CHICAGO: CRIME KIND OF TOWN

various | various | various

[hoosiermama]

Crime in Chicago has been in the news lately, but it is nothing new. Historically it dates back over a hundred years. From the tale of the Gray Wolves

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/540.html

The 1890s Chicago City Council was notorious for corrupt political practices orchestrated by a faction of its aldermen known as the Gray Wolves. So named because they were viewed as preying upon the defenseless public, the Gray Wolves were led by First Ward aldermen “Bathhouse” John Coughlin and “Hinky Dink” Mike Kenna, and Johnny Powers of the Nineteenth Ward. These elected officials were not only skilled at trading votes for favors, but once in office they excelled in making municipal decisions to profit themselves financially.

TO the present, it is a compelling historical subject.

“Please post links and information, or connections of dots to this thread. Keep chit chat to the minimum or in Freemail. THANKS!”

[hoosiermama]

Source: Email
Entitled “Replacing Michelle” in the National Review “The Week” column. I

Some employees are simply irreplaceable. Take Michelle Obama: The University of Chicago Medical center hired her in 2002 to run “programs for community relations, neighborhood outreach, volunteer recruitment, staff diversity and minority contracting”.

In 2005 the hospital raised her salary from $120,000 to $317,000 - nearly twice what her husband made as a Senator.

Oh did we mention that her husband had just become a US Senator? He sure had. Requested a $1 million earmark for
the UC Medical Center, in fact. Way to network Michelle!

But now that Mrs. Obama has resigned, the hospital says her position will remain unfilled. How can that be, if the work she did was vital enough to be worth $317,000?
We can think of only one explanation: Senator Roland Burris’s wife wasn’t interested.

Let me add that Michelle’s position was a half time, 20 hour a week job.And to think they were critical of Blagoyovich’s wife for taking $100,000 in fuzzy real estate commission.
How did this bit of quid pro quo corruption escape the sharp reporters that dug through Sarah Palin’s garbage
And kindergarten files?

[hoosiermama]

Acting head of Freddie Mac commits suicide ( once lived in Chicago)

The acting head of Freddie Mac, David Kellermann, has apparently committed suicide, Fairfax County Police tell WTOP. Fairfax County Police spokeswoman Mary Anne Jennings says Kellermann, 41, was found at his Hunter Mill Estates home Wednesday morning.

Many links and information at
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2235076/posts?q=1&;page=151

[hoosiermama]

Thanks LIZ for the Rahm-E info, will keep it with the Chicago info

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HM’S EFFORTLESS RISE TO THE TOP-—SUBSIDIZED BY THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
(Sob) I just hate it when this perfect specimen is dissed (sniffle). Boy Wonder Rahm has had an amazing career path -—a straight-to-the-top trajectory.

Boy Wonder Rahm resigned his position as an advisor to Bill Clinton in 1998. He was lolling around, wondering how he could make several million overnight when -——wonder of wonders——Wall Street came calling.

Just like that (snaps fingers)-——Rahm became a Wall Street investment banker with Wasserstein Perella, (now Dresdner Kleinwort), where he worked until 2002.

In 1999, Boy Wonder Rahm became managing director at their Chicago office. According to Congressional disclosures, Emanuel made $16.2 million in his 2 1/2 year stint as a banker AND he paid all his taxes .

Amazingly, Rahm “The Perfect” became a multi-millioniare overnight——and he wasn’t even voted “Most Likely To Succeed” (sniffle).

At Wasserstein Perella, Rahm worked on eight deals, including the acquisition by Commonwealth Edison of Peco Energy and the purchase by GTCR Golder Rauner of the SecurityLink home security unit from SBC.

Rahm “The Perfect” then ran for Congress (successfully, OF COURSE).

Luckily members of the securities and investment industry became Rahm’s biggest backers, donating more than $1.5M to back to 2002, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Rahm also leaned heavily upon the industry as 2006 Dem Congressional Campaign Committee Chair. Financial industry donors contributed more than $5.8M to the Dem committee, behind only retirees.

Pres Bill Clinton in 2000 named Rahm to the Board of Directors for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (”Freddie Mac”). Rahm’s position paid him $31,060 in 2000 and $231,655 in 2001 and paid all his taxes. During the time Emanuel spent on the board, Freddie Mac was plagued with scandals involving campaign contributions and accounting irregularities......(and precipitate the toxic mortgage banking crisis taxpayers are forced to bail out).

The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) later accused the board of having “failed in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention.” Emanuel resigned from the board in 2001 when he successfully ran for Congress.

In between Rahm’s career choices, he won a coveted scholarship to the prestigious Joffrey School of Ballet; he was THAT good in a tutu.

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Selfless, altruistic Rahm even found time to serve with (or in) the Israeli military. Course he’s given out several stories about that——probably because the Mossad does not allow public scrutiny of Mossad agents stationed in the WH (sniffle).

SELFLESS RAHM HAS GIVEN OUT THIS VERSION He did not serve in the Israeli army. He was a civilian volunteer assisting the Israel Defense Forces during the 1991 Gulf War, repairing truck brakes in one of Israel’s northern bases.

ALTRUISTIC RAHM HAS GIVEN OUT THIS VERSION During the 1991 Gulf War, Israel was asked by the United States not to militarily respond to the Scud missiles that Iraq was hurling at them. Israel did not .........and Rahm was in Israel to assist them in not responding militarily.

Obama can settle this Islamic smear jihad ONCE AND FOR ALL. Obaba should obtain copies of Rahn’s paychecks paychecks to demonstrate that payments to Rahm were NOT coming out of the IDF military budget. Cause if they did, that would wipeout Rahm’s US citizenship (bawl).

[hoosiermama]

Trying to keep it all in one place. Thanks for your contribution. You might find others posts in this thread “interesting”.

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Obama’s Chilling Crew—The legal harassment of those investigating Tony Rezko.
Frontpagemagazine ^ | 4-28-09 | Andrew Walden

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239462/posts

Obama’s Chilling Crew
By Andrew Walden
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Why is there so little media investigation of the financing behind Barack Obama’s early political sponsor—and now convicted felon—Tony Rezko?

The dual US-Syrian citizen Rezko—who assisted Obama in the purchase of his Chicago mansion—was heavily funded by loans from Iraqi-British ex-Baathist billionaire Nadhmi Auchi. According to testimony at Rezko’s trial, Obama met Auchi at an April 3, 2004 event at Rezko’s home during Obama’s 2004 US Senate campaign. The Times of London reports discovering, “state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money to Mr. Obama’s fundraiser in May 2005.” Fintrade directors, according to The Times “include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr. Auchi’s wife”.

[maggief]

Chicago connection ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2247487/posts?page=190#190

The Air Farce One Report — A Classic Case Of Misdirection

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http://perfunction.typepad.com/perfunction/2009/04/red-tail-escorts-air-force-one-over-lady-liberty-wtc-site.html

Connecting some dots, here.

At least one of the escorting F-16s was from the Alabama ANG, Red Tail and all.

Could this photo op mission have any particular connection to a new movie due out this year?

Could that connection explain the WHMO’s eagerness to get some current glamour shots of BHO’s A/C, escorted by the descendants of the Tuskegee Airmen, while flathatting over “the target formerly known as Ground Zero”?

Just imagine the powerful, beautiful imagery of these aircraft during this mission, accompanied by a stirring soundtrack, playing over the closing credits, or released as publicity stills or fundraising fodder - “Yes, America, sleep well...BHO’s got you covered.”

Well, minus the terrified, fleeing citizens on the ground, of course. Ooops. Caldera, you take this one.

“Mission Accomplished”, indeed.

Naw, I’ll bet I’m wrong. Coincidences, all...surely.

77 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:22:58 AM by Travis McGee

//

To: WaterBoard; All

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080604062402.9hhqclqi&show_article=1

“We have a hero in the making back in the United States today because we have a new candidate for president of the United States, Barack Obama,” Lucas said when asked who his childhood heroes were.

Obama, “for all of us that have dreams and hope, is a hero,” Lucas said.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18758.html

We all know that Barack Obama has achieved superstar status. But is he an actual hero? Like in the action movie sense?

You betcha! says “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, who was in Washington Wednesday night for the Ford’s Theatre reopening celebration where both he and screen legend Sidney Poitier were being honored with the Ford Theatre Society’s Lincoln medal in a ceremony attended by President Barack Obama, a Lincoln aficionado.

Lucas says that, in a contest between Luke Skywalker and Obama, our 44th president wins hands down—even without the lightsaber. In addition, Poitier told Politico that Obama’s rockstar status is still going strong.

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=44632

‘Star Wars’ Director George Lucas Fully Supports Obama’s Economic Approach
Friday, March 06, 2009

(video at link)

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Lucas, George W Jr
San Rafael,CA 94912 Lucasfilm Ltd/Executive 7/25/08 $28,500 DNC Services Corp (D)
Lucas, George W Jr
San Rafael,CA 94912 Lucasfilm Ltd 7/31/08 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
Lucas, George W Jr
San Rafael,CA 94912 Lucasfilm Ltd 7/31/08 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)

opensecrets.org

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Additional links:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2247487/posts?page=133#133

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/inauguration/1364163,w-barack-obama-inauguration-halle-berry010609.article

More than 2,000 donors are helping to finance Obama’s Jan. 20 swearing-in festivities. At least 378 gave the maximum $50,000.

Top donors include financier and major Democratic donor George Soros, actors Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson, Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, directors Ron Howard, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg and actor, singer and director Barbra Streisand.

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/News%20&%20Features/capitalcomment/10927.html

What: Bytes & Books Inaugural Ball.

Where: Folger Shakespeare Library.

When: Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 PM.

Who: Bytes & Books brought out 450 teachers and tech geeks, spruced up for the occasion in dapper tuxedos and glitzy floor-length gowns. The most noteworthy person in the over-40 crowd was movie director George Lucas, there to accept an award for his work on education technology.

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George Lucas, Mellody Hobson, First Lady Michelle Obama, Sidney Poitier, President Barack Obama, Paul Tetreault at the gala re-opening of Ford’s Theatre that happened last Wednesday night, on Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellody_Hobson

Mellody Hobson (born April 3, 1969) is the president of Ariel Investments, LLC, a Chicago investment firm managing over $3 billion in assets. She is also the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Ariel Mutual Funds. Hobson is a regular contributor on financial issues to ABC's Good Morning America and a spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey.

Hobson was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from the Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy at Princeton University. She joined Ariel soon afterward as an intern and rose up to become the firm’s senior vice president and director of marketing. She ascended to become the firm’s president in 2000.

Hobson serves on the board of many organizations, including the Chicago Public Library, the Field Museum, the Chicago Public Education Fund, and the Sundance Institute. She is also a director of the Starbucks Corporation, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. Hobson has been acclaimed in selections such as Ebony magazine's “20 Leaders of the Future” (1992), Working Women Magazine's “20 Under 30” (1992), the World Economic Forum's “Global Leaders of Tomorrow” (2001), Esquire's “America's Best and Brightest” (2002), The Wall Street Journal's 50 “Women to Watch” (2004)[1] and Time's Global Business Influentials (2004).[2]

Hobson is unmarried and has no children. She is dating film director and producer George Lucas and accompanied him to the Academy Awards ceremony in February 2007, an American Film Institute event in October 2007, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network awards in February 2008, and the “We Are One” Presidential Pre-Inaugural Concert on January 18,

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/11/obamas_first_transition_meetin.html

According to the Wall Street Journal, Barack Obama launched his presidential transition with a series of meetings at Ariel Investments.

“Obama spent much of Wednesday huddled in the offices of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based mutual fund company headed by friend John W. Rogers Jr.”

Ariel Investments is a Chicago-based investment management firm that has a “Below Average” performance rating according to Morningstar. As an African-American-owned firm, it has benefitted from city and state government and union pension funds who are under a mandate (whether official or not) to boost investments with minority-owned firms. Of course, the pensioners dependent on the performance on these investments have not shared the benefits.

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Connect the dots ...

George Lucas ... GF Mellody Hobson ... Ariel Investments ... John Rodgers ... Obama ...(Rezko???)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2149884/posts

John Rogers may play into the ongoing investigation of Gov. Blagoyevich and President-elect Obama’s ties to convicted political fixer Tony Rezko.

Rogers founded a minority investment business, Ariel Capital. Federal prosecutors looking into the various pay-to-play schemes in the Blagoyevich administration may be looking at the role campaign contributions played in the investment portfolio Ariel was awarded by the Illinois Teachers Retirement System.

Obama, as a state senator, lobbied the pension board overseeing investments to award more contracts to black-owned businesses and, specifically, Ariel.

In turn, Rogers contributions (amount to) tens of thousands of dollars to Obama and Blagoyevich.

Investments with Ariel were later dropped after the federal investigation of pay-to-play in the Illinois state government became public.

[hoosiermama]

Olympics 2016. It’s that appearance of impropriety thing again (Updated; Bumped) (Obama truth)
RBO (Real Barack Obama) ^ | 5-12-09 | ProCrustes

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2249758/posts

The Obama White House is playing an unprecedented role in the bid to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago, with top adviser Valerie Jarrett spearheading an effort that draws on the international symbolism of his presidency.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks star...got it linked.
Check out first 50 posts on this thread for more details.

Giannoulias threatens bank over Obama suit-maker [Illinois]
FROM:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2246978/posts

“I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me:

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is threatening to pull state business from Wells Fargo & Co. unless the bank stops trying to liquidate a company that makes suits for President Barack Obama.

Giannoulias made the ultimatum outside a Hartmarx Corp. factory in Des Plaines Thursday. Chicago-based Hartmarx is the nation’s largest maker of men’s tailored clothing.

The name “Giannoulias” struck a bell, and then I remembered he’s an Obama protege - picked out early for elective office by the fast-rising Obama and now being groomed for a Senate run to obtain Obama’s former seat.

I also remembered that Giannoulias was involved in some way with Obama’s partner in Illinois corruption, Tony Rezko - the Giannoulias family bank did a lot of business with Rezko”
Starwise

[hoosiermama]

Thanks ETL! Great research in posts re Ayers and Wright:
Now linked to CHicago Crime thread....If you have any more feel free to add it. Or connect any dots you find here to what you already have.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2253806/posts?

Topic of thread:
William Ayers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. headline Mideast peace rally [mega-barf alert!]

The two men shared the stage for one of the first times at First United Church of Oak Park during a forum before the annual walk. They urged a rethinking of the Mideast conflict, a shift in perspective that’s not unlike the view espoused by Obama.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...

[hoosiermama]

Just keeps on keepin on. Hope others start connecting dots too.

Chicago Straight -Connecting the dots: Blago, Obama, Emanuel and Axelrod
Chicago Magazine ^ | June 2009 Issue | David Bernstein

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254437/posts

[hoosiermama]

Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.’s congressional campaign organization has paid his wife at least $247,500 since 2001, including at least $95,000 after Sandra Jackson joined the Chicago City Council two years ago, according to federal election records.

FROM:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=a7Hk3ZEF4QyM

[hoosiermama]

drip drip drip.......or
dot...dot...dot
more to connect.

FROM:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258568/posts

Wiretap: Burris Offered To Write Ex-Gov. A Check Senator Suggested Contribution To Rod Blagojevich Before He Was Appointed, Later Decided Against It CHICAGO (CBS)

Sen. Roland Burris was recorded on an FBI wiretap suggesting that he could write a check to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign before the ousted governor appointed Burris to the Senate, reports CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago.

The details of the conversation emerged after a federal judge said Tuesday he would allow the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee to hear a federal wiretap of former Blagojevich’s brother, Rob, having a fund-raising conversation with Burris.

Sources tell WBBM the wiretapped phone conversation occurred on Nov. 18 while Blagojevich was still governor and before he named Burris to President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat.

Sources say that on the tape, Burris suggests that he could contribute, or have associates contribute, money to the Blagojevich campaign. Burris also expresses desire to be appointed to the U.S. Senate.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks for the info SW.

Transcript of Burris/ Blanko’s bro tape posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258705/posts

[hoosiermama]

Thanks,Fiscon will keep with the Chicago crime information.

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How ACORN works financially:

FROM:

http://theeprovocateur.blogspot.com/2009/05/deconstructing-criminal-enterprise.html

snip...
So, what ACORN has done is created a sophisticated network of sister organizations and this network is actually run, financially at least, by CCI. All of this makes tracking down the money and the criminality very difficult. This is all by design. The scam here is so complicated that it means the public at large will likely get confused before understanding the scam.

snip...

[gathersnomoss]

...the public at large will likely get confused”

Likely? Not a chance. The public is comfortably numb.

[hoosiermama]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260029/posts

Ald. Carothers, developer accused of corruption (Fitzgerald indictment)

Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), a staunch ally of Mayor Richard Daley, was indicted today on charges he accepted about $40,000 in improvements to his residence as well as meals and tickets to sporting events in exchange for backing a major project by a developer.

The developer, Calvin Boender, was also indicted.

Carothers, 54, was charged with four counts of wire and mail fraud and one count each of accepting a bribe and filing a false federal income tax return.

Boender was charged with four counts of wire and mail fraud, two counts of obstruction of justice, two misdemeanor counts of violating federal campaign finance laws and one count of paying a bribe. According to federal authorities, Boender sought to transform the city’s largest undeveloped tract of land, a 50-acre former rail yard and industrial site in Carothers’ West Side ward.

...snip...

[hoosiermama]

So FItz knew he was already willing to cooperate....Wonder who he is going to give up!?!?!

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Ald. Isaac Carothers wore wire for a year

INDICTED | Daley ally charged with fraud and bribery despite reported cooperation with feds in probe of officials, developers

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1597858,isaac-carothers-wire-chicago-politics-daley.article

###

Excerpt:

The document identifies Carothers as “Public Official A” — with clear identifiers pointing to him, including a reference to one of his family members running for Congress in 2004.

The government filing says Carothers, 54, had been “consensually recording conversations with individuals suspected of engaging in ongoing criminal conduct.”

“These recorded conversations include meetings Public Official A has had with other public officials and real estate developers. The government expects Public Official A to continue his cooperation into late May 2009.”

There’s no indication where Carothers’ year of cooperation led.

His lawyer, Larry Beaumont, would not comment on the unsealed document. “We expect we will plead not guilty at the arraignment and look forward to trial,” Beaumont said.

It’s not clear how many of his colleagues Carothers might have ensnared. He has been somewhat radioactive since the Sun-Times reported last year he was under federal scrutiny. Colleagues have been suspicious he has been wearing a wire, City Hall sources say.
~~~

[hoosiermama]

oops meant to link the entire thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2260666/posts?page=4

[hoosiermama]

WOnder if the recently indicted alderman/friend of Daley will have anything to add to this one.
..............

FROM:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260946/posts

......
City pension officials have been hit with subpoenas from a federal grand jury trying to determine how they decided to invest $68 million with a start-up company co-owned by Mayor Daley’s nephew.

The grand jury issued the subpoenas Wednesday, nearly two months after city pension officials refused to comply with similar subpoenas issued by the city of Chicago’s inspector general, David Hoffman.

Hoffman said Friday that he and federal investigators are now jointly investigating the pension fund investments with DV Urban Realty Partners, co-owned by Daley’s nephew Robert Vanecko and one of the mayor’s top African-American allies, Allison S. Davis.
......

[hoosiermama]

Oh I get it......and he’s had so many of them that have been giving him information to he can add to their numbers.

Hire Felons....They’re just politicians that have gotten busted.

FROM:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2261367/posts

Fitzgerald: Fight crime by hiring felons- (head explosion time: Fitzie-Chicago)
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 5-21-09

Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 4:53:16 PM by STARWISE

U.S. attorney says business could help cut murder rate, hire teens as interns

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald stood before a room packed with business officials Thursday and asked them to do something they probably have never considered:

Hire felons

Not exactly the kind of request you’d expect from the area’s top federal law enforcement official, who’s better known for locking up criminals.

But Fitzgerald told the audience that while law enforcement targets the worst of the worst, the community needs to get more involved — especially the business community — to help drive down murder numbers and keep kids out of gangs.

Fitzgerald, speaking at a City Club of Chicago luncheon, said on any given day there are 4,000 Chicago Police officers on the streets and an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 gang-bangers in the city.

“How in the world can we incarcerate our way out of the problem when we are outnumbered that much?” Fitzgerald said.

Part of the answer, he said, lies with corporations, who can help sponsor after-school programs or enlist teenagers from the projects to be summer interns — or even hire felons.

[hoosiermama]

From:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2261397/posts?page=10
With the indictment of former New Orleans City Councilwoman Renee Gill Pratt’s on racketeering and money laundering charges, murmurs of discontent with U.S. Attorney Jim Letten have begun to emerge from several quarters in the local black community. The accusation that the region’s senior prosecutor has disproportionately pursued corruption allegations in the African-American community continues to be levied.

When Senator Mary Landrieu recommended the reappointment of Letten, a career prosecutor but also a GOP appointee of President George W. Bush, Danatus King, president of the New Orleans Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told Bayoubuzz and www.louisianaweekly.com that not enough consultation had been done with Black organizations over whether Letten served the needs of an area with such a large African-American population. “I think because of the makeup of the judicial district that Mr. Letten serves that would have been desirable, but it didn’t happen.”

(The Eastern District of Louisiana is comprised