Trump Pardons Rod Blagojevich

🚨BREAKING: Trump signs a full an unconditional pardon for Rod Blagojevich, former Illinois Governor. "He was set up!"

REPORTER: "Are you considering him for ambassador to Serbia?"

TRUMP: "No, but I would. He's now cleaner than anyone in this room. He got a pardon." LMAO! 😂 pic.twitter.com/aqKxcFefsw

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 10, 2025

Everlasting gratitude to President Trump. A man of his word who fights injustice and rights wrongs!!! pic.twitter.com/ikezcfncq1

— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) February 11, 2025

Rod Blagojevich - 'Trumpocrat'

Newly Released Rod Blagojevich Thanks Trump, Lists New Party Affiliation: ‘I’m A Trumpocrat’ https://t.co/Jft2hxKzNa

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 19, 2020

From WMAQ-TV:

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was seen moments before catching a flight back home to Illinois from Colorado—where he spent nearly eight years in prison prior to President Donald Trump's announcement to commute his sentence Tuesday morning—and he broke his silence.

"I want to express my most profound and everlasting gratitude to President Trump, he didn’t have to do this," he told NBC 5 at the airport Tuesday evening.

"He’s a Republican president, I was a Democratic governor, my fellow Democrats have not been very kind to him but in fact they’ve been very unkind to him and what he did was I think something that deserves a great amount of appreciation on my part, personally…I can’t wait to get home, I miss my daughters, I miss my wife, I miss home," he said.

...After months of speculation, Trump finally made the announcement as he prepared to board Air Force One Tuesday morning.

“Yes, we commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich," Trump said. "He served eight years in jail, a long time. He seems like a very nice person - don’t know him.”

Trump cited Blagojevich's family as part of the reason for his decision.

"[His daughters are] getting into high school and they rarely get to see their father outside of an orange uniform," Trump said. "I saw that and I did commute the sentence so he’ll be able to go back home with his family after serving eight years in jail.”

Blagojevich said despite the different party affiliations, "he’s got obviously a big fan in me and if you’re asking me what my party affiliation is, I’m a ‘Trump-o-crat’," he added.

BREAKING: Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is officially on his way home from prison. He says he the first thing he wants to eat is a banana split. And that he learned the news of his release from other inmates #blagojevich#nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/gpbjc3piXn

— courtney copenhagen (@cococopenhagen) February 19, 2020

So Rod Blagojevich is a free man, thanks to President Trump. He's grateful. That makes sense.

Of course, the Democrats/Socialists and their media partners are outraged. That makes sense, too. No matter what the president does, they criticize him.

Where were these Democrats when Obama commuted the sentence of terrorist Oscar Lopez-Rivera?

No outrage over that.

Tony Rezko and Obama

Tony Rezko, Obama's buddy, is going to prison for 10 1/2 years.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

A federal judge sentenced Tony Rezko to 10 1/2 years in prison Tuesday, describing his actions under Rod Blagojevich’s tenure as “selfish and corrupt.”

Rezko, 56, has already served about 44 months. His daughter burst into tears at hearing the sentence.

U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she found it offensive that Rezko put at risk the Teachers’ Retirement System by scheming for kickbacks with a board member in 2004.

“You put their retirements at risk for your own greed and your own thirst for power,” St. Eve said.

A pale, thin Rezko gave a brief statement before he learned his sentence, saying “there are no words to describe the pain and regret,” he carries and the amount of suffering his family has endured. He apologized to the court and to his family.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewoehner said Rezko’s conduct was severe and included scheming with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and others to control state deals so they could make money off of it.

“That’s about as bad as it can get in a political corruption case,” he said. “Illinois was for sale at the very top levels of our government.” Rezko’s attorney, Joseph Duffy, said his client would never commit a crime again.

Rezko grew clearly agitated as Niewoehner said Rezko overstated poor conditions in county jail. Niewoehner said Rezko got sunlight -- through skylights.

Rezko, a former top fund-raiser to Blagojevich and a onetime friend to President Barack Obama, volunteered to go to jail in 2008 immediately after his conviction on 16 of 24 counts of corruption, including fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks from firms that wanted to do business with the state during Blagojevich’s tenure.

Rezko’s lawyers asked that he be released with just time served.

The government, though, wanted St. Eve to send him away for 11 to 15 years.

We should all know the corrupt Rezko's connection with Obama. All of the dirty dealings should have come out during the 2008 campaign and received lots of attention.

Naturally, they didn't.

Of course, every detail, real or trumped up, about conservative and Republican candidates is examined under a microscope. When it came to Obama, so much was swept under the rug, so much was dismissed. Nothing was going to disqualify Obama from being the Democrat nominee.

God knows Hillary tried to make Rezko an issue but it didn't stick.

Let's revisit just a bit of Obama's history with his buddy, Rezko.

From June 22, 2007:

Do you think that the likable Barack Obama is Mr. Clean when it comes to ethics?

Don't.

Is he the embodiment of change, a new sort of government, hope that we can believe in and be proud of?

No. He's not.

Read what John Batchelor has to offer.

Here's more--

Mark Levin alerted his listeners to a piece from American Thinker, "The Obama-Rezko plot thickens."

There is much yet to be learned about the web of transactions involved, but it now appears that money originating from a convicted Middle Eastern wheeler-dealer found its way to indicted Chicago wheeler-dealer Tony Rezko, and then weeks later provided the means for a nearly simultaneous land transaction that enabled the Obamas to buy their home for substantially below asking price.


It certainly doesn't look like change we can believe in, when it comes to Chicago politics.

More on the Obama-Rezko connection and dirty politics, from Right Wing Nut House.

And more from the Chicago Sun-Times, here.

There's a strong chance White House hopeful Barack Obama's name will surface at indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko's trial, which is to begin next week.

In a ruling released Monday, a federal judge also made clear that Gov. Blagojevich, too, stands to come up at trial, as she made public what Blagojevich has long denied: that the governor is the "Public Official A" who's repeatedly referenced in Rezko court documents.

Obama's name was not mentioned, but U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she would allow prosecutors to present evidence about a portion of a $375,000 finder's fee that a Rezko associate, Joseph Aramanda, obtained through an alleged kickback scheme orchestrated by Rezko.

Prosecutors, she ruled, will be allowed to ask about how money from that fee allegedly was used "to make a political contribution" in Aramanda's name "because Rezko had already donated the maximum amount by law."

The ruling does not identify Obama as the recipient of that contribution. But sources have identified him as the "political candidate" who prosecutors say received a $10,000 donation from Aramanda -- at Rezko's direction -- during Obama's 2004 run for the U.S. Senate.

Obama has donated that contribution to charity. Aramanda's lawyer could not be reached for comment.

In addition, Rezko allegedly directed another associate, Elie Maloof, "to donate for the same reason," St. Eve wrote.

"The evidence is admissible," she added.

As with the Aramanda contribution, Obama has donated a $10,000 contribution from Maloof -- who was out of the country and could not be reached -- to charity. The two contributions are among $157,835 in Rezko-linked donations that Obama has given away.

Rezko was once part of Obama's senatorial finance committee.

Yes, Obama and Tony Rezko go way back.

You're known by the company you keep.

Obama's connection with Rezko doesn't reflect well on him.

Maybe Obama will pardon Rezko. It's the least he could do for an old friend.
_________________

Read more about Rezko and Obama.

April 25, 2007: Maureen Dowd bashes Michelle Obama for failing to rein in Obama's dealings with the sleazy Rezko.

Michelle conveys the appealing idea that she will tell her husband when he’s puffed up or out of line. She aims high — she ordered her husband to stop puffing on cigarettes as he started campaigning. But then, why didn’t she see the red flags on the Rezko deal?

In order to get a bigger yard for their new house on Chicago’s South Side in 2005, the Obamas got into what the senator now confesses was a “boneheaded” real estate arrangement with a sleazy political dealmaker named Tony Rezko, who has been indicted on influence-peddling charges.

On Monday, The Chicago Sun-Times reported more shady Rezko news: “Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko’s low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems,” from a lack of heat to no lack of drug dealers and squatters.

Mr. Obama riposted that “it wasn’t brought to my attention.” But isn’t that where a dazzling, tough, smart and connected wife could help a guy out?

October 10, 2008: Charles Krauthammer writes about "Obama & Friends," including Rezko.

Convicted felon Tony Rezko. Unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers. And the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright. It is hard to think of any presidential candidate before Barack Obama sporting associations with three more execrable characters. Yet let the McCain campaign raise the issue, and the mainstream media begin fulminating about dirty campaigning tinged with racism and McCarthyite guilt by association.

But associations are important. They provide a significant insight into character. They are particularly relevant in relation to a potential president as new, unknown, opaque and self-contained as Obama. With the economy overshadowing everything, it may be too late politically to be raising this issue. But that does not make it, as conventional wisdom holds, in any way illegitimate.

Joe Sestak, Andrew Romanoff, Rod Blagojevich

An editorial in the Washington Times calls for a special counsel to investigate the Joe Sestak White House job offer bribe, but it also suggests that the probe be broader in scope.

Sestak offer was no 'one-off'

For the Obama administration and illicit job offers, apparently once was not enough. The Justice Department not only should appoint a special counsel to investigate a purported White House job-offer bribe to Rep. Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Democrat, but also should broaden the probe to include remarkably similar allegations about the Senate race in Colorado.

A single job offer for somebody to abandon a Senate race is nefarious enough. But if this has happened twice or more, it starts to show evidence of a mens rea - a "guilty mind," or a specific intent. Moreover, if the president's disgraced home-state former governor, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Democrat, is to be believed, something in the same ballpark may have happened a third time as well.

By now, the Sestak story is in headlines across the country. Mr. Sestak has repeated too many times to count that somebody from the White House offered him a federal job - perhaps secretary of the Navy - if he would drop his challenge to party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter. Mr. Sestak did not drop out, and he eventually defeated the turncoat Mr. Specter. Federal law 18 U.S.C. Sec. 600 forbids public officials to "directly or indirectly, promise ... any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit" to any person as a "consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party."

In short, Mr. Sestak says the White House broke the law. The White House says it didn't - and now says former President Bill Clinton merely had informal bull sessions with Mr. Sestak. Maybe it depends on what the meaning of "informal" is. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., as has become his stupendously obstructionist practice, refuses to investigate. Hence the call from seven Senate Republicans for the appointment of a special counsel.

Yet the sole focus on Mr. Sestak is misplaced. If the Sestak allegation is serious - and it is - the similar story about former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff is equally important. In September, the Denver Post cited "several top Colorado Democrats" who said that Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina "offered specific suggestions" for an administration job if Mr. Romanoff would agree not to challenge Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat, this year. Reported the Post: "Romanoff turned down the overture, which included mention of a job at USAID, the foreign aid agency, sources said."

On a parallel track, on April 22, Mr. Blagojevich demanded a subpoena of President Obama to testify at the former governor's corruption trial. "The president is said to have explicitly recommended current White House adviser Valerie Jarrett for his Senate seat," reported the Hill newspaper, "that a supporter offered a quid pro quo if Jarrett was appointed to the Senate, that Obama kept a list of suitable Senate candidates." And so on.

Even White House political guru David Axelrod admitted that if the Sestak tale is true, it would "constitute a serious breach of law." The story from the Windy City's Mr. Blagojevich brings to mind a line from the Ian Fleming character Goldfinger: "Mr. Bond, they have a saying in Chicago - 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action.'"

It would be wrong to ignore what appears to be a "serious breach of law" by the Obama administration.

The Sestak matter cannot be dismissed as a 'one-off.'

Rod Blagojevich Superstar

Rod Blagojevich wants to be in the spotlight.

He and NBC had hoped he could be on the reality show I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"

That didn't work out. The show is set in Costa Rica, and U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel wouldn't let him leave the country. His wife, Patti, took his place.

Blagojevich did manage to get a bit of attention for himself last night.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich doesn't seem to mind being the butt of a theatrical joke.

Blagojevich got in on the joke Saturday evening, appearing as himself in a comedy show that lampoons the rise and fall of his own political career.

He opened The Second City's "Rod Blagojevich Superstar," a parody of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar," standing on a chair with his arms raised as if he were being crucified.

The show—which portrays Blagojevich as greedy, tactless and hair-obsessed—opened in February and was supposed to end June 14. But production officials extended it to Aug. 9 due to constant sold-out performances.

A full house cheered as Blagojevich, who was removed from office in January and has pleaded not guilty to wide-ranging federal corruption charges, appeared on stage wearing a suit and tie.

"Where were you when I was impeached?" he asked the audience.

...Before the nearly hourlong show—which includes duets with an actor portraying U.S. Sen. Roland Burris—the ex-governor told the audience he hadn't seen the production before, but assured them it was a "fictitious account" of his life.

...Blagojevich also worked in an endorsement of his wife, Patti, a contestant on NBC's reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"

He asked people to vote for her to remain on the show, which asks viewers to decide which quasi-celebrity should leave a Costa Rican jungle.

..."In the tradition of Chicago politics, you can vote ten times," Blagojevich joked. "Vote early and often."

As soon as Blagojevich left the stage, cast members launched into a song that asks, "What kind of idiot sells a Senate seat?"

In the show, Patti Blagojevich was portrayed as cutthroat and foul-mouthed. One of the songs was an expletive-laden version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him."

The former Illinois first lady, who has not been charged with wrongdoing, was famously labeled a "potty mouth" after the FBI said it recorded profanity-laced rants against critics of her husband.

When Blagojevich returned to the stage for the improv portion of the show, he was asked what he thought of the rock opera.

"It's b-------," he said, grinning.

Rod and Patti Blagojevich seem to be willing to do anything to profit from their notoriety as much as possible as quickly as possible.

Patti was willing to eat a tarantula as an "act of love" as part of her stint on the reality show.

Although Blagojevich says he will make a donation to charity from his earnings from his Second City appearance, it's no secret that he's trying to use his "superstar" status to raise money to take care of his expenses and support his family before his trial on corruption charges begins next year.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Is former Gov. Rod Blagojevich a hot Rod?

• • Translation: While wife, Patti Blagojevich, endures the heat and bugs on a Costa Rica "Survivor"-style TV show to help feed her family, her husband has been issued a formal challenge: A winner-take-all drag race for $10,000.

One day you're the governor and first lady of Illinois and the next you're considering drag racing and consuming a tarantula.

Only in America.

Rod Blagojevich and David Letterman

Disgraced DEMOCRAT, impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is continuing his media blitz.

Tuesday's stop: Late Night with David Letterman.

I don't know why Blagojevich would want to take on Letterman. He was guaranteed to be mocked and ridiculed; and of course, he was.

I didn't hear much of Letterman's monologue, but I did catch a lame George W. Bush joke.

Letterman said, "Some of these jokes are leftover."

No kidding.

Before Blagojevich was introduced, Letterman did a bit that worked off of Christian Bale's F-bomb loaded meltdown on the set of his movie Terminator Salvation. It was funny enough. At least it was something that had nothing to do with Sarah Palin.

He also did the night's Top Ten List, "Michael Phelps Excuses".

After that, Letterman introduced Blagojevich. He entered with the band playing "My Way." Appropriate.

Some of the interview was serious. Some was just plain goofy, typical Letterman stuff.

Blagojevich was on for three segments.

Here's some video.



Full Transcript

Blagojevich kept saying that he will be vindicated.

Letterman didn't seem to be convinced.

I don't often agree with Letterman but I do in this case.

Here's how the interview ended:

DAVID LETTERMAN: "Do you think I've done anything wrong?" (audience laughs)

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: "I think some of your questions have been kind of tough. But other than that, no, I think you've been pretty good." (audience laughs)

LETTERMAN: "Now are you going to continue to be on TV?"

BLAGOJEVICH: "Well, look - I don't know - are you going to invite me back?" (audience laughs)

LETTERMAN: "Well, I mean, just in terms of filling time, you've been tremendous."

BLAGOJEVICH: "Have I? Okay." (laughs; audience laughs)

LETTERMAN: "So, you know, based on that, why not?" (audience laughs)

BLAGOJEVICH: "Can I just say this? Look, generally, if you've done something wrong and you know it, you're in some corner hiding out. You're not out and about proclaiming your innocence. And again, I know this is a little bit unusual, I appreciate that. And I appreciate you giving me a chance to be on your program. But I believe that, you know, a man's reputation sums up who he is. And especially when you have children, when these things are being said, the least I can do for my kids, so they don't feel like their dad's the guy some people are saying he is, is to assert over and over again that I've done nothing wrong. And you've given me a chance to do it and I'm grateful."

LETTERMAN: "Yeah. And everybody's given you that chance. And like I said earlier, the more you hear a guy say, 'I've done nothing wrong,' and the more you hear a guy say, 'I didn't have a chance to defend myself,' the more you begin to think, 'Eh...something wrong here.'"

BLAGOJEVICH: "Well, let me say two things: one, that's the truth; and two, I'm glad you're not going to sit on that jury in Illinois." (audience laughs)

LETTERMAN: "Yeah. Did you hear the joke about the Governor in the penitentiary? Food was better when you were the Governor." (audience laughs) "Well, we'll certainly keep our eye on you."

BLAGOJEVICH: (laughs) "Okay."

LETTERMAN: "It's a fascinating story."

BLAGOJEVICH: "Thanks for having me. I appreciate it."

LETTERMAN: "Rod Blagojevich, ladies and gentlemen." (audience applauds)

________________

This is weird. I had to do a screen grab.

Look at this headline, from the Chicago Tribune:


Don't the geniuses at the Tribune know that Letterman is NOT the host of the 'Tonight Show'?

That would be Jay Leno. Unbelievable.

Buh-Bye, DEMOCRAT Rod Blagojevich

It's over for another corrupt DEMOCRAT, Rod Blagojevich.

Illinois Senate Kicks Blagojevich Out of Office

Illinois senators stripped Gov. Rod Blagojevich of power Thursday in the final act of a political drama that handed the reins of state government to his estranged lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, and likely will end Blagojevich's career in politics.

Senators voted unanimously to convict Blagojevich and bar him from holding political office in the state again. Shortly after the vote, Quinn was sworn in as Illinois' new governor.

The outcome was never in doubt. In fact, Quinn went to the state Capitol earlier in the day to prepare to be sworn in.

Blagojevich said he was saddened and disappointed by the Senate's decision but not at all surprised.

"I predicted it," he told a pack of reporters outside his home Thursday evening. "The fix was in from the very beginning."

Blagojevich vowed to keep fighting for ordinary citizens in the private sector and to clear his name.

"The fight goes on," he said. "Just because I'm not governor doesn't mean I won't keep fighting for the causes I've always fought for."

Blagojevich is delusional.

"The fix was in from the very beginning."

He has to be kidding.

Of course, Blago did score a victory in that he was the one to select the person to fill Barack Obama's empty Senate seat, Roland Burris.

But he gave it away. He didn't succeed in his plan to sell the seat.

Oh, well. You win some, you lose some.

Blago did accomplish something that even the great Barack Obama hasn't been able to do. Blago managed to really unite Democrats and Republicans, 59-0.

Blagojevich on "The View"

Blagojevich takes his case to 'The View'

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich continued today's talk show tour of New York, telling Barbara Walters and The View crew that "I'm an innocent man... for me to resign would be to admit I did something wrong which I did not do."

Oprah to fill Obama's senate seat?

Good grief.

Blago takes responsibility for his wife's foul language?

"I think she's been around me so long that maybe she's picked up some of that."

That's right. Patti couldn't help herself.

The women on The View treated Blago far better than they treated John and Cindy McCain.

(Elisabeth Hasselbeck wasn't there for the Blago interview because her grandmother passed away.)

Blagojevich, Mandela, King, and Gandhi

Rod Blagojevich is a real piece of work. I cannot believe some of the things he says.

How did someone like him manage to get elected governor of Illinois?

From WMAQ-TV:

During an interview with NBC's Amy Robach on the Today Show, the embattled Illinois governor said he is proud of the work he has done for Illinois. When asked about the possibility of going to prison, Blagojevich says he thinks about Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

...Blagojevich was set to appear Monday on NBC's "Today" Show, CNN's "Larry King Live," and ABC-TV's "The View" and "Good Morning, America."

After keeping mostly out of the public eye since his Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges for trying to auction off President Barack Obama's senate seat, Blagojevich has given several interviews portraying himself as the victim of vengeful lawmakers and special interests.

The two-term Democrat said he won't participate in what he described as a "sham" Senate impeachment trial set to begin in Springfield at noon. Instead, he called on Chicago newspapers to come to his defense and declare the proceedings unconstitutional.

Interview video here.

Transcript excerpt

AMY ROBACH: You felt very proud about the job you did and were doing as governor, and then December 9th happens and you're arrested. That had to be one heck of a day. Have you since then prepared yourself for the possibility of prison?

GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH: No, I haven't, but that was an unbelievable day and it's still very surreal to me... I had a whole bunch of thoughts -- of course, my children, and my wife. And uh, then I thought about Mandela, Dr. King, Gandhi, and uh, try to put some perspective in all of this. And that's what I'm doing now.

Blago can't be serious.

He can't really think it's wise for him to be invoking the likes of Mandela, King, and Gandhi when discussing his own situation.

Talk about ego running amok! Talk about a twisted view of reality!

It makes me wonder if he has any sense of history.

So you have Blagojevich, Mandela, King, and Gandhi.

A Sesame Street song comes to mind:

Three of these men belong together.
Three of these men are kind of the same.
But one of these men just doesn't belong here.
Now it's time to play our game. It's time to play our game.




One of these men is not like the others.
One of these men just doesn't belong.
Can you guess which man just doesn't belong here,
By the time I finish my song?

One of these men just doesn't belong here.
Tell me, did you guess which one?
If you guessed this man just doesn't belong here,

Then you're absolutely...right! And my song is done.

That was fun! Not too challenging, but fun.
_______________

On a related note: Blagojevich drops Doyle's name at news conference

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said this afternoon that he hoped to get a chance to tell his side of the story during next week's Illinois Senate impeachment trial.

But Blagojevich, a Democrat, suggested that Gov. Jim Doyle, among others, would be a good witness in his defense.

Blagojevich made the statement this afternoon during a news conference in advance of the impeachment trial scheduled for Monday in the Illinois Senate in Springfield.

The Illinois governor specifically mentioned Doyle and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Blagojevich said that he and the two governors worked together to ease the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to the Midwest.

Doyle as a character witness for Blagojevich... priceless.

Mayor Gary Becker

UPDATE, January 20, 2009: Mayor Gary Becker Resigns
______________

UPDATE, January 15, 2009: The Criminal Complaint, and the copy of Gary Becker's 1/12/2009 - 1/13/2009 online chat with Hope_Ulikeme14.
______________


Mayor Gary Becker (Booking photo)


Racine Mayor Gary Becker, DEMOCRAT, is in deep.

From the Racine Journal Times:

Mayor Gary Becker was arrested at Brookfield Square Mall in Brookfield Tuesday afternoon, according to the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation.

Becker was taken into custody on charges of child enticement, possession of child pornography, exposing a child to harmful materials, attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and misconduct in public office, according to a press release sent out by the state department.

A complaint made to the Racine Police Department several weeks ago is what led to the arrest, according to Lt. Jim Dobbs, a department spokesman.

At a press conference at City Hall Wednesday morning, Dobbs said that city police then contacted DCI, which took over the investigation.

Upon his arrest Becker was transported to the Kenosha County Jail, where he is being held on a $165,000 cash bond.

Racine County Sheriff Bob Carlson said local authorities made the decision to move Becker to Kenosha. “It’s a better security process,” he said. “It’s not unusual.”

Booking information here.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

City Attorney Rob Weber said Becker is still the mayor and innocent until proved guilty. He said the city is waiting for the criminal complaint before making any decisions on whether to take steps to remove Becker from office. Weber did confirm that a complaint, and not a conviction, is reason enough under state statute to begin the process of stripping Becker from his job as mayor.

This is not good.

The charges are horrible. Child porn, attempted sexual assault of a child... Rod Blagojevich, DEMOCRAT, seems like a saint compared to Becker, DEMOCRAT.
_________________

Mayor Gary Becker Arrested, Released on Bond

Bobby Rush

The incredibly slimy Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich just showed himself to be even slimier.

This guy will stop at nothing.

I wonder if Barack Obama is nervous. Does Blago have anything on him?

The appointment of Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate is a race thing.

U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush made that clear. Rush came to the podium on cue, race card in hand.

From CBS News:

Political insiders in Chicago suspect at least part of the reason for the pick would be to dare Senate Democrats to deny an African American an appointment to fill Mr. Obama’s seat, reports CBS News producer Charlie Brooks.

If they can't deny Burris the seat, Senate Democrats could seat and then expel him. But that raises potential problems of its own, Greenfield noted.

"The Senate may well have more Constitutional power to expel a senator than to refuse to seat one," he said. "But that raises the dicey political question: would the Senate really want to expel a qualified, experienced political veteran who has never been tainted with any scandal? And who, by the way, would be the only African-American in that body?"

"Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the U.S. Senate," Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush said at the news conference, where he stated his support for Burris.

Rush, who urged reporters not to "hang or lynch the appointee" for the appointer's transgressions, said that he didn't think any senators would "want to go on record" opposing the man who would be the only African-American in the Senate.

Yes, this is very messy.

Blagojevich is daring Senate Dems to deny African-American Burris the seat. Will they lynch the appointee?

Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris

UPDATE: Senate Dems say they won't seat Obama replacement

Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat

Former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris accepts Blagojevich appointment to Senate

Blagojevich is really sticking it to the Dems.

He said, "Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man."

Harry Reid and his comrades are being forced to punish Roland Burris.

Plus, Blago is attempting to exploit Burris' race.

Don't "lynch" him.

"Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the U.S. Senate," Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush said at the news conference, where he stated his support for Burris.

Rush, who urged reporters not to "hang or lynch the appointee" for the appointer's transgressions, said that he didn't think any senators would "want to go on record" opposing the man who would be the only African-American in the Senate.

____________

From the Chicago Tribune:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.

Shortly after Obama's Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest in an appointment to the Senate but was never seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich's arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support.

Though he is 71, Burris has said that Obama's replacement should be able to win re-election and he has noted that despite a string of primary losses in races ranging from Chicago mayor to governor and U.S. senator, he's never lost to a Republican.

This is truly bizarre.

Possible impeachment? What impeachment?

I wonder if Rahm knew that Rod planned to name Roland to fill Barack's seat.

Blagojevich is certainly about to draw a line in the sand. He's testing the Senate Dems.

Will Burris become a victim in this Theatre of the Absurd production?

Conan O'Brien, Barack Obama, and Webster

Late Night with Conan O'Brien ventured into risky, dangerous territory on Thursday night-- making fun of Barack Obama, albeit extremely mildly.

Conan reveals the cast of the upcoming NBC made for TV movie about the Rod Blagojevich scandal.

Tony Rezko: Secrets?

The sentencing of Tony Rezko -- convicted felon and Barack Obama's old friend, political patron, and real estate buddy -- is being delayed.

From FOX News:

Federal prosecutors moved Monday to delay indefinitely the sentencing of convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, sending their strongest hint yet that he is ready to spill his political secrets.

The filing asks for a postponement while prosecutors and defense attorneys "engage in discussions that could affect their sentencing postures."

Speculation has simmered for weeks that the key fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama was whispering what he knows about corruption in Illinois government to federal prosecutors in hopes of getting a lighter sentence.

Very interesting.

Barack Obama's Friend Tony Rezko: GUILTY

Barack Obama's buddy Tony Rezko didn't have a good day yesterday.

CHICAGO -- A prominent fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted Wednesday of fraud and money laundering after a high-profile federal trial provided an unusually detailed glimpse of the pay-to-play politics that has made Illinois infamous.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko showed no emotion as the jury found him guilty of a majority of the 24 counts he faced, including scheming to get kickbacks out of money management firms wanting state business and a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois. He was acquitted of charges that included attempted extortion.

"What the jury did was vindicate the interests of the citizens of Illinois and honest government," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The nine-week trial included explosive testimony about all-night drug parties involving the government's star witness and allegations that the governor discussed a state job for a supporter after the donor handed over a $25,000 check for Blagojevich's campaign.

Testimony barely touched on the relationship between Obama and Rezko, who has known the Democratic presidential candidate since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with him. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors said Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Blagojevich.

Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing. Blagojevich planned an evening news conference to address the verdict. Obama's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

...While Obama's name rarely surfaced, the case focused attention on Obama's relationship with Rezko, a man Hillary Clinton derided in one televised debate as a "slum landlord."

Rezko, a real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, had been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed.

Rezko donated more than $21,000 to Obama and raised far more for his campaigns in Illinois, though not his presidential bid.

He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time from a couple who insisted on selling both pieces of property simultaneously. The purchase raised questions about the extent of his help.

The charges against Rezko had nothing to do with Obama, who has donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

Obama's choice of friends doesn't reflect well on his character.

Though Obama wasn't accused of wrongdoing, there's that stench of corruption that remains.

A Primer: The Tony Rezko Trial

In anticipation of the Tony Rezko trial, the Chicago Sun-Times provides a primer.

Seven things to know about the trial:

1. Who is Tony Rezko?

He's a Syrian-born businessman who made millions of dollars in real estate, fast-food chains and overseas ventures. Rezko's prowess as a political fund-raiser bought him political access and influence within the Blagojevich administration, prosecutors charge. Rezko, who was once a top Blagojevich adviser, is accused of demanding illegal payments from firms trying to do business with the state and directing that money to himself or to political designees. Rezko also served as an Obama fund-raiser, and Obama entered into a land deal with Rezko in 2005. Obama later called the move "boneheaded" because Rezko was widely known to be under federal scrutiny at the time.

2. Hottest trial in town: If you want a seat, come early.

3. Rezko cleaned-up

4. Picking jurors

5. Gov B is Public Official A

There will be no more "Public Official A," or "Individual B," etc. In contrast to how names were disguised in reams of court documents, the cards will be out on the table at trial. That isn't good news for Gov. Blagojevich, who St. Eve recently confirmed is the "Public Official A" referred to in prosecution filings. The government alleged in December that two witnesses are expected to testify Blagojevich told them supporting his administration would bring financial rewards. Blagojevich allegedly said "he could award contracts, legal work, and investment banking to help with fund-raising," according to a filing in which prosecutors laid out expected trial testimony. Prosecutors have not accused Blagojevich of wrongdoing. Last week, Blagojevich defended himself, saying: "What was described there doesn't describe me or how I do things."

6. 'Teflon' Obama

That same court filing makes reference to presidential contender U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. While Obama's involvement in the case will be minimal compared with the governor's, the prospect of his name being mentioned isn't a headache Obama needs -- especially on the eve of major primaries in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday. Prosecutors charge Rezko directed $10,000 from a kickback scheme into Obama's campaign fund. Obama isn't accused of wrongdoing, and he has since given that money to charity. An Obama reference at trial could be harmful to the defense, strategist Lisnek predicts: "If it comes in that Rezko was trying to take advantage of Obama -- that may not play well with a jury. "Obama's very positive. He's almost like Teflon right now. It could hurt the defense if jurors believe Rezko tried to sully his name and use him."

Not so with Blagojevich, Lisnek said: "Blagojevich has been so muddied."

7. It's all about Levine
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8 things you need to know about Obama and Rezko

Obama-Rezko Connection

Do you think that the likable Barack Obama is Mr. Clean when it comes to ethics?

Don't.

Is he the embodiment of change, a new sort of government, hope that we can believe in and be proud of?

No. He's not.

Read what John Batchelor has to offer.

Here's more--

Mark Levin alerted his listeners to a piece from American Thinker, "The Obama-Rezko plot thickens."

There is much yet to be learned about the web of transactions involved, but it now appears that money originating from a convicted Middle Eastern wheeler-dealer found its way to indicted Chicago wheeler-dealer Tony Rezko, and then weeks later provided the means for a nearly simultaneous land transaction that enabled the Obamas to buy their home for substantially below asking price.


It certainly doesn't look like change we can believe in, when it comes to Chicago politics.

More on the Obama-Rezko connection and dirty politics, from Right Wing Nut House.

And more from the Chicago Sun-Times, here.

There's a strong chance White House hopeful Barack Obama's name will surface at indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko's trial, which is to begin next week.

In a ruling released Monday, a federal judge also made clear that Gov. Blagojevich, too, stands to come up at trial, as she made public what Blagojevich has long denied: that the governor is the "Public Official A" who's repeatedly referenced in Rezko court documents.

Obama's name was not mentioned, but U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she would allow prosecutors to present evidence about a portion of a $375,000 finder's fee that a Rezko associate, Joseph Aramanda, obtained through an alleged kickback scheme orchestrated by Rezko.

Prosecutors, she ruled, will be allowed to ask about how money from that fee allegedly was used "to make a political contribution" in Aramanda's name "because Rezko had already donated the maximum amount by law."

The ruling does not identify Obama as the recipient of that contribution. But sources have identified him as the "political candidate" who prosecutors say received a $10,000 donation from Aramanda -- at Rezko's direction -- during Obama's 2004 run for the U.S. Senate.

Obama has donated that contribution to charity. Aramanda's lawyer could not be reached for comment.

In addition, Rezko allegedly directed another associate, Elie Maloof, "to donate for the same reason," St. Eve wrote.

"The evidence is admissible," she added.

As with the Aramanda contribution, Obama has donated a $10,000 contribution from Maloof -- who was out of the country and could not be reached -- to charity. The two contributions are among $157,835 in Rezko-linked donations that Obama has given away.

Rezko was once part of Obama's senatorial finance committee.

Tony Rezko's trial begins next week.

It may be too late for any of this to help Hillary Clinton, but it won't be too late to help John McCain.

Jim Doyle and "Individual B"

"Have the checks arrived from Individuals L, M, N, O, and P?"


The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been running a series profiling the Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates.

In "Doyle Profile, Part 4," Greg J. Borowski writes:

[Doyle]can play hardball.

And he can take a punch.

Most of them have centered on his ethics, raising questions about how he raised his massive war chest, about a state procurement official found guilty of steering a travel contract to Doyle campaign contributors.

For friends, the charges and allegations do not ring true.

Alan Zussman remembers when Doyle was part of a group that played basketball in the noon hour at "the shell," a cavernous gym on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

At one point, Zussman - a UW athletic department official - arranged for them to play at the Fieldhouse. Zussman said Doyle, just elected attorney general, wouldn't play until he ran it past the state Ethics Board.

"No one ever questioned his integrity," he said. "Never."

If that's true, then Doyle has had a personality transplant since becoming governor, or he's a Jekyll and Hyde-type.

One has to be completely uninformed in order to be free of legitimate doubts about Doyle's character.
Spivak and Bice have just added to the steaming pile of doubts that already exist regarding this supposed man of impeccable integrity.
U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, of Valerie Plame fame or infamy, introduces us to "Individual B." (Ooooh. Very mysterious.)
Fitzgerald indicted Antoin Rezko, a Dem fund-raiser for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Individual B is Christopher Kelly. Spivak and Bice identify him as "Blagojevich's top money man."

S & B ask, "And what's Kelly's connection to the Wisconsin governor?"

Enquiring minds want to know.

S & B write:

Kelly gave the maximum $10,000 donation to Doyle's campaign on June 24. Kelly was, according to news accounts, under investigation when he made the donation and remains under the federal microscope today.

Betcha Doyle isn't quite as grateful for that money today as he was when he received it from Kelly, a central figure in what Fitzgerald dubbed "a pay to play scheme on steroids."

With the election just weeks away, Anson Kaye, Doyle's hired mouthpiece, tried to brush off questions about the donation and the governor's relation with Kelly, a rich roofer and political insider from the Chicago suburbs, by tossing out a several campaign clichés.

No surprise there.

"This is exactly the kind of false connection that the Republicans are going to try to draw in the waning days of the campaign," Kaye said Thursday. He added that Doyle, a former prosecutor, has no intention of returning the 10 grand to Individual B.

As for the governor's relation with Kelly, Kaye implied that there was none, though he did not say it point-blank. He declined to say whether he even bothered to ask Doyle this key question, instead replying repeatedly, "They may have been in the same room together."

That's not Doyle's only tie to the players in the growing Illinois scandal, which is big even by flatlanders' corruption standards.

S & B then delineate more of Doyle's questionable Illinois connections.

Read the complete article here.

Individual B flies in the face of one of Doyle's campaign promises when he ran for governor in 2002. He promised to restore Wisconsin's reputation for clean government.

Before his inauguration in 2003, Doyle said:

"If Wisconsin used to stand for anything, it was open, clean, responsible government, with clear public accountability. As governor, I will make it a top priority to return our great state to its proud, progressive tradition of open and responsible government.

"To restore people's faith and trust in government, we need to open up the legislative and budget process, set high standards for our elected officials, work together with legislators from both parties, and hold elected officials accountable for their actions."

So where do Individual B and Patrick Fitzgerald fit into that picture of clean government?

They don't, not at all.

When you go to vote on November 7, keep Individual B in mind.

Do you want an open, responsible, clean government?

Vote for Mark Green.