From USDOJ criminal complaint:
ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked about speaking with “[Individual C],” (Individual C is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who is believed to be attempting to assist ROD BLAGOJEVICH in passing a capital bill worth billions of dollars that would benefit Highway Contractor 1 and the trade association with which he is affiliated) and began, in the context of asking Highway Contractor 1 to do fund raising, to discuss fund raising rule changes that will take effect on January 1, 2009.
"Highway Contractor I" is identified and Hastert is connected:
From Washington Post:
The contractor, only identified as "Highway Contractor 1," is said to be an officer with one of the largest suppliers of concrete in Illinois and heavily involved in the American Concrete Pavement Association, a concrete workers' group based in Skokie, Ill. Blagojevich also allegedly spoke with a former U.S. House member who was working with the governor to pass a capital bill worth billions of dollars in transportation-related improvement projects
According to news reports, Blagojevich recruited two former congressman -- ex-House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and former Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.), president of Southern Illinois University -- to help out with the construction project. It is unclear if the unnamed lawmaker knew about Blagojevich's fundraising plans.
In the summer of 2005, Hastert personally intervened during House and Senate negotiations over a huge transportation and infrastructure bill to secure $152 million to build the highway project and $55 million for an interchange 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from his property. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law in September 2005.
Hastert made a $2 million profit last year on the sale of land 5 1/2 miles from a highway project that he helped to finance with targeted federal funds.
"Individual A" is revealed:
Since October, the FBI has conducted several interviews with longtime fundraiser John Wyma, chairman of the Friends of Blagojevich campaign committee (Wyma is dubbed "Individual A" in court documents). He told federal agents that the governor was making a strong push to collect at least $2.5 million in campaign cash by Jan. 1, when stricter new ethics laws take effect in Illinois. Read more.
Excerpts from complaint:
p. 33:
B. Evidence Concerning Corrupt Conduct by ROD BLAGOJEVICH and
JOHN HARRIS in and After October 2008
1. Evidence Concerning Efforts to Obtain Campaign Contributions
In Exchange for Official Acts
a. Information Obtained From Individual A
59. Since October 2008, the FBI has conducted multiple interviews with Individual
A, who is an associate of ROD BLAGOJEVICH and has assisted in campaign fundraising
for ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Individual A has advised agents that he/she has been present 16
for and participated in multiple conversations with ROD BLAGOJEVICH in recent months
regarding campaign fundraising. According to Individual A, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and
Fundrasier A, who is the chairman of Friends of Blagojevich, are making a strong push to
raise campaign funds before a new state ethics law goes into effect on January 1, 2009, that
will prohibit any individual or entity with existing state contracts of more than $50,000 from
contributing to entities like Friends of Blagojevich.
"Deputy Governor A" bails out:
From Chicago Tribune:
- One of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's top deputies resigned Wednesday after being tied to the rampant corruption scandal surrounding the governor, the first member of the governor's inner circle to fall amid the accusations. Illinois Deputy Gov. Bob Greenlee stepped down a day after Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges. The complaint against Blagojevich identifies a "Deputy Governor A" who is deeply involved in an alleged scheme to strong-arm the Chicago Tribune on the orders of the governor and his wife. When asked if his client was the deputy governor, Greenlee's attorney did not dispute that his client is "Deputy Governor A."
1 comment:
Many players and favors names we know well will come out if G-Rod holds on. Now 1-80 on Prairie Parkway was to be exspaned adding property owned by Dennis Hastert. Now Denny brought the land dirt cheap and made a deal with G-Rod to sell it with the 6 billion road repair money sweet deal. There are most likely others who benefitted from scams.
Lisa Lisa is working it hard and looking forward to stepping into the Govenor's office. Now she raised the history making 1.5 million for her seat as AG with the help of Daddy Michael Madigan she could raise more then Obama did. Yes it's called pay me and your favors will follow. Her Father is a master at old politics and who they work. Don't think for a minute G-Rod thought up pay to play it's been around longer then us. If you read Nixon's history that's how he got in office and others before and after him. Obama was the one who changed the rules by gettiing 5 dollars from everyday people but millions of people so the 5 added up. Lisa will only bring another down fall to the great state of Illinois as she has been planning her take over since 2002 with her Daddy's help. I read her history and her Fathers and they are old school politicans and use what ever means necessary to get the power.
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