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This just in… Ata to plead guilty * Ata admits getting job via Blagojevich contribution * Alleges direct quid pro quo with governor * Feds outline scope of Blagojevich probe *

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*** Click here to read the plea agreement… And Click here for the superceding information statement ***

* 3:21 pm - The prosecutorial noose tightens around Rezko…

A former top official in Gov. Blagojevich’s administration plans to plead guilty this afternoon to charges tied to a loan-fraud scheme involving Tony Rezko.

Ali Ata, 56, of Lemont, is expected to plead guilty to making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and a tax-related count. Ata is a former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority. […]

While executive director of the state finance agency, Ata signed a letter bearing the agency’s name to help Rezko fraudulently secure $10 million in loans, prosecutors charged. They said he did so at the request of Rezko to make it appear that an investor had partial state backing for a deal to acquire two groups of Rezko’s Papa John’s pizza restaurants in Chicago and Milwaukee. […]

Ata gave $65,000 to Blagojevich’s gubernatorial fund and thousands more when Blagojevich was in Congress. In January 2004, Blagojevich appointed him to a $127,000-a-year post as executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority. Though Ata left that post about a year later, after a critical audit, he soon was awarded a $55,200-a-year contract to be a consultant for the agency - a three-year deal he declined to sign after the Chicago Sun-Times raised questions about a foreclosure case he did not disclose when the governor hired him.

*** 3:56 pm *** Ata’s guilty plea includes this language…

[Ata admits lying to the FBI when he said] he did not receive anything for his political contributions to the campaign of Public Official A, whereas as defendant then knew such statement and representation was false, namely, that in fact he did receive something for those contributions, specifically employment with a state agency, namely a position as Executive Director with the Illinois Finance Authority with an annual salary of approximately $127,000.

Translation: Ata admits - and the feds insist - that he paid for his job via a campaign contribution to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Read the plea agreement by clicking here.

*** 3:59 pm *** Ata is taking us right inside Rezko’s office, where we find Governor Rod Blagojevich…

In or about August 2002, defendant Ata held a small fund-raising event for Public Official A that Public Official A attended. In advance of that fund-raising event, defendant Ata committed to Antoin Rezko that he would raise $25,000 at that event, which he eventually did, personally contributing at least approximately $5,000.

Later that year, Rezko approached the defendant for additional monetary support. Defendant Ata agreed to contribute $25,000 in additional monies to the campaign of Public Official A.

The defendant, subsequently and by prior arrangement with Rezko, brought a check in this amount to Rezko’s Rezmar offices on Elston Avenue in Chicago. After he arrived at the Rezmar offices, the defendant was greeted by Rezko to whom he handed the check in an envelope.

Rezko, carrying the check, ushered the defendant into a conference room where he met with Rezko and Public Official A. Rezko placed the envelope containing the defendant’s $25,000 check to Public Official A’s campaign on the conference room table between himself and Public Official A and stated to Public Official A that the defendant had been a good supporter and a team player and that the defendant would be willing to join Public Official A’s administration. Public Official A expressed his pleasure and acknowledged that the defendant had been a good supporter and good friend. Public Official A, in the defendant’s presence, asked Rezko if he (Rezko) had talked to the defendant about positions in the administration, and Rezko responded that he had.

*** 4:01 pm *** And here we get the quid pro quo…

In or about July 2003, Rezko asked the defendant to make an additional $50,000 contribution to the campaign of Public Official A. The defendant agreed to contribute the same amount as he had previously, namely $25,000. The defendant made this contribution on or about July 25, 2003 by check payable to Public Official A’s campaign. The defendant gave this check to Rezko. Thereafter, the defendant had a conversation with Public Official A at a large fund-raising event at Navy Pier.

During this conversation, Public Official A told defendant that he had been a good supporter, indicated that Public Official A was aware that the defendant had made another substantial donation to Public Official A’s campaign, and told the defendant that Public Official A understood that the defendant would be joining Public Official A’s administration. The defendant responded that he was considering taking a position, and Public Official A stated that it had better be a job where the defendant could make some money.

[Emphasis added.]

*** 4:03 pm *** From someone who was at the hearing today…

“As the prosecutor read more and more of the plea, the jaws in the courtroom inched closer and closer to the floor. These aren’t even material to Rezko’s current charges.”

*** 4:17 pm *** Take a look at the superceding information statement about Ata and you find this statement of fact from the feds…

There was a federal criminal investigation into allegations of mail fraud, bribery, political corruption, and other criminal activities in connection with the granting of state jobs and the appointment of officials to agencies and boards and commissions of the State of Illinois. It was material to the investigation to learn what influence, if any, Antoin Rezko had in the making of appointments to positions with the State of Illinois, and whether campaign contributions to political office holders and candidates were required in order to obtain positions with the state.

That pretty much shows us where they’ve been going. And none of it is good for Gov. Blagojevich.

*** 4:32 pm *** The Tribune really needs to change its headline: “Ex-director of Illinois Finance Authority admits getting post after paying Rezko”

Ata did hand the money to Rezko, but the cash went to the governor’s campaign fund, and the governor was aware of the contributions and the appointment.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 3:21 pm

Comments

Rich,
what does this mean for the governor?

Comment by w Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 3:36 pm
All in all, this has been an up day for guv . . . an Up The River w/o a paddle day.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 3:45 pm
he did not receive anything for his political contributions to the campaign of Public Official A, whereas as defendant then knew such statement and representation was false, namely, that in fact he did receive something for those contributions, pecifically employment with a state agency, namely a position as Executive Director with the Illinois Finance Authority with an annual salary of approximately $127,000.

Isn’t this the same sort of thing they used to go after Ryan’s campaign funds?

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:00 pm
Wow…..

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:01 pm
What was the poem? For want of a nail a shoe was lost, for want of a shoe a horse was lost, for want of a horse a battle was lost, for want of a battle a kingdom was lost, all for the want of a nail.

Comment by Crimefighter Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:10 pm
Whatever this means for the governor, we know it won’t mean he resigns, and it probably won’t
mean he doesn’t run for re-election. He’ll just deny it all and move along.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:12 pm
Wow is right.

Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:12 pm
“Leave the gun. Take the canolies.”

Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:14 pm
Today the seven figure bill at Winston and Strawn makes a little more sense.

Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Unbelievable. The arrogance.

Game. Set. Match.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:22 pm
So Ata kicks in 55 large, gets a $127k job as ED of IFA, only holds the position for a short while, and now pleads and is likely to face jail time for it. Not a very good return on investment for someone “qualified” to run an agency handling state loans.

Bring on the Spin Sisters. Can’t wait to hear how this is not the way Blago operates.

Comment by Bluefish Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:24 pm
Is there any excusable reason to not initiate impeachment procedures immediately? This man cannot possibly do anything positive for the residents of this State going forward. We’re all being held hostage while everything is going to hell in a handbasket around us.

Comment by BigDog Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:28 pm
Bluefish said… Bring on the Spin Sisters. Can’t wait to hear how this is not the way Blago operates.

And they get paid big bucks for this….

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:29 pm
What ever they get paid today it is not enough

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:30 pm
Perhaps my last post was too gratuitous…

Comment by Speaking At Will Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:33 pm
There once was a schemer named Ata,
Whose wallet needed to get a bit fatta.
He paid big bucks to play,
With that big man called “A.”
Now he’s smart enough to turn big-time ratta.

Comment by Limerick Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:35 pm
Watch the violent imagery. I realized it was literary, which is why it was simply deleted and no further action taken, but let’s not ever go there in any way.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:36 pm
Wonder if this guy is related to Mohammed Ata of 9/11 fame. He may bring down twin “towers” of his own. The only way Blago avoids indictment is if Hillary wins the White House and immediately fires all sitting US Atty.s as her husband did. As of today, I dont think Obama will be able to fire the US Attys in Illinois. Everywhere else maybe, but not Illinois. Obama has to wonder how an indictment of Blago before the general election would impact his chances. Personally, I dont think “the Chicago way” will reflect positively on Barack. I also think that it would hurt him in key battle ground states like Ohio that went GOP previously, is in play now, but has been rocked by some of its own political scandals. Plop, plop, fize, fize….

Comment by Cousin Ralph Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:36 pm
The fat lady may not yet be singing for Blago, but the orchestra sure seems to be tuning up.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:38 pm
Time to make a deal, Tony.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:39 pm
I know this looks bad Rich, but where does is say “give me the money and I will give you the job”?

Comment by Sang-anon Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:39 pm
I am absolutely crushed that this happened. I have always believed the governor was a clean, honest man. This must be “merely a coincidence….merely a coincidence.” Yeah….right! Prison time staring you in the face tends to illicit the truth and cause deals to be struck. No doubt, much more to follow!

Comment by Justice Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:40 pm
Sang-anon, the allegations are…

Ata walks into Rezko’s office, Blagojevich is there. Rezko puts an envelope containing a $25,000 campaign contribution from Ata on the desk in front of Blagojevich. Then they talk about a state job.

Later, POA thanks Ata for another contribution, and mentions how Ata is about to get the state job he sought.

The feds don’t need the words you mentioned. They do, however, need some corroboration.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:45 pm
And, you know, the odd thing is, its not like Gun Ban Rod NEEDED all that campaign cash to beat Jim Ryan, much less JBT. He would have won anyway.

Sweated it some, yes, but won anyway.

Wonder how much he is sweating now….

Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:51 pm
Rich, I think Dick Mell may be able to corroborate as he was the first to point out that indeed this was/is the way guv does business! Stick the fork in, I think the turkey’s (guv) done. For Mell the revenge will indeed be sweet.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:52 pm
Innocent until proven guilty applies to everyone in this country–even seemingly corrupt Governors folks…
As the Wicked Witch said to Dorothy in the castle…
“All in good time my pretty, all in good time…”

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:53 pm
To paraphrase Chris Farley from the Movie Tommy Boy, “I have seen a lot of things in my life but that testimony was AWWWWsome!”

Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:54 pm
[…] Rich Miller has the plea agreement. […]

Pingback by Public Official Uh-Oh « Division Street Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:55 pm
Any doubt this is Blaggoof’s motto?

Spinsisters and boytoys are busy talking with their lawyers.

Comment by WayDumberThanYouThink Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:57 pm
w asks, “what does this mean for the governor?”

I’m not Rich and I don’t play him on tv, but…

My understanding is it means Fitz is working his up the ladder.

He flipped Ata with a guilty plea.

He’s working on getting Rezko some jail time. If he can win a guilty verdict against Rezko, he’ll offer a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Public Official A.

That is the corroboration (among other things) Rich indicates the Feds need to bring Public Official A to court.

Any bets on how long it takes before we have a Gov. Quinn in Springfield? I’d say late 2009. Most of the groundwork is already there. The Rezko trial just needs to wrap this year with a guilty verdict and stiff sentence.

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:57 pm
For Mell the revenge will indeed be sweet.

Give the personal impact, I seriously doubt that. I am sure he’d much rather it all went away.

Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 4:58 pm
ruh roh!!!

Comment by scooby Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:09 pm
[…] April 22, 2008 in Uncategorized by robnesvacil Rich Miller posts a “this just in” covering some goings on with “Public Official A“: In or about July 2003, Rezko asked the defendant to make an additional $50,000 contribution to the campaign of Public Official A. The defendant agreed to contribute the same amount as he had previously, namely $25,000. The defendant made this contribution on or about July 25, 2005 by check payable to Public Official A’s campaign. The defendant gave this check to Rezko. Thereafter, the defendant had a conversation with Public Official A at a large fund-raising event at Navy Pier. […]

Pingback by Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. « Illinois Reason Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:10 pm
The public records will show the time line of contribution followed by appointment, but that sequence is as old as, well, a really old thing. The key is that the words between Ata and POA, and unless there’s another witness (and Rezko still isn’t talking), then it’ll be he said/POA said. So how reliable/trustworthy/good on the stand is this Ata guy? If I’m a prosecutor, I sure don’t want another memory-impaired drug user up there as the linchpin to my case.

I do wonder about the math, though. 65K to get a 125K/year job? Assuming job holders are expeted to keep giving, it doesn’t seem like that great a deal for Ata. Unless he planned to abuse his position for private gain, which would never happen.

Comment by Muskrat Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:26 pm
There are ways of putting POA at Rezko’s office that day. It should be fun to watch.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:29 pm
It would seem that if you’re a close personal friend of POA, you’re allowed to kick back a relatively inexpensive $1,500 birthday or christening gift for one of the kids. They really gauged Mr. Ata…

Comment by Let's Make a Deal Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:36 pm
I am shocked….SHOCKED! As the old adage goes, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”. We’ve been seeing the smoldering for awhile, and the window which is fanning the flames just got opened a little bit more. Just hope the state and people of Illinois don’t get completely consumed by the flames of our “leaders”.

Comment by schroedk Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:41 pm
Maybe that old saying should be updated to “Where there’s smoke there’s Hire.”

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:45 pm
The spin sisters, et al, are working the heavy duty shredders tonight, especially for those appointment books.

Comment by Disgusted Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:47 pm
“So Ata kicks in 55 large, gets a $127k job as ED of IFA, only holds the position for a short while, and now pleads and is likely to face jail time for it. Not a very good return on investment for someone “qualified” to run an agency handling state loans.”

The money is not in owning the bank stock. It’s having your mitts on the depositors money.

No one will ever know the millions that were siphoned off by Ata and his associates.

Comment by True Observer Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:48 pm
This is just “one” appointee from Rezko…not to mention all the others between Rezko & Kelly.

I can also remember all the campaign ads in 02′ saying he was going to clean this up and do this etc..to fight corruption.

Comment by scoot Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:56 pm
Muskrat: Similarly, look at how many political candidates spend millions to obtain a $150K job where you have to travel back and forth to DC and raise $10-20K a week to keep said position.

The difference is voters, not rezkos, get to make those employment decisions.

Also, if Ata got eight years out of it, (which he might have if not indicted) it wouldn’t be that bad for him. The fact that buying jobs is illegal doesn’t cross these guys’ minds.

Ata probably wanted the cash flow, the benefits and the ceremonial aspect of the job.

The power associated with being executive director of such a state agency, or a member of a commission is being highlighted in the Rezko trial. This is a good thing, if not a great one.

This is way worse than the alleged George Ryan corruption–but the general public doesn’t quite understand these allegations like they supposedly undersood what they thought were the allegations in Ryan’s case. Hence, there is not a lot of street outrage outside of the political world.

For Rezko’s sake, not to mention the Constitution’s sake, this trial is, to date, being run better. Much better.

If I were the Federales I would look at every single appointment Not-so-Hot Rod ever made, both paid and unpaid.

Comment by The Captain and Tennille Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:57 pm
“Pay to Play on Steroids” - is that defined by $50,000 plus for a “job”? My goodness, how many of these $50 grand sales were made? And how much of that cash has made it to Winston Strawn? At what point does WS become an enabler and themselves subject to RICO investigations? The campaign fund should be going down as a corrupt entity within a week or so. Rich, it IS fun to watch.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 5:58 pm
True Observer, you’re a true meathead.

IFA doesn’t hold any of the dough. Pardon the analogy, but they are like a mortgage broker. Their role is to put Illinois businesses together with capital sources through the issuance of bonds. There are places for beaks to get wet (legal fees, underwriting, etc.) but outright stealing money isn’t alleged here, maybe becauwse there wasn’t any laying around for Ali and Tony to snatch.

Besides, all you geniuses are missing the other juicy piece of this story. You’ll probably have to wait for tomorrow’s Fax.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 6:02 pm
WOW… The coming months should get really good!!! Rich, you should start a pool (for amusement only) to see when the POA indictment will come down.
HE REALLY DOES MAKE RYAN LOOK LIKE A SAINT!!

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 6:15 pm
Arthur Anderson went out of business because it couldn’t even do ordinary auditing of a widely followed company like Enron.

In other words, it couldn’t even keep track of on the books money.

Ata and his associates were dealing with off the books money.

What Rezko’s trial has shown is that putting people in touch with other people who can make decisions about big bucks from the state treasury can result in hundreds of thousands being deposited in far away bank accounts.

Also, the interest rates at which bonds are issued can make the difference in millions.

who is going to audit whether the state could have gotten a better return on its money?

The state couldn’t even keep track of the money being made or lost on a hotel within easy walking distance of the capital. This over a period of a decade or more.

Comment by True Observer Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 6:17 pm
How did we skip Rich Daley? Was he that great of help to the FEDS?

Comment by Patrick McDonough Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:11 pm
I’d say the Ata case is the beginning of the end for Public Official A. I think it’s fair to characterise Ata’s guilty plea as a “smoking cannon.”

And now the deluge….

Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:22 pm
I have to get out of town more often. The good stuff happens when I leave town.

I hope the Fitz gets enough time to get finished with this thread of the investigation.

Comment by plutocrat03 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:27 pm
It will be interesting to see how many tentacles this thing has. Kelly comes up for tax evasion in November. Does he make a deal before then? Is he corroboration? If so, corroboration of what? Were there any legislators involved? Various “Deputy Chiefs” have left–will they fall as well?

What an interesting web!

Comment by Observer 2 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:36 pm
Could someone explain to me why this made sense:

“As a result of what he observed and heard, and what Rezko told him, from in or about
2003 to in or about 2005, the defendant came to believe that obtaining and retaining his job
as Executive Director of the IFA depended in large measure on pleasing Rezko and that
Rezko had a great deal of power in state government. Beginning in or around mid-2003 and
continuing through 2004, the defendant provided large sums of cash to Rezko in response
to persistent and urgent pressure from Rezko to do so. The defendant provided Rezko with
tens of thousands of dollars in cash on four or five occasions during 2003 and 2004,
including while he was the Executive Director of the IFA. In total, the defendant provided
Rezko with approximately $125,000 in cash during this period, which monies he had
withdrawn from a family food distribution business that he was then operating.”

Ata seems to have been operating at a loss. Why was he so keen to keep the job?

Comment by i'm just a little girl from little rock Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:37 pm
As brother Flounder once said, “isn’t this great”……?

Comment by southern illinoisan Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:42 pm
Because you’re only seeing the cash he was kicking out, you haven’t yet seen his upside from any deals that he helped ’structure’.

Comment by to little rock Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:45 pm
to: i’m just a little girl from little rock. this may explain it…

the defendant intentionally concealed the fact
that in 2003 he had provided to Rezko, at Rezko’s insistence, a portion of his partnership
interest in a real estate venture, in exchange for Rezko’s use of his influence in state
government to reverse a state agency’s decision to terminate a lease agreement relating to that venture’s property located at 59th Street and Ashland Avenue in Chicago.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:45 pm
to “im just a girl from little rock” the money he was giving rezko and POA was not necesarily his own money. Like rezko, he probably was bundling campaign donations from other donors. Essentially, he was getting a $125,000 state job to do campiagn work. Very illegal.

Comment by w Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:48 pm
It will be interesting to see if Obama’s people are paying attention here. Lots of milk drinkers will be switching cows.

Comment by Observer 2 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:52 pm
Make that “trying” to switch cows.

Comment by Observer 2 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 7:54 pm
Observer 2: Obama’s “people” or his worshippers aka the voters? Please specify…

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:20 pm
So, Bill, whatcha drinking today? Let’s toast your pal’s health.

Comment by Paging Bill Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:22 pm
LL, let’s move on. That was a bit obtuse on O2’s part.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:25 pm
Sorry, Rich, nevermind. Let’s move on.

Comment by Observer 2 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:32 pm
Plea agreements leave a lot of open ends - all in favor of the government. I would have expected it to be a lot more specific and of a predictable outcome. Ata must be scared to death to go along with that 30 pages doc.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:32 pm
From the Sun-Times, the guv’s spokesperson’s response to the Ata thing “…“As we’ve said many times before, we don’t endorse or allow the decisions of state government to be based on campaign contributions,” Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said…” Pretty thin statement!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:38 pm
I think I’ll have champagne, from a southern Illinois winery, I understand there are some great ones along the route of the river-to-river run.

Meanwhile, regarding Hillary. This investigation/ trials will be too far along to pull Fitz off by then, should Hillary be the winner. Would only make Hillary look bad. Since Illinois went for Obama, and will again, she is just as likely to let an Illinois governor hang anyway.

Fitz went after Bush’s own people, he’s a hero to dems, so again, maybe less likely to get dumped, would be better to have him working for the home team than against it.

Should Obama win, the Rezko connections mean he would look bad doing ANYTHING but giving Fitz a commendation and a raise. Anything else would look like tampering or a get-back, neither of which he could afford to do.

Frankly, If I could buy stock in Fitz, I would.

Mmmm, the bubbly tastes good tonight, look how it sparkles in the light of those late-burning lights over on the second floor….

Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:43 pm
Did Abby say this while she was passing out her resume? She is much better than to keep her wagon hitched to this horse!

Comment by He makes Ryan look like a Saint Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:44 pm
I think in part this sends a big message to Tony.

— We will not stop until you cooperate.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:52 pm
I wouldn’t wish a prison sentence on my worst enemy. But, let the truth be known and let justice be done.

Comment by Truth Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 8:53 pm
$50,000 means someone is a good supporter and a good friend of the Governor? I think I remember seeing that on my mandatory ethics test.

Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:03 pm
My guess is the spouse of POA is starting to think about what she is in the middle of. It might be time to see what the options are. Go back to dad’s camp or stick around with a sinking ship. With the feds pouring over her real estate practice she has to be feeling the same pressure as Kelly, Ata, Rezko, Levine, etc.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:10 pm
Speaking of jumping ship - Lon Monk, hmmmm - wonder what he knew/knows and when he knew it? Never did get a plausible explanation for his departure.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:27 pm
thanks for the explanation on the deletion of the comments. No harm intended, just trying to illustrate the point.

Comment by Speaking at Will Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:38 pm
“The chickens are coming to roost, Bobby Beuchex”.

Comment by dc Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:39 pm
When are the Feds going to freeze Gov. Blagojevich’s campaign funds?

Comment by Govenor No-Ethics Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:41 pm
The Spin Sisters need to tread carefully. Their comments are part of an concerted effort to conceal what is quite apparently a criminal enterprise. Just ask Dennis Culloton how much fun it is being called before a jury to explain your statements to the media.

Comment by S. Illinois Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:44 pm
The Governor is no doubt desperately trying to hunt up a birthday somewhere in the general time frame.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 9:46 pm
I predict a blizzard of press releases tomorrow and the rest of the week from the gov’s office about various feel-good milk-and-cookies issues, declarations, and new programs. All questions about Ata will get the same terse one-line answer, which the papers will use as a mockery target in headlines the rest of this week.

Also, expect an early start to a 5-day weekend in the Ravenswood bunker, or sudden urgent head of state business somewhere out of state. Preferably a place without many reporters.

Maybe you should have gone to the Yale conference with Doug instead of the fundraiser after all, eh, Rod?

Comment by tomorrow's news today Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 10:15 pm
I have seen a lot of posts like this before. Influence peddling this…corruption that…guilty here, quid pro quo there. We get the same style of governance, the same denials, and the same arrogance in every facet of the job from POA. Nothing will change until the big Federal hammer falls…My only real question is who’s buying the slip-and-slide for the front lawn of the Capitol complex to use during July and August during this year’s overtime? I’m in!

Comment by heet101 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 10:18 pm
Has the Citizens for Blago Campaign Fund officially changed to the Blago Defense Fund yet ??

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 10:48 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems like this case is moving up the ladder faster than George Ryan’s case did. I figured Blago’s indictment was at least a year or two away, but now I wouldn’t be surprised to see it happen any time after the Rezko trial ends.
Think the Sorich decision opened up a few floodgates? It will definitely be a long hot summer in more ways than one…

Comment by Bookworm Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 10:57 pm
Don’t forget that contributors who were given these “jobs” rarely showed up… when they did, everyone else in the office knew it was a privileged gift job and they all worked around the empty chair. $127,000 is a great gig if you wander in for a few hours to use the phone, copy machine and computer for a couple hours every few days.

Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 10:59 pm
I agree with S. Illinois. The Spinsisters need to watch what they are saying. In fact, I’d be finding another job if I were Abby, Becky and Rebecca.

As voters, we need to be very cautious of the next politician who runs on the “no more business as usual” platform. POA has certainly fulfilled that promise.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 11:12 pm
Rich, put this in perspective:

Does this mean session ends on time?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 11:15 pm
Yellow Dog, I think the Speaker has planned to get out on time all along. Everyone thinks I have been nuts to suggest that but even before all this latest news, I thought they would pass some BS budget to get them past the convention and the election. Emil sees the forest through the trees and will tell Blago to go along. Then they come back to fight later in November & December.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 11:28 pm
YDD - Yes! U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve runs a pretty tight ship. She prides herself on promptness.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 11:39 pm
[…] Illinois Lieutenant Governors have the primary duty of waiting until the governor is “dead” and then succeeding them (pdf). Gotta wonder what Pat Quinn thinks of this. […]

Pingback by WurfWhile - Suddenly Lieutenant Governor Position Looks Real Interesting… Tuesday, Apr 22, 08 @ 11:42 pm
“True Observer” wrote in part:

“..Ata and his associates were dealing with off the books money….

Also, the interest rates at which bonds are issued can make the difference in millions.

who is going to audit whether the state could have gotten a better return on its money?

The state couldn’t even keep track of the money being made or lost on a hotel within easy walking distance of the capital. This over a period of a decade or more. ”

Sorry, True, you’re still a meathead. Go back and read what Ata was charged with and what he pled to. In summary, nothing to do with finders’ fees, “siphoned” money, hypothetical bond sales, or most of all, the Renaissance Hotel. If you have some actual knowledge about something else, see a lawyer or a priest.

Till then, stay up on your grassy knoll.

PS: In approved CapFax Blog vernacular-bite me.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 12:43 am
http://www.sj-r.com/news/state
house/2007/09/23/bernard_schoenb
urg_carroll_leaving_administration/

Bernard Schoenburg: Carroll leaving administration to join Obama bid

Published Sunday, September 23, 2007

BECKY CARROLL, who often explains budget issues from the perspective of Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, is leaving the administration to work for the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. BARACK OBAMA, D-Illinois. Carroll, now a deputy governor, will become Obama’s national director of women.
__________________
To LE keep up with the news—Becky doesn’t work for the Gov anymore!!!

Comment by To Little Egypt Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 1:06 am
The stuff about POA not only goes way beyond the charges against Rezko, it goes way beyond the Superceding Information against Ata. It’s generally not PF’s style to showboat. So what gives?

Rezko likely was aware that Ata was talking, and had at least a general sense of what he was saying, as the Govt. would have to disclose it if they had any thought to call Ata at the trial. So let’s assume Rezko already knew. If true, then this “over-disclosure” is not directed towards Rezko.

It points to someone else out there, perhaps a big witness, not quite ready to come in from the cold, who needs a little convincing on both how many beans are already being spilled, and how rapidly the window is closing on a deal.

It also indicates that the Feds have so much already that they feel quite free to act very, very aggressively to push towards . . . checkmate.

Comment by Bubs Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 3:28 am
Bill, you are conspicuous in your absence. (I’ve always thought Bill was a pseudonym for Abby Ottenoff).

Comment by If It Walks Like a Duck... Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 5:41 am
Say it isn’t so, Bill.

Comment by Patriot Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 8:30 am
It isn’t so.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 8:33 am
What is important is that perhaps Blagojevich will be politically irrelevant to everyone by November.

OK - Guys and gals, get this budget to bed and hit the road!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 8:46 am
So the house of cards finally begins to fall…will this spell disaster for Illinois Democrats in the fall?

Comment by House of Cards Wednesday, Apr 23, 08 @ 8:49 am