Subpoena Filed To Obama In Blago Trial

[LZ22]

As someone from Illinois, I ran across these articles today. Obama could have lied about his involvement in the Blago saga and why is this not getting national news attention?!

I tried posting links to the articles, however it tells me the administrator does not allow me to link to the website and won't let me post. Therefore, here is the article copy/pasted. Its from the "Ward Room" section of nbcchicago.com if you want to try to dig it up. Heres the article:

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[b]Redactions Revealed: The Six Secrets You Need to Know From the Obama Subpoena Request[/b]

[b]Update:[/b] [i]Judge calls emergency meeting over redaction errors.[/i]

Former governor Rod Blagojevich's defense team asked Thursday to issue a trial subpoena to the President of the United States of America.

The motion, intended to be heavily redacted, was improperly edited -- the full document was easily viewable if the text is copied and pasted to another document (an error first revealed on Capitol Fax).

Below, the six revelations the redacted portions were meant to conceal.

[b] [/b] [b] [/b][b] [/b] [b] [/b][b] [/b][b]1. Obama may have lied about conversations with convicted fraudster Tony Rezko[/b]

Blagojevich's lawyers allege that Rezko admitted breaking the law by contributing "a large sum of cash" to a public official. Blagojevich's attorneys say that public official is Obama. Obama said that Rezko never relayed a request from a lobbyist to hold a fundraiser in favor of favorable legislative action. But the point may be moot: regardless of Obama talking/not talking to Rezko, Blagojevich's attorneys say that Obama refused the request regardless.

[u]Redacted portion[/u]: However, the defense has a good faith belief that Mr. Rezko, President Obama's former friend, fund-raiser, and neighbor told the FBI and the United States Attorneys a different story about President Obama. In a recent in camera proceeding, the
government tendered a three paragraph letter indicating that Rezko "has stated in interviews with the government that he engaged in election law violations by personally contributing a large sum of cash to the campaign of a public official who is not Rod Blagojevich. … Further, the public official denies being aware of cash contributions to his campaign by Rezko or others and denies having
conversations with Rezko related to cash contributions. … Rezko has also stated in interviews with the government that he believed he transmitted a quid pro quo offer from a lobbyist to the public official, whereby the lobbyist would hold a fundraiser for the official in exchange for favorable official action, but that the public official rejected the offer. The public official denies any such conversation. In addition, Rezko has stated to the government that he and the public official had certain conversations about gaming legislation and administration, which the public official denies having had.

[u]Redacted footnote[/u]: The defense has a good faith belief that this public official is Barack Obama.

[b]2. Obama may have overtly recommended Valerie Jarret for his Senate seat[/b]
Blagojevich's defense team basically alleges that Obama told a certain labor union official that he (Obama) would support Valerie Jarrett's candidacy for the Senate seat. Jarrett, referred to as "Senate Candidate B", is now a senior advisor to the president.

[u]Redacted portion[/u]: Yet, despite President Obama stating that no representatives of his had any part of any deals, labor union president told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to labor union official on November 3, 2008 who received a phone message from Obama that evening. After labor union official listened to the message labor union official told labor union president "I'm the one". Labor union president took that to mean that labor union official was to be the one to deliver the message on behalf of Obama that Senate Candidate B was his pick. (Labor union president 302, February 2, 2009, p. 7).

Labor union official told the FBI and the United States Attorneys "Obama expressed his belief that [Senate Candidate B] would be a good Senator for the people of Illinois and would be a candidate who could win re-election. [Labor union official] advised Obama that [labor union official] would reach out to Governor Blagojevich and advocate for [Senate Candidate B] ... [Labor union official] called [labor union president] and told [labor union president] that Obama was aware that [labor union official] would be reaching out to Blagojevich." (Labor union official 302, February 3, 2009 p. 3).

[b]3. A supporter of President Obama may have offered quid pro quo on a Jarrett senate appointment[/b]
[u]Redacted portion[/u]: Supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama is mentioned in a phone call on November 3, 2008, having offered "fundraising" in exchange for Senate Candidate B for senator (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 149).

[b]4. Obama maintained a list of good Senate candidates[/b]
[u]Redacted portion[/u]: President-elect Obama also suggested Senate Candidate A to Governor Blagojevich. John Harris told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to President's Chief of Staff on November 12, 2008. Harris took notes of the conversation and wrote that President's Chief had previously worked as Blagojevich's press secretary. Obama agreed of Staff told Harris that Senate Candidate A was acceptable to Obama as a senate pick. (Harris handwritten notes, OOG1004463) President's Chief of Staff told the FBI that "he could not say where but somewhere it was communicated to him that" Senate Candidate A was a suggested candidate viewed as one of the four "right" candidates "by the Obama transition team."
[b]
5. Rahm Emanuel allegedly floated Cheryl Jackson's name for the Senate seat[/b]
[u]Redacted portion[/u]: President's Chief of Staff told the FBI that he had a conversation discussing the Senate seat with Obama on December 7, 2008 in Obama's car. President's Chief of Staff told the FBI "Obama expressed concern about Senate Candidate D being appointed as Senator.

[President's Chief of Staff] suggested they might need an expanded list to possibly include names of African Americans that came out of the business world. [President's Chief of Staff] thought he suggested Senate Candidate E who was the head of the Urban League and with President's Chief of Staff's suggestion.

[b]6. Obama had a secret phone call with Blagojevich[/b]
[u]Redacted portion[/u]: President-elect Obama also spoke to Governor Blagojevich on December 1, 2008 in Philadelphia. On Harris Cell Phone Call # 139, John Harris and Governor's legal counsel discuss a conversation Blagojevich had with President-elect Obama. The government claims a conspiracy existed from October 22, 2008 continuing through December 9, 2008.6 That conversation is relevant to the defense of the government's theory of an ongoing conspiracy. Only Rod Blagojevich and President Obama can testify to the contents of that conversation. The defense is allowed to present evidence that corroborates the defendant's testimony.

BY WARD ROOM STAFF // Friday, Apr 23, 2010 at 07:08 CDT

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Thoughts? Could this spell serious trouble for Mr. President? All these articles just further proves to me that every politician is as corrupt as the next...just some are better at hiding it.

[Tyler]

A politician who lied? Never.

[Rani]

[quote name='Tyler' date='23 April 2010 - 02:41 PM' timestamp='1272058883' post='465142']
A politician who lied? Never.
[/quote]


Yep, start with lying politicians, add in media with it's "let's twist everything to sell more" and who the hell knows? Come on, I like the President but I'm not naive enough to believe [u]any[/u] politician got into office anywhere in this country without selling off at least a little part of their soul.

'Rani

[nars2k]

Whats disturbing to me about Americans is that most are willing to believe anything. Especially if they see it on the "news". But you would think that after all the contradictions and trouble these politicians have caused would make people wake up and face reality. I think its just that some people would rather remain ignorant rather than face the harsh truth that politicians are only out there to better themselves and the elite.

One thing I hate hearing people say is "Ignorance is bliss"

Just my vent.

[LZ22]

[quote name='nars2k' date='25 April 2010 - 09:52 PM' timestamp='1272250329' post='465419']
Whats disturbing to me about Americans is that most are willing to believe anything. Especially if they see it on the "news". But you would think that after all the contradictions and trouble these politicians have caused would make people wake up and face reality. I think its just that some people would rather remain ignorant rather than face the harsh truth that politicians are only out there to better themselves and the elite.

One thing I hate hearing people say is "Ignorance is bliss"

Just my vent.
[/quote]

I would agree. Its almost as if corruption is so entrenched that people have become de-sensitized to any new stories on corruption. They just expect everyone to be corrupt, but then in their minds they justify their corruption by saying "Well at least he/she didn't do something as severe as that other guy!" and gives them the get out of jail free card.

[TheScotsman]

[quote name='Tyler' date='23 April 2010 - 04:41 PM' timestamp='1272058883' post='465142']
A politician who lied? Never.
[/quote]

About what I was thinking.

Chicago is the epitome of political corruption, why would we ever believe anyone that hearkened from such a place to not be a product of that corruption? Good grief, he is making goldwater + nixon look like a couple of alter boys.


America deserves all the political corruption they get, they elected it, and keep on re-electing the crooks.

[LZ22]

[quote name='TheScotsman' date='27 April 2010 - 12:50 AM' timestamp='1272347419' post='465656']
[quote name='Tyler' date='23 April 2010 - 04:41 PM' timestamp='1272058883' post='465142']
A politician who lied? Never.
[/quote]

About what I was thinking.

Chicago is the epitome of political corruption, why would we ever believe anyone that hearkened from such a place to not be a product of that corruption? Good grief, he is making goldwater + nixon look like a couple of alter boys.


America deserves all the political corruption they get, they elected it, and keep on re-electing the crooks.
[/quote]

Being from Chicago-land, one of the major reasons I have never trusted Obama from the start is the SOLE reason him and his chief of staff are from Chicago... That alone is reason enough. As for the Nixon comment.... I couldn't agree more.

Illinois' budget and programs have suffered greatly from all the corruption and funneling of money... Now America as a whole will get to experience it.