The recap of the trial thus far of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, from the coverage of the Chicago Tribune's "Blagojevich on Trial" Blog and the Springfield State Journal-Register's Blagojevich trial coverage continues.
Thursday, June 17, 2010: Former Democratic Party fundraiser Joseph Cari testifies that Blagojevich spoke with him about presidential ambitions and getting contributions from businesses in exchange for awarding state business. Cari states that Antoin “Tony” Rezko told him he made decisions as to who got state work. Cari also testifies that he pressured venture capital firm JER, which was seeking to gain an $80 million allocation from Illinois’ teacher’s pension panel, to hire a consultant designated by Rezko, who would be paid a large finder’s fee. The defense gets Cari to admit that Stuart Levine—not Blagojevich—told Cari that JER would not receive the pension investment business unless it hired the consultant. Cari does admit that JER received the allocation even though it did not ultimately hire the consultant. Blagojevich’s attorneys point out that Cari did not tell federal investigators about his alleged conversations with Blagojevich until 82 days after they first contacted him, and attempts to portray Cari as lying to prosecutors in order to obtain a plea deal. Former Illinois Director of Boards and Commissions Jill Hayden testifies that she gave the most weight to recommendations by Rezko and Chris Kelly in selecting candidates to fill State boards. Rezko and Kelly selected five of the nine member Illinois Finance Authority (IFA). Hayden testifies that Rezko also called her and told her Levine needed to be reappointed to the Illinois Teacher’s Retirement System Board. Blagojevich aid Alonzo “Lon” Monk subsequently contacted Hayden and told her not to take any more calls from Rezko because the FBI had tapped his phones. Ali Ata, former head of the IFA, testifies that, in August 2002, he met with Blagojevich, Rezko, Kelly and legislator Jay Hoffman and gave Blagojevich $25,000 in return for a position in the administration. He states that gave Blagojevich another $25,000 in 2003 at Rezko’s request, and that Blagojevich had thanked Ata and said that he knew he was considering a job with the administration and that it had better be a job where Ata could “make some money.” Ata testifies that Rezko also came to him while he was Chief of the IFA seeking $16 million to refinance his restaurant businesses, stating that he would get the Governor to approve it. Ata states that he did not support the plan. Ata testifies that Rezko promised him a job on the Capital Development Board, but that the position was given to someone else. He also states that Rezko became increasingly paranoid about being bugged by federal investigators. On cross-examination, the defense attempts to have Ata admit that Blagojevich himself never informed Ata that he was receiving a State post in exchange for his campaign contributions.
Monday, June 21, 2010: John Johnston, owner of the Maywood and Balmoral race tracks, testifies that Lon Monk came to see in December of 2008 and asked him for a contribution right before the Governor signed legislation extending subsidies for race tracks. E-mails are introduced indicating that former U.S. Representative and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel supported Blagojevich in 2006 in exchange for the State authorizing a $2 million grant for construction of athletic fields for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, a school in Emanuel’s district. Former Deputy Governor Bradley Tusk testifies that Emanuel contacted him when the grant money for the school was held up, and that Blagojevich’s advisors said that the Governor wanted Emanuel’s brother, a wealthy Hollywood agent, to hold a fundraiser for the Governor. Tusk requested that Emanuel write a letter to the Chicago Tribune in support of the Governor’s programs. He also testifies that he met frequently with Rezko and Kelly during his tenure as Deputy Governor, and that he signed checks for Blagojevich when the Governor was not present. John Harris, Blagojevich’s Chief of Staff, testifies that Blagojevich had stated to him that he wanted to run for President. Harris testifies that Blagojevich directed him to block two investment firms from getting any State business on the grounds that the firms had failed to hire the Governor’s wife, Patti Blagojevich. Harris also testifies that Blagojevich was interested in finding a State position for his wife, including on the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010: Harris testifies that Blagojevich became increasingly worried about his finances, including his legal bills of approximately $1.7 million from the law firm of Winston & Strawn. Blagojevich paid his legal expenses from his campaign funds. Harris testifies that Blagojevich considered appointing Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, and even himself, to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. However, when Jones caused an ethics bill which Blagojevich opposed to pass the Senate, Blagojevich allegedly told Harris that there was no way Jones would get the seat. Harris testified that he had conversations with Blagojevich regarding “how much” he could get for the Senate seat, including from wealthy businessmen Blair Hull and J.B. Pritzker. Harris testified that he and General Counsel Bill Quinlan told Blagojevich not to consider such ideas. Harris testified that Rahm Emanuel telephoned him and told him that President Obama was interested in having Valerie Jarrett, former Chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority, appointed to fill the seat. The prosecution plays an audio recording of a conversation between Blagojevich and Harris regarding Emanuel’s suggestion of Jarrett. Blagojevich asks Harris on tape what he can get for appointing Jarrett, including a potential appointment as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
