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* Tribune…
Federal prosecutors in Springfield on Tuesday said they would not call Eric Whitaker, the former state public health chief and friend of President Barack Obama, to testify at a state grant scam trial.
The announcement came a day after prosecutors persuaded a judge to declare Whitaker a hostile witness based on more than two hours of questioning outside the presence of the jury.
On trial are Leon and Karen Dingle, who stand accused of benefiting personally from faith-based grants designed to help fight AIDS, pandemic flu and breast cancer.
* The Sun-Times has the back story…
On the witness stand for more than two hours, Whitaker voiced concerns that the Justice Department’s pursuit of state grant-fraud cases in the Central District of Illinois has been racially motivated.
Prosecutors have charged the Dingles and eight other people in six different cases, most of which involve no-bid grants and contracts that began being doled out when Whitaker headed the Illinois Department of Public Health for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich between 2003 and 2007.
Of those 10 people, only one of them — Karin Dingle — is white, while the rest are black.
“Almost everybody who’s been indicted or scrutinized has been African-American. That’s what I mentioned to you,” Whitaker, who also is black, told Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass. “What I don’t support is a selective investigation.” […]
“Personally, I’m upset about this process and how I’ve been made to look like I’m on trial,” Whitaker said. “My not answering a question was really about an affair. . . . I’ve been made to seem like I’m somehow corrupt. I’m angry about that.”
But Whitaker also said he didn’t see himself as a hostile witness.
“I’m angry — but not hostile,” he said. “I would testify truthfully . . . and let the chips fall where they may.”
* Background from the AP…
The government has charged Dingle and his wife, Karin, with fraud, money laundering and tax evasion for allegedly using more than $3 million in grant funds intended for AIDS awareness and other public health programs on luxury cars, a yacht club and vacations.
In addition to his ties to Golden, the government says Whitaker was an “approving official” of DPH grants during the time millions of dollars went to Dingle groups.
Dingle’s lawyers argue that Whitaker’s interactions with Dingle were rare, short-lived, produced insignificant benefits and are seven-year-old history.
“I know we had grants,” Dingle said Monday. “I don’t know that we managed grants day to day.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:20 am
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We don’t know, but it seems the Feds overstepped with this guy in preparation and questioning, and created a “hostile” witness. Your own potential witness need not be threatened or coerced to be valuable to you. Maybe it’s hard for them to break old habits.
We won’t see him at trial, I guess.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:41 am
=== “Almost everybody who’s been indicted or scrutinized has been African-American. That’s what I mentioned to you,” Whitaker, who also is black, told Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass. “What I don’t support is a selective investigation.” […] ===
Shameful attempt to divert attention from his own incompetence or worse. The program was targeted at blacks. The grantee agency was headed by blacks. The IDPH decision makers were black. The only white person I think should be punished is the one who appointed Whitaker to the directorship - oops he’s already in jail for other issues.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:42 am
If they weren’t going to call him, why go thru the charade? Sounds rather punitive…
Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:52 am
Hey, The feds are the good guys; they’d never threaten or browbeat anyone (snicker).
Comment by Weltschmerz Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:59 am
As an individual that has observed Illinois public health community for decades, it does not surprise me that Whitaker was questioned. Could this be more exposure of Blago’s tentacles into the state pocket for personal gain?
Comment by BMAN Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:11 pm
They tuned him up pretty good in the public arena without calling him.
Are we clear now that presidents don’t run federal prosecutors?
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:17 pm
Whitaker has always been an operator in the worst sense of the word. He is highly political and used IDPH as a political agency under Blago. Since then he’s dined out on his FOB status.
Playing the race card is the perfect demonstration of his lack of integrity. $3 Million is stolen from under his nose, his Chief of Staff is found to be criminally responsible and all he can do is cry “racism.”
Yeah, this is just the US Attorney being mean…
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:23 pm
Word,
I think it would be far easier to argue that Whitaker not being called to testify shows that Obama & Holder do control Federal Investigations
Comment by Fed Up Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:52 pm
Fed, he got dragged through the mud pretty good in open court. How could it have been worse to be called?
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:57 pm
Norseman is spot on.
Comment by ??? Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:08 pm
I worked for these “public health professionals” (I use the term loosely). Their incompetence was exceeded only by their greed. To add insult to injury, most of the programs they looted provided needed services to AA population. Who is the racist now?
Comment by Kakistocracy Kid Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:21 pm
Wouldn’t be too surprised if the good doctor gets to spend some additional time in federal court again in the future.
Wait for it.
Comment by Judgment Day Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:33 pm
I noticed that the Feds say they aren’t going to call him — they’re just going to introduce stuff about him as evidence. So he won’t get a chance to throw shade on the prosecutors, or to protect his reputation.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:42 pm
==I think it would be far easier to argue that Whitaker not being called to testify shows that Obama & Holder do control Federal Investigations==
I hope you aren’t serious. Please tell me you aren’t serious.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 3:56 pm
I guess it was wrong for Whitaker to mention that mostly Blacks have been disproportionately indicted even though he has not been charged with anything and Not in trial? Then feds decide not to call him?
Comment by One to the Dome Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:41 pm
Whitaker gets a request from his brother to ask Vic for some no bid contracts. But he tells the court he doesn’t know who Vic is. Maybe he should ask Victor Roberson to refresh his memory.
Comment by Fed Express Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 8:05 pm
Judy always seemed to be respectful toward Illinois public servants. A very rare thing seen in our state’s politicians/leaders of today. She will be missed as a voice of common sense in a crowd of the extremes.
Comment by Johnnie F. Wednesday, Dec 10, 14 @ 12:31 pm
Oops wrong thread.
Comment by Johnnie F. Wednesday, Dec 10, 14 @ 12:32 pm