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More Blagojevich fallout: Feds interview Congressman Jackson

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Burris

* The Sun-Times reports today that federal investigators want to know why Rod Blagojevich believed he would get $1.5 million in campaign contributions from an associate of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. in exchange for appointing Jackson to the then-vacant US Senate seat.

Jackson and his lawyers met with the feds over a week ago, according to the paper…

Among the areas of interest, sources say, was what Jackson told his representatives to convey to the Blagojevich camp on his behalf last year — a time Jackson sought the Senate seat appointment.

And, in a signal that the probe into dealings involving a possible Jackson appointment is still under way, witnesses and possible evidence involved in that part of the alleged scheme were recently subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, sources say.

Jackson has repeatedly claimed that he is not a target in the probe, and even said he was tipped off by the feds in advance of Blagojevich’s early-morning arrest.

The paper also has some internal call logs from the governor’s office which appear to show the congressman’s interest in the seat…

“JJJr called 2nd time — LM Gov returned call @ 4:50 p.m. on 10/24-JJ on plane,” the log states. “JJJr called a 3rd time @3:30 p.m. on 10-29.”

Blagojevich’s people contacted the congressman Nov. 25 about scheduling a meeting. The next day, the Rev. Jesse Jackson left a message for Blagojevich, saying he wanted to speak to the governor.

A Dec. 2 notation in the ex-governor’s log indicates: “Will prob do JJJr next week. But do not call him yet.”

Rod Blagojevich and congressman Jackson eventually met Dec. 8 — the day before Blagojevich was arrested.

…Adding… Oops. Forgot about this one…

Tribune Co. would have received as much as $45 million and a 5 percent stake in a leased Wrigley Field under a deal involving a state loan of $300 million toward restoring the historic ballpark, a proposal found in state documents shows.

A Nov. 19 memo released Monday night by the Illinois Finance Authority, marked “strictly confidential — for discussion purposes only,” outlines a complicated deal in which a new owner of the century-old stadium’s tenant, the Chicago Cubs, would pay $25 million a year for 30 years. […]

The Nov. 19 agreement, released to The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act, shows the finance authority, through a complex venture, would retain 95 percent interest in a company set up to lease Wrigley to a new Cubs owner until 2039.

In addition to the upfront contribution, the Tribune would control the other 5 percent.

What’s almost never discussed is the curious timing of former (and now current) budget guru John Filan’s transfer to the Illinois Finance Authority just as these talks were heating up last year.

* On another front, Mark Brown looks at the “beauty” of the feds’ conspiracy charge strategy against Blagojevich…

The beauty of tying everything together as a conspiracy is that jurors will be able to see the totality of the pay-to-play practices carried out by Blagojevich: from fund-raising schemes carried to completion early in his administration — on which his own fingerprints may be less distinct — to the shakedown interruptus captured on the wiretaps where his involvement will ring through loud and clear in his own voice.

I found it telling that the accusations of Blagojevich’s attempting to sell Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat, front and center after the governor’s December arrest, are practically secondary in his indictment. There’s just so much more coming at him now than the stuff on the wiretaps.

That’s going to be the biggest problem for his defense attorney. Any one of the charged schemes might be beatable from a defense viewpoint. But taken as a whole, it’s going to be difficult for Blagojevich to sell his story that he was an honorable public servant felled by his efforts to fight the political forces of evil.

* Related…

* Quinn nixes Blagojevich executive orderexecutive order on ethics

* Blagojevich Name Still Towers Over Far South Side

* He Can Run (To Disneyland)

* Zorn: Once again, Deb Mell puts family first

* Edgar: Burden of improving Illinois should fall on everyone’s shoulders

* Union wants TRS’s Bauman gone now

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 9:47 am

Comments

Capt. Fax:
Your favorite “reformrs” were in Chambana to proclaim ….”Collins said he believes momentum is building for government reform in Illinois.

“We just learned today that we have been invited to testify April 21 before the joint committee,” he said of a separate reform study group appointed by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. “I’m not sure that would have happened a couple of weeks ago.”…”
actually legislative lawyers met the commission shorlty after their creation to advise them of General Assembly efforts and invite their input. The crew might do better if they drop the us v. them approach.
Perhaps you need to offer them some more free advice.

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 9:56 am
I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Jesse Jackson Jr, and I hope he comes out of this unscathed.

Comment by Lakefront Liberal Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 9:56 am
If he just met with the feds last week, Trips had a long time to get his story straight. Still, he’s in a dangerous spot — he doesn’t know what they know. And if you lie to them….

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 10:25 am
Rod has a new job. He’s playing GOOFY at Disney.

Comment by BOB Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 10:32 am
Why is Filan still employed by the State?

Comment by Jacksonville Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 11:12 am
Jacksonville: Filan has pictures!

Comment by Hank Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 11:21 am
Word in ex-gov’s office was that filan was transferred because he fought with John Harris all the time and the Gov eventually had enough of all the fighting.

Comment by tower Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 1:49 pm
tower, that’s a bunch of baloney. Blago could have cared less about office politics because he was never there.

Comment by Behind the Curtain Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:39 pm