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Sun-Times fingers mole

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Illinois

* Mark Brown, Fran Spielman, Tim Novak and Jon Seidel…

See Y. Wong was a small-time developer with big dreams for reshaping Chinatown until his ambitious projects hit the skids in the last real estate recession.

Several projects failed. Investors lost their money. Lawsuits piled up, and some of Wong’s activities came to the attention of federal authorities.

By the spring of 2014, Wong was back with a more modest project, trying to help Chinese businessman Kin Kuong Chong build a 60-room hotel on a small patch of land on the northwest corner of Clark and Archer.

It was then that Wong agreed to co-operate in a federal investigation of Ald. Danny Solis (25th), according to a court document obtained by the Sun-Times.

Just three months later, Wong made an undercover recording of Solis with House Speaker Michael Madigan as they discussed whether the hotel developer would hire Madigan’s law firm to handle its real estate tax work. At the time, Wong was helping the developer seek a zoning change from the City Council Zoning Committee chaired by Solis, who allegedly steered them to Madigan.

Go read the whole thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:09 am

Comments

The Chicago Sun-Times strikes again.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:13 am
It is too soon to tell, but I was taken by the fact that Madigan’s snappy patter to a potential hotel developer client (the hotel was not built) sounded so similar to what Burke had said to the fast food store owner. Heck, the denials issued by Burke and Madigan also seemed to be nearly identical.

Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:23 am
Thanks for nothin! Love, Bruce Rauner

Comment by anon Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:25 am
With all of Wong’s legal and real estate trouble I’m surprised he didn’t already have his own lawyer.

Also it’s interesting that with all the trouble he had in the past that he just kept right on with his hotel ventures. Sometimes enough is enough.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:29 am
The way the dominoes fall is interesting. From this developer to Solis to Burke (and maybe Madigan, we don’t know yet). Just grab a thread and start pulling.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:30 am
Cool. The Sun-Times is dragging this leak of the affidavit (or however else they got it) out instead of posting it online for everyone to read. Tomorrow we’ll get a story on the next 10 pages of the affidavit they’ll read.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 9:33 am
The only incriminating thing for the speaker (from what is known) would be if Solis and Madigan had some arrangement to refer business and then Solis would use his authority to approve the zoning change (an official act).

Thus far there are no official, government acts that Madigan is alledged to have done for his firm being retained. Wong was not asking for state law to be changed for his benefit.

Much different than what is known about Solis and Burke (taking government actions or holding them up for private gain).

Am I missing anything?

Comment by labour Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 11:12 am
@labour - I completely agree. How can an attorney who solicits business from a client who has come to that lawyer’s office be guilty of a crime? There was nothing reported that showed Madigan had anything to do with Solis’s promises after the meeting.

Comment by Shevek Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 11:22 am
I agree. Nothing incriminating thus far.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 11:41 am
As when Rauner was bloativating, show me a crime. Distate, I understand. That’s different than a crime.

Comment by Lt Guv Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 1:48 pm
I’m just glad Wong decided to cooperate rather than clamming up. Talk of “fingering the mole” makes it sound like that was a bad decision on his part. Cooperating is one way of making amends.

Comment by windowless office guy Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 2:02 pm
Based on what we know so far, Madigan did nothing illegal or even ethically questionable. But he was sure keeping questionable company.

Comment by jake Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 2:23 pm
–But he was sure keeping questionable company.–

Sadly, politics and government are all about questionable company.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jan 30, 19 @ 4:18 pm