Investigators Take Closer Look at Rep. Jackson in Blagojevich Case

NY Times ^ | April 13, 2009 | SUSAN SAULNY and CHRISTOPHER DREW

[txroadkill]

Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr. went to see the Illinois governor in December to press for an appointment to the United States Senate seat being vacated by Barack Obama.

[txroadkill]

The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that the United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is known for the energy and sweep of his investigations, had subpoenaed several people who had helped Mr. Nayak set up the fund-raiser to benefit Mr. Blagojevich. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Monday that Mr. Blagojevich’s people had been told that Mr. Jackson would raise up to $5 million in campaign cash for Mr. Blagojevich.

[blam]

Don’t you be messing Mr Jackson up with a honky White man rules.

[ETL]

Justice Department Briefing on Blagojevich Investigation:
Patrick Fitzgerald, United States attorney general for the Northern District of Illinois [speaking to press]:
Published: December 9, 2008, New York Times

Excerpts from the transcript:

Fitzgerald: "In the governor words -- governor's words, quote, 'Fire all those bleeping people. Get them the bleep out of there. And get us some editorial support', close quote. And the bleeps are not really bleeps."

(snip)

Fitzgerald: "A month or so ago a $1.8 billion tollway project was announced. While that tollway project was being announced, Governor Blagojevich was privately seeking to have a person benefiting from that contract raise $100,000 in contributions, and privately the government (sic) said, 'I could have made a larger announcement but wanted to see how they would perform by the end of the year. If they don't perform, bleep 'em.' That's a quote. And the word 'bleep' was not the word he used."

(snip)

Fitzgerald: "The governor's own words describing the Senate seat, quote, 'It's a bleeping valuable thing -- thing. You just don't give it away for nothing', close quote."

Fitzgerald: "Another quote, 'I've got this thing, and it's bleeping golden. And I'm just not giving it up for bleeping nothing. I'm not going to do it, and I can always use it; I can parachute me there,' quote. Those are his words, not our characterization, other than with regard to the bleep."

Fitzgerald: "The tapes reveal that Governor Blagojevich wanted a number of things in exchange for making the appointment to the Senate seat -- an appointment as secretary of health and human services or an ambassadorship, an appointment to a private foundation, a higher paying job for his wife or campaign contributions."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
_________________________________________________________

Blago's wife...

"Mrs. Blago, the former Patti Mell, won the hearts of old-school thugs everywhere with her f-word-filled rants captured on FBI wiretaps, some of which were colorfully detailed in the criminal complaint against her hubby..." --Michelle Malkin, December 17, 2008

http://710knus.townhall.com/columnists/MichelleMalkin/2008/12/17/the_real_housewives_of_crook_county

_____________________________________________________

[VeniVidiVici]

Rick Bryant, a spokesman for Mr. Jackson, said the congressman had been focused lately on finding more jobs for his South Side constituents and pushing for economic-development projects, like construction of another airport in Chicago.

Ah yes. Another airport in Chicago. Idiots.

[hoosiermama]

Somehow BO has figured out how to throw JJJ under the bus....Don’t think JJ will be to happy about this.

[txroadkill]

I'm sure that I will be called naive, crazy or just plain stupid, but I believe that this story is going to make Watergate look like small potatoes and that before 2012 Obama is going to have to resign or will face impeachment.

There are too many egos involved here. Clinton made his people powerful so they were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect him, but Obama is the other way around, his people made him. Jesse Jackson, Jr. will not do time for Obama and neither will the rest of the people in his circle, they don't need him. 

[aruanan]

The deal was supposed to have included about 5 million dollars from Chicago’s Indian community if Jackson got the seat in addition to the 2 million from someone else for Jackson getting the seat.

[happygrl]

And Mr. Jackson landed in his own political hot seat as federal prosecutors revealed wiretap evidence that one of his fund-raisers had promised to raise $1.5 million for Mr. Blagojevich in exchange for the appointment.

Plausible deniability on the part of Jackson.

[Jim from C-Town]

Guilty! That being said, I have no faith in Fitzgerald. He is a hack. Remember he is the idiot who spent tens of millions investigating a crime that wasn't a crime even after he knew who leaked information that was already common knowledge. Then he was unable to convict anyone for anything substantial. Scooter Libbey was convicted on a procedural crime of basically having a bad memory.

[happygrl]

Obama is the other way around, his people made him. Jesse Jackson, Jr. will not do time for Obama and neither will the rest of the people in his circle, they don't need him.

Excellent observation.

0bama has his 0bamatons, but they are not in elected office.

Who is there, now, that can really protect him?

His Chief of Staff is a Clintonoid, his Cabinet and appointments are mainly Clintonoids. Much has been made about the fact that he doesn't have his "own people."

Soros will be surprised at how little influence he has with the powerful in Washington, if they see it is not in their favor to play his game.

He is under indictement (somewhere? Malaysia ?) for his currency manipulations.

The Kennedys have little capital and wouldn't risk the little they have for him.

I think your're right.

It is 0bama that could get thrown under the bus.

[Syncro]

Soros will be surprised at how little influence he has with the powerful in Washington, if they see it is not in their favor to play his game.

He is under indictement (somewhere? Malaysia ?) for his currency manipulations.

He is?

That's good news, have you got any more information on that?

I do know that he ruined Zimbabwe and walked away with billions after destroying their currency.

And he is playing that same game here, he made over a billion $'s last year playing the market.

When small investors lost their shirts.

[happygrl]

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/20/financial-felons-george-soros/

[Liz]

Scorecard On Obama Scandals (updated) :

Gov Richardson-pay to play scandal (withdraws)
Geithner-Tax cheat (confirmed)
Daschle-Tax cheat (withdraws)
Killefer-Tax cheat (withdraws)
Solis (husband)-Tax Cheat (confirmed)
Sen Burris lied about "pay to play" contacts
VP Biden's daughter in cocaine bust
Rahn Emanuel (too numerous to mention)
Obama prez campaign accepted AIG donations
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (being there)
Cong Barney Frank, Freddie Mac scandals
Sen Chris Dodd, sweetheart deals with Countrywide
No. 2 at HUD Ron Sims (blatant violations of Public Records Act as Seattle area County exec)

Other Dem Scandals:

Rangel-Tax cheat (under investigation)
Franken-Tax cheat (in US Senate recount)
VP candidate John Edwards under scrutiny for love child payoff w/ campaign funds
Governor Blagojevich-pay to play scandal (impeached)
Baltimore Mayor Dixon- indicted on perjury, theft charges
Racine Mayor Becker-arrested for child porn & soliciting minors
Hartford Mayor Perez- arrested for bribery
Birmingham Mayor Langford- arrested on federal charges
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick-served 99 days jailtime
Portland Mayor Adams- admitted he had gay sex with teen intern
Chicago Alderwoman Troutman-plead guilty to tax fraud and mail fraud
Monica Conyers John Coyner’s wife, Detroit City Council President implicated in Detroit bribery case
Tim Mahoney (D-FL) - Offered $121,000 payoff and $50,000 a year job for two years to quiet former mistress/staffer
Rep William J. Jefferson (D-LA) tried on 6 counts including bribery (hid $90,000 cash in freezer)
NY Gov Spitzer - fed's wiretaps out involvement in prostitution ring.
US Rep. Carnahan (D-MO) lien filed on home for $17,364 unpaid roofer bill
State Sen Dianne Wilkerson (D-MA) resigned; arrested on federal bribery charges (stuffed bribes in bra)
State Sen J. James Marzilli(D-MA) indicted for accosting four women (resigned)

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this list.

The trolls on Free Republic will be so proud of their criminals posing as Rat Politicians.

[rdl6989]

Bump to the top.

[Richard from IL]

Great list. You can add Il Rep. (D - Socialist) Jan Schakowsky’s husband’s bank fraud troubles.