http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/blagojevich/ en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:22:18 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415818/posts Think back to December 2008. Your governor was in handcuffs, accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat -- and of shaking down a children's hospital executive for campaign lucre. In response, Illinois politicians passed middling "reforms" that in some ways enhanced their power and diminished yours. For this, yes, they now praise themselves. Also in 2009, the political heirs of Rod Blagojevich surveyed the abyss of debt they've dug in Springfield and . . . dug deeper. They can't pay today's bills, yet continue to stick taxpayers with obligations to be paid in endless tomorrows. Their motto: "Splurge.... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415818/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:22:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416294/posts It has been more than four years since Jacob Kiferbaum pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme involving a hospital that needed state approval for a construction project, one of the earliest corruption scandals under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Kiferbaum, though, has yet to spend a day in prison. The north suburban construction magnate is one of 12 men convicted in Illinois political corruption cases who still await sentencing months -- in some cases, years -- after their convictions. The lone exception among them: Tony Rezko, who was a major campaign fund-raiser for Blagojevich, among other politicians. Like the others, Rezko... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416294/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:57:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409923/posts One of Rod Blagojevich's attorneys said Wednesday it was possible the defense could call President Obama to take the witness stand if the corruption charges against the former governor go to trial, but added that it wasn't clear that doing so would be necessary. Defense attorney Samuel E. Adam said following a hearing in the case that it would be "an awesome experience in any career" to question Obama, who is not accused of any wrongdoing but did answer questions from federal investigators. Blagojevich is charged with scheming to sell or trade Obama's former U.S. Senate seat, campaign fundraising abuses... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409923/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:38:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2408732/posts Alonzo Monk, Guilty plea background, Obama, Blagojevich, Rezko, Levine, Kelly, Harris, Cellini, Indictment, Rezko trial transcripts, Chicago IL corruption, Crime, Board rigging, Evelyn Pringle articles ### Lest we forget about crime and corruption in Chicago and the involvement by Rod Blagojevich Tony Rezko Stuart Levine Christopher Kelly William Cellini John Harris Alonzo Monk et al and Obama’s ties to these corruption figures Alonzo Monk Guilty Plea Part II In part I of this two part series on Alonzo Monk’s guilty plea, the Citizen Wells blog presented background on Monk’s involvement in corruption and how it impacted health care in Chicago... Citizen Wells http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2408732/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:25:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407167/posts Two computers stolen from the offices of attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich have been recovered by Chicago police, according to one of those lawyers, Sam Adam Jr. Adam said he has identified a pair of computers that were taken in the break-in on Dec. 4. Someone kicked in a door at the office of Adam and his father, Sam Adam, in the 6100 block of South Ellis Avenue and stole a total of eight computers and a safe. Adam said he was relieved to have at least two of the computers back and credited police detectives for their work.... Chicago Breaking news center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407167/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:24:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406874/posts Rod Blagojevich's lawyers want the FBI to give up details of interviews conducted last year of President Obama, his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, White House adviser Valerie Jarrett and others as part of the investigation into the former governor. Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406874/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:56:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402249/posts Federal prosecutors may reindict former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to help avoid problems with a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision, prosecutors said in a court filing today. The high court is looking at three cases dealing with the honest services statute — something Blagojevich is now accused of violating. Blagojevich’s defense team had asked for a trial delay to see how a Supreme Court’s ruling may affect his case. Bond set on gun charge arising from Blagojevich search Prosecutors said instead of considering a trial delay, they’ll just charge the ex-governor with something new. “To avoid any unnecessary delay in the... Chicago Sun Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402249/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 19:48:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400754/posts Rod Blagojevich has been robbed of evidence central to his corruption case. Chicago Tribune: Chicago police are investigating a burglary at the offices of attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in which at least one computer containing undercover recordings from the sweeping corruption case was stolen, sources said. The break-in took place overnight at the law offices of Sam Adam and his son, Sam Adam Jr., in the 6100 block of South Ellis Avenue, the sources said. The burglars set off an alarm but escaped the area. Investigative sources said there are no suspects. Read the whole thing >> The Business Insider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400754/posts#comment Sat, 5 Dec 2009 04:00:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400628/posts Chicago police were investigating a burglary at the offices of attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in which at least one computer containing undercover recordings from the sweeping corruption case was stolen, sources said. The break-in took place about 4 a.m. at the law offices of Sam Adam and his son, Sam Adam Jr., in the 6100 block of South Ellis Avenue, police and Sam Adam Jr. said. Contrary to early statements by a police News Affairs officer who referred calls regarding the burglary to the FBI, the FBI is not involved in the investigation, FBI Chicago office spokesman Ross... Chicago Breaking News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400628/posts#comment Sat, 5 Dec 2009 00:11:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400515/posts Computers with Blagojevich evidence stolen from law firm Chicago tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400515/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 21:49:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2396993/posts John Kass, he of the rail against "the combine," has another column reminding us of why the Illinois GOP has become the laughing stalk of the GOP nation wide. It's because up until this very day, the Illinois Republican Party has been but a weaker arm of the Illinois Democrat Party. Too many in the state GOP have been so intertwined with the criminal Democrats that they are indistinguishable one from the other, hence why Kass calls them "the combine." Kass reminded us of how the Illinois GOP establishment under past Party Chair Andy McKenna worked hand in glove with... Publius Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2396993/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:17:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394054/posts By now, millions of Americans are familiar with Anita Dunn, who recently resigned her post as Barack Obama’s White House Communications Director after it was learned that she had previously cited Mao Zedong, the late Communist dictator and mass murderer, as one of her “favorite political philosophers.” By contrast, few people know anything substantive about Dunn’s husband, Robert Bauer, who has replaced Gregory Craig as President Obama’s White House Counsel. Craig resigned abruptly on November 13, after having repeatedly denied, for weeks, that he had any plans of stepping down. A 1976 graduate of the University of Virginia School of... Front Page Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394054/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:36:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393223/posts As Christopher Kelly was being treated for a fatal overdose, the political fundraiser who was being pressured to testify against ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich confided to his girlfriend to "tell them they won." "It's my life," Kelly told Clarissa Flores-Buhelos, according to a police report released today to the Tribune. "Tell them they won, tell them they won." The report does not specify to whom Kelly was referring. It was one of several new details contained in the 47-page police report released by Country Club Hills, where Kelly took numerous pills before his Sept. 12 death that authorities have ruled a... Chicago Breaking News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393223/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:26:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2369045/posts *snip* Turns out that when the former governor instituted a state-hiring freeze back in 2003, it was just a ruse so that he could do favors for a bunch of politically connected buddies. He ended up hiring just over 2,500 people during the so-called freeze. But these weren’t ordinary applicants; politicians, including then-state-senator Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, pushed all the job seekers on Blago. None of the politicians in the report are accused of doing anything wrong -- leaning on clout is the status quo in Springfield -- but the report does illustrate the insider game that occurs... NBC5 Chicago http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2369045/posts#comment Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:33:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367182/posts Even before he was elected governor in 2002, Rod Blagojevich and three of his closest friends schemed about ways to enrich themselves by controlling state government, the former governor's former chief of staff alleged as part of a plea agreement today with federal prosecutors. When Blagojevich took office, his three friends became key players in his administration and met repeatedly with the governor to share moneymaking ideas and get updates on their plans to bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars that they could split up later, former top aide Alonzo "Lon" Monk alleged. Monk, who also was a groomsman... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367182/posts#comment Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:12:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2363120/posts Barack Obama needs a nap. His flight arrived from Springfield, Ill., at 4 a.m. and he was awake at 6 to do "Meet the Press," then "Face the Nation," then CNN's "Late Edition." This is an impressive regimen for anyone, especially a little-known senator from Illinois. That would be a state senator from Illinois. Obama has not been elected to the United States Senate. He is merely a candidate -- a dynamic, stirring and potentially historic candidate who would be the only African American in the U.S. Senate and just the third since Reconstruction. But still a candidate nonetheless. "I'm... washington times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2363120/posts#comment Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:14:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2345452/posts Liberals, their plans, veracity and activities have been under a lot of public scrutiny lately. They seem to be very uncomfortable with the light of public gaze upon them, even to the point of walking on eggshells. When they can’t find what they believe is an non revealing answer which they know will anger the public to some very straightforward questions they pretend to be obtuse on the issue at hand. Feigning obtuseness seems to be the best they can do to not come clean on the issues. The point of feigning obtuseness is to avoid the really uncomfortable questions... The Publius Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2345452/posts#comment Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:29:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344066/posts Rod Blagojevich has a message to his former political cronies: "If I'm going down, I'm taking all of you with me." And given his close, 14-year relationship with Barack Obama and Tony Rezko, this can only be bad news for the White House. Unlike many criminal defendants who keep a low profile prior to trial, the impeached former Illinois governor has his own website. "Blago" and his wife Patti--the daughter of powerful Chicago Alderman Richard Mell--have made numerous media appearances. And now a book. "The Governor", released September by Phoenix Books hasn't been treated very seriously by reviewers -- perhaps... American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344066/posts#comment Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:16:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342999/posts Rod Blagojevich is Sarah Palin? That's correct! According to Carol Marin, Chicago Sun-Times Columnist... Let's just say it. Rod Blagojevich is Sarah Palin. Rising stars and fresh faces, once upon a time. http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1773133,CST-EDT-carol16.article Rising stars, fresh faces, once upon a time? What fairy tale are you referring to? The last time a reality check was done, Rod Blagojevich was in a flaming tailspin ready to crash into Federal Court. The FBI had arrested him on what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called “a staggering level of corruption involving pay-to-play politics in Illinois' top office.” Sarah Palin was not impeached or forced... The Edisto Joe Outlook http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342999/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:06:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342916/posts Call it a sign of the times. When a corrupted politician achieves rock star status, you know the world is heading to hell in the proverbial hand basket. I received a press release about Blagojevich mania. You may remember Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois who lost his job and was indicted on federal corruption charges for allegedly attempting to sell President Barack Obama's Senate seat. Now, Blagojevich – and his likeness – is all the rage. From a chair autographed by the disgraced governor on the set of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to a Blagojevich bobblehead and even collectible... The Voice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342916/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:02:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2341371/posts We're all learning more details about the apparent suicide of politically connected contractor Christopher Kelly. He pleaded guilty to corruption charges, was facing years in federal prison and had the option of telling federal authorities about city airport contracts and his buddy, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But today, readers get their writes on Kelly, a self-inflicted victim of corruption the Chicago Way. John, I have known Chris since early days in Champaign, during college, and thereafter. Chris drank in college (like most college students) but has been a strict non-drinker for at least a decade, perhaps two. Chris would rather... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2341371/posts#comment Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:29:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340288/posts There are plenty of questions surrounding the death of Christopher Kelly, the one-time confidante of Rod Blagojevich who was headed off to prison soon. Questions about what drugs Kelly took. Questions about the "mystery man" with gray hair who tried to pick up Kelly's Cadillac SUV from the hospital. Questions about whether the pressure to cooperate with federal authorities or the prospect of a long stretch in prison, drove him to suicide. Questions about how his death will impact the prosecution of Blagojevich. There's something else that deserves real scrutiny: What kind of medical care did Kelly get at Oak... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340288/posts#comment Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:58:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340131/posts Request followed shouting match at Milwaukee Ave. club ### Just days before he died of an apparent overdose, a defiant Christopher Kelly was resolved to fight a corruption trial he faced, if only to thumb his nose at federal authorities. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's fund-raiser and adviser suddenly flip-flopped, however, after faced with another point of pressure. On the eve of trial, the government asked a judge to revoke Kelly's bond, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. Hospital tapes from over the weekend are "very helpful and revealing" in their attempts to unravel the final hours before Christopher Kelly's death, Country... Chicago SunTimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340131/posts#comment Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:59:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338888/posts Country Club Hills mayor Dwight Welch said today that the girlfriend of Christopher Kelly has "lawyered up" and is no longer talking to police investigating the Saturday death of the former top Rod Blagojevich adviser. Meanwhile, the Cook County medical examiner's office said this afternoon following an autopsy that a determination of cause and manner of Kelly's death was "pending further studies," meaning officials need to conduct additional investigations to officially rule whether Kelly committed suicide. At a morning press conference, Welch also said police are searching for a man who went to Oak Forest Hospital while Kelly was being... Chicago Breaking News (WGN, others) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338888/posts#comment Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:45:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338329/posts A key figure in ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's federal corruption case died Saturday of an apparent "aspirin overdose," a law enforcement source told the Chicago Sun-Times. Christopher Kelly, 51, was Blagojevich's former chief fundraiser, and was described by the newspaper as "go-to" guy in the ex-governor's administration. FOX NEWS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338329/posts#comment Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:55:06 GMT