Posted on 12/22/2008 8:32:20 AM PST by vietvet67
The Chicago Tribune gives both Rod Blagojevich and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr some bad news. “Individual D”, the person pressured by the Illinois governor to cough up some cash for Jackson’s appointment to the Senate, has requested immunity from Patrick Fitzgerald in return for cooperation:
A key figure in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s alleged scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat has sought immunity from federal authorities in return for his cooperation in their ongoing probe, the Tribune has learned.
Raghuveer P. Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman and political fundraiser, is the unnamed “Individual D” who prosecutors say was being squeezed by the governor for campaign cash in return for appointing U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, sources said.
Investigators appeared at Nayak’s Oak Brook home the morning the FBI arrested Blagojevich, the sources said. Nayak was among a number of people connected to the case who were contacted by federal agents that day.
Nayak has not been accused of wrongdoing and declined to comment. It is unclear what information he can provide to authorities, who said they had more work to do after moving quickly to interrupt the governor’s alleged scheme.
When a witness wants immunity, it’s usually because they’ve committed some crimes. They get immunity by providing information that convicts others of bigger crimes. Nayak must know that Fitzgerald has enough on him to make life very uncomfortable over the next several years, and his request signals that he’s willing to cut deals to minimize that as much as possible.
Jackson has been named by sources as Candidate #5, the one Blagojevich considered most willing to play ball but unsure of whether he could provide the cash Blagojevich sought. Ten days ago, the Tribune reported that Nayak and other fundraisers close to both Blagojevich and Jackson arranged a fundraiser for Blagojevich as a means to prove Jackson’s value and get him the nomination. Nayak, Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi, and backer Harish Bhatt held the fundraiser on December 5th, just three days before the feds nabbed Blagojevich.
If Nayak has suddenly decided to talk, Jackson and Blagojevich may have a lot more explaining to do themselves. Jackson’s brother Jonathan attended the event and had been a former business partner of Nayak. Blagojevich also attended, perhaps to evaluate Jackson’s value to him before settling on the Senate appointment. That’s an odd coincidence, under the circumstances, and I’m betting Fitzgerald doesn’t believe in coincidences — at least not in Illinois politics.
Maybe both Jethie Junior and Jethie Thenior will go down?
The fit may be about to hit the shan.
If - Patrick Fitzgerald is not about to pull his punches. Whether because of personal politics, or because of some pressure. In which case, his punches will be pulled for him. He does serve at the pleasure of the President who happens to be in office at the time.
But to suppose that this cannot touch the nascent obama regime, or the other tentacles of the Chicago political machine, is to live in cuckoo-cloud-land, as it was so famously put by Otto von Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor”.
This is the committee that approved the $1MM grant to the hospital where Michelle Obama works. The grant was for program development. Soon after this time Michelle developed a community outreach program and was promoted to VP level at almost triple her salary.
Also on that committee was an acquaintance of Tony Rezko who, also during that time, was developing land deals that involved to some degree, building new hospitals. Hospitals cannot be built in Illinois with approval from the State Health Committee.
Things that make you go hmmmmm....
How can that be? He is clearly bargaining for the senate seat in very distinct terms - how can that be seen as "no wrongdoing"?
Raghuveer P Nayak
Rajinder Bedi
Harish Bhatt
What the heck is going on in this country?
Nothing can touch “the one” - so we just have to settle for the fun of seeing which lib/dem will go down in flames.
Listening to attorneys is the first mistake, let alone ignoring their political motivations..
Sold to the highest bidder..
Ha - and those on TV seem to be trying to make a name for themselves so that is probably good advice. I certainly did NOT want to believe them. I want him to be convicted.
Edward Hospital in Naperville got screwed over by that committee a few years back and filed a complaint (to the State or Fitz). Out the blue they were refused an application to build a new hospital in Lockport(?). IIRC it was allegations of Bid Rigging - that they *HAD* to use a specific General Contractor.
PS: Furnace is now fixed. It was a stinking little electronic switch and five minutes of work.
Plainfield (next door to my burb). Yes, the complaint did state “contractor bid fixing” as one of the complaints.
RE: The switch. I assume the guy was a union mook? The one thing I learned quickly after I moved here was that minor service calls around the suburbs are ^very^ expensive when it requires a union-bot.
If not, I hope the owner did give you a good deal on the service call.
And no, no a union guy. One of the owners sons (he has 3 and they all work there).
But I did pay their normal service rate of $83.00 per hour (min 1 hr charge). I didn't press for a price brake, they had a bad day too.
First, his service truck wouldn't start. Then after getting it started, on the way to the shop - he got broadsided (no injuries). Then they had to transfer parts, tools, and stuff to his pickup.
But I WAS the first on the service list, so the owner did help me that way, so I paid the $83.00 (that's still cheaper than a Union Serviceman's call)
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