Who's Who in the Blagojevich Complaint?

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 02:58:30 PM EST
Tags: Rod Blagojevich (all tags)

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U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald stays true to form in the Complaint (pdf) against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. It's filled with references to other individuals identified by status with a letter designation.

There's fundraisers, advisers and hopeful Senate candidates. Here's a likely who's who, which will be updated with corrections and additions. From the Washington Post:

Senate Candidate 1: Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett
Senate Candidate 2: Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan
Senate Candidate 4: A deputy governor of Illinois, which could be Dean Martinez, Bob Greenlee and Louanner Peters.
Senate Candidate 6: a wealthy person from Illinois. Gawker speculates it's J.B. Pritzker, Penny's brother.

Marc Ambinder says Senate Candidate 5 is likely Jesse Jackson, Jr or Emil Jones. Politico agrees.

Question: Where's Rep. Danny Davis in all this, he was referenced by Blagojevich as a possible Senate replacement.

“We spent part of Thanksgiving Day together, and he made some comments to the press that he thought I’d make an excellent senator, then he said ‘Well let me stop, I don’t want to prejudice anything,’ but yes, we are in conversation with the governor,” Davis said.

As for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill), she's reportedly Senate Candidate #3.[More...]

The labor official? Politico and Marc Ambinder says likely is SEIU's Andy Stern.

One labor official and one press account say that the SEIU official was Andrew Stern, the SEIU's outspoken president. Discussing how one might help a senatorial candidate is legal and par the course, but Blagojhevich apparently asked for the money upfront.

Politico reports Advisor A is likely former Deputy Governor Doug Scofield.

"Preidential-Advisor" in the Complaint is likely Rahm Emmanuel.

Madigan today called for Blagojevich to resign.

As for a tip-off, it may be Rahm Emanuel. A Chicago reporter said on air (video here) he may have contacted Fitz after getting an inquiry from Blagojevich or his people about the Senate seat replacement.

Change to Win says it had no contact with Blagojevich.

"The notion of a job for the governor at Change to Win was a complete invention of the governor's office and his staff and it has no basis in reality."

I wonder if this will be Blagojevich's defense if an attack on the wiretaps and bugs fail: He was just fantasizing aloud.

< Obama Statement on Blagojevich Charges | When Will Sexism Matter? >

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Who's Who in the Blagojevich Complaint? | 42 comments (42 topical)

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I do not think (5.00 / 0) (#1)
by Steve M on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:02:59 PM EST

that candidate 5 can be Jesse Jackson Jr. or Emil Jones, for the reasons I describe here.

Good logic, Steve M (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:49:22 PM EST

but your conclusion rises or falls on Obama's regard for JJJr. He not only supported Obama, he twisted arms and threatened people, ranted about Hillary, etc., in most un-Obama-like ways. Seems to me entirely possible that Obama would very much not like to have him in the Senate.

Same might go for Emil Jones, for all we know.

Obama is pretty famous for matter-of-factly walking right over people who were his allies when it's suited his purpose, so I don't think there's necessarily anything inconsistent with Jones or JJJr. here.


Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:51:11 PM EST

I can't really think of when JJ Jr. did Obama any favors.


Well, he did Obama (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by dk on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:53:12 PM EST

favors by fueling the Hillary-hate, but once he served his purpose it made sense to start cutting him loose.


I think that hurt as much as it helped (none / 0) (#22)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:04:41 PM EST

The demographics were essentially locked in stone.


: Well, we'll never know (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by dk on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:16:40 PM EST

exactly how many votes it influenced either way, but in supporting the dominant, Hillary-hate media narrative I would imagine it was viewed as a net plus by the Obama campaign.

So co-chairing Obama's (none / 0) (#39)
by Cream City on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 05:36:31 PM EST

national campaign wasn't a favor?

So it was, instead, more political backscratching, the Chicago Way. Believable, but I haven't seen a source saying it wasn't a favor. Your source?


Don't understand your question (none / 0) (#41)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 06:56:59 PM EST

My presumption is that JJ Jr. did what he did for himself.


: Don't understand that answer (none / 0) (#42)
by Cream City on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 09:56:58 PM EST

at all. But you are in finals, I gather.

Well (none / 0) (#13)
by Steve M on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:52:32 PM EST

it's entirely possible that you're correct, but if Obama secretly wants to keep JJ Jr. far away from the Senate, that would be a big news story in and of itself. It's certainly not something anyone should blithely assume for purposes of concluding that Jackson must be Candidate No. 5, as Marc Ambinder has done.


: That is the most interesting point (none / 0) (#16)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:58:59 PM EST

No matter who it is, do they know Obama strongly didn't want them in the Senate?

: Agreed entirely (none / 0) (#29)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:25:53 PM EST

Interesting. JJsr, of course, (none / 0) (#2)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:15:50 PM EST

wants to cut Obama's n*ts off. I wonder if, in the end, blood really is thicker than water...


No idea what you're (none / 0) (#8)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:44:51 PM EST

suggesting here-- literally.


I'm suggesting that it's possible that JJjr (none / 0) (#15)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:55:19 PM EST

could side with his dad and have issues with Obama just like his dad does.

I'm not saying it's particularly likely that JJjr would put himself in a bad position, politically, with the potus-elect becuase of Jr's love for his dad, but I suppose stranger things have happened...


Oh, I get it (5.00 / 2) (#27)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:23:41 PM EST

Well, I think you've made way, way too much of the "cut his nuts off" comment. JJSr. was surely not happy with Obama's "post-partisan" and "post-racial" shtick, but I don't think there's much question about his devotion to getting an African-American elected president.

Also not clear to me how much actual love JJJr. has for his dad. He excoriated him publicly by name for the "nuts" comment, after all.

I do think, as I said above, that JJJr. is a difficult character and that Obama may well not want -- would be smart not to want, IMHO -- him taking his Senate seat.

But who the heck knows. There's so much stuff going on behind the scenes with all that.


: I think your analysis is reasonable. (none / 0) (#30)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:28:17 PM EST

There's a consensus developing (none / 0) (#6)
by Jeralyn on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:40:32 PM EST

it's Emil Jones.


My gut agrees with that consensus.... (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Maria Garcia on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:00:44 PM EST

....although my gut doesn't have a great track record.


I can't really understand it (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by Steve M on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:45:18 PM EST

That would be tantamount to Blagojevich saying, "If Obama won't do me a favor, then F him, I'll show him by appointing his mentor and long-time friend instead!!!" Just doesn't add up.


Who do you think it is? (none / 0) (#34)
by CST on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:49:39 PM EST

Do you have any idea who Obama doesn't like in IL? I doubt it's Alan Keyes...


Well (none / 0) (#35)
by Steve M on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:52:19 PM EST

I would moreso think it was someone outside Obama's circle, rather than someone he actively disliked.

Keep in mind, Blagojevich's primary motivation in all cases is money and/or other forms of personal gain. Punishing Obama for not offering him anything would be, at best, a secondary concern. So he's not going to consider nominating Obama's worst enemy just out of spite, if there's nothing in it for him.

Also, we know from the indictment that Senate Candidate 5 is someone who had been publicly reported as a contender for the job. So it can't be someone completely off the wall.


Well, if that's the case: (none / 0) (#37)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 05:09:17 PM EST

Blagojevich's primary motivation in all cases is money and/or other forms of personal gain. Punishing Obama for not offering him anything would be, at best, a secondary concern. [...] Also, we know from the indictment that Senate Candidate 5 is someone who had been publicly reported as a contender for the job.

Any one of the relatively small number of "public" contenders is a possibility, because any of them could have offered Blag money or other compensation.

iow, that does not rule out JJjr.


: Also, since Obama promoted someone other (none / 0) (#38)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 05:15:25 PM EST

than his campaign co-chair for the appointment to gov, perhaps Jr is not particularly pleased with Obama these days...

Worth remembering (none / 0) (#36)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 05:04:26 PM EST

that Blagojevich appears to be a fabulist with serious delusions of grandeur (I'm actually wondering if he's been on a manic high since the behavior is so totally over the top).

So I think it makes sense not to necessarily automatically credit what he says in these conversations as reflecting literal truth.

IOW, he's making all kinds of stuff up and I have to wonder how firmly in contact he is with reality.


Rep. J. L. Jackson, Jr. (IL-2, Dem) (none / 0) (#7)
by wurman on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:43:02 PM EST

was co-chairman of the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign.


wealthy businessperson.... (none / 0) (#31)
by jedimom on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:36:03 PM EST

could it be Nicky Giannoulous of the Bank that helps all the pols? He was pushed for treasurer by PEBO back in the day...


Good News (5.00 / 3) (#25)
by CST on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:08:49 PM EST

If unrelated - Bank of America will release some credit so the workers get their 60 days. Now if only they could get jobs...

: please save this for an open thread (none / 0) (#40)
by Jeralyn on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 06:43:58 PM EST

and keep this thread to identities of those in the complaint. Thanks.

looks like a special election is likely (none / 0) (#3)
by txpolitico67 on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:31:51 PM EST

AP reports that Durbin is urging IL legislators for a special election to replace Obama. It would also include an election for Emmanuel since he will be vacating his position, as well.

Yeap, just what we need. Spend more money because of yet ANOTHER corrupt politician. Just as the Dems are starting to re-build, this is the kinda junk that the R's will pound their drum loudly about in 2010..

DNC there too.. (5.00 / 2) (#32)
by jedimom on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:36:53 PM EST

yes and now the DNC is sitting smack square in Chicago amongst all this corruption, sigh

can we move it back home to D.C. now?


I think special elections are preferable (none / 0) (#4)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:34:11 PM EST

in any case.


Sure (5.00 / 0) (#5)
by Steve M on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:38:20 PM EST

if your state is made of money. Special elections are very expensive.


Sure, but anyone handpicked (none / 0) (#10)
by dk on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:49:28 PM EST

by either Blago or his replacement will be tainted. I don't really see any other fair way to do it.

If money's the issue, maybe there's a way to make Blago pay for part of it, since he's the one that made the mess.


Anyone picked by anyone except the voters... (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Maria Garcia on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:01:36 PM EST

...would be tainted until they sort this stuff out.


Blago's replacement would be (none / 0) (#20)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:02:41 PM EST

Lt. Gov Quinn. He is not connected to Blago politically. There is no reason to think his selection would be tainted, indeed Durbin is likely afraid he can't control him. I hope Blago resignes immediately and Quinn appoints Obama's successor.


: I mean not connected in the 'machine' way (none / 0) (#21)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:04:37 PM EST

I'm not sure if they ran on a joint ticket - I haven't lived in Illinois for 30 years!

: I'm in no way casting (none / 0) (#24)
by dk on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:06:38 PM EST

aspersions on Quinn. It's the entire process that is tainted, just as much as any one individual's reputation.
Durbin's right on this. Special election is the way to go.

: Will he resign before the trial? (none / 0) (#28)
by imhotep on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:24:05 PM EST

There's not much time for a special election.
If Blago resigns b4 the trial, he would appear to be admitting guilt. Might as well not have a trial.
LOL!

Well, Democracy is expensive (none / 0) (#11)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 03:49:38 PM EST

But I guess you could argue that the Senate is so undemocratic to begin with, that appointments hardly make a difference in the grand scheme.

If it were up to me, the Senate would be radically transformed or eliminated.


I think (none / 0) (#17)
by CST on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:00:31 PM EST

They were required to have a special election for Rahm's seat. So they could just add another section to the ballot without increasing the expense too much.


: One district vs. the whole seat (none / 0) (#23)
by andgarden on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:05:26 PM EST

And remember, two rounds: primary and general.