notification of contributors of the Committee’s presumptive redesignation of $1,092,899 in excessive contributions. Biden was a 2008 primary candidate for president.

DISPOSITION: The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement whereby Biden for President, Inc. and Monzack, in his official capacity as treasurer, agreed to pay a civil penalty of $50,000.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/biden-for-president-fined-50000-by-fec-2008-inadequate-records-over-one-million-dollars-excessive-contributions-melvyn-monzack-treasurer-breaking-news/

From Citizen Wells January 23, 2012.

“Robert Bauer, of Perkins Coie, on February 1, 2007 requested an advisory opinion to keep Obama’s option for matching funds open. Bauer knew full well that Obama, not being a natural born citizen, was not eligible for matching funds. The FEC advisory opinion from March 1, 2007 responded in the affirmative.Ellen L. Weintraub, former staff member at Perkins Coie, was a Democrat appointee of the FEC at that time. She remained well beyond her scheduled tenure with the help of Barack Obama.
Obama, Robert Bauer, Democrats interaction with FEC timeline.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/obama-ga-ballot-challenge-natural-born-citizen-status-judge-michael-malihi-why-did-obama-refuse-matching-funds-in-2008-part-4-obama-attorneys-democrats-control-fec/

Obama facts September 14, 2012, Rezko for Radicals Kenneth J Conner Qui Tam lawsuit against Mutual Bank personnel, Amrish Mahajan et al

Obama facts September 14, 2012, Rezko for Radicals Kenneth J Conner Qui Tam lawsuit against Mutual Bank personnel, Amrish Mahajan et al

“Because I tend to rely on evidence and not on hearsay, I believe we should focus our attention on Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey, not on Giannoulias and the Broadway Bank, if we are to assign names to the financial institution about which Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times has heard “rumblings.” Although Mahajan is not known to readers of No Quarter and to the national media, I imagine they will desire more information on the unscrupulous banker once they read the information I unpack below the fold. And yes, Obama is involved, deeply involved.”…Truthteller, NoQuarterUSA October 12, 2008

“Why did Mutual Bank fire whistleblower Kenneth J Connor after he
challenged the appraisal on the land purchased by Rita Rezko, just
prior to the land sale to Obama?”…Citizen Wells

“Why did the Rezkos enter into an agreement to purchase the lot next to the Obama house and pay the asking price of $ 625,000 at a time when they were broke and heavily in debt?”…Citizen Wells

The economy is in shambles, there are numerous diversions in the Middle East and in the election campaigns, Tony Rezko is in prison, the appeal of Rod Blagojevich has been delayed by the US Justice Dept. Obama thinks he has it made.

Not on my watch.

Kenneth J. Conner has a new book coming out, “Rezko for Radicals” and has a Qui Tam Lawsuit against the officers, directors and employees of Mutual Bank of Harvey, Adams Valuation Corp., et al. Citizen Wells will continue to keep these stories alive.

I have much respect and appreciation for sites like No Quarter USA which were investigating and reporting the truth about Obama when many were asleep or doing their best to hide this information.

From No Quarter USA October 12, 2008.

“About the Financial Institution Mentioned in the Sun-Times: Obama, Tony Rezko, Amrish Mahajan, the Kenwood Mansion & Rita Rezko”

“Mike Robinson’s AP article entitled “Obama Fundraiser, Convicted of Fraud, Spills Beans,” corroborates what we at No Quarter have been writing for weeks:Antoin “Tony” Rezko is cooperating with federal prosecutors interested in Barack Obama. While the national media’s attention to this topic is long overdue, I am not prepared to state that it is too little, too late. I am, however, disappointed.

Also disappointing but somewhat predictable is the blogosphere’s bungled reception of Mike Robinson’s article. Of course those who have embraced Obamawill dismiss the story as so much yellow journalism. One blogger claims that prosecutors are interested in Blagojevich and not Obama. But looming in the blind spot of that blogger’s necessarily tendentious gaze is Rezko’s 9 JUN 2008 letter to Judge Amy St. Eve and the reference to Obama as “Individual D” in the superseding indictment and the proffer of evidence filed by Fitzgerald and his prosecutors during the Rezko trial. Obama’s name can be printed again and again on the surface of the legal documents filed during the proceedings of the Rezko trial, but these writers with all their “naked” insight will clothe the verifiable record with their blindness. Knowledge production, it seems, has been lifted from its evidentiary supports when Democrats write about Barack Obama and Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

And yes, those Democrats include some ostensible Hillary Clinton Democrats. Seizing upon the following quotation in a Chicago Sun-Times column, one blogger believes the AP story heralds the end of the political careers of Alexi Giannoulias and Barack Obama:

Sneed hears rumbles political fund-raiser/fixer Tony Rezko, who is now singing sweetly to the feds from his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, has been talking about his “dealings” with a Chicago bank, which has political connections.

Stay tuned.

While Rezko was a customer of Alexi Giannoulias’s Broadway Bank, where he amassed a debt of $450,000 after writing bad checks at Las Vegas casinos, and while Giannoulias did write loans for Rezko, I do not believe one can aver with the confidence of the blogger I cite above that federal prosecutors are now focusing on Giannoulias, even if Giannoulias was tied to Rezko by his opponent during his 2006 bid for the office of Illinois state Treasurer. Allow me to be clear: Obama bundler, mobster banker and Obama protégé Giannoulias is, to be sure, embroiled in the Rezko scandal and in other aspects of Chicago politics any political observer would find unsavory, but he is not in my opinion the topic of the conservation occurring between Rezko, Rezko’s attorney and Fitzgerald’s team of prosecutors. I do admit he is grist for the mill of impetuous bloggers who desire web traffic and a controversial headline or two, however. Because I tend to rely on evidence and not on hearsay, I believe we should focus our attention on Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey, not on Giannoulias and the Broadway Bank, if we are to assign names to the financial institution about which Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Timeshas heard “rumblings.” Although Mahajan is not known to readers ofNo Quarter and to the national media, I imagine they will desire more information on the unscrupulous banker once they read the information I unpack below the fold. And yes, Obama is involved, deeply involved.

My interest in Amrish Mahajan and the Mutual Bank of Harvey was picqued by this list of contributors in Rezko’s bundling network provided by the Chicago Sun-Times last March. View the second page of the document, and notice the following entry:

Last name	First name	Obama donations	Rezko connection
Mahajan	Amrish	$2,500	Banker whose bank loaned money to Rezko companies. The bank also loaned Rezko’s wife money to buy a vacant lot next to Obama’s home.

The data available in the Sun-Times spreadsheet is corroborated by the following data, which is democratically available at the Federal Election Commission‘s website:

MAHAJAN, AMRISH
CHICAGO, IL 60607
MUTUAL BANK

OBAMA, BARACK
VIA OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC
12/20/2003 500.00 24020030170
04/14/2004 1000.00 24020461757

Not only was Mahajan a member of Rezko’s bundling network; his bank, the Mutual Bank of Harvey, granted Rita Rezko the $500,000 mortgage she neededin order to purchase the lot on which the Obama mansion in Chicago sits. As many of you may recall, the Obamas could not have purchased the mansion they could not afford unless transactions for the mansion and the lot closed on the same day. Obama needed to locate someone who would buy the lot, and he approached Rezko, the convicted slumlord with whom Obama toured the property before they mutually agreed to the following arrangement:

The home and lot sales closed on June 15, 2005. A land trust controlled by the Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million, and the Obamas secured a $1.32 million mortgage from Northern Trust to complete that purchase. That same day, Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, bought the side lot for $625,000. A $37,000- a-year Cook County employee, she secured a $500,000 mortgage from Mutual Bank of Harvey.

The structure of this transaction begs the following question: What bank would lend a government employee who earns $37,000 per annum a $500,000 mortgage? What bank would assume such a risk?

The Mutual Bank of Harvey, of course, for the Mutual Bank of Harvey’s President is a man who is deeply connected to the Chicago machine that backed Barack Obama. Indeed, Amrish Mahajan was one of Mayor Daley’s first political appointments in 1989, when he was named to a seat on Chicago’s Plan Commission, where he would be joined by Obama’s former boss and Rezko’s business partner Allison Davis and by Valerie Jarrett, Daley’s Chief of Staff whochaired the Commission from 1991-1995. Mahajan, in other words, worked with those who devised and profited from Daley’s failed public housing experiment in Chicago, a public housing policy Obama helped fund as state Senator and US Senator.

Rezko, according to the Boston Globe, was one of the major beneficiaries of Obama’s legislative advocacy for funding of Daley’s public housing experiment. Other major beneficiaries are Jarrett and Allison Davis. Mahajan was also a beneficiary, for his bank had made $3.4 million dollars in loans to Tony Rezko’s slum landlord business since 2002. A banker for one of the slumlords who benefitted from the Daley housing program Obama helped bankroll, Mahajan was returning a favor when he wrote a $500,000 mortgage in 2005 for the wife of one of his clients. Although Tony’s financial problems were mounting in 2005, and although Rita earned only $35,000 per annum, Mahajan underwrote the mortgage. Favors must be reciprocated, I guess, especially when one can satisfy two parties at once: the person with whom one has a complicated relationship in real estate and the politician who helped finance that complicated relationship as state Senator and US Senator.

I doubt federal investigators are interested in the Mahajans solely for their involvement in the property deal involving Obama, Mahajan and the Rezkos. The Mahajans, I believe, are the foci of their probe for many reasons.

• Anita Mahajan, the wife of Amrish, has been involved with questionable real estate deals that are the subject of federal probes with Governor Blagojevich’s wife, Patricia
• Anita Mahajan exploited lucrative no bid contracts with the Department of Children and Family Services to steal $2.1 million from Illinois taxpayers; she was charged and released on a $250,000 bond in March 2007
• “Uncle Amrish” has raised more than a half million for Blagojevich and approximately $50,000 for Mayor Daley, whose father helped launch Mahajan’s banking career
• “Uncle Amrish” also helped Obama purchase a house he could not afford

The real estate transaction involving Rita Rezko, the Obamas and Mutual Bank of Harvey is just the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, the Mutual Bank of Harvey seems to be at the center of all the corruption in Chicago. To quote former Donald Perillo, Chicago insurance mogul and son of the lawyer for Al Capone, in the Chicago Tribune article I cite above:

Donald Parrillo said he isn’t surprised to see Mahajan mix it up with politics and business. “He got that attitude from the Parrillo family,” the former alderman said. “He wanted to get in the game.”

And Mahajan certainly is in the game. The banker of the Chicago machine, he is also the man who wrote the mortgage for Rita Rezko that facilitated Obama’s purchase the mansion he could not afford. This is why I believe prosecutors are interested in Harvey Mutual Bank. Not only did Rezko receive loans from this institution; this bank is heavily involved in problematic real estate dealings involving Blagojevich and Obama. And if I may quote Rezko in the 9 JUN letter he wrote to Judge Amy St. Eve:

Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened. They are pressuring me to tell them the “wrong” things that I supposedly know aboutGovernor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. I have never been party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator. I will never fabricate lies about anyone else for selfish purposes. I will take what comes my way, but I will never hurt innocent people. I am not Levine, Loren, Mahru , or Winter.”

Rezko is now talking, and prosecutors are presently interested in a politically connected financial institution. I bet Obama now regrets paying Rita Rezko $104,500 for the strip of the land in the lot on which his house sits in January 2006. Acquired with the assistance of a questionable $500,000 mortgage from Amrish Mahajan’s Mutual Bank of Harvey, this lot and Obama’s desire to expand his yard by bit was the catalyst for all the investigative reports into Obama’s deep ties to Rezko. By the way, Rita’s lot is only accessible through the front gate of Obama’s home; it is not a separate property, and it was never intended to be a separate property.

“It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor,” Obama says of the real estate transactions with Rezko. I wonder if now he also believes it was a mistake for him to serve as the legislator who represented and bankrolled Richard Daley, Amrish Mahajan, Valerie Jarrett, Allison Davis and the Chicago Plan Commission. But at least he and Michelle have a house, a house the Mutual Bank of Harvey, the politically connected bank that wrote loans for Rezko, helped them procure in 2005. Too bad that house will be the end of Barack Obama.

—————————————————-”

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/5382/about-the-financial-institution-mentioned-in-the-sun-times-obama-tony-rezko-amrish-mahajan-the-kenwood-mansion-rita-rezko/

Rezko for Radicals book, Kenneth J. Conner author and whistleblower in the Rezko Obama lot transactions, Qui Tam lawsuit, Mutual Bank of Harvey, Adams Valuation Corp.

Rezko for Radicals book, Kenneth J. Conner author and whistleblower in the Rezko Obama lot transactions, Qui Tam lawsuit, Mutual Bank of Harvey, Adams Valuation Corp.

“Why did Mutual Bank fire whistleblower Kenneth J Connor after he
challenged the appraisal on the land purchased by Rita Rezko, just
prior to the land sale to Obama?”…Citizen Wells

“Why did the Rezkos enter into an agreement to purchase the lot next to the Obama house and pay the asking price of $ 625,000 at a time when they were broke and heavily in debt?”…Citizen Wells

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

Rezko for Radicals

A new book by Kenneth J. Conner

whistleblower in the Rezko Obama lot transactions

Kenneth J. Conner, whistleblower in the Rezko Obama lot transactions, is the author of a new book, “Rezko for Radicals.” The scheduled release date for the book is October 1, 2012. I am not at liberty to divulge the contents yet, but as soon as I am permitted, I will do so. At some point more information will be available here as well.

http://rezkoforradicals.com/

With all of the books being written about Chicago pay to play politics and corruption, why would this book be of interest? Kenneth J. Conner was there at Mutual Bank of Harvey, doing his job, asking questions about another questionable appraisal froma Adams Valuation Corp. except this time the borrower was Rita Rezko, wife of Tony Rezko. And the other party involved in these transactions was Barack Obama, an IL senator at the time. Here is why Conner’s story has credence.

• In early 2005, the Rezkos were broke and heavily in debt.
• In June 2005, Rita Rezko obtained a loan from Mutual Bank of Harvey in the amount of $ 500,000 for the lot next to the mansion purchased by the Obama’s at the same time.
• The Rezkos paid the full asking price $ 625,000.
• The sellers mandated that both properties close at the same time.
• Rita Rezko’s salary was approx. $ 37,000.
• Kenneth J. Conner was a real estate specialist at Mutual Bank in 2005.
• In late 2005 to early 2006, Mr. Conner was asked to review the appraisal by Adams.
• Mr. Conner reported to his bosses that the property was overvalued by $ 125,000 and that based on comparables  it was worth $ 500,000.
• On November  21, 2005 Barack Obama had an appraisal of the lot done by Howard B. Richter & Associates. That appraisal was for $ 490,860.
• The Rezkos and Obamas signed a purchase agreement on January 4, 2006 for one sixth of the lot. The Obamas paid $104,500 instead of the appraised value of $40,500.
• Mr. Conner’s valuation was subsequently removed from the loan file.
• On October 19, 2006 Mutual Bank received a grand jury subpoena requiring it to produce information concerning Rita Rezko’s purchase, including the bank’s files on the property.
• On December 28, 2006 former Rezko business attorney Michael J. Sreenan purchased the Rezko lot.
• “In 2007, Conner observed that his ARR of the 5050 S. Greenwood property was not in the Rezko 5050 Greenwood loan file and in it’s
  place was the Murphy Checklist purportedly dated “06/15/2005.”…On June 18, 2007, Conner sent an email to James Murphy which provides, in part, “I spent time trying to track down work of mine that should be in a particular high profile loan file, though it is not–having been replaced by a checklist.”
• ” In October, 2007, Conner had various communications with Mutual Bank’s Human Resources Department representative, Lana Schlabach. In an email communication of October 15, 2007, Conner directly referenced “Resentment over my mentioned discovery of the removal/replacement of an appraisal review that I conducted. That appraisal review contained substantial observations and suggestions. The transaction and parties involved were high profile in the media.I am under the impression that the FBI has since looked at the file.”
• “On October 23, 2007, eight days after Conner’s October 15, 2007
  email to Schlabach attached as Exhibit J, Mutual Bank terminated
  Conner’s employment”
• Late 2007 the FBI investigated the lot transactions. Mr. Conner stated. “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,”
• On October 16, 2008 Kenneth J. Conner filed his first lawsuit for retaliatory dismissal.
• On October 25, 2011 the FDIC initiated a lawsuit against Mutual Bank officers, directors and the bank lawyer. “5. Collectively, the Director Defendants and Officer Defendants (“Director and Officer Defendants”) (a) recklessly implemented a strategy of rapid asset growth through approving a high concentration of risky CRE, ADC and out-of-area loans to a small concentration of high-volume borrowers; (b) failed to implement appropriate underwriting and credit administration practices; (c) ignored the Bank’s loan policies; (d) ignored federal lending regulations; and (e) disregarded warnings from the Bank’s regulators regarding the Bank’s lending activities.”
• Mr. Conner has filed a Qui Tam lawsuit against the officers, directors and employees of Mutual Bank as well as Adams Valuations Corp. and others. The lawsuit is no longer under seal.

 

 

Rezko for Radicals

The whistleblower account of Obama’s $125,000 real estate scam.

by  Kenneth J. Conner

Available on Amazon October 1st

Copyright © 2012 Kenneth J. Conner, All rights reserved.