Alexi Giannoulias got a bit of bad press today:
Of the millions donated to Illinois politicians, it’s a mere $5,000.
But this cash donated to a Democrat hoping to become Illinois’ treasurer comes with the makings of a TV murder mystery: It’s from a Florida casino fleet owner whose uncle was gunned down in an execution-style slaying after selling the gambling fleet to a group that included indicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
What’s more, the candidate, Alexi Giannoulias of Chicago, happens to own a stake in a Chicago bank where the donor owes $4.8 million.
Giannoulias says there’s nothing wrong with the donation — it’s simply a gift from a fellow Greek.
The donation came from Spiros Naos in December. Naos owns SunCruz Casinos, which operates several gambling cruise ships, mostly in Florida.
Naos became owner after his uncle was gunned down in 2001, in what authorities called an execution-style slaying that remains unsolved. The murder occurred shortly after the fleet was sold to a business group that included Abramoff, who has set Washington politics asunder since pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion and agreeing to cooperate with authorities.
But the Abramoff group fell on hard times quickly and SunCruz filed for bankruptcy within months. Abramoff and his business partner since have been charged with defrauding lenders who backed the casino purchase.
Enter Naos, who in 2004 led an investment group that paid $36 million for the casinos.
Naos knows Giannoulias because he has borrowed money from Chicago-based Broadway Bank, founded and run by Giannoulias’ father. Alexi Giannoulias is a vice president. Records show Naos has a $4.8 million loan from Broadway.
- Here Comes the Hammer - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:07 am:
Gee, wonder how this obscure and irrelevant, story broke? The Velvet Hammer perhaps?
- gopartisan - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:33 am:
Wow, two stories about a Democratic double standard in one day…..watch out Rich, you’ll be getting some angry emails about how your site is becoming too “right wing.”
- Making me Sick - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:39 am:
Another classic quote from Amblin’ Alexi. Gives rambling answers on the stump, can’t answer questions from the Trib Ed Board and now he says he’s not used to “all this grilling”? Sorry, kid, but when you decided to run for state-wide office, you should have known to expect that every aspect of your life would be under the microscope and prepared accordingly. Of course, when one decides to run for said office on a lark, I suppose the voters can’t ask for basic things like foresight and adequate preparation.
- Walking Wounded - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:40 am:
“It’s not personal, Sonny, it’s strictly business”
- Stavros Popodopolis - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:49 am:
Beware Greeks bearing gifts.
- Skeeter - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 12:00 pm:
LEt me get this right: One Greek who does business with another Greek’s father’s business gave the first Greek a campaign donation.
Slow news day?
Apparently you have stumbled upon the massive story that Greeks support Greeks. Nice work.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 12:04 pm:
LOL
- gopartisan - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 12:35 pm:
good thing Giannoulias isn’t a Republican member of Congress…..cause they he’d be part of the “culture of corruption”
- Healthy Skeptic - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 12:51 pm:
Yeah, politicians accepting dirty money, I geuss thas not really new anymore in Illinois.
- Whitewash - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 12:53 pm:
What I’m more concerned about is why Alexis billboards on the north side have Jesse Jr. painted over with white paint, while hes proud to display his support on the south side.
- Truth Will Prevail - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 1:00 pm:
Nice try at racebaiting Whitewash, try sticking to the facts. Or else I’ll start talking about the FACT that Mangieri has changed his position on issues as often as he picks new races to run for. Just little issues though (guns, gay rights, choice). I’m sure he means it this time though. Unless he loses, and has to change them again.
- Whitewash - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 1:36 pm:
Fine we can continue to talk about his dirty money, instead of his north side billboards that actually have Jesse painted out of them
- Whitewash - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 1:52 pm:
So then it’s okay to talk about Mangieri being a third-pick ticket filler that lost his own precinct when he ran for State Senate, whose local colleagues are working against him, who now supports a woman’s right to choice and gay rights, even though he opposed them every other time he ran.
Downstaters wanted diversity, and instead they got another machine candidate, only with a different zip code. There’s a reason he keeps running and losing. The only ones that should be supporting him in the Primary are Republicans that want to hold the seat.
- Truth Will Prevail - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 1:53 pm:
The last post was mine, I started to address it to Whitewash, put the name in the wrong place. No attempt to deceive.
- The Listener - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 2:23 pm:
That is absolutely crazy. I wonder if this guy realized that the treasurer has no contral over abortion rights, or gay rights, or guns or any of the issues you’re refering to.
- Making me Sick - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 2:30 pm:
One of Alexi’s reasons for why we should elect him is that he takes a liberal stand on just those issues. I am, by no means, a Mangieri fan and this is the only issue on which I routinely write. But something about a callow, unknowledgable rich man’s son running as a Democrat sticks in my craw. That’s the sort of thing that should be left to Republicans… now that the next gen of the Kennedys seems not politically inclined.
- Mr. ANON - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 4:55 pm:
Looks like Mr. Lexi got caught a little short. Wonder how a small bank that claims to be focused on neighborhood loans finds over $4 million to hand out in FLA to a guy who buys and sells casino boats. Now we know where the Emmy award winnin Obamarama can hang when heads to the Sunshine State.
P.S. FYI Mr. Whitewash The Mangieri positions are unchanged from previous campaigns. Nice try to deflect the sh–storm with a flip flop but it did not make the mark.
- Conspiracy Theorist - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 5:08 pm:
Re-read this thread topic and wonder about the source of the Daily Herald article with me. The 25 year old Election Projections website guy might have been an inebriated staffer/intern/campaign aide of Madigan’s who overheard a superior (maybe madigan himself) talking about the Treasurer’s race and mistook their meaning for the current Treasurer - Topinka. Meaning he overheard Madigan or really any of the others mentioned, Jay Hoffman, Holbrook, or Jones talking about opposition research which they planned to leak to the D.H.
At the least, you must wonder where reporter Erin Calandriella got her story? A little too wrapped up and packaged for easy delivery. IMHO pretty weak attempt to connect the much-publicized Abramoff name with a party chosen candidate. A new game? Six Degrees of Seperation from Jack Abramoff? C’mon.
- Conspiracy Theorist - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 5:12 pm:
I was referring to “Andy did you hear about this one?” on Wednesday.
- Reddbyrd - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 5:36 pm:
Looks like some solid reporting.
Congrats to Professor Wheeler & the the PAR program.
Journalism 101:
Look at campaign reports
See out of state name and 5k
Google name
Bingo. Black Jack shows up
Let the games begin.
- Truth Will Prevail - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 9:02 pm:
Listener,
Today’s Treasurer may well be tomorrow’s Governor, so social positions do matter, dipwad.
And if you think his positions haven’t changed, try looking at some of his past responses to questionnaires and compare them to his answers now. FLIP - FLOP - PHONY
- The Listener - Friday, Feb 10, 06 @ 11:51 pm:
Actually todays treasurers stances on social issues is whats keeping her from winning the primary. Also, could you please direct me to these past questionaires? My
- Schoolboy Kickball Legend - Saturday, Feb 11, 06 @ 11:04 am:
Is this kid serious! Played some ball in college, hell, he’s got my vote. Oh yeah and his Dad gave him the big office at the bank and about $200,000 in contributions. It deeply concerns me as an Illinois citizen and as an American when voters can realistically look at these two candidates and struggle with their decision, and worse, actually choose Giannoulias.
From what I’ve gathered Mangieri is a U.S. Navy veteran with over a decade of public service. People contend Mangieri has no financial background, I read the guys got twelve kids, that’s sufficient money management for me. Let me ask Giannoulias supporters, if he gets elected, and I hope a it’s a big IF, what happens when this kid gets bored of being Treasurer. I mean he went to play ball overseas and quit that, next he tried law school and got his degree but didn’t want to practice the law, next he thought he’d take advantage of his families multi-million dollar business and he’s now grown tired of that and wants to be Treasurer.
It’s a scary thing when you have nothing to loose like Mr. Giannoulias. Mangieri seems to be in this fight for all the right reasons, for us, the people of Illinois. Giannoulias should keep his self-proclaimed progressive agenda to himself, frankly I would rather have my hard earned tax dollars invested by Ken Lay.
- The Listener - Wednesday, Feb 15, 06 @ 12:55 am:
Good job providing those questionarre
- It doesnt matter what you think - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 1:16 am:
Sounds like dirty politics to me. Shouldn’t you guys be making up stories about Republicans?