Patty Blagojevich
Interesting little tidbit about Mrs. Blagojevich in paragraph 73 of the affidavit
In another call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Deputy Governor A that occurred a short time later on November 3, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Deputy Governor A discussed an editorial from the Chicago Tribune regarding the endorsement of Michael Madigan and calling for a committee to consider impeaching ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife can be heard in thebackground telling ROD BLAGOJEVICH to tell Deputy Governor A to hold up that fucking Cubs shit. . . fuck them.”ROD BLAGOJEVICH asked Deputy Governor A whathe thinks of his wife’s idea. Deputy Governor A stated that there is a part of what ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife said that he “agree[s] with.” Deputy Governor A told RODBLAGOJEVICH that Tribune Owner will say that he does not have anything to do with theeditorials, “but I would tell him, look, if you want to get your Cubs thing done get rid of thisTribune.”
Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife got on the phone and, during the continuing discussion of the critical Tribune editorials, stated that Tribune Owner can “just fire” the writers because Tribune Owner owns the Tribune. ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife stated that if Tribune Owner’s papers were hurting his business, Tribune Owner would do something about the editorial board. ROD BLAGOJEVICH then got back on the phone.
[emphasis mine].
If the plot to blackmail the Chicago Tribune by withholding state funds was Mrs Blagojevich’s idea in the first place, SHE would be the mastermind of that particular conspiracy. She has possible criminal exposure.
And that may not be the only source of her possible criminal jeopardy.
But a Tribune analysis of public records, along with real estate listings and interviews, reveals it earned more than $700,000 in commissions on other deals after her husband began raising money in 2000 for his first run for governor.
Of those commissions, the Tribune found that more than three-quarters came from clients with connections.
Her biggest client? You guessed already, didn’t you? Yep, Tony Rezko. Tony Rezko who was rumored to be singing like a bird to the feds.
The significance of this is that when the wife has criminal liability exposure due to her participation in the husband’s wrongdoing, and especially when there are young children to be cared for, the pressure on the husband (assuming he is the greater malefactor) to cut a deal with the government that covers both of them and keeps her out of jail to raise the kids, becomes almost irresistible. Assuming, that is, that he loves his family.
If I were one of Blago’s co-conspirators, I would not sleep well tonight.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Big-Hair Rod, the Monster
Ah yes, the “Clinton phenomenon”–the wife is responsible for the husband and vice versa. Why can’t Blago just be called out on what *he* was supposed to have done?
So is Zell implicated in this as a possible defendant?
As always, FDL is the first to point out the obscure that will eventually become big news. Good on you LHP>
Call me sentimental, but I am remembering another criminal match made in heaven. From the wiki:
That’s some heavy spouse duty.
Happier times
He is only going to be indicted for what “he” has done. however, if there is culpable conduct on the part of his wife, and that quote looks pretty damning, then he may try to negotiate a blanket deal for both of htem.
You may remeber during the Martha Stewart insider trading case, Sam Wascal(is that how you spell his name?) took a deal that covered insider trading by his daughter, so she would not have to go to jail,
It’s not uncommon for a defendant to bargain to get a benefit for a family member
When the two of them are on tape conspiring to take illegal actions, that’s not saying “the wife is responsible for the husband and vice versa.” It’s saying “here are TWO conspirators, each making their own contributions to a criminal enterprise.” Two very different things.
Jane is on MSNBC
Jane’s on MSNBC right now
Jane finally on the toob.
That’s actually a better example than the one I just used here in the thread.
A spouse with exposure is one of the likeliest indicators that someone will plead and flip
Jane looks mighty pretty in red. (MSNBC) Now.
the question is which one will flip? I think it is an open question.
Dude is a fool Jail is a no fault divorce.
My 15 Dosido at 5
You think SHE will flip? She won’t get much of a deal unless she knows where the bodies are buried.
No, if I’m investigating this, it’s Blago’s testimony I want. He knows who has been paying for what in the pay to play.
just caught her smilin’ face as they signed off, what was the topic?
you mean fastow or blago? fastow agree to testify vs. coworkers for lesser sentence and I don’t recall but I think there might have also been consideration for Lea in exchange for his cooperation. He was a weasel, but he did seem like a family guy.
LHP will the people that Rod can roll on arrange a deal after all both Dem and GOP can get hurt if Rod sings.
Don’t know. You’re the expert here. But she’s probably up to her own corruption eyeballs. How much has he done without her? Daughter of another IL pol. Who has the stiffer spine?
It would seem to me that this is going to be an interesting circus to watch.
Why thank you! But be warned. I think Ken Lay is alive. He’s alive I tell you!
Thanks lhp.
digg
Fastow and ten years is a long time to wait.
You know, I saw part of the press confernece toady, and the FBI guy had this whole segment about how sensitively they handled the arrest, so as to not wake the children.
If the kids were already traumatized, Blago would 1) be mad , 2) have less at stake.
This way, assuming Mrs Blago kept them away formt he TV, the family has the opportutniy to sugar coat it, Daddy gets bail and is home for dinner, everybody gets treated nicely.
I’m telling you, I’ve seen, hell I’ve done it, NDIL is trying to seduce Blago into flipping. And it IS a courtship and a seduction.
WHy do I keep seeing comparisons to Alaska?
I’ve always thought so. Paraguay?
Yes, at the time they said that Lea got a reduced sentence becasue of her huisband’s cooperation. In fact, the sticking point in hte negotiaitons was that the Fastows wanted zero jail time for her, b/c the kids were young
If she flips she takes down her Dad who got Rod the job. Without Alderman Mel, Rod would not be in office. Who do you think probably taught Rod how to play the game?
Who knows what they will do?
It really sucks for the folks who get indected towards the end of the investiagtion. There’s little or nothing left for them to give up, and the gov’t has TONS of evidence by then.
rezko was an idiot not to cut his deal at the earliest possible time.
Wow, now I’m extremely intrigued…I’m gonna stay tuned to this bat channel, that’s for sure! :]
The person who has the most info, has the most leverage. Normally, it’s that both husband and wife flip, but only one does meaningful jail
oooohhhh, hadn’t thought about that
Deupty Governor A? Are there a whole flotilla of Deputy Governors?
If Blogo is really the idiot someone claimed him to be then Patty is probably the smarter of the two. Gotta go. Later. . .
EPU’ed
From clues in the complaint:
Candidate 1: Valerie Jarrett
Candidate 2: Lisa Madigan (“A review of this particular Sun Times column on November 7, 2008”)
Candidate 3: ?
Candidate 4: Dean Martinez, Bob Greenlee and Louanner Peters Current Deputy Governors (“Senate Candidate 4 is a Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois”)
Candidate 5: Emil Jones
Candidate 6: JP Pritzker (“Senate Candidate 6, based on other intercepted conversations, is believed to be a wealthy person from Illinois”)
http://opinionator.blogs.nytim…..ef=opinion
Blago has plenty to give if he squeals on his father in law.
thanks so much for the insight lhp!.
1 …2…cha-cha-cha
May I say something extremely petty? It’s just that Bloggo’s got the most close spaced eyes I’ve seen in a while. There, gosh, now that’s off my chest.
What? no Oprah?
True she is probably smarter also if she is half as tough as her sister who got arrested for knocking over a Cop she is probably stronger.
typical Sout Sider
Fitzgerald repeatedly said today that the complaint was only about 2 people, period. But in the conclusion there is this:
TCU, write an Oxdown diary about this, will you?
Hey we’re talking about Blago’s list, not Obama’s.
j/k!!! good point.
What really cuts to the quick for me is how little love is expressed for the Cubs.
Ald Mel the father in law of Blago has another daughter who was arrested at some gay rights protest yes she is gay. She knocked over an undercover cop.
Ald Mel bailed his daughter out and totally supported her. Last I heard Blago and his sister in law, father in law don’t get along.
Its a little short for a diary though.
Well, with the Cubs’ situation embroiled in this nasty nasty political scandal, maybe the Los Angeles Angels still have a chance at signing Jake Peavy during the winter meetings this week in Vegas.
That’s cool, it’s really interesting, ty .
The godfather and his moll
her hair style?
Deborah L. Mell, commonly known as Deb Mell, is an American politician from Chicago. A Democrat, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives from the 40th district in 2008 and will take office in January 2009. She is also a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, hoping to succeed Rahm Emanuel in Illinois’ 5th congressional district.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Mell
When does Rahm give up his seat Blago has a sister in law to appoint!
oh, I forgot to mention
ianal
Are their any open Lesbians in Congress?
Yeah Chicago police are kind tough:)
She has possible criminal exposure.
She sounds like a true witch on the transcripts, but how does she end with criminal culpability? Even if it was her idea – she personally had no ability to execute.
36 – isn’t 4 the one they were saying could be “counted on” to actually resign the seat also so that he could appoint himself to avoid impeachment? Who would be that “loyal” (seems the wrong word, but for lack of a different one)
*gah* the 101st Keyboard Kommandos are out in force…
Appoint a Special Prosecutor in Blagojevitch-Obama Corruption Probe
Will Media Cover Obama/Rod Blagojevich Connection?
Ad Nauseum…
If anyone else has mentioned this, forgive me; I have not read all the comments, but if I were Patty Blagojevich, I’d be making a phone call to Lea Fastow right about now.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/0…../index.htm
If there is anyone who knows what it’s like to end up in the slammer while having a husband who will probably also end up in the slammer AND having small children to think about, Mrs. Fastow is the expert. She did 11 months.
I thought that the House Race was determined by a special election so Blago would not appoint this.
Wouldn’t be any diff if the shoe was on the other foot and this would be the first place the creaming would be.
creaming OR screaming
You’re absolutely right in principle, lhp.
However … and furthermore, in addition to the well-known … and also the fact that by upbringing Patty’s not likely to be a b&b sort of wife.
Still, the kids are quite young. There’ll be more pressure on him overall because of that, but she might find herself in the nasty spot of having to support in some degree any part of a bargain that would involve her father, partly because of her own liabilities. And that leads right back to LaSalle St.
The things that could be done with that pressure just gave me a shiver of anticipation.
Where does Jesse Jackson, Jr. fit in ? Could he be candidate #3?
I could be wrong?
JPL9 at 60 I could be wrong
I supported Guv Ryan getting a pardon last week :)
Because in a conspiracy case it is not unusual for one person, let’s call her the mastermind
Think, mab boss ordering a hit. The target gets wacked while the boss is sitting in the social club playing cards and sipping espresso.
Mama Blagojevich did not fall far from the tree. Her daddy is the infamously corrupt Chicago alderman Richard Mell. She was weaned on corruption.
Maybe they want to use his wife as a way to force him to talk. Sing like a bird or she gets indicted too.