Prosecutors seek to release Blago's calls (more wiretaps disclosed)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 12/29/08 | NATASHA KORECKI AND DAVE MCKINNEY

[randita]

Prosecutors seek to release Blago's calls

December 29, 2008

BY NATASHA KORECKI AND DAVE MCKINNEY, Staff Reporters

Federal authorities had more wiretaps than previously disclosed in the investigation of Gov. Blagojevich -- including the cellular telephone of a member the governor's inner circle.

A new government filing in federal court indicates that in November, authorities tapped the cell phone of "Lobbyist 1." The Sun-Times has identified lobbyist 1 as Lon Monk, the governor's first-term chief of staff. Monk later became a fund-raiser and state lobbyist.

The revelation that investigators captured more on secret recordings than previously disclosed, came as federal prosecutors seek to release portions of those recordings to a House Committee seeking the governor's impeachment.

Prosecutors are asking Chief U.S. District Judge James Holderman to release portions of four recordings having to do with the governor's alleged discussion of asking for campaign contributions in exchange for his official actions. Prosecutors will go before Holderman today to discuss the motion.

"These calls bear on a discrete episode of criminal conduct alleged in the complaint affidavit ... the calls are evidence of a criminal offense that the government was authorized to monitor under the wiretap order," prosecutors wrote in their filing.

Appearing before the House panel weighing Blagojevich's impeachment, Genson was pressed by the committee's ranking Republican, Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), whether he would welcome the playing of the tapes before the committee.

"If the tapes are illegal, I don't offer them to anyone," Genson said. "If the tapes are legal, I welcome the committee to look at them."

Genson has maintained the tapes cannot be played legally before the committee because there has been no indictment of the governor nor a formal judicial finding of probable cause that crimes were committed.

"There is nothing in that affidavit but talk. Their consideration in this hearing is illegal unless we can test the wiretaps' validity," Genson said.

Earlier in the contentious back and forth with the legislative panel, Genson condemned the committee for refusing to let him subpoena witnesses that might corroborate Blagojevich's claims that he did not committed any crimes nor impeachable offenses. Genson also assailed the refusal by federal prosecutors to name unnamed advisors, lobbyists and potential U.S. Senate candidates referenced in the 76-page criminal complaint lodged against Blagojevich.

"The fact is we're fighting shadows here. We're fighting unnamed people. We're fighting witnesses who aren't available," Genson said. "We're fighting people who aren't indicted. We're fighting parades of allegations of people dissatisfied with the administration."

Also today, the Better Government Association released subpoenas it requested from the governor's office, revealing prosecutors sought hiring records dated as early Jan. 1 2003 -- when the governor first took office.

[knarf]

"Also today, the Better Government Association released subpoenas it requested from the governor's office, revealing prosecutors sought hiring records dated as early Jan. 1 2003 -- when the governor first took office."

Now, isn't THIS speciel ...

And the request for Zero's birth certificate was ..... when?