Attorneys: Rahm Emanuel was alleged extortion victim (not the Blago he knew?)

Pantagraph ^ | 4/04/09 | Mike Robinson

[Libloather]

Attorneys: Rahm Emanuel was alleged extortion victim
By Mike Robinson
Associated Press

CHICAGO -- President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was the congressman targeted by an alleged extortion plan described in the indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to attorneys familiar with the case.

At the time, in 2006, Emanuel was the congressman from the 5th District on Chicago’s North Side. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the congressman isn’t named and the information is secret grand jury material.

The indictment says the congressman sought a $2 million grant for a school. But Blagojevich allegedly told a lobbyist to tell the lawmaker his brother would have to raise campaign funds or the grant wouldn’t go through.

**SNIP**

The White House declined to comment on the indictment.

[Libloather]

Rahm - a victim? That would make him stoopid - no?

[mainepatsfan]

Politicians will always claim total incompetence over corruption.

[Libloather]

All Blago Wanted Was For Rahm to Throw Him a Wonderful Star-Studded Party
By Pareene, 6:02 PM on Fri Apr 3 2009

Oh, Rod Blagojevich. God bless you for brightening up this bleak Friday. News from you is like the sun coming out from behind the clouds! What's up now? Oh, you tried to extort Rahm Emaneul?

Hah, yes, hooray—details from a federal indictment released Thursday tell the proud story of "Congressman A," our own Rahm Emanuel, and how Blago tried to block money meant for a school in Rahm's district. Then Blago told Rahm, Rahm, he said, you know what would be really super nice? If your brother Ari got some celebrities to throw a fundraiser for me!

Rahm's brother Ari is, of course, a famous agent, and he is played by famous poisoned actor Jeremy Piven on a tv show, so obviously he knows lots of famous people.

Prosecutors said a fundraiser was never held. The aide would not say whether Emanuel ever actually learned of the request.

Hah. No, of course not. We're guessing Rahm did know of the request, and we're guessing he ignored it, because it was probably best to just ignore the crazy things Governor Blago said.

Of course this is proof that Rahm Emanuel is corrupt and probably guilty of CRIMES, according to The Corner.

http://gawker.com/5197667/all-blago-wanted-was-for-rahm-to-throw-him-a-wonderful-star+studded-party

[elpadre]

Emmanuel a victim?? Not a chance!!

- more likely the other way around.

they are trying to insulate him - a plan!

[philman_36]

The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the congressman isn’t named and the information is secret grand jury material.
It ain't so secret any more!
Wouldn't that indicate that the "anonymous" attorneys could only be those involved in the case since it was supposed to be secret?

[angkor]

Actually the Hollywood agent in the cable show Entourage is said to be based on Jamie Gold, a real Hollywood agent who also won the World Series Of Poker “Main Event” (the big game) in 2006 and won $12,000,000.

Not only does Jamie Gold look like the “Ari Gold” of Entourage, but he’s also just as obnoxious and the kind of person I’d want to deck after 10 minutes sharing a poker table with him. Gold’s behavior is certainly unethical and just barely skirts the rules of professional poker.

[popdonnelly]

Consider the fact that the story is probably being leaked by Emmanuel’s attorneys.

[Liz]

(Sob) I just hate it when this "perfect specimen" is dissed (sniffle).

Rahm Emanuel's Profitable Raping of Freddie Mac
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-rahm-emanuel-profit-26-mar26,0,5682373.story

EXCERPT Rahm Emanuel was director when Freddie Mac board was tipped to a fraudulent bonus scheme.

On Rahm Emanuel's watch, the Freddie Mac board was told by executives of a plan to use accounting tricks to mislead shareholders about outsize profits the government-chartered firm was then reaping from risky investments. The goal was to push earnings onto the books in future years, ensuring that Freddie Mac would appear profitable on paper for years to come and helping maximize annual bonuses for company brass.

The accounting scandal wasn't the only one that brewed during Emanuel's tenure. During his brief time on the board, the company hatched a plan to enhance its political muscle. That scheme, also reviewed by the board, led to a record $3.8 million fine from the Federal Election Commission for illegally using corporate resources to host fundraisers for politicians.

Emanuel was the beneficiary of one of those parties after he left the board and ran in 2002 for a seat in Congress from the North Side of Chicago.

The board was throttled for its acquiescence to the accounting manipulation in a 2003 report by Armando Falcon Jr., head of a federal oversight agency for Freddie Mac. The scandal forced Freddie Mac to restate $5 billion in earnings and pay $585 million in fines and legal settlements. It also foreshadowed even harder times at the firm.

Many of those same risky investment practices tied to the accounting scandal eventually brought the firm to the brink of insolvency and led to its seizure last year by the Bush administration, which pledged to inject up to $100 billion in new capital to keep the firm afloat. The Obama administration has doubled that commitment.

AND GET THIS When Chicago reporters tried to get docments on Rahm's bonus----Pres Obama said FOIA did not apply........ (bawl)

[Oldpuppymax]

So Rahm demanded 2 mill, but HE was the extortion victim?? OK. NOW I get it.

[Mashood]

Rahm Emanuel = businessman

[Liz]

......Rahm demanded 2 mill, but HE was the extortion victim.....

Thanks for the clarification.

Me-First Rahm graduated from "The School of Whatever Works For Me."

Law-abiding Americans are getting a glimpse of "change we can believe in."

[Liz]

The indictment says then-Congressman Rahm sought a $2 million grant for a school.............

January 2007 USA Today reported on Emanuel and his wife’s tax-exempt "foundation" (operated out of their Chicago residence):

SOURCE http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-28-pelosi-side_x.htm

The tax-exempt Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule Charitable Trust was formed in 2002, when the Chicagoan was first elected to Congress. The former Clinton White House aide and his wife, Amy Rule, are its only donors.

Emanuel was a Wall Street investment banker after serving in the White House under Clinton. The tax-exempt trust reported having $2,900 on hand at the end of 2005 after receiving $34,000 from Emanuel and donating more than $31,000.

During the past three years, Emanuel’s tax-exempt "charity" gave nearly $25,000 to the Anshe Emet synagogue and school [a private school that the Rahm/Rule children attend]..., and $15,000 to the foundation run by former president Bill Clinton. It also gave $14,000 to Marwen, a Chicago "charity" that provides art classes and other educational help to low-income children. Rahm's wife is on Marwen’s board.

Rahm apparently doesn’t pay any property taxes and he gets income tax write-offs by donating $25000 to the Synagogue and other amounts of money to his tax-exempt Foundation.

This allows Rahm's kids to attend school tuition-free and allows him to expense a lot of personal outlays.

[D-fendr]

Just good judgement.

If I was extorting, I’d pick Rahm as a guy who’d pay to play.

‘Course I wouldn’t turn my back on him..

[Ann Archy]

Looks like FITZY is going to protect Rahm, the ballet dancer.

[Liz]

"Anybody got a rolled-up sock handy?"