Big problems for G-Rod..
Testimony at the corruption trial of Tony Rezko once again involved Governor Blagojevich Thursday.
Ali Ata, a man who raised money for the governor's campaign told the court Thursday about conversations he had with the governor and Rezko about contributing his own money in exchange for a state job. Ata eventually became the executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority in the Blagojevich administration.
More disturbing testimony Thursday afternoon about the first 18 months of the first Rod Blagojevich administration: the former Illinois Finance Authority director testified, describing a government virtually for sale.
The small building at 853 N. Elston Avenue, where the offices of Rezmar Corporation are located, was a kind of "shadow state capitol" during the early years of the Blagojevich administration, according to former Illinois Finance Authority Director Ali Ata, who is testifying against Rezmar's owner, campaign fundraiser Tony Rezko.
More disturbing testimony Thursday afternoon about the first 18 months of the first Rod Blagojevich administration: the former Illinois Finance Authority director testified, describing a government virtually for sale.
The small building at 853 N. Elston Avenue, where the offices of Rezmar Corporation are located, was a kind of "shadow state capitol" during the early years of the Blagojevich administration, according to former Illinois Finance Authority Director Ali Ata, who is testifying against Rezmar's owner, campaign fundraiser Tony Rezko.
Ata, who has pleaded guilty to tax fraud and lying to the FBI in a separate case, told the jury that at the Elston office Rezko raised money for the governor, hired and fired state employees, and controlled at least four state agencies or boards. They include the Illinois Housing Development Corporation, employment security, Ata's finance authority and the health facilities planning board.
Ata repeated his claim that he bought his IFA job with $50,000 in campaign contributions: $25,000 when the met the governor at Rezko's office before the 2002 election and another $25,000 in 2003. Ata testified the governor "knew I was considering a position in the new administration and he said there would be a job where I could make some money."
Rezko is charged with trying to extort kickbacks from companies trying to do business with state boards he allegedly controlled.
Rezko is charged with trying to extort kickbacks from companies trying to do business with state boards he allegedly controlled.
Ata, who testified in return for a lesser sentence, was charged in a separate case alleging that he and Rezko filed a false application for a business loan.
Last week the testimony was previewed during a hearing on a motion. The governor's office denied his charges, a spokeswoman saying that state jobs are not handed out based on campaign contributions.
Ata will return to the witness stand for cross-examination Friday.
4 comments:
G-Rod, Toddster and Lisa Lisa should all get the pink slip. No wonder Illinois needs Fitz. Are there any honest Law Makers in Illinois? I know Arnie is worthless but he's just sitting out this term. Arnie got in office as a puppet for the GOP who wanted to cover up the Enron matter. Now yes we have more crooks like Diane Feinstein, Jerry Lewis and Calvert. But these guys are not yet dragging bag's with cash in it. Is there another Governor in the waiting that the people can trust.
I'd like to hear from Mr. Kitty and TGCN as you both would know. Did Denny Hastert get his bag of money brought to his second home. I wish the garbage man had taken the bag and put it in the dump. G-Rod would have to go to the dump to get his money.
I don't know of any bags of money brought to the former fat man's house but I know he made out like a bandit by buying up land then getting federal money tagged for the not yet built Prairie Parkway, a 1/3 billion road project to put in a new highway outside Chicago.
Baloneybitch got the former fat man on a special project with the guy who is the president of Southern Illinois University, an accused plagiarizer, looks like Dick van Dyke, ran for gov as a Democrat prior to the Baloneybitch's reign of terror, and whose name I totally forgot. The special project is the Republican and former gov candidate Democrat are to get the boys in Springfield to play nicely with each other to pass multi-million capital improvement projects. The roads are falling apart and the bridges are falling apart, the capitol building in Springfield will get fixed but it had bats inside it. If the capital improvement projects pass, then there are more pay-to-play bribes that can be had.
Yes, Jackie, Illinois needed Fitz.
The last honest lawmaker I know of in Illinois was Paul Simon, who is dead. The former fat man's replacement might be honest. He's a former scientist who lost his job because of a federal funding cut, Bill Foster. Dr. Foster was mad as hell in a constructive way, and replaced the former fat man. He will have to run again in the fall against the Milkman, a far right-wing owner of a dairy company that he inherited. Dr. Foster wants to restore money to good education and fund science projects. Hey, those are cheaper than starting wars.
Somehow "dump" and "G-Rod" go together. He's making Orange Jumpsuit Wearing Former Gov Ryan look like a choir boy. Ryan got in trouble because truck drivers who sucked as truck drivers got into accidents and killed people by mistake. His employees taking bribes to give out truck driving licenses seems like petty cash compared to G-Rod.
I am sure you know by now the recall vote will not be on the fall ballot. Nope Blago is good to go. Pat Quinn (LT. Gov) would make a good Governer. Blagojevich got in because he ran against someone a lot worse than him (Judy Baar Topinka, a long term pal of convicted, George Jailbird Ryan) Yes he was the lesser of two evils.
The Toddster.......his Dad must be rolling over in his grave. The Toddler is firing the people his Daddy put in positions. (Jackie, the Toddler's Daddy was Cook County President before the Toddler, who inherited the position)There was an interum Pres., Bobbie Steele, who left her Commissioner post to son Robert Steele.
Yes I hear Hastert lost a ton of weight, seeing how his family owns the White Fence Farms Chicken joints that must be hard.
Wow reading your comments about Chicago is scary. Dennis is eating alot of chicken and parents leaving their jobs to their kids.
Mr. Kitty if the tax payers old back the pay checks of the crooks I wonder what will happen. TGCN I heard of some of the names you mentioned. With all the so called power people in Illinois why isn't anyone helping the people. Oprah always uses Chicago when she says or does anything yet she seems to forget about the city. Now don't get made at me but is Obama doing any or has he done anything to help your State since taking office? I know you have Durban and what's he doing to help the people of Illinois? How much more can the people take before something happens bad. I know all the States are having problems but reading about your State is to much. No wonder the people want Obama as President in hopes you get help first. Look if he gets the second spot I'll make sure I let my girl Hill know you need attention right away not tomorrow. Out hear in CA it's not that bad even with the gas prices so high. Wow your criminal Law Makers go far back and pass the job to another crook or family member.
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