Case [Blagojevich complaint] Confirms Rezko Is Talking With Prosecutors

WashPost ^ | 12-11-08 | Joe Stephens, Carrie Johnson

[STARWISE]

A footnote to the 76-page criminal complaint and affidavit charging Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) with soliciting bribes confirms what has long been rumored -- that a former longtime friend and fundraiser for President-elect Barack Obama is talking to federal prosecutors in hopes of a reduced sentence.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko's offer to provide authorities with evidence of others' wrongdoing is "not complete," and prosecutors are working to corroborate the claims he has made so far, the footnote said.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Why would you pardon somebody who has the dirt on you instead of just snuffing them out? Ron Brown and Vince Foster didn't get pardons.

Neither did Jim McDougal.

[maica]

I'm terrified not by what he'll try in the next four years, but by what he will surely get away with.

$$$$$

I am reading Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism and can see Barry convincing a "majority" of Americans of almost anything, when rhetoric and marketing count for more than principle, and power at any cost is the goal of the 'rats. We are living in an age of pop culture, and a war against Christianity. Barry is the Answer, no matter what is the question!

[maica]

He is their purpose.

*****

Exactly! I keep trying to explain this to people.

[SueRae]

Rezko better be put in protective custody before he becomes the first Rahm-acide case. And that may be nothing compated to what Blago spills. And he will spill BIG.

[RayChuang88]

I think the Democrats are quietly VERY concerned because Tony Rezko could "connect the dots" for the FBI and that could cause the biggest Constitutional crisis since the Watergate scandal.

Why? Because the electors at the Electoral College won't meet until December 15, 2008 to finalize the election results. If anytime substantial breaks up until December 15, 2008 that strongly connects President-elect Obama to the Blagojevich legal situation, even the Constitution is not too clear on how to have Obama replaced if there is a substantial chance for an indictment against Obama for being strongly involved in the scandal. We could end up with Vice President-elect Joseph Biden or even possibly Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi being President!

[COBOL2Java]

They all crawled out of the same cesspool in Chicago and we are supposed to believe Obama came out smelling like a rose while all the rest stink to high heaven???

But of course! Barry's just an innocent man-child...

"Ward, I'm worried about The Barry!"

[RatsDawg]

Hannity predicted yesterday that the Rezko case was going to get much larger, and more significant, he believes this is the case to watch.

[hamburglar]

Is anyone stupid enough to believe that Obama is the only virgin in the whorehouse?


Obamas chickens are cooming home.....to roost.

[penelopesire]

Two quick things of note in this article:

(snip)

“I should make clear, the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever,” Fitzgerald said. “We make no allegations that he’s aware of anything, and that’s as simply as I can put it. . . .

“There’s no reference in the complaint to any conversations involving the president-elect or indicating that the president-elect was aware of it. And that’s all I can say.”

Legal experts said it was unusual for a prosecutor to make such a blanket statement while an investigation was continuing.

“That carries a great deal of weight,” said Jan Witold Baran, a Washington lawyer who represents politicians on ethical complaints and campaign finance matters. “It is really unusual for a U.S. attorney to say someone is not implicated.”
(end snip)

The Washington Post in spin mode. All Fitz is saying is that Obama is not implicated in the complaint. I guess the WP forgot to add this bit from the complaint on page 5:

Para 12: “Because this affidavit is submitted for the limited purpose of securing a criminal complaint and corresponding arrest warrants, I have not included each and every fact known to me concerning this investigation.”

The other line of note is this:
(snip)
“Lawyers in the Blagojevich case said information provided by Rezko and others who testified at Rezko’s trial could form the backbone of several additional charges against the governor. Blagojevich’s wife, Patricia, had worked on real estate deals with Rezko.”
(end snip)

Let me get this straight. Obama and his wife get campaign cash and do real estate deals with Rezko...no charges on Obama and wife....Blago’s wife does real estate deals with Rezko....additional charges will be filed on Blago and wife.

OK. Time to move along folks and allow Obama to get back to the work of being the ‘President Elect’....(eye roll)

[ladyvet]

"Rookies!"

[norwaypinesavage]

It is truly amazing to me how stories such as this, when dealing with Republicans, focus on “What did he know, and when did he know it”. In dealing with high level Democrats, the stories focus almost entirely on “He knew nothing”. This whole story could be rewritten, using the same facts, on “What did Obama know, and when did he know it.”

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

"Ward, I'm worried about The Barry!"

So, will Eddie or Lumpy crash Barry's party?

[COBOL2Java]

So, will Eddie or Lumpy crash Barry's party?

Listen to Paul Shanklin's 'Leave it to Barry'

[sarasota]

Was Blago’s wife involved in the Rezko/Obama land deal?

[Girlene]

Here's a rundown of news/tidbits from the Rezko trial Eye on Rezko. It appears Rezko will be sentenced on January 6. From the second in the list of articles, the author writes:

If Rezko signed on to cooperate with the government, he more than likely would not be sentenced until after his cooperation was completed. That usually involves testifying before a grand jury or at trial.

It could be that the taped conversations are more than enough to get Blagojevich and his wife, but I'm surprised the prosecutors aren't dragging Rezko's sentencing phase out until he testifies. Of course, Rezko has two more trials to go through.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Here’s a question for the group.

It seems like the conventional wisdom is that all of this is bad for 0bama. Maybe so.

But couldn’t an alternative explanation is that all of this is being done on 0bama’s behalf, that somehow this is all in accordance with his wishes. I’m thinking of the scene in Godfather I where all the former associates meet with untimely demises and Michael emerges as the unchallenged ruler.

Just askin’.

[sarasota]

Precisely.

[waxer1]

And Obama knew nothing of this? Sure and I have beach front property in ARizona to sell.

He knew damn well and was a player. The pieces are fitting nicely. How else can you explain Obama’s rise to power? Gee I wonder what price he had to pay.

[Dysart]

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Thanks for the link!