The Capitol Fax Blog:
The man had no boundaries and no shame. Blagojevich allegedly attempted to extort campaign contributions from Rahm Emanuel…
The former North Side congressman, picked by Obama in November as his top staff member, was allegedly the subject of extortion in 2006 after he inquired about a $2 million state grant to benefit a school in his district. Prosecutors say Blagojevich instructed a top aide to block the release of the money, even though it had been included in the state’s budget.
Blagojevich also allegedly told a high-ranking state official that Emanuel’s brother needed to host a fundraiser for him. The indictment does not say which of two brothers was mentioned, but the White House aide said it was Ari Emanuel, a high-powered Hollywood agent active in political fundraising.
Prosecutors said a fundraiser was never held. The aide would not say whether Emanuel ever actually learned of the request.
The aide said the school is the Chicago Academy and Chicago Academy High School on the Northwest Side. In 2005, Emanuel announced he had secured $2 million in funding by working with Blagojevich and it would be used for school grounds and a sports field.
More…
In 2005, then-Congressman Emanuel joined with Chicago and state education officials in announcing a $2 million grant for The Chicago Academy and Chicago Academy High School in the city’s Portage Park neighborhood. Emanuel said at the time that he worked closely with the governor to secure the $2 million.
A local school official confirmed Thursday that there had been delays getting the money but knew nothing of the possible politics at play.
1 comment:
Just wait until this goes to trial, or some start singing to the feds, more and more than just Rahm will come up.
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