And some of the bad news for Blagojevich…
Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tony Rezko was acquitted in the $1.5 million campaign contribution shakedown scheme, but he was convicted on two counts based on Joe Cari’s testimony…
Count 4, Wire fraud: A phone call between Levine and trial witness Joe Cari about a consultant to be used by investment firm JER Partners. Cari was in Hong Kong at the time.
Count 6, Wire fraud: A phone call from Cari to JER Partners in which Cari threatens that JER would lose its retirement system allocation unless the firm hired a consultant.
* The governor’s office had claimed Cari was not credible, but the jury thought he was. Here’s the relevant Cari testimony pertaining to Blagojevich…
A veteran Democratic fundraiser testified [April 14th] that Gov. Rod Blagojevich once offered to give him his pick of contracts and state business in exchange for help building a nationwide political money machine as a prelude to a presidential run.
The governor said “that there were contracts, legal work, investment banking work and consulting work to be awarded to people who helped,” Joseph Cari recalled as he took the stand in the federal corruption trial of Blagojevich insider Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
The allegations by Cari, once a finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee, were the most explicit accusations of pay-to-play politics leveled against Blagojevich at a trial where he is not even the defendant.
But federal agents continue to investigate allegations that his administration illegally swapped jobs and board appointments for campaign cash. And now Cari’s allegations suggest that the governor was personally willing to trade lucrative state business for political donations.
Not good at all.
- Cranky Old Man - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 6:45 pm:
Any chance Rezko will turn on the gov?
- Kevin Highland - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 6:48 pm:
for those people saying that impeachment should be saved for criminal offenses and not political incompetence I’d say that the I word is looking more reasonable.
- HoBoSkillet - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:03 pm:
Well that was a short press conference.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:07 pm:
When is rezko being taken into custody?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:08 pm:
Scroll down. He turned himself in today,
- Shooook - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:09 pm:
Is it just me or did Rod look really shook up??
- Friend of the Fax - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:15 pm:
Happy Birthday Kevin! Don’t do anything too crazy tonight!
- Just sayin' - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:31 pm:
That wasn’t press conference…
For some reason the word “coward” comes to mind.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:32 pm:
WoO HoO! (2/3 all caps for 2/3 convictions) I’m happy only in the sense perhaps, maybe, just maybe, Illinois residents will wake up and do something about our government. Con-con must pass!
- HoBoSkillet - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:33 pm:
Shoook - I got the same impression, I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who thought the Governor was very uneasy.
- scoot - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:34 pm:
Rod spent almost 38 seconds discussing Rezko….and the rest of 1:10 trying to change the subject.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:35 pm:
Did the Jury know it was Kevin’s birthday? I think so!
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:40 pm:
I just saw the video of Rod….he is not looking good at all. I loved his leaving the room saying something about the $2 billion shortfall…yeah, he’s doing that and not talking with his attorney! Isn’t it scary to think this guy thought he could be president?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:41 pm:
Heck, I didn’t even know it was his birthday. I mean, I should’ve known. He told me a couple of weeks ago. Crabbed at him all afternoon, whipped him but good.
Oops.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:41 pm:
Also, the end of the interview with Cindy Canary was brilliant! She said Rod is not the person to write ethics law in Illinois….priceless!
- He makes Ryan look like a Saint - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:43 pm:
Sometimes I wonder if he (the gov) realizes that what he and his staff are doing is wrong? Much Like George Ryan, I never got the impression that he thought what he was doing was wrong, just the way government operates. I would be a bit shook up if I was Rod, not only because a close friend got sent to jail, but the G is on his tail and closing in.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:43 pm:
He looked like he was pleading to Tony-Please don’t throw ME under the bus. Throw Kelly and Milan…
- He makes Ryan look like a Saint - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:44 pm:
Rich, Good Job today under a lot of pressure. Go get yourself a sodie, and Kevin a present!
- Shooook - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:48 pm:
I agree with you about George. Rod knows.
- HoBoSkillet - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:50 pm:
Anon 7:43 - I would not be surprised if you are right. The Republican blogosphere is ablaze with speculation that this is going to do Obama in but I keep arguing that it won’t and they should direct their attention to how this verdict may effect Blagojevich.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:56 pm:
Does Rebecca Rausch have impeccable timing or what? Wonder what the other spinmeisters will offer up tomorrow? Look for dark bags under their eyes as they’ll likely be burning the midnight oil. I heard they are restocking the moat with fresh, hungry, sharks . . . and the bridge has been lifted into the way up position. Can anyone spell siege?
- Carlos - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 7:57 pm:
Blagojevich becomes the the sacrificial lamb, Obama move forward to the general election. Rod becomes an embarassing footnote in Illinois history.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:05 pm:
Rod was doing the old two-step up there tonight. Is he growing his hair even longer these days so he can hide behind it?
- One of the 35 - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:05 pm:
The governor did look very worried. His usual brashness and testicular verility were noticeably absent. His eyes darted about and he did not make eye contact with anyone in the room. Clearly the man is shaken. If he thinks a 60 second statement of concern for Rezko’s family will make any difference in Tony’s willingness to roll, I believe he is mistaken.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:06 pm:
If he was leaving to “work on the budget”, then I am going up to visit the shuttle.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:09 pm:
Hey, if Tony is going to flip on the Gov, perhaps he figures it is more convenient to just go into custody and avoid those long commutes from Wilmette to the Feds’ office in the loop!
- Danny - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:18 pm:
With Rezko voluntarily going in now, only means one thing… he is rolling like a timber log. If he were looking at a long stay he would have tried to stay out until sentencing.
- Truth - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:19 pm:
Shazam. Did Fitzgerald say 320 years? I know it won’t be that much, but it looks like Rezko will be facing major time.
Let’s see either spend the rest of my life in prison, or tell the truth about the weasel. That doesn’t seem like a hard decision.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:28 pm:
Perhaps Rod will promise Tony a nice State job when he gets out in return for Tony’s silence?
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:31 pm:
Do you get the feeling Fitzgerald is on step two of a three step plan?
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:42 pm:
I’m not an attorney so I have a legal/technical question about the two counts above, how can Tony Rezko get charged for two people who aren’t Tony Rezko having a phone call? I know that Levine and Cari were charged also and pled guilty but in order for Rezko to be liable for their actions doesn’t there need to be some sort of conspiracy charge or other way to tie them together? That seems odd.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:44 pm:
Lefty,
I hope and expect he’s on a 12-step plan.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:46 pm:
AIDING AND ABETTING (AGENCY) - The guilt of a person in a criminal case may be proved without evidence that he personally did every act involved in the commission of the crime charged. The law recognizes that, ordinarily, anything a person can do for himself may also be accomplished through direction of another person as an agent, or by acting together with, or under the direction of, another person or persons in a joint effort.
- fight corruption - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:49 pm:
Talk about this administration illegally swapping jobs and board appointments for campaign cash, take a look at IDOT. Its astonishing how many people who started off as ‘liaisons’ 3-4 years ago are now Directors or Deputy Directors of state agencies.
- 312 - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:51 pm:
Am I allowed to start a pool for the date when the indictments will hit GRod individually? Or could that be a gratuitous insult?
- Former Budgeteer - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:51 pm:
Hey everyone, I’d love to finish this post, but I have a $2 billion budget deficit on my desk.
Rod’s on deck, Filan’s in the hole.
- Princeville - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:53 pm:
Several things surprised me today. 1) Tony spent lots of time trying to get out of jail and now suddenly decides he’ll hurry back to it? 2) I stared at a little black screen for 30 minutes before finally Rod appears. For that, why not just issue a press release. 3) That when Rod said he hoped to meet with the leaders tomorrow, that he didn’t add “and Speaker Madigan you are welcome to join us”.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 8:53 pm:
Can you hear Mike Madigan rubbing his hands together?
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:02 pm:
Rezko will definitely roll. He couldn’t stand being in the county jail awaiting trial.
- Weary State Worker - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:06 pm:
Please explain to me…why would Tony roll on the Gov now? Wouldn’t he have done that to strike a deal before sentencing?
- Shooook - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:11 pm:
Weary — He hasn’t been sentenced.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:16 pm:
To Weary… Tony was playing chicken, betting the line that he would beat the counts altogether or be found guilty on a few lesser counts. As it is Tony shot craps - you’d have thought he would have learned his lesson in VEGAS. Some people never learn. Now he knows where he stands, knows what the ground rules are and can begin negotiations.
- Inquisitor - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:17 pm:
The squeeze in on, and Tony will be getting a number of questions thrown at him in short order. In due course, we’ll start hearing leaks about those real estate commissions paid to Mrs. B, more about the secret conversations and promises made by the governor to contributors, and other areas of sleaze.
But I’m not celebrating…this is just too damn sad to generate any degree of glee. We need it to end–if not with a bang, then with a whimper.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:22 pm:
Are there any other politicians at risk of Rezko decides to cooperate with the feds? Or only our Blago.
This must be awfully expensive. I wonder who is paying the bills. Does Rezko have any money left?
Or is that billionaire from London helping out.
- Cheswick - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:23 pm:
Sobering and weird. No talk of continuing bond pending appeal. No talk of appeal, unless I missed it. It could mean he’s going to do the Soprano thing and not sing.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:24 pm:
If Rod got thrown in jail tomorrow with Tony, it would not change one problem that exists in this state’s economy. It only removes one big impediment between the all the problems and possible solutions. There remain other “impediments” in our state government.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:27 pm:
To Inquisitor … AMEN. It is a very sad day for Illinois. It appears that we may end up the only state in the nation with two former governors in the “BIG HOUSE”. Sad day for sure.
- He makes Ryan look like a Saint - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:31 pm:
Keep in mind, if he rolls over, he may be able to also get the Vegas case dropped if it is a federal case. Plus he will get credit for time served.
- thurber - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:37 pm:
Man oh man, was the weasel ever doing the bob and weave, couldn’t stand still and his eyes darting all over the place……but he has nothing to worry about he doesn’t do business that way…yeah, right…..Madigan’s actions the last few days make me think he is clairivoyant.
- Big Mama T - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:42 pm:
My lights keep flickering, must be all the shredders going overtime.
Rich - You should be caned for flogging Kevin on his birthday
Better buy him a beer and send a 6 pack to the guv.
- Big Mama T - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:45 pm:
Sad day for Illinois? No way. Our corrupt political system just became a wee bit more transparent to the public.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:48 pm:
Cheswick-
Duffy claims they will appeal the case.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aXvNWF6CVZ4U&refer=home
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:58 pm:
I think we will see smaller fish fall before the “GUV” gets his turn in the hot seat. What will be an interesting filler between indictments is watching who leaves his administration and how fast. Expect to see a number of Upper Eschelon Blagojevich appointed agency personnel bail by the end of the summer. Our agency head appears to have secured the position of President of a lovely college in Chicago. We shall see. (Rebecca Rausch’s early departure looks incredibly intuitive to the naked eye - me thinks she saw this bus acomin’ and hit the road before she could be thrown under it)
- Just My Opinion - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:02 pm:
I thought the part in Rod’s hair looked more like a skunk line. I think he got caught off guard with the verdict and didn’t have time to use his Grecian Formula before going in front of the camera.
There’s a few more rungs on Fitz’ ladder before he gets to Blago. He doesn’t have a good ironclad case YET.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:10 pm:
MO’ MONEY Jones ought to be looking over his shoulder right about now. His wife Lori’s big appointment to head of DMH with her lack of qualifications and her huge salary increase may just bite him in the proverbial butt. Not to mention the no bid contracts his children received both at Chicago State University and the state. Which in turn will point at Daley, etc etc etc. Frankly I am sure there are a lot of CROOK COUNTY pols that are more than a bit nervous tonight, not to mention those greedy little GOP’ERS that dared to cross the aisle!
- Truth - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:15 pm:
Polly,
Rebecca was not intuitive. The intuitive ones have been gone for a long time. Monk, Tusk, Cheryl Jackson, the former legal counsels. Those were the intuitive ones. Anybody who worked with Rod last month is not intuitive.
- Disgusted - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:19 pm:
He looked as nervous as a tick.
- Patty Melt - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:23 pm:
I think we should forgive Rod and just stare into his beedy eyes and brush his hair
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:26 pm:
Truth … While that may be true, the others did not have quite as much invested in the gov as ‘Becca did. And she did have the good sense to get out. Ottenhoff and the other mouthpieces are still hanging about. God what I would not give to be a bug on the wall in Blago’s office tonight. Wonder if he’s called “BIG JIM” Thompson yet? And what will this do to his $20,000 a plate fund raiser? For $20,000 you can become a co-chair of what - his legal defense team?
- Thinking - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:29 pm:
So, at the moment all signs point to Obama being a frontrunner. Doesn’t this mean that Fitz’s time is going to be up shortly after the new year? Me thinks Fitz is kind of racing against the clock here too.
Sure, a sitting Gov is a pretty big fish, but Fitz already has one of those on the resume… but getting the goods (if any) on a major party’s Presidential nominee???? Priceless.
I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Rezko delivers the goods on the Gov and that the Gov’s indictment will come before the end of the year. But, I also think that one of the areas that will be explored in depth with Rezko will be Obama to see if there is anything hidden under the rocks.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:30 pm:
PS - Sure glad I took my ethics test - it seems to have worked so well for the gov!
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:36 pm:
Thinking … Patrick Fitzgerald will most definitely be “vetting” OBAMA. As methodical as Fitz is, if there is anything to find he’ll find it and in a hurry. The clock is most certainly ticking. All we would need now is for Obama to get elected, indicted and convicted in his first year as president - as if Illinois hasn’t already set the pace for political corruption.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:14 pm:
If this cancer growing on guv’s admin. was thought to be a tumor it has just turned into a threemor.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:20 pm:
- Sweet Polly Purebred -
Fitz needs to get Obama before Obama has the power to get Fitz. Indeed, the clock is ticking. This is the stuff of Greek Tragedies.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:27 pm:
A Citizen … It’s like Heroin to a political junkie like me! Yes, I believe that Pat Fitzgerald, good citizen that he is could not live with himself if he did not do everything in his power to insure that there are no “FATAL” skeletons in Obama’s closet BEFORE he is elected. I don’t think that Obama would replace Pat - remember he promised the Trib that if elected, he would reappoint Pat and if he is the honest agent for “CHANGE” that he proclaims, he will honor his promise.
- Shooook - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:28 pm:
The reason all of you vultures don’t like him is because he is doing everything for the PEOPLE. The people, I say, the people. There seems to be a whole lot of shakin goin on.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:40 pm:
No good deed goes unpunished! So, if, as he insists everything he does is to enrich the lives of the citizens of Illinois, he is inline for one helluva punishment - like maybe a nice long field trip to the SLAMMER.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:28 am:
Where’s Bill?
- Fightin' Ennui - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:46 am:
Bill is replaying the “emo Blago” clip over and over while ripping down all the Rod posters from his bedroom walls tonight. Actually, tomorrow’s QOTD should be, guess or venture a suggestion for Bill’s first remark about this upon his return. He’s actually a pretty good sport and had a good comeback the last time Rod made him have to facepalm.
- Gregor - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 2:10 am:
Suddenly, they can’t find the “Reform and Renewal” banners they’ve been plastering behind Rod at every cooked-up public appearance, and went back to the plain blue curtain for this Nixonian “I am not a crook” statement? Well, count my system as rocked, and my hound’s tooth is suddenly aching….
OTOH, I think it may count as the shortest formal speech Rod has ever given. See, a little sunshine behind every cloud.
I don’t see how he gets out of this hole, he’s got no more moral authority, the completely adversarial press is stalking his bully pulpit, the surrogates will now be dropping away like rats from a plague ship, and the campaign fundraisers may as well roll up the carpet. And we have not yet begun the other trials already scheduled. I give him about 60 days, as the Jenga pieces continue to fall out, then one way or another, its hello, Governor Pat Quinn!
- Captain America - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 4:42 am:
All this speculation about the implications of the Rezco conviction and Obama are completely ridiculous. There isn’t any evidence that Obama did anything illegal or unethical in terms of his relationship with Tony Rezco. None of the
allegations or convictions had anything to do with Obama.
- Ahem - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 5:32 am:
Blago’s statement: “what’s happened to Tony” as if it’s an external event, like getting struck by lightning. Evasive gaze, lack of eye contact. Defiant body language and parting comment.
- wait a minute - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 6:43 am:
I realize the Governor has a lot on his mind. But the capital bill is going to creat 500,000 jobs? That translates into a job for one out of 25 people in the state — and that’s if we add children and retirees into the workforce. What effect will this have on private employers? Or are we planning to bring in guest workers from Indiana?
- Diego - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 6:44 am:
He “does it for people” not “the” people. What people is he talking about?
If I was MJM, the first thing I would do today is tell Blago I want to witness him signing the ethics legislation.
- Former Budgeteer - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 7:33 am:
The jobs creation number tied to the capital bill is a figment of the imagination of IDOT and DCEO. I think that if you did some research, you would find those estimates to be highly suspect.
- Maggie - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 7:46 am:
I know this guy(governor) is a jerk. He let all the power go to his head. He listened to people who were not his friends. It’s no excuse. He’s an adult and should have known better. But watching his press conference I had to feel sorry for him. I will say a prayer for his children. Not Patti because she is part of this. They all have an endless nightmare ahead of them.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 8:05 am:
Blago: “starting tomorrow… I hope to pass a capital construction program that will stimulate [my campaign fund]and create more than 500,000 jobs [to sell].”
he is going to need cash for those expensive lawyer bills.
- Mr. Cub - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 8:13 am:
The saddest thing >> it was perhaps the governor’s worst hair day ever. The heat (if not the humidity) made his bangs curl up in a way that had to displease him. No wonder he didn’t take questions.
- Greg - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 8:14 am:
Good point, wait a minute. So if the capital bill passes, involuntary unemployment in Illinois drops below zero.
- phocion - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 8:16 am:
Obama’s statement is inane. To deconstruct:
“I’m saddened by today’s verdict.
What exactly makes the Senator “sad?”
This isn’t the Tony Rezko I knew,
Actually, Senator, these misdeeds were occuring under your nose, and in fact happened before you entered into a real estate transaction with Rezco. That you didn’t know, as you claim, speaks poorly of your own judgment.
but now he has been convicted by a jury on multiple charges
Yes, oddly the conviction happened the day after you secured enough superdelegates to win the nomination.
that once again shine a spotlight on the need for reform.
I’m confused by this. What reform is needed if laws already exist that resulted in Rezko’s conviction? And if the need has always existed, where were you when you could have done something about it?
I encourage the General Assembly
Of which I was an 8 year member.
to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these kinds of abuses in the future.”
Such steps that I had no political will, courage, or ability to pursue as I heralded myself as a reformer in Springfield.
Sorry, Senator, you should have just kept your mouth shut on this one.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 8:53 am:
Wait a minute, Budgeteer, Greg-
The capital bill stimulus is likely derived from American Public Works Association and Federal Highway Administration studies that show “job support” of up to 40000 jos for each $1 bn. Invested. This does not necessarily mean those jobs are created out of thin air- it mostly means that those who are working will continue to be employed, and more productively.
Also, that the money will circulate in communities, supporting service jobs, etc.
As a personal anecdote, the economies of all those nearby small towns in IL were certainly humming like no one’s business when the interstate highways were being built.
- Mad Max - Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 9:05 am:
Thanks for coming. I wish that I didn’t have to be here. Tony Rezko is no longer Barack’s and my friend. He had been a big financial supporter of ours but now that he is broke and can no longer financially help us anymore, we want nothing to do with him. Tony who? On a personal level, I am deeply sad for what may be awaiting me. I am profoundly sad for his children and his wife Rita, who profited along with me from Tony’s shenanigans. She has also decided to drop Tony like a hot rock since this financial spigot has suddenly run dry. I respect the decision of the jury but wish they had been willing to announce at least a hung jury, instead of the verdict that they arrived at. I was always under the impression that “Justice was blind.” Okay, which one of you told it to get Lasik surgery? You are scratched off Patty and my Christmas Card list effective as of yesterday.