|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Judge reveals Blagojevich is 'Public Official A'
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Candidate
|
| Contributor | Imperator |
| Last Edited | Imperator Feb 26, 2008 07:20pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Legal Ruling |
| Media | Newspaper - Chicago Tribune |
| News Date | Wednesday, February 27, 2008 01:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Laying to rest the latest parlor game of Illinois politics, a federal judge on Monday made it crystal clear that "A" stands for Rod Blagojevich in the public corruption case against the governor's indicted fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
A ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve dispensed with an array of pseudonyms that had cloaked the identities of several people who allegedly benefited from Rezko's financial schemes, including Blagojevich. He had previously been referred to in court documents only as Public Official A.
The nine-page ruling was heavy on political names and dealmaking, revealing for the first time what Robert Kjellander, Illinois' Republican national committeeman, allegedly did with a controversial $809,000 finder's fee he got as part of a Blagojevich administration bond deal. Prosecutors contend much of the windfall ended up with Rezko associates, according to St. Eve's ruling.
Blagojevich has repeatedly denied that he was Public Official A, but St. Eve underscored the link Monday by saying prosecutors claimed he was the intended beneficiary of an alleged attempt by Rezko to extort a $1.5 million campaign donation from Chicago financier Tom Rosenberg.
The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and St. Eve did not suggest that he was aware of the alleged extortion attempt. In earlier court filings, however, prosecutors have alleged that Blagojevich told a former political operative now cooperating with federal authorities that he could steer contracts, legal work and investment banking their way in exchange for fundraising.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff dismissed any alleged conversation that suggested a campaign donation needed to be made in exchange for an investment. "The governor was never involved in such a conversation," said Ottenhoff, who didn't directly address the identification of Blagojevich.
|
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
