Free Republic

When he announced the charges in late 2008, Chicago's U.S. attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, came at Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich with all the bravado of Eliot Ness going after Al Capone in the movie "The Untouchables." He told a throng of reporters that Blagojevich had embarked on a "corruption crime spree" and added, with a touch of the melodramatic, that the Democratic governor's crimes "would make Lincoln turn over in his grave." Blagojevich responded by hitting the talk show circuit, calling the charges unfounded and criticizing Fitzgerald. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, shown here in June, is seen as a "prosecutor's prosecutor"...

The jury in the Rod Blagojevich corruption trial told the judge Wednesday afternoon that they couldn't reach a decision on a number of counts. "We've gone beyond reasonable attempts [to reach a verdict]," meaning they can't reach a decision on certain counts. Judge James Zagel has asked for clarification to see if they have reached a unanimous decision on any of the counts, then proceed from there. If the jury is deadlocked, Zagel could enforce the Allen charge, which encourages the jury to re-examine their positions and work diligently towards a verdict. Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/rod-blagojevich-jury-allen-charge-corruption-trial-100457239.html#ixzz0wKtPTsRI

In Illinois, the Republican Senate nominee, Rep. Mark Kirk, is making a two-step connection between Saddam Hussein and Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias. Kirk accuses Broadway Bank (the shuttered institution run by Giannoulias' family) of giving a loan to an Iraqi businessman connected to Saddam Hussein, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Kirk said that in 2006, Broadway Bank loaned $22.75 million to Nadhmi Auchi and Tony Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer convicted of fraud and money laundering in 2008. Giannoulias' campaign responded that he left the bank a few months before the loan was approved. "Come on, again, that's political smokescreens,...

On a day that Democrat Alexi Giannoulias released a new commercial slamming him as a liar, Republican Mark Kirk tried to shift the focus back onto Giannoulias’ family bank, saying the bank gave a loan to Nadhmi Auchi, who Kirk said sold arms to Saddam Hussein. “According to the New York Times, he was a banker to Saddam Hussein,” Kirk said of Auchi. “And According to the Observer of London, he was a middleman in the billion-dollar naval arms deal between Hussein and the Italian Navy.” Voters should care, Kirk said: “This is not political Kryptonite -- this is Hemlock,”...

Among the more appealing messages that Barack Obama campaigned on in 2008 was his promise to change the culture in Washington and usher in a new era of openness and honesty in government. It was the sort of message that still resonates with an increasingly cynical electorate that is, as Obama’s handlers recognized, fed up with the corruption, hidden agendas and back-room deals that characterize life within the beltway. Voters hoped that this fresh face, so full of earnest enthusiasm and idealistic vision, could be the one to usher in a new era.Almost two years after that historic election, more...

EXCERPT That feeling is heightened by speculation that Fitzgerald, the longest-serving U.S. attorney in Chicago history, may have stayed in his post largely to shepherd the Blagojevich case. And no matter what the jury decides, the trial's end is almost certain to rekindle interest in the top prosecutor's possible next move, a popular parlor game in local legal and political circles. Many have wondered in recent years whether Fitzgerald's Chicago tenure was winding down and if he would seek a higher post within the Justice Department or forge a career in private practice. Shortly after President Obama took office, there...

chicagotribune.com Party on: Obama back in Chicago for fundraisers John Kass August 4, 2010 With his poll numbers dropping through the White House basement floor and his 49th birthday at hand, President Barack Obama sure could use some real party time with the guys back home in Chicago. And nothing says "let's party!" like a political fundraiser. Obama will headline one Thursday for his beleaguered basketball buddy, Alexi Giannoulias, who is campaigning as a Democrat for Obama's old Senate seat. Naturally, all the guests will applaud when Obama gives Alexi a big hug, smiles and says, "My man." But who...

By February 2006, businessman and political fixer Tony Rezko was already politically radioactive, caught up in a federal investigation that would see him criminally charged by the end of that year. News reports had linked Rezko, a key adviser and campaign fund-raiser for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, to shady deals involving state pension funds -- among the crimes that ultimately would send him to prison. In 2006, Tony Rezko (inset) sought a loan to develop a 62-acre parcel of land at Roosevelt and Clark. (Rezko, Auchi) This was the Tony Rezko who, looking for millions of dollars for a massive South...

10:48am Sam Adam Jr. cranks up the volume right from the start, telling jurors in his closing argument that he decided not to put Rod Blagojevich on the stand -- despite his promise that he would -- because the government didn't prove its case against him. It's what he refers to as the "big pink elephant in the room." "I promised each and every single one of you that Rod was going to get up there and take the stand," Adam says. And at opening statement I gave you my word and I meant every word of it," he says....

To win a conviction in a criminal case requires establishing opportunity, means and motive. Recent testimony in the ongoing corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich reveals more than a few clues as to the motive part. Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, as it turns out, had about $200,000 in outstanding consumer debt at the time of his December 2008 arrest. Anxiety, if not desperation, over how to pay the money back was likely a major explanation for the ex-governor's eagerness to peddle President-Elect Barack Obama's soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder. Worse, Mrs. Blagojevich's real estate...

From a public relations standpoint, getting forced out of the Illinois governor's mansion a year and a half ago was a smart career move for Rod Blagojevich. He's been all over the TV since, doing stints on such shows as "Celebrity Apprentice" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." But publicity may not be enough to keep him or several of his former allies out of prison. His long-awaited trial on fraud and conspiracy charges related to his attempt to sell Barack Obama's pending Senate vacancy to the highest bidder began on June 8, the culmination of a five-year Justice...

A government witness has testified that businessman Tony Rezko asked him to cut checks to the former governor's wife even though she hadn't done work for it. Robert Williams, former chief financial officer of Rezko's Rezmar company said she was paid $12,000 a month and it was recorded in Rezmar books as consulting. Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton asked if Williams was aware of any consulting work Patti Blagojevich did. Williams: "I was not." Williams is testifying under a grant of immunity. Williams said he'd occasionally see Patti in the offices. "She had her children with her," he said and she usually...

Through its latest witness, prosecutors are following the money trail from Tony Rezko to pay for contractors who worked on a major Blagojevich home renovation. Prosecution witness Robert Williams, Rezmar Chief Financial Office, read off the list of contractors who did work on the Blagojevich family's Ravenswood Manor home.

Letter addressed to convicted influence peddler has president's name on envelope Dear President Obama: It's been such a long time since we talked, and I know you're extremely busy taking command at work, but I hope this letter finds you well. Chicago hasn't changed much. More Americans are shot in Chicago than in Iraq. The politicians keep getting rich. And you know about Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial. What's up with that subpoena thing anyway? What was Rod thinking? The mayor still runs things, but with all you folks in Washington, he gets lonely. He doesn't have anybody to talk to....

As a 2010 Census watchdog, I am extremely disturbed to learn that a man so deeply involved in the Blagojevich/Obama-Senate-seat-for-sale scandal is now employed in an upper level management position by the Census Bureau in Chicago.Even if the man, Joseph Aramanda, has not been convicted (yet) of a crime, his reputation for being involved in illegal activities seriously undermines the credibility of Census Bureau operations in Chicago. In a city with corruption linked to 2010 Census advertising, the public should not have to worry that upper management positions are being filled by individuals who are directly tied to government corruption...

A prosecution witness spent about a minute sprawled on the sidewalk Thursday, and the courthouse cafeteria specials -- sandwiches named after Rod and Patti Blagojevich -- sparked a fracas. Just another day at the Blagojevich trial. Prosecution witness Joseph Cari hit the deck outside the Dirksen Federal Building as he tried to navigate his way through reporters and photographers after he testified. Cari landed on his back and then rolled onto his stomach, according to a WGN-Channel 9 video. He was helped up about 40 seconds later. Kenneth Jakubowski, a spokesman for Cari, said, "He was struck by a cameraman...

The name of President Obama came into play this afternoon at the political corruption trial of former governor Rod Blagojevich as an associate of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko testified that Rezko asked him to write a $10,000 check to Friends of Obama. The Chicago Sun-Times reported in January 2008 that Glenview businessman Joseph Aramanda, who is testifying today, made the donation as part of a scheme orchestrated by Rezko. Aramanda gave $10,000 in campaign cash to Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign on March 5, 2004, according to records. The money came from part of a finder’s fee Aramanda received, but did...

A close associate of convicted businessman Tony Rezko testified in Rod Blagojevich’s trial this afternoon that a onetime National Republican Committeeman loaned him $600,000 — no questions asked. As it turned out though, there was a hitch. Businessman Joseph Aramanda, testifying under a letter of immunity, said Springfield lobbyist and onetime National Republican Committeeman Bob Kjellander was “very receptive,” to loaning him the money so Aramanda could build up his pizza franchises. Prosecutors appear to be trying to link money that was in Aramanda’s account to earlier testimony, which indicated that more than half a million dollars was routed through...

As animated as ever, Adam has turned his questioning to Rod's alleged attempt to appoint Emil Jones, then-president of the state senate, to Barack Obama's vacant U.S. senate seat in exchange for Jones not calling a state ethics bill for a vote. Adam noted that the alleged deal was discussed in September 2008, before Obama won the presidential election. "President Obama hadn't won yet. He couldn't make a deal to do something until he had the ability to do it, could he?" Adam asked. Adam then turned to allegations that Blagojevich tried to shake down contractors for $500,000 in contributions...

Since meeting in law school, Rod Blagojevich and Alonzo "Lon" Monk had been the closest of friends. They roomed together, partied together, jogged together, vacationed together and worked together. So when Monk first walked into court Wednesday to testify against Blagojevich at his corruption trial, the former governor gave his longtime buddy a stare-down that lasted for minutes and silently screamed betrayal. Monk, who managed Blagojevich's campaigns for governor and for a time also served as his chief of staff, put Blagojevich in the room on more than one occasion when key members of his brain trust were hatching allegedly...