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Glad to see this is finally winding down, but the investigation rolls on.

Chicago Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) and top gubernatorial fund-raiser Christopher Kelly have reached agreement on a statement in which Mr. Mell apparently will recant his charge that Mr. Kelly sold positions in Gov. Rod Blagojevichâ€™s administration in exchange for campaign donations.

Robert Clifford, a personal injury lawyer retained by Mr. Kelly, said the statement will be released at a press conference later this afternoon.

Mr. Clifford characterized the statement as â€œa retractionâ€ and said Mr. Kelly â€œis satisfied with the outcome. Justice has been served.â€

Mr. Mellâ€™s attorney, Paul Levy, declined to use the word retraction, but said Mr. Mell will concede in the statement that he erred.

â€œI think itâ€™s fair to say he misspoke under a moment of emotional pressure,â€ Mr. Levy said. â€œHe made a mistake. (Now) he wants to do the right thing.â€

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 20, 05 @ 1:53 pm

Comments

This reminds me of a saying… something about a genie and a bottle…

or was it a cat and a bag…

no wait, it was about “unringing” a bell…

Comment by So-Called Austin Mayor Thursday, Jan 20, 05 @ 2:56 pm
Is it just me or did the Blago people totally blow the response on this one. I mean, it’s like they took a page from the Jack Ryan school of media management. Let’s keep a really bad story alive for another 10 days by having Chris Kelly threaten to sue and then get a retraction. Sure, Mell ate crow today, but in the mean time every story published for the last week has included the phrase “appointments for contributions” call me naive, but that’s going to hurt Rod’s trust ratings in this week’s Blago-poll. Perhaps even it may hurt him in the 2008 presidential race. No, but seriously, this guy can be president . . . ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. . . .hahahahahahahh . . hahahahahha. . .ahahahahhaha . . . moron

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 21, 05 @ 12:21 am
If you think a moron can’t be president, better look at the front page of today’s paper.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 21, 05 @ 8:18 am
How can Bob Clifford be Chris Kelly’s lawyer when he gave over $300,000 to the governor (and Kelly is the fundraiser) and Clifford had relations with Mell?
Isn’t this a conflict of interest?

And wasn’t Clifford running around saying that Governor Blagojevich made it to the Governor’s office on his referral fees (did Rod do any work?) and that the Governor was ungrateful and not to call him?
How does this affect (over $300,000 for politics plus over $700,000 in referral fees) an objective look at tort reform, or anything in manufacturing or for the medical field let alone appointments or jobs suggested by Bob Clifford or anyone else?

How did Chris Kelly’s sister get her job? Was she really qualified?
How did Martin and Hartman get their jobs?
Did Kelly get any contracts from them?

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Jan 22, 05 @ 6:47 pm
There could be a conflict of interest with Clifford.
If your medical bills are high or businesses go out of business blame Bob Clifford and the trial lawyers.

Levy is supposed to be an expert lawyer on defamation.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Jan 23, 05 @ 10:56 pm