Tony Rezko associate Elie Maloof just testified that when he received a grand jury subpoena, Rezko told him not to talk to the feds. Why?
"The federal prosecutor will no longer be the same federal prosecutor," Maloof just testified that Rezko told him. What did Rezko mean prosecutor Chris Niewoehner asked? "That Patrick Fitzgerald would be terminated and Dennis Hastert will name his replacement. The investigation will be over."
Maloof, who once helped run some of Rezko's fast-food businesses, said Rezko told him of Fitzgerald's replacement: "That they will order the prosecutor to stop the investigation."
It is the first time jurors heard an accusation that Rezko worked behind the scenes to oust Fitzgerald.
Last week, prosecutors revealed that future witness Ali Ata will also testify that he knew of a plan by Rezko to eliminated Fitzgerald and replace him with someone who wouldn't go after Rezko.
On cross examination, though, Defense lawyer William Ziegelmueller asked whether he knew that it's President who appoints U.S. Attorneys.
On cross examination, though, Defense lawyer William Ziegelmueller asked whether he knew that it's President who appoints U.S. Attorneys.
Maloof also testified that Rezko told him not to bring up his name to prosecutors because it would only link to Gov. Blagojevich.
The conversation with Rezko, took place in February, 2004 inside of Rezko's Wilmette mansion.
Only Rezko's housekeeper was there, aside from Maloof and Rezko.
Maloof said as they talked, Rezko had three cell phones in front of him.
"It was kind of weird, he had three cell phones in front of him," Maloof said.
When Maloof asked why, Rezko explained: "Just in case somebody’s listening," Maloof said.
What did he mean? “If the feds were listening.”
Was Mr. Rezko joking?
"No, it wasn’t a joke," Maloof said.
Maloof left the stand without ever invoking Barack Obama's name, despite previous allegations by prosecutors that he made a straw donation for Rezko to Obama's Senatorial campaign fund. It is clear that lawyers -- and the judge -- have been careful not to bring Obama's name into case, even outside the presence of the jury.
After Maloof left the stand, cameras chased him out of the federal courts building.
After Maloof left the stand, cameras chased him out of the federal courts building.
Newspaper photographers and television camera crews hustled to get in front of Maloof and, in what is a common scene in federal court, walked backwards, attempting not to run into one another while staying out of the rain.
Then Maloof asked something surprising: "You need me to slow down for you?"
Everyone nodded.
He did.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/04/witness_patrick_fitzgerald_wou.html#more
COMING UP: Jurors get a two-day holiday while lawyers prepare for the close of the government's case after eight weeks of trial. Court reconvenes Thursday when the former Illinois Finance Authority executive director is likely to take the stand. Prosecutors are tentatively planning to rest their case early next week with closing arguments by May 12.
On a footnote. Here is what we know about Fitzgerald:
On October 24, 2001, the Fitzgerald's nomination as USA was confirmed by the Senate.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/04/witness_patrick_fitzgerald_wou.html#more
COMING UP: Jurors get a two-day holiday while lawyers prepare for the close of the government's case after eight weeks of trial. Court reconvenes Thursday when the former Illinois Finance Authority executive director is likely to take the stand. Prosecutors are tentatively planning to rest their case early next week with closing arguments by May 12.
On a footnote. Here is what we know about Fitzgerald:
On October 24, 2001, the Fitzgerald's nomination as USA was confirmed by the Senate.
Soon after becoming U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois, Fitzgerald began an investigation of political appointees of Republican Illinois Governor George Ryan, who were suspected of accepting bribes to give licenses to unqualified truck drivers. Ryan , who did not seek re-election in 2002, was indicted in December 2003.
On July 18, 2005, Fitzgerald's office indicted a number of top aides to Democrat Richard M. Daley, the mayor of Chicago, on charges of mail fraud, alleging numerous instances of corruption in hiring practices at City Hall. Fitzgerald also investigated the administration of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. An investigation announced on December 30, 2005 will review contracts between the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and vendors who signed leases to occupy the recently remodeled Illinois Tollway oases. Fitzgerald's office investigated possible conflicts of interest between these vendors and one of Blagojevich's top fundraisers, Antoin Rezko.
U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald chose not to run for reelection in 2004, leaving Patrick Fitzgerald without a congressional patron. In the summer of 2005, there were rumors that he would not be reappointed to a second four-year term in retaliation for his conduct in investigations into corruption in Illinois and Chicago government, as well as for his investigation of the Plame scandal.
On July 18, 2005, Fitzgerald's office indicted a number of top aides to Democrat Richard M. Daley, the mayor of Chicago, on charges of mail fraud, alleging numerous instances of corruption in hiring practices at City Hall. Fitzgerald also investigated the administration of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. An investigation announced on December 30, 2005 will review contracts between the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and vendors who signed leases to occupy the recently remodeled Illinois Tollway oases. Fitzgerald's office investigated possible conflicts of interest between these vendors and one of Blagojevich's top fundraisers, Antoin Rezko.
U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald chose not to run for reelection in 2004, leaving Patrick Fitzgerald without a congressional patron. In the summer of 2005, there were rumors that he would not be reappointed to a second four-year term in retaliation for his conduct in investigations into corruption in Illinois and Chicago government, as well as for his investigation of the Plame scandal.
1 comment:
NO surprise there. Look if I were a crook I'd want Fitz fired too. The skill full way he handles cases scares criminals and the White House. What's more shocking is the White House didn't step up sooner which shows just how dumb they really are. I know Libby sees Fitz in his sleep. It was the closing arguments that Fitz gave that put all the pieces together in the Libby case. I hope Libby was wearing a pamper that day or he had an accident in his pants. Ted Wells worked with nothing only to ask the jurors to give Libby make to him. One thing I noticed was how corrupt the DOJ was when Judge Walton sentenced Libby and Bush stepped in to save the little soldier. But he was to late to totally save the convicted felon.
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