Posted on 06/16/2010 5:10:01 PM PDT by STARWISE
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 Obamas U.S. Senate campaign on March 5, 2004, according to records. The money came from part of a finders fee Aramanda received, but did no work for, thanks to Rezko.
The allegation is the first time Obama has been linked to Rezko through first-hand sworn testimony at the corruption trial.
The president is accused of no wrongdoing, and his campaign long ago returned contributions linked to the now convicted Rezko.
Aramanda testified this morning that he was offered to take part in a business where part of the proceeds would be diverted to the former governor, among others.
Aramanda, who is testifying under a grant of immunity, said in 2004 Rezko offered him a position in a finders fee business connected to the states teacher pension board.
Rezko asked Aramanda to head the business, offering him a salary of $250,000 a year. Aramanda said he thought that was shockingly low, given that the transactions could rake in $1 million or more per deal and there would likely be multiple deals each year.
Rezko explained to Aramanda that the remaining money would be divvied up among Rezko, Blagojevich, then-fund-raiser Christopher Kelly and Lon Monk, the gubernatorial chief of staff at the time.
I was uncomfortable with the situation, Aramanda said of the proposed venture. I thought it was wrong.
Aramanda said he refused to take part in it.
His testimony supports that of Monk, who the defense repeatedly attempted to cast as a liar. Monk, who concluded his testimony Tuesday, testified that Blagojevich, himself, Rezko and Kelly met secretly to map out how they would make money off state deals with the then-governor taking action to benefit his friends.
Rezko proposed that Aramanda would act as an intermediary with the Teachers Retirement Systems and receive fees from different firms for TRS investments.
Aramanda is a friend and former business associate of Rezko, the convicted fund-raiser. Aramandas testimony concerned a 2004 deal to accept a finder's fee from Glencoe Capital, which won a $50 million investment from the states Teachers Retirement System.
Aramanda hadnt done any work for his fees, he testified.
So when he asked Glencoe Capitals Sheldon Pekin to make the second payment in April 2004, Pekin shot back with, What do you think, Christmas comes early? according to Aramanda.
Aramanda said Rezko hooked him up to do work for Pekin. Of Aramanda's first $150,000 payment from Pekin, $50,000 went to Rezko, Aramanda testified.
Through Aramanda, the defense is trying to show that Rezko duped Blagojevich just like he duped everyone else including Aramanda, a Harvard Business School alum.
Attorney Michael Gillespie even brought Barack Obama into the mix, getting Aramanda to note that when he met Blagojevich at Rezkos mansion, Obama was also there.
Aramanda said the event was a fund-raiser for both Obama and Blagojevich. Obama and Rezko were friends when Obama was an aspiring U.S. Senator. Rezko did some fund-raising for Obama and bought property next door to the Obama's Hyde Park home.
Gillespie said Rezko used Aramanda to funnel kickbacks.
He made no mention he was using you as a front man to get his money? Gillespie asked.
Aramanda had testified that Rezko arranged for Aramanda to get "business loans" through Rezko's friends. Rezko then tapped Aramanda to use portions of that money to repay Rezko's debt.
Rezko also directed Aramanda to make payments on his behalf, he testified. Aramanda said Rezko gave him a list of names and told him the amounts he was to wire to various Rezko associates.
Not included in that list: Rod Blagojevich.
He never gave you a wire transfer for an account in Aruba and said: this is the governors, send it to him? Gillespie asked.
No, Aramanda responded. Report item as: (required) X Comment: (optional)
Excerpt:
The defense for Rod Blagojevich tried today to link money from a kickback scheme to President Barack Obama.
Joseph Aramanda, a business associate of insider Antoin "Tony" Rezko, acknowledged he donated $10,000 to Obama's campaign when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Aramanda said he did so at Rezko's request.
~~~~
Even though -0 returned these monies when Rezko was convicted, is it conceivable that he didn't know his buddy, Rezko, who he knew was a documented pay-to-player like himself, was getting big $$$ for his campaign from the typical Chicago corruption?
~~Ping!
Must invest in Popcorn futures... I think we should stay away from this and let it progress.. Also the GOP should stay away from this also... This could get big, but I think the case could get dismissed.
/s
Felonies, impeachable treasonous acts and this poser is still seated at the desk in the peoples house. Un friggin believable!
There was just something about Blago when he was on the Apprentice every time someone brought up “the troubles”. It was almost as if there was something that he wanted to say that was very hard to hold back, yet he knew that he had keep it under wraps.
Mind you, I do not feel sorry for him or hold him blameless. But clearly he was not the mastermind of whatever was going on here. I hope he lives long enough to tell the whole story.
I thought it was weird the way Trump kept kissing his butt.
Perhaps someone whispered in his ear.
(NO LINKS)
Gov fund-raiser linked to man in indictment
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Sunday, August 7, 2005
Author: Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco and Steve Warmbir, The Chicago Sun-Times
SPRINGFIELD — A Glenview businessman who federal investigators believe received a $250,000 kickback in a state teacher pension scheme has had past business dealings with gubernatorial fund-raiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko , the Chicago Sun-Times has found.
Records in three Wisconsin cities show that companies linked to Rezko turned over ownership of at least six Papa John’s pizza restaurants in 2001 to a company owned by Joseph Aramanda , who surfaced in last week’s federal indictment alleging corruption at the Teachers’ Retirement System of Illinois.
Neither Aramanda nor Rezko , a close associate of Gov. Blagojevich who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the governor, have been accused of criminal wrongdoing by federal investigators.
Aramanda , however, received $250,000 of a $375,000 finder’s fee that prosecutors say was illegally arranged by indicted former TRS board member Stuart Levine, who was reappointed to that board by Blagojevich months before his July 2004 resignation.
Levine, according to a 14-count indictment released Wednesday, arranged for Aramanda to get the money from a financial consultant who had been representing a company that secured a $50 million investment from TRS.
Levine and two Chicago lawyers were charged Wednesday with allegedly shaking down investment companies seeking TRS business for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.
Aramanda , who did not return a message left at his Neenah, Wis., corporate office and could not be reached at his Glenview phone number, was named as “Individual C” in the indictment. The Sun-Times confirmed his identity through multiple sources.
Several telephone messages left at Rezko ‘s main office were not returned.
Aramanda owned 22 Papa John’s pizza restaurants in Wisconsin, according to a 2001 business filing with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
At least six of those restaurants, located in Madison, Eau Claire and La Crosse, were owned by Rezko ‘s companies up until 2001, when Aramanda ‘s firm — JAA Enterprises — took over ownership, according to restaurant licensing documents maintained by health departments in each of those cities.
Details about the ownership shift, including how much JAA paid for the restaurants, were not available. A spokeswoman at Papa John’s Louisville, Ky., headquarters declined to comment on the matter, citing privacy concerns.
Whether Aramanda ‘s tie to Rezko extends beyond this particular transaction is not completely clear, but Aramanda has a link to the governor, having given Blagojevich’s campaign fund $10,000 in 2002, state election records show.
Aramanda also has been a donor to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who received $11,500 from him between 2000 and 2004, according to federal election records.
One of the Obama contributions hints at another possible business tie between Rezko and Aramanda . A $1,000 donation from Aramanda to the fund Obama set up for an ill-fated 2000 congressional bid identifies Aramanda ‘s employer as “P.J. Chicago.” The initials “C.O.O.” appear next to the entry, federal election records show, suggesting Aramanda was the chief operating officer of P.J. Chicago.
P.J. Chicago was managed by Rezko Enterprises, according to Illinois Secretary of State records. P.J. Chicago is listed on the sixth floor at 409 W. Huron St. in Chicago, home to several of Rezko ‘s businesses, according to regulatory filings with the Wisconsin and Delaware secretary of state offices.
(snip)
//
Internship also links Obama, Rezko : Fund-raiser asked senator to hire contributor’s son
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Sunday, December 24, 2006
Author: Frank Main, The Chicago Sun-Times
In addition to a land deal, Sen. Barack Obama’s ties to indicted dealmaker Antoin “Tony” Rezko include an internship the senator provided the son of a contributor at the request of Rezko , an Obama spokesman confirmed Saturday.
John Aramanda served as an intern for Obama for about a month in 2005, said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs. His father is Joseph Aramanda , a Rezko business associate who was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal corruption case against Rezko . Aramanda has contributed $11,500 to Obama since 2000, Gibbs said.
“Mr. Rezko did provide a recommendation for John Aramanda ,” Gibbs said. “I think that it’s fairly obvious that a few-week internship is not anything of benefit to Mr. Rezko or any of his businesses.”
The internship revelation comes after Obama acknowledged he erred in buying property from Rezko in January. The transaction took place when it was widely known Rezko was under investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office.
“It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor,” Obama — a likely presidential candidate — told the Chicago Sun-Times in November.
(snip)
Obama and Rezko have been friends since 1990, and the Wilmette businessman has raised as much as $60,000 in campaign contributions for him.
After Rezko ‘s indictment, Obama donated $11,500 to charity — the amount Rezko contributed to the senator’s federal campaign fund.
Gibbs said no decision has been made on whether Obama will return any contributions from Aramanda , given his alleged role in the federal corruption cases against Rezko and former Teachers Retirement System board member Stuart Levine.
(snip)
Aramanda was identified by the Sun-Times as “Individual D,” who allegedly received a $250,000 kickback tied to a scheme to steer lucrative state pension deals to firms and consultants that donated to Blagojevich. Aramanda is not specifically named or charged with criminal wrongdoing in the court papers. He did not return a call seeking comment Saturday.
Gibbs said John Aramanda served in Obama’s Capitol Hill office from July 20 to Aug. 26, 2005.
//
Rezko pals in state posts - Records reveal vast influence with governor
Chicago Tribune (IL) - Thursday, June 15, 2006
Author: David Jackson and John Chase, Tribune staff reporters.
EXCERPT
Blagojevich pal’s reach into state government
Newly obtained public records show deep ties between state government and several financial backers of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko , confidante and political fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
NAME
Imad Almanaseer
TIE TO REZKO
Member of LARC Realty, a Rezko business
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Health Facilities Planning Board member; son Ahmed worked for Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
NAME
Abdelhamid Chaib
TIE TO REZKO
Chief operating officer of Rezko Enterprises
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Wife Lori on Board of Review for Department of Employment Security
NAME
John “Jack” Lavin
TIE TO REZKO
Former chief financial officer of Rezko Enterprises
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Director of DCEO
NAME
Alber Najjar
TIE TO REZKO
Investor in Rezko Enterprises, LARC Realty member
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Daughter Claudine works for DCEO
NAME
Michel Malek
TIE TO REZKO
Investor in Rezko Enterprises, Roosevelt/Clark development
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Health Facilities Planning Board member
NAME
Fortunee Massuda
TIE TO REZKO
Investor in Rezko Enterprises
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Health Facilities Planning Board member
NAME
Ali Ata
TIE TO REZKO
Investor in Roosevelt/Clark
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority
NAME
Joseph Aramanda
TIE TO REZKO
Co-owned Papa John’s pizza franchises with Rezko
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Got loan from state tollway contractor
NAME
Velma Butler
TIE TO REZKO
Investor in Roosevelt/Clark
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Illinois Housing Authority member
NAME
Muhamad Dabbouseh
TIE TO REZKO
LARC Realty officer
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Daughter Amy works for the DCEO and daughter Huda for the DES
NAME
Kelly King Dibble
TIE TO REZKO
Former vice president for business development of a Rezko real estate company
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Executive director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority
NAME
David Gustman
TIE TO REZKO
Attorney for Rezko and companies
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Unpaid chairman of Illinois Finance Authority
NAME
Anthony Licata
TIE TO REZKO
Rezko attorney
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Chairman of the Capital Development Board
NAME
Michael Rumman
TIE TO REZKO
CEO of Heritage Development Partners, and investor in Roosevelt/Clark
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Former director of Central Management Services
NAME
Ed Wynn
TIE TO REZKO
Heritage lawyer
STATE GOVERNMENT TIE
Former general counsel of CMS
Sources: State records, court filings, corporate reports
The list, ping
You are right about Trump kissing Blago’s rear. I remember one episode where Trump was commiserating about Blago’s refusal to single out anyone for firing in case a baseball fan or ethnic group might be on his jury. That was just weird.
He did that more than once. He might have even done it on the finale but I can’t remember.
I have to say that Blago could have thrown Bret Michaels under the bus and he didn’t - and got fired.
But if you saw that episode, there was another really really strange thing about it.
He was acting like a total imbecile when it came to using technology. I still wonder if that is going to play into his defense some kind of way.
I still roll my eyes at the way he was trying to type on a keyboard. (or maybe that was a different episode)
Good grief Maggie....There are so many inner ties the entire city of Chicago may fall into Lake Michigan if someone pulls the right thread.
Are you suggesting that Tony Rezko or Barack Hussein Obama are possibly less than honest?
Suggesting???
A few freepers (Maggie included) have collected a few dots to connect re: Chicago Crime.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2151323/posts?page=1
If we have all this information connected just think what the FBI has with all their wiretaps and “squealers”!
I’m sorry you missed my sarcasm.
He was just a guy who lived in his neighborhood...right next door, in fact.
We Hoosiers take Chicago politics seriously. LOL
LOL! They can probably all be traced back to Frank Nitti and Al Capone.
...an associate of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko testified that Rezko asked him to write a $10,000 check to Friends of Obama.Same guy, same testimony, earlier in the week was framed as a Republican corruption problem.
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