Yup, the connection is Emanuel went to the US Attorney and blew the whistle on Blagojevich. Judicial Watch fails to bring down Obama again. Do yourselves a favor and close your doors.
They may have known well enough to turn Blago in!
Get your speculation straight guys. Link
Rahm Emanuel might have been responsible for causing federal investigators to act quickly to apprehend Blagojevich this morning.
Obama's illegal activities (that we know of) continues to rise.
We know he accepted money for his campaign from foreign sources, and then lied about returning it for weeks. (Including accepting canadian credit cards from intrepid bloggers). http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/Obama_fundraising_illegal/2008/09/29/13...
We know he said nothing when a clearly forged (with photoshop font) certificate of live birth and attendant pictures showed up on factcheck.org (If he wasn't behind it, why not speak out??) http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/07/atlas-exclusive....
Note - I'm not saying he wasn't born in Hawaii. Just forgery here.
We know that he lied for years about his illegal profit from his land-sharing deal with Rezko.
We know that he was involved heavily with a Church that funded Hamas and kept their fundraising information on the church bulliten board.
We know that he leaked the information from his recent meeting with Bush (what criminal charges could possibly come from spilling the details of a meeting with the outgoing chief?)
We know that he used campaign contributions loosely, funding Acorn and lying about it. We then know Acorn used at least some of that money to submit false voter registrations.
We also know there was voter fraud at the caucus process. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&add...
The only question is when, not if, these facts will come to clear light and people will see Obama for what he is. At the very least, he's quite comfortable having the most corrupt Americans around him.
Your site and another site continue to show hatred for President elect Obama. You now love the prosecutor, but hated him when he went after Gordon Liddy.
This utter hatred on the internet and more hatred on talk radio, for president elect Obama, is very disturbing. Judicial watch will now go to court or the ethics committee and stop the swearing in.
By doing this will continue to tear this country apart, but on the 21st we will have a new president anyway
Judicial Watch fails to bring down B.O.? Let's not rush into anything. The Gov. just might squeal like a stuffed pig and we'll see what happens. Don't forget, the investigation, as stated on the news all day long, has just been touched upon. If the Gov.'s office has been bugged for some time as well as other people working around the Gov., there may just be a lot more info than the news has reported on today.
Research will show you, Rezko has ties to all the lawmakers that are in the limelight. Clinton contributor in the 90's, Bush contributor in the 2000's. He was not brought out for anyone other than Obama and Judicial watch knows this..............why???
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 7:35pm — C. J. Sloan (not verified)
Without Judicial Watch's unceasing hammering on Ill. Gov. Blagojevich for the truth, none of this would have come to light. Finally, Blagojevich has his just desserts - jail!
Many thanks to the Illinois residents who asked for, and received, JW's help. This was a joint effort in which Americans trumped corruption!
President-Elect Obama was quick to say he knew nothing about the sale of his Senate seat by the Illinois Governor.
Where this can backfire, and I suspect Judicial Watch to be all over it, is in the Obama personal Blackberry records that may show contact with the Illinois Governor or someone close to him. This extends to the Obama transition team that just out of no where were alleged to have converged inside the Department of Justice and quickly gained knowledge of this ongoing investigation of the Governor of Illinois: Yesterday / Monday 12/08/2008.
How long before we get an inventory of the wiretapping operation and names, dates, and summary content of everyone that called the Illinois Governor or those he called? I'm assuming these wiretaps were on the Governor's office phone, any cell phones, and his personal residence phone(s); and all those of Harris who was included in the charges.
Who knew when Watergate first broke the newswires that President Nixon recorded all the telephone conversations he had in the Oval Office, except for some missing segments.......
This will unravel President Obama's Administration since organizations like Judicial Watch will not go away.
The criminal complaint also includes references to Revko and even the Chicago Cubs and Tribune.
Oh, and how coincidental can it get that on Monday 12/08/2008 (YESTERDAY !!!!), the Tribune declared Chapter 11.
The mean spirited part is attacking Bank of America for cancelling a credit line, and now a small business is out of business and its employees are in a sit in. Then this Governor on Monday ordered all State business with Bank of America to CEASE !!!!
Now Chase bank wants to chip in $400,000 for the union workers. This is somehow twisted into Chicago politics and generations of "Daleys" with one involved with Chase.
Bank of America actually has received Federal Bailout money - a lot of it. Besides that and depositor's insurance via FDIC, I still think the Governor of Illinois EXTORTED Bank of America into providing this new loan to Republic Windows and Doors for paying severance pay to union workers because they were not given a 60-day notice.
I just can't figure why it is any responsibility of Bank of America. In the Chase bank case, they own 40% of Republic Windows and Doors via some investment that perhaps makes them responsible. But as far as I know the Bank of America owns toxic assets, not as an investment partner, but because Republic Windows and Doors has not paid back loans - - it must have been collateral.
The other tidbit is someone in Chase is on the President-Elect Obama Inauguration committee - - figures!
What is stranger yet in the news about this that started last Friday is no apparent interviews or explanations from who managed or owned Republic Windows and Doors.
Why isn't the Illinois Attorney General asking questions?
Why isn't the media asking questions?
What happened to the money loaned to Republic Windows and Doors by Bank of America prior to December 5, 2008?
Congress opposed buy back of Toxic Assets from "non-viable companies". Ditto on bailing out banks holding these toxic assets.
With Bank of America receiving a large Federal Bailout is all this attempt of theirs to now pay for Republic Windows and Doors union worker severance pay in violation of the terms on Federal Bailout money? Perhaps the Bank of America must immediately surrender all of their Federal Bailout money to the US Treasury!!!!
1. Fitzgerald (U.S. att'y) said today at his press briefing that the complaint "makes no allegations whatsoever about the President-elect."
2. Moreover, in one passage of the complaint, Blagojevich "said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but 'they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k them.'"
You bozos have nothing. Nothing at all. Fail.
Go back to worrying about fluoride in the water supply.
Jerry Johnson, wow, you're really that desperate aren't you? Try and think your scenario through, as you're so proud and boastful in exclaiming the innocence of your beloved. I am so sick of partisan democrats and republicans and all their complete ineptness and fawning over their class and party. How do you think that the Governor, and/or his people, knew Obama would not pay to play? If they knew, that means they talked. If they talked, Obviously, your beloved knew about it. If he knew about it, why didn't he mention it to authorities, like "ummm, hello FBI, this is presidential candidate Obama, I wanted to make you aware of a pay-to-play scheme that the miserable gov is involved in, he approached me for a deal and I rejected it".
Can you do that math Jerry? Combine that with Axelrod's statements made in Nov confirming your beloved talked to the gov, and you have some disturbing facts that need to be THOROUGHLY VETTED. Just like when Judicial Watch attempted to OUT criminal Cheney and Halliburton. JW needs your support, not your blind love for your messiah. Let's get them all in court, including your beloved, and reveal exactly what was said and done, dates times, you name it. If Obama did not know about any of this, that fact will be revealed in court. That's what those courts are for. Sounds fair, right?
Old story about Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule (wife) Charitable Trust formed in 2002, used their home at 4228 North Hermitage as the office for the non-profit foundation. Their address cannot be found in the Cook county Real Estate tax records and when the Illinois Review broke the story they were intimidated by the government to remove the story from the web. So that is nice they set up a charity and don’t pay R.E. taxes.
What I find interesting is that Rahm & Rod are practically neighbors. They live less than a block away from each other: Rod B. address: 4147 North Ravenswood, Chicago, IL. (Go ahead and map it.)
I have to believe that Obama knew a lot more about what was coming down with Rod Blagojevich than he has said publically.
Obama was mentored and groomed by the Illinois Democratic political machine for the last 7-8 years. To think he is not part and parcel of this criminal behavior is wishful thinking. Americans with any common sense recognized him as an empty suit with a dangerous desire for power 2 yrs ago. His supporters know more about voting for american idol than they do about Obama. This is the stained blue dress all over again and Obama hasn't yet taken the oath. What a sad day for America and Americans.
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 5:29pm — Lee Tidwell (not verified)
your motto is (NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW) and I used to believe that. But OBAMA and his cohorts are so powerful now that there is no stopping him. If you read the investigative articles by EVELYN PRINGLE called (ITS CURTAIN TIME FOR OBAMA) you will see who OBAMA really is. www.countercurrents.org/pringle220508.htm There are 5 articles which she worked very hard on and is worth reading. It tells about the relationship with REZCO, Blagoveich and OBAMA. A lot of CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do go ahead with this lawsuit, this woman and her husband ought to be questioned in many ethical matters........ many. not only it is unconstitutional, she is not the best person for the job andshe is totally unethical, and she and her husband will end up making deals with all the foreign countries as they have always done, and lie to us, use their connections to their profits.
these people are so illegal and none is doing anything about them. they take illegal contribution, pay others, have others dissapear their enemies, and the list goes on and on.. and we have this evil woman to be the secretary of state, she has bluntly lied when she said she was under sniper fire.........and that she is the one that created peace in Ireland......
give me a break............... i hope you go on with this law suit,
i will be happy to contribute money as will many millions of people.. we are tired of their dynasty and corruption.
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 1:57pm — John Ryskamp (not verified)
Typical Judicial Watch: poorly informed. If you want to know the details of the relationship between Blago and Obama, they are in this letter I sent to Patrick Fitzgerald:
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
Today you told the press, in connection with the Blagojevich arrest, “We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it.” And yet most of the complaint is based on evidence you have had for a number of years. In other words, if the matter concerning the appointment of a Senator were removed, you would still have had enough evidence to indict Blagojevich. In fact, the complaint shows that you have enough evidence for a number of years.
This means that you and no one else, allowed Blagojevich to continue on a “crime spree” long after you had enough evidence to arrest him. Indeed, he would never have gotten to the point at which he was about to sell a Senate seat, if you had arrested him earlier. Why did you not do so? Why did you allow him to commit more crimes?
And now you are about to show the same negligence again. You are apparently about to make the same mistake with regard to Barack Obama. As you probably know, Evelyn Pringle has published detailed online articles concerning Obama’s participation in “Operation Board Games” crimes. Below, I reproduce paragraphs from your own Blagojevich complaint, and after them, a section from the Pringle Obama articles dealing with precisely the same facts as the complaint.
Her articles show in detail that Obama has committed the same 18 USC 1346 crimes you discuss in your Blagojevich complaint. And yet he has not yet been arrested. Why not?
Just as you allowed Blagojevich to get to the point where he was about to sell a United States Senate seat, so you allowed Obama to be elected President, and apparently you are willing to let him continue his own crime spree by actually becoming President.
It was irresponsible for you to continue to allow Blagojevich to continue in office when you had enough evidence to arrest him, and it is irresponsible of you now to allow Obama to continue in office and become President, when you have enough evidence to arrest him.
Arrest Obama now. It is irresponsible of you to wait any longer.
Sincerely yours,
John Ryskamp
I. FROM THE BLAGOJEVICH COMPLAINT
35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit.
36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on the Planning Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity seeking to build a hospital, medical office building, or other medical facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a "Certificate of Need" ("CON"), from the Planning Board prior to beginning construction.
37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial.9 Beck testified that he asked Rezko to reappoint him to the Planning Board and that Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions regarding which CON applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his job to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of the Planning Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko. Beck testified that he understood that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about particular CONs. Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow Levine’s lead in voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before certain Planning Board meetings, he received notecards from Beck indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck testified he provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of the Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON applications.
38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital ("Mercy") that was attempting to obtain a CON to build a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.
39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the Planning Board decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based on contributions for ROD BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal trial and, before that, in the grand jury.11 According to Loren, in approximately December 2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was against the Mercy CON. According to Loren, Levine relayed to Loren a conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine asked Rezko whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a contribution might make a difference.
40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer, as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.
41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a public Planning Board meeting.12 The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote. Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: "The Governor wanted it to pass."
II. FROM EVELYN PRINGLE’S "CURTAIN TIME" ONLINE ARTICLES
Tony Rezko is a private citizen. Therefore, the evidence presented in the trial focused on his influence over officials in getting members appointed to the Boards. Prosecutors did not discuss how the legislation got passed that enabled the Planning Board to be set up in a way that allowed for the appointment of members to rig the votes to begin with.
That part of the scheme will likely be detailed in future indictments, probably starting with Blagojevich. Blagojevich signed the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act with an effective date of June 27, 2003. However, before he could sign the act, a bill had to be passed by the Illinois House and Senate. As discussed fully in Curtain Time Part II, Obama was the inside guy in the senate who pushed through the legislation that resulted in the Act.
Obama was appointed chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The minute the bill was introduced, it was referred to his committee for review. The sponsors of the bill also served on this committee with Obama. Within a month, Chairman Obama sent word to the full senate that the legislation should be passed.
On May 31, 2003, Senate Bill 1332 passed and specified that the "Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate." The legislation reduced the number of members from 15 to 9, paving the way for the appointment of a five-bloc majority to rig the votes.
The corrupt members appointed included three doctors who contributed to Obama. Michel Malek gave Obama $10,000 on June 30, 2003 and donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003. Malek also gave Obama another $500 in September 2003.
Fortunee Massuda donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003, and gave a total of $2,000 to Obama on different dates. After he was appointed, Dr Imad Almanaseer contributed a total of $3,000 to Obama. Almanaseer did not give money to Blagojevich.
When the first pay-to-play scheme was put in play, and the application for approval of a new hospital was submitted, the Department of Human Services, along with four other Illinois agencies, sent recommendations that the project should be approved even though experts said the hospital was not needed.
During the trial, Rezko’s attorney presented an email exchange to the jury that hinted at Obama’s role in setting up the scheme. The exchange showed that Obama and seven other top Illinois politicians consulted on the legislation passed in 2003 and were involved in recommending the members for the board.
Matthew Pickering wrote the memo to Blagojevich’s general counsel, Susan Lichtenstein, on behalf of David Wilhelm, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor.
Pickering said he and Wilhelm had "worked closely" over six months with state legislators. The memo recommended the appointees listed above and stated, "our attached recommendations reflect that involvement" with the political leaders.
The persons appointed to rig the votes, including those who contributed to Blagojevich and Obama, are cooperating in exchange for immunity or lighter prison sentences.
Feds shut down pay-to-play schemes
Only two pay-to-play schemes succeeded before the Feds swooped in and shut them all down. Blagojevich did not receive the $1.5 million from the Planning Board deal because the hospital was never built.
But Obama received $20,000 from the first kickback paid in the pension fund scheme and the straw donors used to funnel the $10,000 payments, Elie Maloof and Joseph Aramanda, also made $1,000 contributions to Obama’s failed run for Congress in 2000.
In addition, Aramanda gave $500 to Obama’s senate campaign on June 30, 2003. In the summer of 2005, Aramanda’s son landed an intern position in Obama’s Washington office.
Obama also received contributions for his senate campaign from the two persons appointed to rig the vote on the pension fund board. On June 30, 2003, Jack Carriglio contributed $1,000, and the other appointee, Anthony Abboud, donated $500 on June 30, 2003, $250 on March 5, 2004, and $1,000 on June 25, 2004.
The person chosen to funnel the kickback in a future scheme, Michael Winter, donated $3,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.
All these people are also cooperating in exchange for immunity or lesser prison sentences but prosecutors pointed out during closing arguments that people who entered into agreements with the government are required to tell the truth or all deals are off.
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 3:53pm — Doc Anderson (not verified)
If these so called eleceted leaders cannot uphold and abide by the United Stares Constitutuin then they have absolutely no right holding office. Dump them ALL!
NEVER in my memory have I seen the Democrats so quickly prosecute one of their own, and will full support of the press, which makes me wonder...They stand firm behind other scandals (Charlie Rangel & William Jefferson immediately come to mind), even though Jefferson had $90K in cash (of the $100K bribe) in his freezer...but he was finally kicked off one of their "committees".
Could it be they want this and the investigation to "go away" as fast as possible. Suddenly Blago is "crazy"..."a lunatic", etc, as the headlinesare reading? Yet nothing before came to the surface during his regime? Hmm, must have been something he ate over Thanksgiving.
It's going to be really interesting to see how this investigation unfolds, and the names that get "blacked-out" on anything actually released to the public...THEIR EMPLOYERS!!!!!
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Comments
Yup, the connection is
Yup, the connection is Emanuel went to the US Attorney and blew the whistle on Blagojevich. Judicial Watch fails to bring down Obama again. Do yourselves a favor and close your doors.
Emanuel is a dolt and so are
Emanuel is a dolt and so are you. We may rid ourselves of the ineligible to run president elect after all.
What's wrong, have just now
What's wrong, have just now discovered that your Messiah has feet of clay?
Umm get the story straight
They may have known well enough to turn Blago in!
Get your speculation straight guys.
Link
Rahm Emanuel might have been responsible for causing federal investigators to act quickly to apprehend Blagojevich this morning.
"the connection is Emanuel
"the connection is Emanuel went to the US Attorney and blew the whistle on Blagojevich. "
Wow, that must be some high dollar stuff you been smoking pal! Obama's going down!
Obviously better than the
Obviously better than the stuff you're smoking by supporting this Mickey-Mouse organization
Emanuel Rahm is going to be taking the fall.
Obama's illegal activities (that we know of) continues to rise.
We know he accepted money for his campaign from foreign sources, and then lied about returning it for weeks. (Including accepting canadian credit cards from intrepid bloggers).
http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/Obama_fundraising_illegal/2008/09/29/13...
We know he said nothing when a clearly forged (with photoshop font) certificate of live birth and attendant pictures showed up on factcheck.org (If he wasn't behind it, why not speak out??)
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/07/atlas-exclusive....
Note - I'm not saying he wasn't born in Hawaii. Just forgery here.
We know that he lied for years about his illegal profit from his land-sharing deal with Rezko.
We know that he was involved heavily with a Church that funded Hamas and kept their fundraising information on the church bulliten board.
We know that he leaked the information from his recent meeting with Bush (what criminal charges could possibly come from spilling the details of a meeting with the outgoing chief?)
We know that he used campaign contributions loosely, funding Acorn and lying about it. We then know Acorn used at least some of that money to submit false voter registrations.
We also know there was voter fraud at the caucus process.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&add...
The only question is when, not if, these facts will come to clear light and people will see Obama for what he is. At the very least, he's quite comfortable having the most corrupt Americans around him.
Hatred for President elect Obama
Your site and another site continue to show hatred for President elect Obama. You now love the prosecutor, but hated him when he went after Gordon Liddy.
This utter hatred on the internet and more hatred on talk radio, for president elect Obama, is very disturbing. Judicial watch will now go to court or the ethics committee and stop the swearing in.
By doing this will continue to tear this country apart, but on the 21st we will have a new president anyway
Keep up the great work, Judicial Watch....
Dear Anonymous....
Judicial Watch fails to bring down B.O.? Let's not rush into anything. The Gov. just might squeal like a stuffed pig and we'll see what happens. Don't forget, the investigation, as stated on the news all day long, has just been touched upon. If the Gov.'s office has been bugged for some time as well as other people working around the Gov., there may just be a lot more info than the news has reported on today.
Rezko........is not only Obama's friend
Research will show you, Rezko has ties to all the lawmakers that are in the limelight. Clinton contributor in the 90's, Bush contributor in the 2000's. He was not brought out for anyone other than Obama and Judicial watch knows this..............why???
Good for Judicial Watch
Without Judicial Watch's unceasing hammering on Ill. Gov. Blagojevich for the truth, none of this would have come to light. Finally, Blagojevich has his just desserts - jail!
Many thanks to the Illinois residents who asked for, and received, JW's help. This was a joint effort in which Americans trumped corruption!
Long live Judicial Watch!
"There is only one
"There is only one distinctly criminal class in America, and that is the political class."
-Mark Twain
Vote out all incumbents! Nothing is changing but the color of skin at the top of the trash heap.
Shaking President-Elect
President-Elect Obama was quick to say he knew nothing about the sale of his Senate seat by the Illinois Governor.
Where this can backfire, and I suspect Judicial Watch to be all over it, is in the Obama personal Blackberry records that may show contact with the Illinois Governor or someone close to him. This extends to the Obama transition team that just out of no where were alleged to have converged inside the Department of Justice and quickly gained knowledge of this ongoing investigation of the Governor of Illinois: Yesterday / Monday 12/08/2008.
How long before we get an inventory of the wiretapping operation and names, dates, and summary content of everyone that called the Illinois Governor or those he called? I'm assuming these wiretaps were on the Governor's office phone, any cell phones, and his personal residence phone(s); and all those of Harris who was included in the charges.
Who knew when Watergate first broke the newswires that President Nixon recorded all the telephone conversations he had in the Oval Office, except for some missing segments.......
This will unravel President Obama's Administration since organizations like Judicial Watch will not go away.
The criminal complaint also includes references to Revko and even the Chicago Cubs and Tribune.
Oh, and how coincidental can it get that on Monday 12/08/2008 (YESTERDAY !!!!), the Tribune declared Chapter 11.
The mean spirited part is attacking Bank of America for cancelling a credit line, and now a small business is out of business and its employees are in a sit in. Then this Governor on Monday ordered all State business with Bank of America to CEASE !!!!
Isn't that Extortion? Also a Crime !!
It just gets better?
Now Chase bank wants to chip in $400,000 for the union workers. This is somehow twisted into Chicago politics and generations of "Daleys" with one involved with Chase.
Bank of America actually has received Federal Bailout money - a lot of it. Besides that and depositor's insurance via FDIC, I still think the Governor of Illinois EXTORTED Bank of America into providing this new loan to Republic Windows and Doors for paying severance pay to union workers because they were not given a 60-day notice.
I just can't figure why it is any responsibility of Bank of America. In the Chase bank case, they own 40% of Republic Windows and Doors via some investment that perhaps makes them responsible. But as far as I know the Bank of America owns toxic assets, not as an investment partner, but because Republic Windows and Doors has not paid back loans - - it must have been collateral.
The other tidbit is someone in Chase is on the President-Elect Obama Inauguration committee - - figures!
What is stranger yet in the news about this that started last Friday is no apparent interviews or explanations from who managed or owned Republic Windows and Doors.
Why isn't the Illinois Attorney General asking questions?
Why isn't the media asking questions?
What happened to the money loaned to Republic Windows and Doors by Bank of America prior to December 5, 2008?
Congress opposed buy back of Toxic Assets from "non-viable companies". Ditto on bailing out banks holding these toxic assets.
With Bank of America receiving a large Federal Bailout is all this attempt of theirs to now pay for Republic Windows and Doors union worker severance pay in violation of the terms on Federal Bailout money? Perhaps the Bank of America must immediately surrender all of their Federal Bailout money to the US Treasury!!!!
SAY IT AIN'T SO UNCLE SAMMY!
SAY IT AIN'T SO.
Get your facts straight, blowhards
1. Fitzgerald (U.S. att'y) said today at his press briefing that the complaint "makes no allegations whatsoever about the President-elect."
2. Moreover, in one passage of the complaint, Blagojevich "said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but 'they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k them.'"
You bozos have nothing. Nothing at all. Fail.
Go back to worrying about fluoride in the water supply.
re: Get your facts straight, blowhards
Jerry Johnson, wow, you're really that desperate aren't you? Try and think your scenario through, as you're so proud and boastful in exclaiming the innocence of your beloved. I am so sick of partisan democrats and republicans and all their complete ineptness and fawning over their class and party. How do you think that the Governor, and/or his people, knew Obama would not pay to play? If they knew, that means they talked. If they talked, Obviously, your beloved knew about it. If he knew about it, why didn't he mention it to authorities, like "ummm, hello FBI, this is presidential candidate Obama, I wanted to make you aware of a pay-to-play scheme that the miserable gov is involved in, he approached me for a deal and I rejected it".
Can you do that math Jerry? Combine that with Axelrod's statements made in Nov confirming your beloved talked to the gov, and you have some disturbing facts that need to be THOROUGHLY VETTED. Just like when Judicial Watch attempted to OUT criminal Cheney and Halliburton. JW needs your support, not your blind love for your messiah. Let's get them all in court, including your beloved, and reveal exactly what was said and done, dates times, you name it. If Obama did not know about any of this, that fact will be revealed in court. That's what those courts are for. Sounds fair, right?
If Obamo or his peeps had NO
If Obamo or his peeps had NO contact with the gov, then how did the gov know that he was only going to get appreciation from those bleeps, HUH?
I don't think anyone failed
I don't think anyone failed yet. Just gathering what they need to prove what and who he is. LOL
Re the Leftist: Yup, the connection is
JW -Keep doing your good work. The Left and Leftists trying to subvert our country through theft and corruption are PIXXED OFF! GOOD JOB!
Rahm & Rod Neighbors
Old story about Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule (wife) Charitable Trust formed in 2002, used their home at 4228 North Hermitage as the office for the non-profit foundation. Their address cannot be found in the Cook county Real Estate tax records and when the Illinois Review broke the story they were intimidated by the government to remove the story from the web. So that is nice they set up a charity and don’t pay R.E. taxes.
What I find interesting is that Rahm & Rod are practically neighbors. They live less than a block away from each other: Rod B. address: 4147 North Ravenswood, Chicago, IL. (Go ahead and map it.)
I have to believe that Obama knew a lot more about what was coming down with Rod Blagojevich than he has said publically.
Corruption
Corruption isn't just a left wing issue, it can afflict anyone in a position of power. Just IL is at epidemic levels.
Blagojevich arrest
Obama was mentored and groomed by the Illinois Democratic political machine for the last 7-8 years. To think he is not part and parcel of this criminal behavior is wishful thinking. Americans with any common sense recognized him as an empty suit with a dangerous desire for power 2 yrs ago. His supporters know more about voting for american idol than they do about Obama. This is the stained blue dress all over again and Obama hasn't yet taken the oath. What a sad day for America and Americans.
Keep up the Great Work Judicial Watch!
All this corruption needs to be exposed, before we lose this Country!
"....not willing to give me anything except appreciation."
Like ABC News pointed out, if the Obama team never talked to Blago, how did Blago know that was all the Obama team were willing to give him?
disgusted
your motto is (NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW) and I used to believe that. But OBAMA and his cohorts are so powerful now that there is no stopping him. If you read the investigative articles by EVELYN PRINGLE called (ITS CURTAIN TIME FOR OBAMA) you will see who OBAMA really is. www.countercurrents.org/pringle220508.htm There are 5 articles which she worked very hard on and is worth reading. It tells about the relationship with REZCO, Blagoveich and OBAMA. A lot of CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!!!!
clinton to SOS
Please do go ahead with this lawsuit, this woman and her husband ought to be questioned in many ethical matters........ many. not only it is unconstitutional, she is not the best person for the job andshe is totally unethical, and she and her husband will end up making deals with all the foreign countries as they have always done, and lie to us, use their connections to their profits.
these people are so illegal and none is doing anything about them. they take illegal contribution, pay others, have others dissapear their enemies, and the list goes on and on.. and we have this evil woman to be the secretary of state, she has bluntly lied when she said she was under sniper fire.........and that she is the one that created peace in Ireland......
give me a break............... i hope you go on with this law suit,
i will be happy to contribute money as will many millions of people.. we are tired of their dynasty and corruption.
Blago and Obama
Typical Judicial Watch: poorly informed. If you want to know the details of the relationship between Blago and Obama, they are in this letter I sent to Patrick Fitzgerald:
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
Today you told the press, in connection with the Blagojevich arrest, “We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it.” And yet most of the complaint is based on evidence you have had for a number of years. In other words, if the matter concerning the appointment of a Senator were removed, you would still have had enough evidence to indict Blagojevich. In fact, the complaint shows that you have enough evidence for a number of years.
This means that you and no one else, allowed Blagojevich to continue on a “crime spree” long after you had enough evidence to arrest him. Indeed, he would never have gotten to the point at which he was about to sell a Senate seat, if you had arrested him earlier. Why did you not do so? Why did you allow him to commit more crimes?
And now you are about to show the same negligence again. You are apparently about to make the same mistake with regard to Barack Obama. As you probably know, Evelyn Pringle has published detailed online articles concerning Obama’s participation in “Operation Board Games” crimes. Below, I reproduce paragraphs from your own Blagojevich complaint, and after them, a section from the Pringle Obama articles dealing with precisely the same facts as the complaint.
Her articles show in detail that Obama has committed the same 18 USC 1346 crimes you discuss in your Blagojevich complaint. And yet he has not yet been arrested. Why not?
Just as you allowed Blagojevich to get to the point where he was about to sell a United States Senate seat, so you allowed Obama to be elected President, and apparently you are willing to let him continue his own crime spree by actually becoming President.
It was irresponsible for you to continue to allow Blagojevich to continue in office when you had enough evidence to arrest him, and it is irresponsible of you now to allow Obama to continue in office and become President, when you have enough evidence to arrest him.
Arrest Obama now. It is irresponsible of you to wait any longer.
Sincerely yours,
John Ryskamp
I. FROM THE BLAGOJEVICH COMPLAINT
35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit.
36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on the Planning Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity seeking to build a hospital, medical office building, or other medical facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a "Certificate of Need" ("CON"), from the Planning Board prior to beginning construction.
37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial.9 Beck testified that he asked Rezko to reappoint him to the Planning Board and that Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions regarding which CON applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his job to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of the Planning Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko. Beck testified that he understood that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about particular CONs. Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow Levine’s lead in voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before certain Planning Board meetings, he received notecards from Beck indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck testified he provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of the Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON applications.
38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital ("Mercy") that was attempting to obtain a CON to build a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.
39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the Planning Board decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based on contributions for ROD BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal trial and, before that, in the grand jury.11 According to Loren, in approximately December 2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was against the Mercy CON. According to Loren, Levine relayed to Loren a conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine asked Rezko whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a contribution might make a difference.
40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer, as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.
41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a public Planning Board meeting.12 The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote. Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: "The Governor wanted it to pass."
II. FROM EVELYN PRINGLE’S "CURTAIN TIME" ONLINE ARTICLES
Tony Rezko is a private citizen. Therefore, the evidence presented in the trial focused on his influence over officials in getting members appointed to the Boards. Prosecutors did not discuss how the legislation got passed that enabled the Planning Board to be set up in a way that allowed for the appointment of members to rig the votes to begin with.
That part of the scheme will likely be detailed in future indictments, probably starting with Blagojevich. Blagojevich signed the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act with an effective date of June 27, 2003. However, before he could sign the act, a bill had to be passed by the Illinois House and Senate. As discussed fully in Curtain Time Part II, Obama was the inside guy in the senate who pushed through the legislation that resulted in the Act.
Obama was appointed chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The minute the bill was introduced, it was referred to his committee for review. The sponsors of the bill also served on this committee with Obama. Within a month, Chairman Obama sent word to the full senate that the legislation should be passed.
On May 31, 2003, Senate Bill 1332 passed and specified that the "Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate." The legislation reduced the number of members from 15 to 9, paving the way for the appointment of a five-bloc majority to rig the votes.
The corrupt members appointed included three doctors who contributed to Obama. Michel Malek gave Obama $10,000 on June 30, 2003 and donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003. Malek also gave Obama another $500 in September 2003.
Fortunee Massuda donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003, and gave a total of $2,000 to Obama on different dates. After he was appointed, Dr Imad Almanaseer contributed a total of $3,000 to Obama. Almanaseer did not give money to Blagojevich.
When the first pay-to-play scheme was put in play, and the application for approval of a new hospital was submitted, the Department of Human Services, along with four other Illinois agencies, sent recommendations that the project should be approved even though experts said the hospital was not needed.
During the trial, Rezko’s attorney presented an email exchange to the jury that hinted at Obama’s role in setting up the scheme. The exchange showed that Obama and seven other top Illinois politicians consulted on the legislation passed in 2003 and were involved in recommending the members for the board.
Matthew Pickering wrote the memo to Blagojevich’s general counsel, Susan Lichtenstein, on behalf of David Wilhelm, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor.
Pickering said he and Wilhelm had "worked closely" over six months with state legislators. The memo recommended the appointees listed above and stated, "our attached recommendations reflect that involvement" with the political leaders.
The persons appointed to rig the votes, including those who contributed to Blagojevich and Obama, are cooperating in exchange for immunity or lighter prison sentences.
Feds shut down pay-to-play schemes
Only two pay-to-play schemes succeeded before the Feds swooped in and shut them all down. Blagojevich did not receive the $1.5 million from the Planning Board deal because the hospital was never built.
But Obama received $20,000 from the first kickback paid in the pension fund scheme and the straw donors used to funnel the $10,000 payments, Elie Maloof and Joseph Aramanda, also made $1,000 contributions to Obama’s failed run for Congress in 2000.
In addition, Aramanda gave $500 to Obama’s senate campaign on June 30, 2003. In the summer of 2005, Aramanda’s son landed an intern position in Obama’s Washington office.
Obama also received contributions for his senate campaign from the two persons appointed to rig the vote on the pension fund board. On June 30, 2003, Jack Carriglio contributed $1,000, and the other appointee, Anthony Abboud, donated $500 on June 30, 2003, $250 on March 5, 2004, and $1,000 on June 25, 2004.
The person chosen to funnel the kickback in a future scheme, Michael Winter, donated $3,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.
All these people are also cooperating in exchange for immunity or lesser prison sentences but prosecutors pointed out during closing arguments that people who entered into agreements with the government are required to tell the truth or all deals are off.
NO OBAMA, NO HILLARY, YES U.S. CONSTITUTION
If these so called eleceted leaders cannot uphold and abide by the United Stares Constitutuin then they have absolutely no right holding office. Dump them ALL!
I Smell Blood in the Water
NEVER in my memory have I seen the Democrats so quickly prosecute one of their own, and will full support of the press, which makes me wonder...They stand firm behind other scandals (Charlie Rangel & William Jefferson immediately come to mind), even though Jefferson had $90K in cash (of the $100K bribe) in his freezer...but he was finally kicked off one of their "committees".
Could it be they want this and the investigation to "go away" as fast as possible. Suddenly Blago is "crazy"..."a lunatic", etc, as the headlinesare reading? Yet nothing before came to the surface during his regime? Hmm, must have been something he ate over Thanksgiving.
It's going to be really interesting to see how this investigation unfolds, and the names that get "blacked-out" on anything actually released to the public...THEIR EMPLOYERS!!!!!