* CBS2, which first reported that the investigation of Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared to be seriously heating up, had a pretty explosive report last night…
Several sources tell [CBS2] that federal agents are preparing charges of tax fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice against the governor.
The case against the governor reportedly focuses on allegations first made five years ago by his father-in-law Ald. Dick Mell involving alleged trading of jobs for five-figure campaign donations.
Sources claim newly issued subpoenas show First Lady Patti Blagojevich is also under scrutiny. She took nearly $200,000 in real estate commissions – some on deals done with the convicted Tony Rezko. They allegedly coincided with the award of state contracts by her husband’s administration. [emphasis added]
* And it looks like the feds have been pressuring Tony Rezko partly by holding him in solitary confinement for months…
[Rezko defense attorney Bill Ziegelmueller] said Rezko is currently being held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, two blocks from the downtown courthouse.
He said MCC officials disagree with the designation as “solitary confinement” but that Rezko is being held in an area often used for punishment and is not allowed to mingle with the general population.
* More from Ziegelmueller…
[Rezko] doesn’t get out. There’s no cell-mate, there’s no ability to walk around the cell block and he’s in the area that they have for discipline purposes and he’s been there now for, I guess since June.
Ziegelmueller would not say if he thought it was a tactic by prosecutors to pressure Rezko into cooperating with their investigation into corruption in state government under governor Rod Blagojevich. The Metropolitan Correctional Facility, is — like the U-S attorneys office — part of the department of justice. A spokesman says when designating an inmate, the jail gets information from many sources including the U.S. attorney’s office.
Getting out of that cell to talk to the G must almost seem like a vacation to Rezko.
* Rezko’s defense attorney also had something to say about Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s constant references to a letter written by Rezko which claimed he was involved in no illegal activites with Blagojevich…
On Tuesday, Blagojevich said he hoped Rezko “tells the truth” and said he wasn’t worried about his former adviser and fund-raiser talking about him.
The governor pointed to a letter Rezko sent St. Eve earlier this year saying he wasn’t going to make up lies about Obama and Blagojevich.
Ziegelmueller said both the letter and the governor’s comments speak for themselves.
“I think everyone else can draw their own conclusions,” he said.
- Bill Baar - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 9:29 am:
And although federal agents may believe they’ve gathered enough evidence to warrant charges against the governor, they do not make that decision. In the case of a sitting governor, Justice Department higher-ups in Washington, D.C., must sign off on that.
Now the details on how this process works would be interesting to read…
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 9:31 am:
Wow….
Now here is a question, if they pull the trigger on this before November (really, really unlikely) does it help Obama by showing he is in the ‘Tony Clear’(tm) or does it draw attention to Tony?
Also when will they pull the trigger?
My guess December or January.
- Bill Baar - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 9:38 am:
…December or January.
Just what America needs, a new Prez Jan 2009 looking forward to four years of paranoia fearing a terror attack on American soil (and the GOP’s reaction), and an indicted Blagojevich reciting mumbo jumbo about Tony wrote a letter saying Barack and I did nothing wrong.
That’s goin to be real rough
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 9:54 am:
This seems like another investigative track than the stuff at the house with the contractors, doesn’t it? More on the Mell allegations and Patti’s real estate business.
What an awful thing to drag a spouse into this nonsense. But I guess the kids got “birthday presents,” too, from job-seekers. Terrible.
Tony’s better off in solitary. I don’t know about now, but the MCC wasn’t always the tightest run ship. Years, back the Rukns pretty much ran the place.
- Wumpus - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 9:56 am:
Well, McCain is smart in highlighting Obama’s Chicago ties, whether it will work or not. Anything involving Rezko is not good for Obama. Not saying he is guilty of a crime, but he is guilty by association. Maybe this is another one of those characters who he did not really know.
How is putting him in solitary putting the pressur eon him? Put him in Oz!
- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:06 am:
“Conspiracy” and “obstruction of justice” charges don’t seem a stretch. Rod Blagojevich has been doing these two acts every time he steps in front of the media for the past year.
- Leave a light on George - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:13 am:
From the CBs story:
“In the Rezko situation, it was a system that sucked him in, and then some lines were crossed and then that person found himself actually violating some of the rules,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “A system that existed that some people mistook a certain way and then crossed a few lines, maybe they didn’t even know they crossed those lines. All men make mistakes. But a good man changes course when he recognizes that mistake and failing to do it, the only sin is pride.”
Governor B - The previous governor and your future roommate showed you where the lines not to cross were. You were just too arrogant to learn from the mistakes of him and his cronies. Too focused on getting even with the opposing political party. Too focused on your party getting theirs after 20+ years out of the governor’s office. And too focused on building a personal legacy and now apparently lining your own pockets.
To bad. After George all you had to do was be honest and relatively competent. You’d have been a hero.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:28 am:
I would think they will need Kelly to flip before they sink ship Blago, however, that has probably already happened or is well in the works. As soon as Rezco started talking lots of dominos probably fell.
Preparing charges sounds like an announcement is imminent.
- North of I-80 - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:35 am:
Solitary for Rezko isn’t/wasn’t “feds have been pressuring”… it was to
1) keep him alive
2) keep him from harm [use your imagination if you haven’t spent much time inside jails]
3) avoid contamination [physical, emotional as well as factual] and
4) be sure he arrives intact for either sentencing and
5) to provide info, leads & testimony for bigger fish…. think of solitary as a fermenting cask.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:38 am:
Come to think of it, maybe they would charge both Kelly & Blago at the same time similiar to Ryan and Warner?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:55 am:
==A system that existed that some people mistook a certain way and then crossed a few lines, maybe they didn’t even know they crossed those lines.==
He sounds like a drunk driver complaining that since he didn’t know exactly which traffic law he broke, he wasn’t guilty of poor judgement. Like a drunk driver, Blagojevich is suggesting that the “lines” that were crossed weren’t clear enough or set too narrowly for the average Joe to safely navigate.
But this governor and his staff have been careening and speeding through Illinois too drunk with power and too blinded by pride to give a hoot to the prevailing laws and the rules of good governance.
Blagojevich’s failure isn’t just that he crossed a few lines, or that a system existed that some people mistook a certain way, (as though those “some people” were honest in their mistakes), it is the fact that this governor is reckless. We’ve been witnessing his administrative wrecklessness this past seven years with amazement and confusion, like we have just witnessed a drunk driver speeding down the Dan Ryan expressway in the wrong lanes. Blagojevich continues to amaze citizens with his sheer disregard for life or limb.
Like a drunk driver, Blagojevich felt immortal to the point when he didn’t recognize the threat to himself or his own family. He didn’t care about the pedestrians he ran over, the families who depended on his reckless social programs that arrived DOA at our court’s emergency rooms. He laughed at others who shouted angrily at him as he sped past frightening them. How often did we see this wreckless governor take aim at his political opponents in a game of “chicken”?
It is time for an arrest of this man. It will take years to repair the damage he has caused Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 10:59 am:
Dang! reckless, not “wreckless”. Sorry about the confusion.
- BigDog - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 11:03 am:
G-Men - “You see, Rod, what we have here is sufficient evidence to try both yourself and your wife on various charges related to influence peddling, profiteering, conspiracy, and tax fraud. You will both serve time when found guilty of these crimes. However, we would like to offer you immunity for your wife in exchange for you resigning quietly from office and taking your trial like a man.”
At least that’s the way I hope it goes as a taxpayer in this State and as someone who prefers that we do whatever possible to separate this certain sideshow from the critical business of not running this State any further into the ground than it already is.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 11:20 am:
Big Dog, I’ve been wondering for months if something of that sort is a possibility. I could see resign and cop to lesser charges, too. I also wonder if he’d have the gallantry to do it.
- Excessively rabid - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 11:47 am:
1. “Is they is or is they isn’
Gonna put the guv in prison?”
2. He wants to close Pontiac because he doesn’t want to spend the next 20 years in a GOP town. (Pardon the Federal/state blurring).
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 12:21 pm:
Has anyone started an indictment date betting pool yet?
- Equal Rights - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 12:23 pm:
If Mrs. B was complicit in the ilegal activity by comission or ommission in the crime and subsequent cover up, and enjoyed the financial benefits of the crime, then why would she be entitled to immunity from prosecution?
They each have the benefit of marital privilege under federal law. Marital privilege is based on the policy of encouraging spousal harmony, and preventing people from having to condemn, or being condemned by, their spouses.
Marital privelege actually comprises two separate privileges, the marital confidences privilege and the spousal testimonial privilege.
The Marital Confidences privilege protects the contents of confidential communications between husband and wife and applies in both civil and criminal cases. When this is invoked a court may not permit one spouse to testify against the other concerning confidential communications made during marriage.
The spousal testimonial privilege; oten referred to as “spousal immunity” can be used to prevent any party in a criminal case from calling the defendant’s spouse to testify against the defendant about any topic.
Under the U.S. Federal Rules of Evidence however, this privilege attaches to the witness spouse; that is, the defendant’s spouse can refuse to testify against the defendant, but the defendant may not prevent his spouse from testifying against him or her.
So, in this case Mrs. B would likely only gain the benefit of the absence of indictment herself, if she expressly agreed to waive the spousal testimonial privelege and testify against Mr. B. Under those circumstances; Mr. B would likely have to plead guilty because the possibility exists than when questioned under oath, knowledge of additional crimes not yet charged could come to light.
I am not sure however as a co-conspirator whether full immunity could; or should be offerred unless it was deemed absolutely necessary to have the actual or threatened spousal testimony in order to earn a conviction.
Otherwise; why shouldn’t they both be charged? I am sure other non-highly elected official spouses have been in the same boat before, and Mr. & Mrs. B should be treated the same and no differently as those in similar circumstances. The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for equal justice under the law; and the phrase itself is engraved on the facade of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington.
- Judgment Day Is On The Way - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 12:50 pm:
“And although federal agents may believe they’ve gathered enough evidence to warrant charges against the governor, they do not make that decision. In the case of a sitting governor, Justice Department higher-ups in Washington, D.C., must sign off on that.”
If there are already Grand Jury subpoenas out, and testimony is happening/being scheduled for the Grand Jury, well, DOJ in Washington has already given their approval to move ahead.
Cases don’t go to the Grand Jury unless DOJ in Washington has recieved the “packet” and authorized the process.
Today’s probably a busy day down at Dirksen.
- WAR DOG - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 12:51 pm:
Vanilla Man—Well stated!
- A Citizen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 12:55 pm:
My guess is that guv’s “deal” would have Patti going to the slammer and he sitting home with the kids watching Hannah Montana reruns. He has a propensity for throwing folks under the bus while avoiding that fate himself. Be careful Patti, be very very careful!
- soccermom - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 1:07 pm:
Note to Excessively Rabid,
I can’t believe anyone else remembers that song. Scary.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 1:13 pm:
“Judgement Day,” I believe you’ve mentioned Tuesdays and Thursdays at Dirksen before; if an indictment does come down (against Blago, Mrs. Blago or other Individuals or Co-Schemers), are those the days it would be announced?
- Macbeth - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 1:34 pm:
I wish the folks that voted for this craziness could be held accountable. I voted for him the first time — I admit it. But I saw this chaos coming from a mile away — and knew better the second time around.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 2:22 pm:
It will be interesting to see how MJM tries to prop up Blago if he is indicted soon. It’s in his daughters interest to run against non incumbent Pat Quinn rather than Governor Quinn. The impeachment groundswell might be too much for even the mighty Mike to hold back.
- Bubs - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:00 pm:
Given that “President Obama” will mean an instant job hunt for Patrick Fitzgerald as of January 20, and a quick end to the huge ongoing federal effort to clean up Illinois, one wonders if Fitz will file charges before Election Day, while the victor is (technically, anyway) still not known.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:20 pm:
===Given that “President Obama” will mean an instant job hunt for Patrick Fitzgerald as of January 20===
Obama has pledged to keep Fitz on as US Atty.
- Downstater - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:23 pm:
George, Have you been living on Mars for the last seven years??
- connecting it all - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:34 pm:
Well, with the Hurtgen indictment you have the connection to Rezko and the $10 billion bond deal. That has to be the prize for the US Attorney.
Kelly, Rezko and Hurtgen are all connected. It’s just a matter of drawing the lines. There was too much cross over on all the deals for it to have been by “chance”.
On keeping Rezko in solitary, I’m sure it could be argued that is for his own safety- this is Chicago after all and he is a “rat”.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:39 pm:
“Obama has pledged to keep Fitz as US Atty.”
I believe McCain did, too, back during the primary season.
The only candidate of either party that I can recall saying or even hinting that he’d consider getting rid of Fitz was Mitt Romney. I don’t think Hillary took a stand one way or the other (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong).
- connecting it all - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:44 pm:
Geroge,
For starters, of all this has nothing to do with Obama. Your comment is so absurd it is ridiculous. Now, I’m not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night so if I were to diagnose your comment as a function of severe partisan brain damage, well I feel comfortable with that. Have you read the indictments these guys are under? What they were doing was illegal. Isn’t that enough?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:48 pm:
Enough already. Curious George’s comment history suggests that was complete snark. I’ll be deleting it now.
- connecting it all - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:52 pm:
Sorry for being so obtuse Rich. Now, I feel like a fool- Think I need to get a G-Rod haircut to look like one too?
- A Citizen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:53 pm:
Careful, Rich, that delete key is gettin pretty hot :.)
- connecting it all - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:54 pm:
Seriously though, I heard the Hurtgen trial got pushed off. Rich have you heard that?
- Secret Square - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:54 pm:
It appears (from a quick Google search) that the only prez candidates who really made an issue of Fitz’s employment were GOP candidates who felt he had treated Scooter Libby unfairly. Romney, however, seems to have been the only one who publicly promised to fire him if elected.
- ZC - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 3:59 pm:
These are depressing times for Democrats across IL. Loathe Rod all you want (and I do), but it should be noted, repeatedly, that a lot of us _voted_ for this fool - two or three times, depending on whether you took part in the 02 primary.
We had at least two clear times to get this right - Vallas over Blago, and then Judy over Hairboy. (It may not have been clear just how bad a pol Rod was, in the 2002 general, Rod vs Ryan. But by 06, we should have known.) Millions of voters kept getting it wrong.
We get the government we vote for. Rod is not the only person at fault here.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 4:04 pm:
AC, leave the kids out of it.
- Bubs - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 5:09 pm:
As a Senator, he said he favored reappointment, but that was in circumstances where Hastert was still Speaker and making noise on the issue. Circumstances will be different now.
In the March 2008 Tribune editorial board interview, he said he thought Fitzgerald was doing a good job, but never actually said the words that he would keep him.
It was interpreted as a pledge to keep Fitz by many, incluidng Marathon Pundit, but we are talking about a lawyer and politician. I’d rather see the words.
- A Citizen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 5:39 pm:
Rich, sorry I know better - must of been a brain toot.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 5:40 pm:
:)
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 5:45 pm:
“connecting” you missed a few dots. The G already has Tony’s grubby mitts on the bond dough. Hurtgen is, was, and will be frosting on a 3-layer cake of POA, Co-Schemer-A, and Big Surprise A.
- downhereforyears - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 6:11 pm:
It’s interesting that Rezco’s involvment in pay to play relates back to Mell’s original allegations about his son-in-law. The real culprit in this one is Kelly……does anyone know what he has been saying to the feds?
- A Citizen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 6:48 pm:
Whatever happened to Lon Monk ?? Is/has he been implicated in any of these goings on ??
- foster brooks - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 6:50 pm:
An indictment wont happpen while blago is in office, us attorneys wont pull the trigger.
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 6:56 pm:
Foster - Gosh darnit, I sure do hope you are wrong. I’d love to see Blago get a tightly wrapped present for Fitzmas or sooner.
- A Citizen - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 6:57 pm:
- foster brooks -
Maybe that’s why he rarely goes to the office ?
- chris kelly - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 7:23 pm:
downherefouryears, Your ignorance is so transparent.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 8:58 pm:
Foster, it’s just not true.
Do a google and you’ll find U.S. Attorney’s indicting officeholders. Maybe back in the day, but not know. Remember, Rosty, Ted Stevens?
Without benefit of google, I know there have been some southern officeholders put in the pokey. And how about Duke and the dude from Ohio?
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Oct 10, 08 @ 12:04 am:
word, I’m vague on some of these too. Wasn’t the Ohio guy Trafficante? The AL Gov, Don Siegelman was out of office, IIRC, before he was teed up on what looks like a pretty shoddy case in retrospect. Then there was the Congressman who was trying to make popsicles out of Benjamins in his home fridge. Jefferson? I don’t recall a long wait in his case, either. The last recent one was the GOP’er from CA, Rick something; don’t recall exactly how he shook out.
And how about US Attorney Sam Skinner (?) indicting Atty Gen Bill Scott right here in Illinois?