FOlks to keep an eye on
From:
Imad Almanaseer, former member of Illinois Health Facility Planning Board; joined in scheme to exchange construction approvals for donations to Blagojevich and others; testified under immunity against Rezko.
Ali Ata, Chicago businessman who bought a seat as head of the state Capital Development Board seat with contributions to Blagojevich through fundraiser Antoin Rezko; testified against Tony Rezko and has offered evidence against Blagojevich.
Thomas Beck, former member of Illinois Health Facility Planning Board; joined in scheme to exchange construction approvals for donations to Blagojevich and others; testified under immunity against Rezko.
Patti Blagojevich, the governor’s wife. (Tribune news profile)
Rod Blagojevich, governor of Illinois.
Daniel W. Cain, FBI Special Agent and affiant in the criminal complaint.
Joseph Cari,major Democratic fundraiser who participated in Rezko-Blagojevich scheme; offered evidence against Rezko and Blagojevich as part of plea deal.
William Cellini,Republican businessman who with Levine exercised control over Illinois Teachers Retirement System; secretly organized major donations to Blagojevich as part of the price to keep influence over the board; is described, though not charged, with abetting some of Levine’s, Rezko’s and Blagojevich’s corrupt schemes.
Kelly Glynn, former Friends of Blagojevich finance director.
John Harris, Blagojevich’s chief of staff.
James F. Holderman, chief judge of U.S. District Court in Chicago who authorized Blagojevich eavesdropping in the governor’s campaign office and on his home phone. Holderman is a former federal prosecutor who joined in U.S. Attorney James R. Thompson’s campaign against corrupt Chicago politicians in the 1980s.
Chris Kelly, a principal campaign fundraiser for Blagojevich.
Matthew F. Kennelly, acting chief judge of U.S. District Court in Chicago who re-authorized wiretapping of Blagojevich’s home phone.
Stuart Levine, described in complaint as “a member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Retirement System and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board” who joined in the Blagojevich-Rezko shakedown scheme.
Steven Loren, outside counsel to the Illinois Teachers Retirement System; testified against Rezko under plea deal.
John McCormick, Chicago Tribune deputy editorial page editor.
Michael T. Mason, U.S. Magistrate Judge to whom complaint was sworn.
Lon Monk, lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff.
Antoin (Tony) Rezko, Democratic fundraiser convicted of shaking down individuals and companies doing business with the state.
Thomas Rosenberg, one of the owners of Capri Capital, a real-estate investment firm that Rezko, Levine, Cellini et al. allegedly targeted in an extortion scheme (they are said to have demanded bribes and contributions to Friends of Blagojevich in exchange for approving a Teachers Retirement System investment with Capri).
Dr. Robert Weinstein, “a co-schemer in Levine’s criminal activities,” according to the complaint.
DOes seem that Blago and OB are too good of friends...WOuld one set the othr up?
From:
http://www.blacklegalissues.com/Article_Details.ASPX?ARTCLID=afcec76f2a&cat=Politics
About all Blagojevich and Obama shared was searing ambition, which is what occasionally brought them together. Obama recognized that a Democratic governor could help him pass legislation and build his résumé in anticipation of a U.S. Senate run, so he helped Blagojevich’s campaign as an informal adviser. Once Blagojevich was elected, he and Obama formed an awkward, arranged marriage: Obama passed a steady succession of legislation and built his reputation as a power player in Springfield; Blagojevich signed the bills and took the center seat at celebratory news conferences.
It worked just fine, Springfield politicians said, until Obama started to eclipse Blagojevich as the rising star in Illinois politics. Blagojevich never endorsed Obama in his U.S. Senate bid in 2004, and he expressed a preference for two other Democratic candidates. On the campaign trail, Obama sometimes made a point to highlight his distance from Blagojevich and the rest of the administration. “Nobody sent me,” he often told his crowds.