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This just in… Zell “contacted by the FBI”

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Illinois

* 3:43 PM - From the Tribune…

Tribune Co. chief executive Sam Zell — who is indirectly referred to in the government’s criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich– said on CNBC that he has been contacted by the FBI but wouldn’t give details, the Washington Post reports on its Web site.

A lengthy FBI document released Tuesday alleges Blagojevich wanted to help Tribune Co. with its sale of the Chiocago Cubs in return for the firing of Tribune editorial writer John McCormick.

On CNBC, Zell said that as far as he knew, no pressure was ever applied to John McCormick.

The question becomes, was that FBI contact before or after Tuesday morning?

I’m working on a couple of Tribune-related posts, but ran out of time. We’ll deal with that topic a lot more tomorrow.

* 3:47 PM - The CNBC interview is here.

* 3:53 PM - When asked about reports that the governor and his chief of staff sought to force firings at the Tribune, Zell said he wasn’t “personally familiar with any of that.”

Zell then said, when asked, that he had been contacted by the FBI.

“I think they’re asking questions as far as my knowledge is concerned,” Zell said.

Was there pressure to change coverage of the governor at the Tribune?

“I certainly can’t speak to that.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 3:44 pm

Comments

Could the explanation of the sudden departure for Deputy Governor Greenlee be that he set off the hidden metal detector installed at the door of the Govenor’s office?

Perhaps it was determined that while on the state payroll;and on the Govenror’s staff, he was instead actually working for the U.S. Attorney?

Comment by Smoked Out Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 3:51 pm
With Zell’s fine work with the Tribune: who does he have starting his car in the morning. The guy might be a genuis when it comes to real estate but man what a brutal job he’s done at the Tribune.

He’s taken one of the finest newspaers in the country and not just made it bankrupt but also ran it straight in the ground.

Comment by GofG Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 3:51 pm
Everytime I hear from or about the Trib editorial board they all say no pressure was ever applied ect.

That wasn’t the scheme-the editors were to be fired! They would be replaced by someone who would be a shill. It is obvious that the present editors wouldn’t respond to pressure-that’s why they had to go. Sheesh.

Comment by good to go Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 3:56 pm
Between filing for Chapter 11, being interviewed by the FBI and being accused of agreeing to fire editors to cut a business deal, Mr. Zell is not having an “up” week.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:01 pm
Too bad the Tribune did not pursue this investigative fervor when it came to giving Obama’s background a free pass.

I appreciate their fine work on the Blago Scandal, but I hope they will not stick their head in the sand if this scandal hits the President Elect.

Comment by Luis Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:07 pm
I’m starting to think Illinois should be punished at a national level by having only one senator until the vacancy expires. Maybe then we will learn….

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:16 pm
Diamond Joe Quimby, the Cubs would win the World Series before IL DEMS gave up a Senate Seat.

Comment by Luis Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:18 pm
Former Governor Thompson has been uncharacteristically silent on this matter. He worked on this Tribune/Wrigley deal didn’t he? Any sign of him in the last two days?

Did they write off the last two billings and call it a day on this one? Were they representing the Tribune Company previously, or were they referred in to them by someone to work on their behalf for those efforts?

Friends of Blagojevich
D-2 Semiannual Report
1/1/2008 to 6/30/2008

Creditor Date Incurred Original Amount Balance

Winston & Strawn 12/13/2006 $11,315.53
Winston & Strawn 1/18/2007 $15,075.23
Winston & Strawn 2/27/2007 $52,666.88
Winston & Strawn 3/23/2007 $140,828.21
Winston & Strawn 4/18/2007 $76,984.98
Winston & Strawn 5/24/2007 $137,543.28
Winston & Strawn 8/31/2007 $56,894.70
Winston & Strawn 7/31/2007 $111,571.20
Winston & Strawn 9/28/2007 $22,902.05
Winston & Strawn 10/15/2007 $29,345.63
Winston & Strawn 6/29/2007 $120,841.68
Winston & Strawn 12/20/2007 $69,031.11 $0.00
Winston & Strawn 11/30/2007 $120,351.56 $0.00

Comment by Mum's the Word Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:22 pm
Thompson’s quoted somewhere today saying he was unaware of any pressure on the Trib

Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:25 pm
===I’m starting to think Illinois should be punished at a national level by having only one senator until the vacancy expires. Maybe then we will learn…. ====

VQ, I’m not certain such a scenario is constitutional, but if it is, you and I shouldn’t have to suffer for Blago’s sins anymore than we already have and undoubtedly will. Impeachment and succession are topics covered in our state’s constitution (you know, the one 2/3 of residents think is essentially too good to “tinker with”) to address these issues.

Our punishment manifests itself in the form of woeful leadership, high taxes, rampant corruption, and diminished services. And now an embarassment to the entire world.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:26 pm
==(you know, the one 2/3 of residents think is essentially too good to “tinker with”)==

or were scared into keeping the devil they know instead of the devil they don’t know…

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:31 pm
Has anyone asked if anyone from the Tribune Co wandered down to the Dirksen Building to tell the government that Blagoof was shaking them down?
Perhaps they were willing to pay to play…Perhaps the new IFA honcho could not put the deal together fast enough

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:35 pm
As a old man, I witnessed Watergate unfold with my man Walter Cronkite. It scares me that the last two days have that feeling once more.

Comment by Luis Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:40 pm
I must say Deborah Mell certainly knows what to bring over when the crap hits the fan. She might have bad timing i.e. announcing for Congress before taking her State Rep job but she sure has guts.

Comment by A little levity Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 4:48 pm
===or were scared into keeping the devil they know instead of the devil they don’t know… ===

Not to delve back into a referendum on the con-con, but associating it with a “devil” is exactly the type of fear-mongering and misdirection that is wholly unncessary. No offer of proof that a con-con would result in the destruction of anything worthwhile in the document.

I’ll get back to the regularly scheduled programming now.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 5:04 pm
(new nickname suggested by a friend yesterday)

I am wondering if there was any coincidence re: the bankruptcy filing on Monday and the indictment Tuesday. Did Zell get tipped off and realize the IFA deal wasn’t going to happen because Blago was going to be picked up, so he went ahead and filed Monday? Not that the IFA funds would have provided all the money needed for Zell to make the interest payment, but maybe it would have bought him some more time?

Also, Deb Mell is a very tough person and will perform well in Springfield, although she might find all the egos from individuals working the rail frustrating.

Comment by "low level paper pusher" Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 5:09 pm
Remember, Thompson only “skims” documents.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 5:44 pm
I am waiting to see you computer techs come up with the video of Blag’s head on Howie Mandel asking “Deal or no Deal” and the box girls with heads of TripleJ, EJ among others shown. Would have thought late night comics would have come up with it instead of me.

Comment by So IL mama Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 8:56 pm
Luis, don’t sweat it. Unlike Nixon, Rod doesn’t have a soldier carrying a briefcase they called a football.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 10:24 pm
—————
Between filing for Chapter 11, being interviewed by the FBI and being accused of agreeing to fire editors to cut a business deal, Mr. Zell is not having an “up” week.
—————

Yeah. And Fran was all over him yesterday, too.

Comment by Ahem...The REAL Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 10, 08 @ 11:10 pm
Lisa Madigan’s Complaint appears to exclude the possibility that the Gov is “disabled” because of mental illness. This could, however, be the best case for temporary removal. Some of the things he has said are clearly delusional, such as the discussion of a Presidential run. And, mental illness could explain a lot, including his budgetary non-functionality.

Comment by Morton Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:35 pm