* The Tribune has more on the AP story from late yesterday which exposed some e-mails between Tribune Co. adviser Marc Gainis and then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s chief of staff John Harris on a state deal to help the Trib sell Wrigley Field…
In an exchange of e-mails between Ganis and Harris on the day prior to the arrests of the governor and his chief of staff, Ganis provided Harris with a copy of a news story noting Tribune Co. had filed for bankruptcy. Harris responded, “Lousy product. Inevitable.” […]
Ganis also noted the Cubs were not part of the firm’s bankruptcy filing and said “Nils is going to call you and Sam is going to call the Gov.”
We don’t know if Tribune owner Sam Zell ever did call Blagojevich before the governor was arrested the next day because Zell isn’t talking. This is the Tribune Co.’s only comment to its own paper today…
A Tribune Co. spokesman said in a statement late Monday: “We have no reason to believe that Mr Ganis’ actions on behalf of Tribune have been anything but appropriate at all times.”
Um, OK, but on September 11th last year, Ganis appeared to pitch himself for an appointment to the 2016 Chicago Olympics board. “It’s one appointment where I can help a lot and also watch out for things and be Rod’s (hopefully credible) voice,” he wrote to Harris.
Ganis also pitched a wind power deal to Harris on September 4th. “Sorry for the sales pitch language, I am just excited by the opportunities to do something good and create a new business.”
* Ganis explains to the Trib today…
Asked if his Tribune work had any relationship to his other dealing with Harris and Blagojevich, Ganis said, “Zero, zero, zero.” He also said he received no indication from the Governor or his aide that the stadium deal was contingent on any changes in Tribune’s editorial board. “I’m not a naïve person, but I didn’t get a whiff of that,” Ganis said.
* I’ll repeat what I posted late yesterday…
The Tribune Co. has been subpoenaed by the feds, but the company has (ironically) refused to disclose a copy of that document. Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell has admitted to being contacted by the FBI, but won’t specify what the G wanted. A top Tribune editor has denied ever feeling any heat to change the paper’s editorial stance on the governor. But Rod Blagojevich pretty much admitted on Rachel Maddow’s program that he at least made the suggestion.
The Tribune editorial page has pressed hard for more open, responsive state and local governments. That’s a good thing. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if the edit board pushed just as hard to get its own parent company to fess up?
Here are some unanswered questions…
1) Why won’t the Tribune Co. release the federal subpoena?
2) Did Blagojevich mention the alleged shakedown attempt [state deal on Wrigely in exchange for firings at editorial board] to anyone at the company, and if so, was the FBI then notified? And if not, why not?
3) Who at the company and at the paper have been interviewed by the FBI? What were those interviews about?
4) Did anyone at the company know their consultant was apparently cooking up side deals with the governor’s office?
5) Did Sam Zell or Tribune Co. executive vice president Nils Larsen call Blagojevich and Harris as mentioned in the above e-mail? About what, exactly?
These sorts of questions and plenty more have been asked of Sen. Roland Burris and lots of other people connected to Blagojevich by the media. So I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest that the Trib live up to its own standards.
Do you have any other questions the Trib should answer?
* Related…
* Tribune editorial: Will it be New Illinois?
* Testimony in federal corruption trial details Mayor Richard Daley’s machine
* City jobs promised for Daley votes?
* Abuse of Power or BB-Q at Sanchez’s?
* Quinn on Blago book: ‘I’m not sure I can read all that fiction’
* Buddy of key witness to plead guilty
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 8:52 am:
The irony is not lost on this subscriber. The Trib is first in line when it comes to pushing for others to open their books and lay everything out in the open. It makes them look guilty of something whether they are or not. I fear the once proud institution is flailing about trying to keep from sinking. Witholding info seems like desperation to me. Maybe they should hire RB’s PR firm and go on Letterman to chat him up.
- IlliniPundit / Gordy Hulten - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 8:55 am:
Great questions, Rich.
- Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 9:06 am:
Perhaps they are restrained because of grand jury testimony or testimony yet to come.
Paitence everyone. Indictments should be coming no later than April 7.
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 9:16 am:
I find it highly ironic that the Trib felt obligated to open sealed divorce of Jack and Jeri Ryan because the public had a right to know about potential public officials, but felt no obligation to let the public know the Guv was blackmailing one of the largest media outlets in the state.
They sure toss around the first amendment when it suits their agenda so no copping out by some gag order by the feds. They have no problem violating others rights when it suits their interests.
They sat for months the guvs offer for one reason, they were considering it.
How else do you reconcile the position that what a candidate does with his wife, is more relevant to the public then a governor who is using millions in taxpayer money to black mail a news paper?
- Thomas Westgard - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 9:43 am:
I thought it was kind of weird that Blago wanted certain members of the Trib’s editorial board fired. Maybe it was simply because they said he was a bad governor. Maybe.
Alternatively, it could have been a part of a much larger story that I, at least, don’t feel I’ve fully heard yet. So many deals and offers floating around, it’s hard to keep track of why someone might have disliked someone else.
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 9:48 am:
What Atrios would say about the Tribune concealing the details of its role in the story, “Time to convene a blogger ethic panel.”
- 2ConfusedCrew - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Maybe the Trib is part of Kass’ imaginary friends, “The Combine”
TeeHee….I did not notice stonewalling as part of their treatise on FOI
- Cal Skinner - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 11:00 am:
Don’t you really favor limiting campaign contributions so rich newspaper owners can have more influence than rich folks who don’t own newspapers?
- Redbright - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 12:38 pm:
I think there is a HUGE difference in expectations between taxpayer-funded organizations and commercial ones (or even private non-profits).
Whatever rules you want to apply to the Tribune should apply to you too, Rich.
I don’t think being a member of the 4th Estate means you have to relinquish your rights as a private business.
- ByLine - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 12:39 pm:
Perhaps the Trib or its leadership will be included in conspiracy charges which will be coming by April 7th? If not, why not? Just to get cooperating witnesses for RB’s charges? They should be charged as well if involved.
- Ann O'Namus - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 1:16 pm:
Can you FOIA a newspaper? While they’re rewriting that law, maybe they should consider it.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 1:21 pm:
Redbright, Tribune Co. was heavily involved in discussions that revolved around substantial monetary help from a government agency (IFA). I believe Harris said the eventual tax benefit to the company was around $100 million.
So, yeah, if I’m ever involved in a $100 million deal with the governor of Illinois that winds up in a criminal complaint, I’ll take my lumps - especially if I’m screaming louder than anyone else in the state for a thorough explanation of everybody else’s dealings with Rod Blagojevich.
- Redbright - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 1:33 pm:
Rich - My belief is that all of the info that you identify should come from the state agency. (And I strongly agree it should be public.) [I think there should be web cams in every public office so we can all watch them at work.]
- lincoln street - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 3:54 pm:
I suspect TribCo is in some hot water.
However, the talk of hypocrisy here is about as meaningful as saying “the state of Illinois” is hypocritical because Bill Holland was criticizing something that Blagojevich was doing.
The Trib’s reporters and editors aren’t the ones withholding information.
I think the Sun-Times and various other news outlets around the state should be asking TribCo questions, and then reporting their evasiveness if that’s what it comes to.
- lincoln street - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 4:15 pm:
By the way, when they write about Marc Ganis, do they mean Marc “I gave $1,000 to Sara Feigenholtz” Ganis?
from the FEC:
GANIS, MARC
CHICAGO, IL 60611
SPORTSCORP LTD./PRESIDENT
FEIGENHOLTZ, SARA
VIA FRIENDS OF SARA
12/16/2008 1000.00 29990954308
Giving a big campaign contributions not 9 days after talking to a official who was indicted for the very issue you spoke to him about? Maybe Feigenholtz is just an old friend, but the timing is ugly.
By the way, I find it strange the AP didn’t include the Ganis-Harris e-mails of Dec. 7th. Those are actually the most damning, and the Trib itself mentions them, but the AP skipped them.
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 4:22 pm:
The trib should be asked to release all letters from attorneys of subjects of trib stories alleging the paper ran stories that were slanderous to their clients.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 5:17 pm:
In the interest of transparency, will the Tribune Company reveal any other negotiations or dealings with local, state or federal lawmakers or authorities regarding taxation or the use of public funds that would benefit the company?
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Mar 10, 09 @ 9:45 pm:
Much has been said about both members of the administration and the Tribune Company with regard to this deal and yet nobody seems to want to address the elephant in the room; so to speak, and that would be Thompson. He certainly seemed to be auditioning for the role of Mr. October way back when this was percolating in the fall. So far, the straw that stirs the drink has been left unexamined on this matter and may be worthy of further scrutiny.