CapitolFax.com: This just in… BLAGOJEVICH, HARRIS, MONK, ROB BLAGOJEVICH, KELLY, CELLINI ALL INDICTED
J boogy
· 9 months ago
WOW
South of I-80
· 9 months ago
Patti's inditment? Next week?
Quinn T. Sential
· 9 months ago
Any insight on this:
{Blagojevich personally continued to trade his actions as governor for personal benefits, including, for example, delaying a state grant to a publicly-supported school while trying to leverage a U.S. Congressman, who supported the school, or the Congressman’s brother, to hold a campaign fundraiser for Blagojevich;}
Six Degrees of Separation
· 9 months ago
There's that Congressman A again.
oneman
· 9 months ago
Wow
Quinn T. Sential
· 9 months ago
Any sign of "Individual K" around town today?
{in 2003, Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly, Rezko and other co-schemers implemented this agreement by directing lucrative state business relating to the refinancing of billions of dollars in State of Illinois Pension Obligation Bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to Rezko out of the fee the lobbyist would collect, and Rezko in turn agreed to split the money with Blagojevich, Monk and Kelly;}
Quinn T. Sential
· 9 months ago
This seems rather slim; given the amounts of money that appear to have been involved:
{The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $188,370 from Blagojevich as proceeds of the alleged fraud scheme and racketeering activity, and lists Blagojevich’s apartment in Washington, D.C., and his Ravenswood Manor home in Chicago as substitute assets.}
jimbo
· 9 months ago
FINALLY! na na na na
Anonymous
· 9 months ago
BINGO!!
Joe
· 9 months ago
WOW! I assume they'll also go after his book earnings.......
The Doc
· 9 months ago
Simply breathtaking.
Nearly Normal
· 9 months ago
There is quite a bit about the TRS schemes implicating Cellini in the mix.
Makes me shudder.
Lefty
· 9 months ago
Anybody know who all the parties with an A after their status are? Lobbyist A; Congressman A, etc.
Yellow Dog Democrat
· 9 months ago
Brazen.
Concerned Observer
· 9 months ago
I'm reading this on a Metra train and just got through the whole press release. Rich, thanks for providing that.
Now...
Oh. My. God.
Some of this - especially the parts about Patti and the job hunt - literally made my jaw drop. Absolutely astounding. I'd heard and read bits and pieces of this, but...when you see it all together it really boggles the mind.
IMO, they had less on Ryan. Even with the Willis family tragedy, they had less. Wow.
EmptySuitParade
· 9 months ago
A separate fraud conspiracy count against Kelly and Cellini alleges that in the summer of 2004, they discussed with Rezko and others moving TRS Staffer A - the Executive Director of TRS – to another job with a different state entity to ensure that he would not cooperate with law enforcement. And, in the summer and fall of 2004, Cellini, Rezko and others allegedly discussed the possibility of removing the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois to stop the investigation.).....
Perhaps blowhard bill black will review his TRS speech
Shore
· 9 months ago
blago+(obama x 4)=major economic stimulus for chicago media
you have to feel for journalists in other cities.
Excessively rabid
· 9 months ago
Let's hope they can prove it in court, and make it stick. Ted Stevens comes to mind. And thanks for the great coverage on these issues.
North of I-80
· 9 months ago
Is Patty indictment not coming or is she a bargaining chip for Rod to play or discard?
The funny part [well... ONE of the many funny parts] is that while many of us worked under this guy & we told stories of what he was doing, NO ONE believed the stories & thought we were making it up. This is a GREAT day for IL.
Toast Man
· 9 months ago
BOOM!
South of I-80
· 9 months ago
I wonder if or when Blago is going to contact his publishist and hit the TV circuit? I hope for the State that he doesn’t! But, I’ve been wrong before!!
Amy
· 9 months ago
well, at least Blago will have a job....in prison.
Anon
· 9 months ago
Rich, all, here is a more readable (and search-friendly) version of the indictment:
Well, I guess now I know why it took so long to come down. Holy smokes. I feel so sorry for those two little girls.
Levois
· 9 months ago
*throws book at ousted governor*
Toast Man
· 9 months ago
"I have nothing to fear but the truth." - RRB
Justice
· 9 months ago
The Bus has pulled away from the station folks.....with many stops along the way! It's only the beginning of head count. The list will grow longer every day!
Former State Employee 2
· 9 months ago
Where is the press conference taking place. There are planes in the background. Is he back in the state? If not, where the heck did they get the State Seal. Was he anticipating this in Orlando and actually travelled with it?
Rich Miller
· 9 months ago
It's not Rod's presser, it's Quinn's. Please pay attention.
A Citizen
· 9 months ago
This is just the tip of the iceberg - a shot across the bow for those yet to cooperate . . . or else! There are many more players yet to be dragged into the net of justice.
Former State Employee 2
· 9 months ago
Sorry, my eyes glazed over the Gov Quinn part. RRB is the last governor I worked for (and the main reason I left), so when I see the "Governor" I still associate with RRB.
Quinn T. Sential
· 9 months ago
{in 2003, Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly, Rezko and other co-schemers implemented this agreement by directing lucrative state business relating to the refinancing of billions of dollars in State of Illinois Pension Obligation Bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to Rezko out of the fee the lobbyist would collect, and Rezko in turn agreed to split the money with Blagojevich, Monk and Kelly;}
Does this mean that the "loan" at a "very favorable interest rate" could not be substantively documented by the lender?
Puhlease
· 9 months ago
Former State Employee 2....you didn't leave. You were told to go.
Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and
· 9 months ago
Our patients has been rewarded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deep South
· 9 months ago
Boom goes the dynamite!!!!
Anon
· 9 months ago
Twit:
Alert from TPA: Working on statement with reaction to Gov. Blagojevich indictment... to be released asap.
Levois
· 9 months ago
The link to the indictment isn't working for me.
Smitty Irving
· 9 months ago
Well - this is a rather interesting development.
Are there any clues as to who Congressman A is?
Any mention of Kjellander, direct or indirect ? Can't find one.
How many years are Kelly and Harris facing? Do they get any "consideration" if the talk about Daley / City of Chicago matters?
Is Dan Webb still Cellini's attorney? Anyone see the irony of Cellini and Webb and Zagel in the same courtroom?
P. 32 of the document....RB further said that he could have announced a larger amount of money for road projects, but wanted to see how Construction Executive performed in raising contributions, and he added words to the effect of "If they dont' perform, f...'em."
ah, had to get just one of these flashy bits in, but re CBS2 indications are that Holder held Fitzgerald in check on his own flash.
"The Blagojevich Enterprise" now there's a title for a book, or a David Mamet play.
Anon
· 9 months ago
Twit:
(PRNewsChannel) / Tampa, Fla. / Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich released the following statement, via the PR firm that represents him, responding to the indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois:
"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors."
The PR firm representing the governor, The Publicity Agency, will send out alerts and advisories as developments warrant.
The governor is not in Chicago and will not be doing any interviews. He is spending family time with his wife and kids during spring break. They ask that you respect their privacy.
Hank
· 9 months ago
Breaking news...Blago has rented a white Bronco and is being followed by a news helicopter
Frank Sobotka
· 9 months ago
Just for the record, 75 pages, 1 F-bomb, and 0 S-bombs...
Not quite as colorful as the wiretaps.
Leave a light on George
· 9 months ago
What's the over/under on the number of supercedeing indictments to follow as some of these nuts start to crack?
Chris Kelly had better start to cooperate or he is nver going to see the light of day again.
Gregor
· 9 months ago
Just reading the indictment's charges makes me want to take a long hot shower. Wash the ikky off.
Another one wondering why Patti is spared so far, seems a slam-dunk.
AM drivetime
· 9 months ago
Roe Conn and Judy Topinka had a high old time on WLS this afternoon discussing this. Judy is entitled her schadenfreude, but only so far; she also took Cellini money without much complaint. OTOH, the list of folks from either party who *didn't* isn't too long...
Bobs yer
· 9 months ago
Just so you know, CapFax was well ahead of CST and Trib on this when it finally happened (believe me, I've been checking all day). Well done.
A separate fraud conspiracy count against Kelly and Cellini alleges that in the summer of 2004, they discussed with Rezko and others moving TRS Staffer A - the Executive Director of TRS – to another job with a different state entity to ensure that he would not cooperate with law enforcement. And, in the summer and fall of 2004, Cellini, Rezko and others allegedly discussed the possibility of removing the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois to stop the investigation.)…..
"Perhaps blowhard bill black will review his TRS speech"
Perhaps your dinner check will get his facts right next time and not screw the wrong guy.
47th Ward
· 9 months ago
Rich, thanks for the excellent reporting. What you've published here is draw-dropping in its depth and amazing in how quickly you put it out. Bravo for a job well done.
Rod sez I'm pork
· 9 months ago
I love Burris' comment: "To Blagojevich’s credit, he decided as a final act it was important to appoint someone with an exceptional reputation of integrity and superior public service to the U.S. Senate seat."
Will all this fit on his mausoleum?
Quinn T. Sential
· 9 months ago
Rahmbo was being held up for the school grant, but the saving grace for the school was that it was in the center of his political base, and holding it up forever would have been far too directly injurous to him.
Had the school been elsewhere there is a good chance they would still be twisting in the wind.
enevlop
· 9 months ago
Where is Jon Bauman in all of this?????? How has he managed -most of the time- to say off the radar screen? You know Jon, TRS exec director, and foremer "friend" of Cellini during Jon's old CMS days as the guy who ran state leases....
Jon Bauman
· 9 months ago
"enevlop", I'm right here. What's your question?
Ding! End of Round 2
· 9 months ago
What about Tusk? He had to know about a lot of this.
Congressman A - Jesse Jackson Junior?
Third Generation Chicago Nativ
· 9 months ago
Rich, Thanks for the fantastic coverage.
And why does Rod B have an apartment in DC after 6 years whe he has home in Ravenswood and well supposidly the Governors' Mansion in Springfield? Did he think he was going back to DC?
Patti was spared for now, I wonder if something won't come down the pipe later, seems like her paw prints are over everything.
WindyCityGardener
· 9 months ago
Does anyone know what the minimum sentence would be if he is guilty on all charges ? How many charges were there against Ryan ? He only got a couple of years.
enevlop
· 9 months ago
Bauman..how did you get to TRS Jon????? Deep experinece in retirement systems?
Hank
· 9 months ago
The so called Decatur Mafia's heart just skipped a beat. Connect the dots!
Jon Bauman
· 9 months ago
"enevlop"
I applied for a vacant administrative position that did not require pension experience, but did require management experience and State government background. I also knew how to spell.
Now, run along. Time for bed.
PPHS
· 9 months ago
How many charges were there against Ryan ? He only got a couple of years.
There were 22 charges and he got 6.5 years.
wordslinger
· 9 months ago
So Harris flipped for sure. The question is, did he flip just on Blago, or did he do a double-gainer?
Do the feds allow a single flip when they think you can perform at a higher level of difficulty.
What's holding Kelly back? Certain gaming associates, so to speak?
enevlop
· 9 months ago
Bauman....you cannot possibly expect anyone in this town to believe that you merely "applied" for the director's job and got it, or that Mr. Cellini's business interests just coincidentally followed you to TRS. But congratulations on your spell-check abilities..and be sure to note that skill on you resume the next time you "apply" for a job.
Richard
· 9 months ago
As our old Chicago native Tommy Boy would have said "HOLY SCHNEIKEES" or "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD", from "Helen you look like a Helen" to "Rod you look like a Helen"
litebrite
· 9 months ago
Hey Smitty, I caught the connection too, ya think c-man will walk. I think he wil be the only one.
party of one
· 9 months ago
Judy took celini money, huh??? I don't think so. At least try to be legit about this stuff.
As for blogo and blogett I hope they both go to prison and Dick Mell gets the kids. Somehow that kind of irony makes me very happy tonight.
Bookworm
· 9 months ago
Well, well, well. If Rahm is indeed Congressman A, I can only imagine the choice names those two have for one another. It also explains why Blago publicly tossed Rahm under the bus at the impeachment trial.
Jon Bauman
· 9 months ago
This is the last answer, 'lop. You are no better at history than spelling.
I was at TRS for 8 years as the COO before I became Director. The Cellini family firm was already on board when I got there, having been hired 2 years prior.
enevlop
· 9 months ago
Bauman...well then I guess it's all just one big misunderstanding. You had no influence on or role in the further enrichment of the celini's, you didn't have the power to stop the sweetheart deals..why I bet you didn't even KNOW celini. You seem to share the same contempt for honesty as does your (now twice indicted) patron. Sleep well....
Floyd
· 9 months ago
Jon,
Are you the same Jon who use to hang with a man who drove a Superbird back in Champaign?
mind-boggled
· 9 months ago
Three years ago Congressman Harold Cunningham was sentenced by a federal court to 8 years 7 months on bribery related charges of comparable magnitude, but with an offense that had a 10 year maximum and he "accepted responsibility" as that is defined by the federal sentencing guidelines. Also, he was older and in poor health. That is, to my knowledge, the longest sentence ever given to a Congressman.
Anon
· 9 months ago
Rod must have been mentally ill at some level. Disconnected from reality, and spending virtually all his energy with fundraising and self-enrichment schemes. Gotta wonder about anybody who hung aroung that environment.
Suzanne
· 9 months ago
Just in from work tonight, reading this, glad to know the coverage would be here on CapFax but still so sad. My state, our state, bruised, broken, shamed . . . again.
anon
· 9 months ago
Now we can see why Madigan never returned his calls!
Lynn S
· 9 months ago
HOLY COW!!
Add me to the list of people wondering why Patti wasn't indicted today.
Curious to see how early the Tribune sells out tomorrow...
Jon Bauman
· 9 months ago
Floyd, and I assume that's a cheap shot at my late father who knew more about ethics and integrity than most of the GA combined, I did not have a fiend with a Superbird,period.
steve schnorf
· 9 months ago
envelop, Bauman has the courage to post under his own name. If only someone as insightful and informed as you had the b---s to do the same.
Jon Bauman
· 9 months ago
'Lop, if you want just hit the google before pouting off, you may turn out a good post someday. Read up a bit and all your questions are answered about TRS, Cellini, and the investment in land.
Bookworm
· 9 months ago
They should have tossed in two more counts of perjury -- one for each time Blago took the oath of office.
Bookworm
· 9 months ago
The indictments say Blago's intent was to rake in as much money as possible and divide it up with his co-schemers after he left office. But wasn't his massive fundraising aimed at an eventual run for president?
More to come
· 9 months ago
Schnorf- Bless you. Weren't you the same guy professing Hurtgen as an innocent? Saying that people were besmreaching people on this site and all the rest?
Bauman- Did your kid work for Hurtgen? Or was that someone else on the TRS Board?
All Comments
{Blagojevich personally continued to trade his actions as governor for personal benefits, including, for example, delaying a state grant to a publicly-supported school while trying to leverage a U.S. Congressman, who supported the school, or the Congressman’s brother, to hold a campaign fundraiser for Blagojevich;}
{in 2003, Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly, Rezko and other co-schemers implemented this agreement by directing lucrative state business relating to
the refinancing of billions of dollars in State of Illinois Pension Obligation Bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to Rezko out of the fee the lobbyist would collect, and Rezko in turn agreed to split the money with Blagojevich, Monk and Kelly;}
{The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $188,370 from Blagojevich as proceeds of the alleged fraud scheme and racketeering activity, and lists Blagojevich’s apartment in Washington, D.C., and his Ravenswood Manor home in Chicago as substitute assets.}
Makes me shudder.
Now...
Oh. My. God.
Some of this - especially the parts about Patti and the job hunt - literally made my jaw drop. Absolutely astounding. I'd heard and read bits and pieces of this, but...when you see it all together it really boggles the mind.
IMO, they had less on Ryan. Even with the Willis family tragedy, they had less. Wow.
Perhaps blowhard bill black will review his TRS speech
you have to feel for journalists in other cities.
The funny part [well... ONE of the many funny parts] is that while many of us worked under this guy & we told stories of what he was doing, NO ONE believed the stories & thought we were making it up. This is a GREAT day for IL.
http://blogs.sj-r.com/podcasts/wp-content/uploa...
the refinancing of billions of dollars in State of Illinois Pension Obligation Bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to Rezko out of the fee the lobbyist would collect, and Rezko in turn agreed to split the money with Blagojevich, Monk and Kelly;}
Does this mean that the "loan" at a "very favorable interest rate" could not be substantively documented by the lender?
Alert from TPA: Working on statement with reaction to Gov. Blagojevich indictment... to be released asap.
Are there any clues as to who Congressman A is?
Any mention of Kjellander, direct or indirect ? Can't find one.
How many years are Kelly and Harris facing? Do they get any "consideration" if the talk about Daley / City of Chicago matters?
Is Dan Webb still Cellini's attorney? Anyone see the irony of Cellini and Webb and Zagel in the same courtroom?
Try this one.
http://blogs.sj-r.com/podcasts/wp-content/uploa...
perform, f...'em."
ah, had to get just one of these flashy bits in, but re CBS2 indications are that Holder held Fitzgerald in check on his own flash.
"The Blagojevich Enterprise" now there's a title for a book, or a David Mamet play.
(PRNewsChannel) / Tampa, Fla. / Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich released the following statement, via the PR firm that represents him, responding to the indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois:
"I'm saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors."
The PR firm representing the governor, The Publicity Agency, will send out alerts and advisories as developments warrant.
The governor is not in Chicago and will not be doing any interviews. He is spending family time with his wife and kids during spring break. They ask that you respect their privacy.
Not quite as colorful as the wiretaps.
Chris Kelly had better start to cooperate or he is nver going to see the light of day again.
Another one wondering why Patti is spared so far, seems a slam-dunk.
A separate fraud conspiracy count against Kelly and Cellini alleges that in the summer of 2004, they discussed with Rezko and others moving TRS Staffer A - the Executive Director of TRS – to another job with a different state entity to ensure that he would not cooperate with law enforcement. And, in the summer and fall of 2004, Cellini, Rezko and others allegedly discussed the possibility of removing the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois to stop the investigation.)…..
"Perhaps blowhard bill black will review his TRS speech"
Perhaps your dinner check will get his facts right next time and not screw the wrong guy.
Will all this fit on his mausoleum?
Had the school been elsewhere there is a good chance they would still be twisting in the wind.
Congressman A - Jesse Jackson Junior?
Thanks for the fantastic coverage.
And why does Rod B have an apartment in DC after 6 years whe he has home in Ravenswood and well supposidly the Governors' Mansion in Springfield? Did he think he was going back to DC?
Patti was spared for now, I wonder if something won't come down the pipe later, seems like her paw prints are over everything.
How many charges were there against Ryan ? He only got a couple of years.
I applied for a vacant administrative position that did not require pension experience, but did require management experience and State government background. I also knew how to spell.
Now, run along. Time for bed.
There were 22 charges and he got 6.5 years.
Do the feds allow a single flip when they think you can perform at a higher level of difficulty.
What's holding Kelly back? Certain gaming associates, so to speak?
I caught the connection too, ya think c-man will walk. I think he wil be the only one.
As for blogo and blogett I hope they both go to prison and Dick Mell gets the kids. Somehow that kind of irony makes me very happy tonight.
I was at TRS for 8 years as the COO before I became Director. The Cellini family firm was already on board when I got there, having been hired 2 years prior.
Are you the same Jon who use to hang with a man who drove a Superbird back in Champaign?
Add me to the list of people wondering why Patti wasn't indicted today.
Curious to see how early the Tribune sells out tomorrow...
Bauman- Did your kid work for Hurtgen? Or was that someone else on the TRS Board?