Blago, His Brother, and Aides Indicted — With Bonus Rezko!
Inevitable, but the details are interesting:
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his brother, and a former top fundraiser were among six men indicted today on political corruption charges, the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago announced.
In addition to Rob Blagojevich, 53, and fundraiser Christopher Kelly, 50, charged were Lon Monk, 50, a lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff; John Harris, 47, also a former chief of staff to Blagojevich; and William Cellini, 74, a Springfield insider for decades.
. . . .
While those allegations are repeated in today’s charges, the 19-count indictment also includes allegations that convicted insider Antoin “Tony” Rezko steered real estate commissions to former first lady Patti Blagojevich despite her performing no work and paid cash to Monk for a car and home improvements. The indictment claims Blagojevich attempted to extort a U.S. congressman for campaign cash by withholding a $2 million state grant to a public school in the congressman’s district.
You can read the indictment here.
But remember, Rezko was just somebody that built community housing. There was no special link to Obama, not at all.
Move along, nothing to see here.
Comment by Steverino — 4/2/2009 @ 8:48 pm
I want us all to pause and contemplate how the Left would have reacted had this been Bush’s close friends, fundraiser, and political ally.
glasnost’s theory on the other thread is that the inherently dishonest DOJ is doing this as their modus operandi in targeting Dems.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Comment by JD — 4/2/2009 @ 8:59 pm
Blago could get 305 years and 4 million in fines. And the fines could actually be much higher, depending.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 4/2/2009 @ 10:23 pm
Where’s Jess Jax Jr? Where’s Rahm? This indictment is worthless.
Comment by JB — 4/2/2009 @ 10:51 pm
I don’t understand why anybody pays attention to this. Blago is not being indicted for WHAT he did. He is being indicted for WHO he did it to.
Fitzgearld is a partisan hack who went out of his way to protect the Obama administration.
Comment by TomT — 4/3/2009 @ 5:58 am
It is interesting that Rahm played along with one scam… I think it’s easy to believe the Obama admin would have played along with another. They aren’t patting themselves on the back… they are refusing to discuss the matter. That says something.
Why in the hell would the press let this go?
Comment by Juan — 4/3/2009 @ 6:14 am
Where’s Jess Jax Jr?
Speculation is heavy regarding his role as the unnamed “Politician A” in the indictment. But he’s not going to be charged, just eventually named as a witness to attempted bribery.
Comment by Dmac — 4/3/2009 @ 7:34 am
Why in the hell would the press let this go?
I’m going to assume that this question is merely rhetorical.
Comment by Dmac — 4/3/2009 @ 7:34 am
I wonder how many unindicted co-conspirators will eventually be added to the anonymous list.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 4/3/2009 @ 7:52 am
John Hitchcock, as we learned in the Holy Land Foundation case, naming unindicted co-conspirators is racist.
I’m so glad that Daley and Obama gave me Gov. Blagojevich, instead of Gov. Vallas. Kidding. Not only is Vallas competent, a real reformer, someone who actually goes to his office and works every day, but he’s a Sox fan, unlike Cub-fan Blago.
Comment by carlitos — 4/3/2009 @ 8:12 am
Anyone who follows the Junior League doesn’t follow Major League baseball. DH is 7-and-under baseball.
The fact Blago followed Major League baseball instead of Junior League was merely out of expedience. He knew the real thing was the real thing and it was more important for him to support the real thing. I just got tired of him saying the snooker was won all the time.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 4/3/2009 @ 8:19 am
Junior League = 100+ years of futility
White Sox = World Series 2005
Resume argument.
Comment by carlitos — 4/3/2009 @ 8:26 am
I’ve followed the “real league” for decades. I got to watch the Big Red Machine own everything. Too bad that team got Schott. I hope that it someday comes back now that it isn’t Schott no mo.
But, to tie in, if someone gets indicted for committing crimes that hurt the WRONG people, I’m good with that. Better to get hanged for the right thing but the wrong reason than to get off free-and-clear.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 4/3/2009 @ 8:33 am
The Cubbies will rock this year. Baseball! The best game ever invented.
Comment by nk — 4/3/2009 @ 8:39 am
They went RICO on his ass. They even indicted his brother. His wife is listed as co-conspirator, which the phone transcripts bear out. Lon Monk and Tony Rezko are both cooperating with the feds.
I wonder whether anyone will remind us just who Rezko is again? Whose home he helped purchase?
Comment by carlitos — 4/3/2009 @ 8:41 am
Yep. The superseding indictment is a signal of sorts. Wider net, RICO standards, both …?
WLS, where is you?
Comment by nk — 4/3/2009 @ 8:46 am
fan, unlike Cub-fan Blago
Hey, watch the Cub – bashing. They suck harder than the Rock of Gibraltar, but they’re my sucky team, warts and all.
As for Vallas, I hear you loud and clear. I voted for him, and look what we got. I then voted for Eisendradt (?), and look what we got – again. I voted for Claypool for County Board President, and look what we got. I hope Vallas changes his mind about running for the Cook County Pres. and goes after the Governorship again – we need a big FU to the Combine and all their evil minions. I also hope that he new ethics reform bill finally gets some traction this time – it’s the only way out for our benighted state.
Comment by Dmac — 4/3/2009 @ 9:02 am
blighted state?
Comment by John Hitchcock — 4/3/2009 @ 9:07 am
“Politician A” is being reported as Rahm Emmanuel.
Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 4/3/2009 @ 10:33 am
20 Things that have happened since the Cubs won the World Series
1. Radio was invented; Cub fans got to hear their team lose.
2. TV was invented; Cub fans got to see their team lose.
3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cub fans got to see AND hear their team
lose
to more teams.
4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th,
70th,
80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.
5. Haley’s Comet passed Earth… twice.
6. Harry Caray was born… and died. Incredible, but true.
7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won
championships
in each league.
8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs
pitchers.
9. Sixteen US presidents were elected.
10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.
11. Prohibition was created, and repealed.
12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered, and became
the
subject of major motion pictures… the latter giving Cub fans hope that
something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.
13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the
National
League.
14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the
team’s future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted
and
been taken down.
15. A combination of 40 summer & winter Olympics have been held.
16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several
thanked
Cubs pitchers.
17. Bell bottoms came in style, went out of style, and came back in
style.
18. The Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and
Florida Marlins have ALL won the World Series.
19. The Cubs played 14,153 regular-season games; they lost the
majority of
them.
20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and New Mexico were added to
the
Union.
Comment by JD — 4/3/2009 @ 10:40 am
Somebody’s looking for a writing gig with Leno.
But, in other news, Very Nicely Done!
LMFAO!
Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 4/3/2009 @ 11:03 am
blighted state?
Sure, the moniker fits quite nicely. The judges also would’ve accepted FUBAR.
Comment by Dmac — 4/3/2009 @ 2:48 pm