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Prosecutors file new details of case against Blagojevich under wraps
ChicagoTribune ^ | April 05, 2010 | Jeff Coen

Posted on 04/06/2010 7:09:02 AM PDT by opentalk

Federal prosecutors have filed a key document laying out their corruption case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich out of the public eye — at least for now.

Such a filing is typically made part of the public record in the weeks before the start of a trial. Jury selection is set to begin June 3 for Blagojevich and his brother, Robert.

But in a brief public filing to explain their actions, prosecutors said they have filed the new document under seal so U.S. District Judge James Zagel and the defense can first decide if any portions should stay under wraps. Prosecutors said they acted out of "an abundance of caution." A pool of prospective jurors is expected to be asked through the mail shortly whether they can sit for a trial that is likely to last four or more months.

..Prosecutors revealed that the document contains details about the government's evidence that have never been disclosed. The defense could argue the release of the details could taint the jury pool, even though the selection process is two months away

..Sam Adam Jr., one of Blagojevich's lawyers, said Monday afternoon that the defense had yet to see the new prosecution filing, prompting him to call it another delaying tactic by the government in turning over evidence.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: blagojevich; chicagocorruption; levine; obama; tonyrezko

1 posted on 04/06/2010 7:09:02 AM PDT by opentalk
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To: opentalk
This is going to be a circus freak show


2 posted on 04/06/2010 7:11:14 AM PDT by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: opentalk

But more importantly, how’s he doing on The Apprentice?

First, his wife was on a reality show and now he is. What’s with these politicians who think they’re Hollyweird celebs? It’s all about get your face out there and people will forgive you for your misdeeds.


3 posted on 04/06/2010 7:12:45 AM PDT by bgill (The framers of the US Constitution established an entire federal government in 18 pages.)
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To: bgill

He got fired on Sunday.


4 posted on 04/06/2010 7:13:25 AM PDT by PrincessB ("if government X-rays are anything like the photos the DMV takes for your license, count me out" A.)
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To: opentalk

Not a blago lover by any stretch

but dosent the prosecution have to share all evidence with the defense???


5 posted on 04/06/2010 7:13:48 AM PDT by Vaquero (BHO....'The Pretenda from Kenya')
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To: darkwing104

I certainly hope so.


6 posted on 04/06/2010 7:13:55 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: opentalk

It’s pretty obvious that Blagojevich got indicted for trying to sell that Senate seat because it didn’t belong to him. It “belongs” to the Daleys. This is the Chicago Machine’s internal discipline and a warning from them to BHO.


7 posted on 04/06/2010 7:14:16 AM PDT by E Rocc (The Census form says to use blue or black ink. Methinks *red* ink is more apropos.)
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To: darkwing104
from citizen wells, link

--When one reads the indictment and criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich and studies the corruption and crime committed in Chicago and Illinois over the past 10 years, one name is conspicuous. Tony Rezko. Stuart Levine, the main witness in the Rezko trial, did most of the dirty work for Rezko. Obama was no stranger to Levine.

--Many of the corruption figures involved with Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine and Rod Blagojevich have been indicted and convicted. Most of these corrupt figures had ties to Obama including donating to his campaigns.

8 posted on 04/06/2010 7:15:19 AM PDT by opentalk
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To: bgill

Incompetent and very amusing to watch. Chatted up everyone, strangers on the street, the elevator attendant. Always campaigning, but unable to accomplish anything else. Didn’t even know how to use a computer.

Good entertainment. But he got fired.


9 posted on 04/06/2010 7:16:14 AM PDT by Jedidah (Character, courage, common sense are more important than issues.)
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To: opentalk

“Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was again drawn into Tony Rezko’s corruption trial on Monday, when the prosecution’s star witness placed Obama at a party for an Iraqi-born billionaire who was later barred entry to the United States.”
—Chicago Sun-Times, April 15, 2008.

Obama has repeatedly said that he cannot recollect any meeting with Auchi, a London-based businessman who is appealing a conviction for fraud in France. Auchi was a business contact of Antoin Rezko, a former Chicago developer and Obama fundraiser currently on trial for corruption.

With a fortune estimated at more than $5 billion, Auchi is one of the world’s richest men. According to U.S. prosecutors, Rezko lobbied the U.S. government to get a visa for Auchi after he was banned from entering the country.

According to Stuart Levine, a former Rezko associate turned prosecution witness, both Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were among the guests at a April 3, 2004 party at Rezko’s Chicago home for Auchi. At that time, Rezko was trying to impress Auchi with his political connections. The British billionaire would later buy part of Rezko’s pizzeria business and invest $170 million in a prime piece of Chicago real estate that Rezko wanted to develop.

While acknowledging his friendship with Rezko, Obama has minimized their social dealings. Interviewed last month by the Chicago Tribune, he said that he and Rezko met for breakfast or lunch infrequently. He said that he attended a fundraising event at Rezko’s home in Wilmette in 2003, but made no mention of the April 2004 party for Auchi.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/obamas_rezko_connection.html


10 posted on 04/06/2010 7:26:18 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: opentalk

April 1, 2008.

Star witness Stuart Levine testified in the Rezko trial on Monday that he partied from dusk to dawn at the Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood and sometimes in Springfield with five male friends whom he would fly downstate in a private jet. His stash over the years included pot, coke, Special K, ecstasy, speed and crystal meth.

Largely lost in the haze of Levine’s drug testimony was his statement that Rezko reassured him that recently passed ethics legislation – now championed by Rezko pal Barack Obama as a signal achievement in his political career – was “just for show.”

http://tinyurl.com/ygak2kz

March 19, 2008

“Millionaire attorney Stuart Levine testified Wednesday that he curried favor with political big shots by chartering planes to ferry Gov. Rod Blagojevich to visit campaign donors and fundraiser Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko to a Christmas dinner at the White House,” NBC5 reports.

“And [Levine] said he once ferried Rezko’s family and a Rezko family friend back from a vacation in Mexico on a plane Levine partially owned. He said Rezko had to leave Mexico early to prepare for a dinner he was holding for Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi.”


11 posted on 04/06/2010 7:32:09 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: Vaquero
Not a blago lover by any stretch but dosent the prosecution have to share all evidence with the defense???

In READING the article, doesn't it mean that the evidence will only be held from the public?

from the article: under seal so U.S. District Judge James Zagel and the defense can first decide if any portions should stay under wraps...

Maybe some names in there that may prove embarrassing to a certain narcissist?

12 posted on 04/06/2010 7:32:23 AM PDT by maine-iac7
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To: opentalk

How much of his friend Bambi is in this filing?


13 posted on 04/06/2010 7:33:29 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: opentalk

We can expect that the powers on all sides will protect Obama first and foremost. Blago will do everything he can to protect Obama because he will be looking for a possible commutation of his sentence. The prosecution will be out to protect Obama because of Holder and the Chicago machine.

Hopefully, the new media will be able to make some of the connections to Obama more transparent regardless. One thing is certain..it’s gonna get interesting.


14 posted on 04/06/2010 7:43:03 AM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: opentalk

Obama worked at corporate law firm Sidley Austin LLP - Rezko is accused of helping to get businessman Stuart Levine reappointed to the board of the state’s Teachers’ Retirement System and scheming with Levine to get kickbacks from companies seeking business with the state board.

Levine is cooperating with the government, and Niewoehner said there are recordings of Rezko discussing his activities.

the Chicago Sun-Times writes that “As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens. The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama’s former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama’s state Senate district.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-ob...

Obama’s former boss “Davis soon went into business with Rezko, creating a company called New Kenwood LLC to build the seven-story apartment building for senior citizens on a vacant stretch of land once occupied by a gas station at 48th and Cottage Grove. The city of Chicago owned the land — nearly two acres tainted by lead, benzene and other toxic chemicals. Davis is a member of the Chicago Plan Commission. He was originally appointed to the commission in 1991 by his friend, Mayor Daley. Davis, like Rezko, has been a prolific campaign fund-raiser for politicians including Daley and Obama.”


15 posted on 04/06/2010 7:44:04 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: opentalk

“February 10, 2008 Sun-Times.

During his March 14, 2008 interview, the Times told Obama, Thomas is an FBI mole and he “recently told us that he saw you coming and going from Rezko’s office a lot.”

“And three other sources told us that you and Rezko spoke on the phone daily.”

“Is that true?” the reporter asked.

“No,” Obama said, “That’s not accurate.”

“I think what is true,” he said, “is that, it depends on the period of time.”

“I’ve known him for 17 years,” Obama stated. “There were stretches of time where I would see him once or twice a year.”

Tony Rezko. Stuart Levine, the main witness in the Rezko trial, did most of the dirty work for Rezko. Obama was no stranger to Levine.

Levine described a flight from New York that he shared with Blagojevich Oct. 29, 2003. Levine had chartered the plane to ferry Blagojevich and others to a series of fundraisers.

On the return to Chicago, Levine said he took the opportunity to thank Blagojevich for re-appointing him to a seat on a state hospital regulatory board that
prosecutors now say he and Rezko had corrupted to extort kickbacks from firms seeking regulatory approval.

http://tinyurl.com/ycpwafo


16 posted on 04/06/2010 7:55:44 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: kcvl
He's part of it — brought the corruption with him to the whitehouse
17 posted on 04/06/2010 8:00:04 AM PDT by opentalk
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To: opentalk

Please G-d let Blago tell everything that he knows.


18 posted on 04/06/2010 8:23:37 AM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: opentalk
Rod Blagojevich appearance on Celebrity Apprentice revealed that he is virtually unemployable. With his skills set, his occupational future would limit him to being a greeter at the front door of Walmart.
19 posted on 04/06/2010 8:51:16 AM PDT by Bullpine
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