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This just in… Oops! One less vote for Quigley * Jackson hit with ethics probe *

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Illinois

* 2:24 pm - Rahm Emanuel forgot to vote absentee for Mike Quigley.

[I bent the time-space thingamabob to put that post at the top.]

* 2:25 PM - From a press release…

Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced the indictment of a Chicago-area businessman and his construction company for fraudulently obtaining public funds reserved for minority businesses in construction contracts with City of Chicago agencies.

A Cook County grand jury returned the indictment today against Robert Blum, 56, of New Lenox, Ill., and Castle Construction Co., based in Markham, Ill., on 10 counts of fraudulently obtaining public moneys reserved for disadvantaged business enterprises, one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Blum is the owner and CEO of Castle Construction.

“Castle Construction never would have received these public contracts without employing deceptive practices, and because of that, this company prevented other legitimate businesses from securing contracts intended to help provide business growth opportunities for minority-owned businesses,” Madigan said.

The indictment alleges that Blum and Castle Construction fraudulently obtained two construction contracts worth more than $18 million and allegedly devised a scheme to misrepresent and conceal how much of the public funds actually went to minority-owned businesses, a condition required by both contracts. […]

Public Integrity Bureau Deputy Chief Mary Bucaro and Special Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Bunge are handling the case for Madigan’s office.

Castle Construction is a major political player and has been in a lot of hot water lately, including similar allegations about the construction of a Chicago firehouse. It’s reportedly under federal investigation in connection with the ongoing probe of Rod Blagojevich, to whom the company donated big bucks. The company’s founder is good buddies with former Blagojevich fundraiser Chris Kelly and the company even did work on the former governor’s campaign office.

* 2:36 pm - I can understand the motivation and the reasoning, but considering the electoral pressures and ambitions of state’s attorneys, I can see why legislators might be uncomfortable with this idea…

Illinois should adopt its own version of a federal racketeering law that’s been used to take down Mafia families and crooked politicians in order to better fight corruption and violent gangs, Cook County State’s Atty. Anita Alvarez said Tuesday.

Legislation being prepared by Alvarez’s office would adapt provisions of the RICO Act to help authorities here investigate political, white-collar and street crime, Alvarez told the Chicago Tribune editorial board.

Alvarez said the reaction to the law from House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton has been optimistic but cautious.

“Both of them were actually very interested,” Alvarez said. “We were not shut out, but no one was signing on immediately.”

*** 4:28 pm *** Not good news at all.…

A congressional ethics board has launched a preliminary inquiry into U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill), related to President Obama’s vacant Senate seat and the corruption investigation of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned

The Office of Congressional Ethics, formed just last year, voted in late March to conduct a “preliminary review,” of actions surrounding Jackson’s bid to be appointed to the Senate seat, according to documents received by parties involved in the case. The committee launched the action Thursday — the same day Blagojevich was indicted on corruption charges.

The panel has asked parties in the Blagojevich case — including his former gubernatorial staff and campaign staff — to turn over any documents, emails, or other correspondence involving Jackson Jr. and his campaign staff, Jackson’s brother, Jonathan, and political fund-raisers Raghuveer Nayak and Rajinder Bedi, lawyers close to the probe told the Sun-Times. The request for information is from June of last year through Dec. 31, 2008.

Nayak, Bedi and Jonathan Jackson attended a Dec. 6 fund-raiser hosted by the Indian community for Friends of Blagojevich. People attending the event have told the Sun-Times that discussions about future fund-raising for congressman Jackson’s Senate candidacy took place at the function. [emphasis added]

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 2:32 pm

Comments

Where was Lisa Madigan when she could have indicted Levine, Rezko, Cellini, any member of the Blagojevich $25,000 club? Its nice that she finally figured out public corruption matters but it doesn’t make up for years of doing nothing but sending toughly worded letters.

We have a RICO law, we call it coersion here, but it does need enhancing.

And its also legal to record a conversation without consent if you think a crime is or is about to be committed. Let’s look at the law before proposing changes.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 2:45 pm
===Where was Lisa Madigan when she could have indicted Levine, Rezko, Cellini, any member of the Blagojevich $25,000 club?===

C’mon. You already know the answer to that. She was asked by USA Fitz to hand over her case files to him so they didn’t bump into each other. She complied.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 2:47 pm
Now I saw science fiction on The Capitol Fax. I can’t wait to see what else I’ll see. LOL!

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:00 pm
Lil Lisa seems to be in the news more & more…hmmm wonder why? Weekly press releases…c’mon just announce already!

Comment by scoot Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:01 pm
And you know full well there is a metric crap load of corruption both under Blagojevich and with Stroger and Daley the FBI is just not going to persue. Call me a skeptic for taking LMad’s press release as Gospel.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:01 pm
===Call me a skeptic for taking LMad’s press release as Gospel. ===

I think that press release was a letter from Fitz.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:26 pm
Geez, how is the OMP gonna get done with all of Daley’s privileged contractors succumbing to the man?

Do these scandals make Chicago more or less likely to win approval of the pure as the driven snow IOC?

Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:29 pm
That letter does not cover all public corruption everywhere, as indicated by the Castle Construction prosecution. We already know Fitz isn’t going after hiring/promotion… Where are those prosecutions.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:33 pm
===We already know Fitz isn’t going after hiring/promotion===

You didn’t read the indictment very carefully, did you? Plus, that was specifically part of the deal as I recall. All of that was turned over to him.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 3:41 pm
It’s encouraging that Anita Alvarez wants a RICO type law at the local level.Since historically the Cook County States Attorney knew nothing of corruption going on.You’ve got some mob street crews,McCormick Place,and other cesspools of corruption.Does Anita Alvarez need a RICO to prosecute wrong doing in Crook County?

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 4:02 pm
Castle was barred once from bidding on Fire and Police stations. Who let them back in?

Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 5:36 pm
Fitz out-of-scope’d hiring during Blago trial and provided a list of “don’t touch”… Plenty of others to target, you know that. Hiring is the low hanging fruit, that’s all easy money.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 5:36 pm
Dude, read the freaking Fitzgerald letter for yourself. Hiring is the number one subject.

Page 1 and Page 2

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 5:40 pm
When will Jesse Sr. be out in the street saying Fitzy is profiling on politicians.

Comment by Ike an Mike Tuesday, Apr 7, 09 @ 6:22 pm
The Office of Congressional Ethics hadn’t met for the first time until September, 2008 and has a plate full of corrupted Democrats to investigate, such as Murtha and Rangel. Then there is Burris and Dodd who are already under investigations.

So far, this Office has been a PR stunt for Pelosi since she promised to “drain the swamp” back in 2005. (Please notice it took four years to even get an Office to meet.)

I predict posturing, pooh-poohing, hand-wringing, and empty threats from Pelosi and the Democrats since they are just covering their tracks via the Office and are actually waiting for the FBI and Federal Prosecutors to step in and take charge over these cases.

So, Jackson’s predicament is simply official, and he may be dragged around a bit in a fishbowl if Pelosi feels pressure from voters over the continuing Democratic corruption machine that has taken hold in Congress. If Jesse Jackson has a problem with his son’s situation, he needs to cut a deal with Nancy, not Fitzgerald. It is a political office that plays political games, so Jackson will need to play that game with her. As to the facts, he can’t really change those, so he has to continue dealing with Fitzgerald via his lawyers.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 8, 09 @ 8:52 am
Trips is in a lot of trouble, and the ethics panel is the least of it.

It amazes me that anyone thought they could play ball with Blago when he obviously had so much federal heat.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 09 @ 10:16 am