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Levine’s next hearing will be about a week before election day.
A millionaire campaign contributor charged with engineering corruption at the fund that pays the pensions of downstate and suburban teachers is likely to plead guilty, his attorney said Friday.Political insider Stuart Levine’s lawyer, Jeffrey Steinback, asked U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to set a date for a change of plea. […]
Levine, 60, is a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and the Illinois State Teachers Retirement System and is charged with masterminding corruption at both of the big-money panels.
Published reports have been saying for weeks that Levine was cooperating with prosecutors and planned to change his plea to guilty.
If he cooperates with the government’s investigation of the boards as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, he may be able to cast light on how high up the political ladder corruption goes - if it goes any higher.
UPDATE: See also: Plea deal on pension fraud case could mean trouble for gov
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 2:38 pm
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Rich–I presume that this was what you were referring to earlier in advising Bill to lay low today. I don’t think this is all that important. Levine won’t be allowed to say anything but “guilty” between now and the election. The plea on the 27th will generate some press that refers to “Public Official A” in the week before the election. But I doubt that that will be enough to prevent Blago’s victory. I hope it will, but I doubt it.
Comment by Realist Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 2:53 pm
Unless or until Blago’s name is officially mentioned as part of these investigations, I really don’t see this having an impact on the race. Not that I hold a gret deal of stock in them, but the latest polls touted on this website show that political corruption is not weighing heavily on the minds of Illinois voters this year. No direct connection to Blago = No effect on the governor’s race.
Comment by Veritas Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 3:00 pm
If Blago was named by Levine in court the week before the election, the news cycles would be nothing but stories of the charges. Blago would have no chance to defend himself. I don’t like the guy, but I can’t think of a worse case scenario other than being indicted the week before.
Comment by leigh Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 3:12 pm
In a perverse way, it may motivate people to vote for Blago if he’s indicted.
Many people I know would rather have EITHER of the LT Guv candidates in the mansion than EITHER Blago or Topinka.
I can see the campaign slogan now, “Vote for Blago, at least he’ll be gone in less than four years!”
Comment by PalosParkBob Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 4:01 pm
What happens when Levine starts talking about Todd Stroger’s campaign manager?
Comment by Scenic Route Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 4:03 pm
“If we discover that someone is cheating, whether they be human beings or cows, they’re going to pay a price.†- R. Blagojevich
Comment by yada yada yada Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 4:12 pm
“he may be able to cast light on how high up the political ladder corruption goes - if it goes any higher”
Hello??? I seriously doubt that a plea would be offered if Levine had no one to offer up…
Sooner or later, the Feds are gonna get ya’ (come on sing it). The inevitability of the Governor and his cronies being INDICTED is inescapable! Learn it, know it, live it. Next!
Re-electing this boob would be a colossal mistake and an unbelievable embarassment for the State of Illinois. End it now.
Comment by El Conquistador Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 5:27 pm
“There are always a few bad apples.”
-Rod Blagojevich
Comment by NumbersGuy Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 5:53 pm
Scenic Route–I was wondering along the same lines. Not that I know I darn thing, but it has made me wonder, certainly. I think this development is bad news for Blago and potentially Dems as a whole if he has enough and it reaches the “bad apple”.
Comment by minion Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 6:27 pm
he’s the “worm” in the bad apples.
Comment by annon. Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 6:42 pm
I am no defender of corruption on either side of the aisle, and I believe that any public official or employee who violates the law deserves to go to jail.
But I’m starting to wonder at what point this investigation becomes election tampering. The timing of the hearing seems highly suspect.
I hope I’m wrong, and that Levine’s plea has no impact on voters’ decision-making. But if this becomes an “october surprise,” that’s not fair to the candidates involved, and it’s really not fair to voters.
Comment by soccermom Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 8:49 pm
I agree with Veritas. Those hanging their hats on indictments will see a total blue state in mid-November. If something is coming, it\’s not happening until maybe the third year of his second term. The Feds goal is to win a prosecution, they couldn\’t care less about the election. They will probably go out of their way not to indict because of the election. Everyone would say it was politically motivated if they did.
Comment by Stan Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 9:26 pm
Hey soccermom. You are so far off base I can barely see you. Here’s what wouldn’t be fair. Voters elect a Gov who is months away from indictment because they don’t have all the information. Now that would be a shame.
Comment by Truth Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 9:27 pm
I find it funny that all the Republicans here over the past 10 months have been soooo eager to see their most prominent fundraiser spill all to the feds.
Careful what you wish for… you might just get it.
Comment by JohnR Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 9:39 pm
I know that playing pretend makes the Blago haters feel better. But some people need a reality check.
This pension fraud thing is hardly just a Dem scandal. Don’t forget, Levine had major Republican ties long before he gave any support to Blago.
And while we’re talking about consultants who got consulting contracts in fishy deals, the biggest payments have gone to Topinka’s biggest backer, Bob Kjellander. And it’s already been widely reported that Kjellander’s dealings are under federal investigation and records relating to his dealings have been subpoenaed.
Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Sep 9, 06 @ 9:25 am
Levin=Resko=Blago
Kjellander also
It is funny that Jim Ryan’s best friend in law school and the guy who donated 500,000 is going to be the downfall of GRod
Comment by Eddie Saturday, Sep 9, 06 @ 7:57 pm