Wow. Might Obama win and immediately be arrested for bribery? The FBI is apparently looking into the shady deal in which convicted felon Rezko helped Obama buy his $1+ million dollar Chicago home:
QuoteFBI asked questions on Rezko land deal
Value at issue, appraiser says
Jerry Seper
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A former Illinois real estate specialist says FBI agents have questioned him about a Chicago property that had been bought by convicted felon Tony Rezko's wife and later sold to the couple's next-door neighbor, Sen. Barack Obama.
The real estate specialist, Kenneth J. Conner, said bank officials replaced an appraisal review he prepared on the property and FBI agents were investigating in late 2007 whether the Rezko-Obama deal was proper.
“Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time, though it took them only a short number of minutes of talking with me while looking at the appraisal to acknowledge what they already seemed to know: The Rezko lot was grossly overvalued,†Mr. Conner told The Washington Times Monday.
“Rezko paid the asking price on the same day Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price to the same seller for his adjacent mansion,†he said. “This begs the question of payoff, bribe, kickback.â€
Associated Press Chicago real estate developer Tony Rezko was convicted June 16 on felony counts of fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting a bribery scheme involving kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with the state. The charges did not involve Sen. Barack Obama.
In a wrongful-termination complaint filed last month in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Mr. Conner said his appraisal of the Rezko property, held in Rita Malki Rezko's name, was replaced with a higher one and he was fired when he questioned the document.
Mr. Conner, a former real estate and commercial credit analyst at Mutual Bank Corp. in Chicago, noted in the complaint that the bank received a grand jury subpoena in October 2006 requiring it to produce information concerning Mrs. Rezko's purchase, including the bank's files on the property.
The complaint also said the grand jury wanted information on Mrs. Rezko's checking account and loan file and whether the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) had audited the Rezko file.
It said Mutual Bank officials could be guilty of making false statements, willfully overvaluing property, bank fraud, witness retaliation, willful violation of a lawful subpoena, FDIC violations, and state banking regulations.
The FBI has declined comment on the Rezko investigation, although it is known that Rezko is cooperating with authorities as the probe continues.
Mr. Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has denied being involved in any wrongdoing, although he considered the purchase “a mistake on my part and I regret it.†The deal took place at a time it was widely known that federal authorities were investigating Rezko and several Illinois politicians he had befriended.
According to his complaint, Mr. Conner reviewed the appraisal of the Rezko property by another firm, Adams Appraisal, which had set the value at $625,000. The complaint said he told his bosses the property had been overvalued by at least $125,000 and that a “reasonable and fair evaluation†should have been no greater than $500,000.
Mr. Conner said the removal of his appraisal “seemed understood as a crime with respect to the subpoena†of the Rezko property and the FDIC audit.
The complaint said Mr. Conner is seeking $4.2 million for compensatory damages, plus unspecified punitive damages.
Rezko was a key supporter and donor throughout Mr. Obama's political career, with the Illinois Democrat estimating that Rezko raised $250,000 for his various political campaigns, though not for his presidential bid. The two were friends who talked frequently about politics and occasionally dined together with their wives.
Rezko was convicted June 16 on felony counts of fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting a bribery scheme involving kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with the state. The charges did not involve Mr. Obama.
Mr. Conner is asking Mr. Obama to make his lower appraisal review of his house public, saying it is relevant to his pending complaint.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/04/fbi-asked-questions-on-rezko-land-deal/
When will you be joining the Unification Church, RSG? First step to becoming a "Moonie" is quoting from their house newsletter.
Dont discuss the source. The truth is your hero is a crook. Politicians who take bribes from constituents are also known as felons. This may yet still catch up with Obama.
Obsolete thread in need of deletion.
Sorry but criminal activity is not an "obsolete" subject.
OK we'll see where this goes, then.
Also, I look forward to the prosecution of Cheney.
Quote from: RiversideGator on November 04, 2008, 12:05:48 PM
Wow. Might Obama win and immediately be arrested for bribery? The FBI is apparently looking into the shady deal in which convicted felon Rezko helped Obama buy his $1+ million dollar Chicago home:
QuoteFBI asked questions on Rezko land deal
Value at issue, appraiser says
Jerry Seper
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A former Illinois real estate specialist says FBI agents have questioned him about a Chicago property that had been bought by convicted felon Tony Rezko's wife and later sold to the couple's next-door neighbor, Sen. Barack Obama.
The real estate specialist, Kenneth J. Conner, said bank officials replaced an appraisal review he prepared on the property and FBI agents were investigating in late 2007 whether the Rezko-Obama deal was proper.
“Agents and I talked about payoff, bribe, kickback for a long time, though it took them only a short number of minutes of talking with me while looking at the appraisal to acknowledge what they already seemed to know: The Rezko lot was grossly overvalued,†Mr. Conner told The Washington Times Monday.
“Rezko paid the asking price on the same day Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price to the same seller for his adjacent mansion,†he said. “This begs the question of payoff, bribe, kickback.â€
Associated Press Chicago real estate developer Tony Rezko was convicted June 16 on felony counts of fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting a bribery scheme involving kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with the state. The charges did not involve Sen. Barack Obama.
In a wrongful-termination complaint filed last month in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Mr. Conner said his appraisal of the Rezko property, held in Rita Malki Rezko's name, was replaced with a higher one and he was fired when he questioned the document.
Mr. Conner, a former real estate and commercial credit analyst at Mutual Bank Corp. in Chicago, noted in the complaint that the bank received a grand jury subpoena in October 2006 requiring it to produce information concerning Mrs. Rezko's purchase, including the bank's files on the property.
The complaint also said the grand jury wanted information on Mrs. Rezko's checking account and loan file and whether the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) had audited the Rezko file.
It said Mutual Bank officials could be guilty of making false statements, willfully overvaluing property, bank fraud, witness retaliation, willful violation of a lawful subpoena, FDIC violations, and state banking regulations.
The FBI has declined comment on the Rezko investigation, although it is known that Rezko is cooperating with authorities as the probe continues.
Mr. Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has denied being involved in any wrongdoing, although he considered the purchase “a mistake on my part and I regret it.†The deal took place at a time it was widely known that federal authorities were investigating Rezko and several Illinois politicians he had befriended.
According to his complaint, Mr. Conner reviewed the appraisal of the Rezko property by another firm, Adams Appraisal, which had set the value at $625,000. The complaint said he told his bosses the property had been overvalued by at least $125,000 and that a “reasonable and fair evaluation†should have been no greater than $500,000.
Mr. Conner said the removal of his appraisal “seemed understood as a crime with respect to the subpoena†of the Rezko property and the FDIC audit.
The complaint said Mr. Conner is seeking $4.2 million for compensatory damages, plus unspecified punitive damages.
Rezko was a key supporter and donor throughout Mr. Obama's political career, with the Illinois Democrat estimating that Rezko raised $250,000 for his various political campaigns, though not for his presidential bid. The two were friends who talked frequently about politics and occasionally dined together with their wives.
Rezko was convicted June 16 on felony counts of fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting a bribery scheme involving kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with the state. The charges did not involve Mr. Obama.
Mr. Conner is asking Mr. Obama to make his lower appraisal review of his house public, saying it is relevant to his pending complaint.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/04/fbi-asked-questions-on-rezko-land-deal/
I hope you don't plan on spending the next four years contouring up stories like this.
Quote from: RiversideGator on November 04, 2008, 10:59:34 PM
Dont discuss the source. The truth is your hero is a crook. Politicians who take bribes from constituents are also known as felons. This may yet still catch up with Obama.
don't cry River....it will be ok....we all made it through the last 8 years!
Quote from: Arsenal on November 05, 2008, 01:02:12 AM
I hope you don't plan on spending the next four years contouring up stories like this.
Nothing is "countour[ed] up" here. Obama is a crook.
How is your investigation coming along?
Quote from: Midway on November 07, 2008, 09:46:22 PM
How is your investigation coming along?
Ask the FBI and District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Indictments may be returned soon for all we know.
BTW, do you think it is acceptable for a politician to be a crook so long as he agrees with you?
Quote from: stephendare on November 08, 2008, 11:01:29 AM
Do you think its acceptable to call a person a crook with no evidence whatsoever?
Or do you think of that as kind of a laissez faire slander?
Well the deal was obviosuly crooked, there was at least a fraudlent appraisal involved, the question remains how much did the Obama's know or not know....
Quote from: stephendare on November 08, 2008, 11:01:29 AM
Do you think its acceptable to call a person a crook with no evidence whatsoever?
Or do you think of that as kind of a laissez faire slander?
No evidence whatsoever? :D :D
Good one, Stephen. :D
what evidence do yo have?
Of course he got a sweetheart deal, why should anyone be surprised. Hes a politician, thats the way things work in the world. I have no doubt that everything he did was on the up an up.
Quote from: tufsu1 on November 09, 2008, 08:13:57 AM
what evidence do yo have?
Read the accounts of the real estate transactions in the Chicago newspaper pieces I posted earlier.
Res Ipsa Loquitur
The Governor of Illinois (Democrat) has been arrested on corruption charges.
QuoteIllinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested
Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to Frank Bochte of the FBI. Both were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago.
In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.
Another charge alleges Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts, according to the charges.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.
"They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."
Blagojevich is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan later today, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.
A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.
Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process might be tainted. That possibility has become a focus in an intensifying investigation that has included recordings of the governor and the cooperation of one of his closest friends.
The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The specific contents of the recent recordings have not been disclosed. Blagojevich has said the appointment of a Senate successor, which is his choice alone, could come in a matter of weeks.
Speaking to reporters Monday for the first time since the Tribune revealed federal investigators had recorded him and others as part of their corruption probe, Blagojevich said his discussions were "always lawful." He also defended close confidant John Wyma, whose cooperation with federal agents helped lead to the recordings, as "an honest person who's conducted himself in an honest way."
"I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it," he said. "I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily, and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate."
Unlike the recordings that the federal government has of Blagojevich, the tapes that led to President Richard Nixon's 1974 resignation over the burglary of Democratic offices at the Watergate complex and the ensuing coverup were made by Nixon himself.
Regardless of "whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful and the things I'm interested in are always lawful," Blagojevich said. "And if there are any things out there like that, what you'll hear is a governor who tirelessly and endlessly figures out ways to help average, ordinary working people."
Blagojevich's comments came amid increasing concern by Democrats that the governor's pending appointment of a Senate successor may become politically tainted as a result of the investigations surrounding his administration. Federal investigators have been looking into allegations of corruption regarding state jobs, appointments and contracts in connection with Blagojevich's prolific fundraising. [Remind you of anyone else?]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story
And, in related news of Chicago corruption, an Illinois grand jury has requested documents relating to the Obama-Rezko land deal in which convicted felon Rezko funneled money to his associate Barack Obama through the purchase of a vacant lot adjacent to Obama's personal residence. Might Obama be the next crooked Illinois politician to be arrested?
QuoteComplaint hits Rezko land deal
Fired official says appraisal replaced
Jerry Seper
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A former Illinois bank official, now claiming whistleblower status, says bank officials replaced a loan reappraisal that he prepared for a Chicago property that was purchased by the wife of now-convicted felon Tony Rezko, part of which was later sold to next-door neighbor Barack Obama.
In a complaint filed Thursday in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Kenneth J. Connor said that his reappraisal of Rita Rezko's property was replaced with a higher one and that he was fired when he questioned the document.
Mr. Connor, a real estate and commercial credit analyst at the Mutual Bank Corp. in Chicago, also noted in the complaint that the bank received a grand jury subpoena in October 2006 requiring it to produce information concerning Mrs. Rezko's purchase, including the bank's files on the property.
The complaint also said that the grand jury wanted information on Mrs. Rezko's checking account and loan file and that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) had audited the Rezko file - although Mr. Connor's lower reappraisal had been replaced with a higher amount.
"Connor's internal whistle-blowing activity at Mutual Bank implicates Mutual Bank and the potentially guilty officers thereof to prosecution under federal and Illinois statutes," said the complaint, filed by attorney Glenn R. Gaffney.
The complaint said Mutual Bank officials could be guilty of making false statements, willfully overvaluing property, bank fraud, witness retaliation, willful violation of a lawful subpoena, FDIC violations, and state banking regulations.
Mr. Gaffney, contacted at his office, declined to elaborate but confirmed that the complaint had been filed.
"It says what it says," said Mr. Gaffney of Glendale Heights, Ill.
According to the complaint, Mr. Connor reviewed the appraisal of the Rezko property by another firm, Adams Appraisal, which had set the value at $625,000. Mr. Connor's complaint said that he told his bosses in a report that the property had been overvalued by at least $125,000 and that a "reasonable and fair evaluation" should have been no greater than $500,000.
Later, the complaint states, Mr. Connor observed that his lower appraisal was not in the Rezko file and that he notified his supervisors that it had been replaced. He said, according to the complaint, the new file had been reviewed by the FBI and "if the FBI were to ask me about such matters, I would tell them the truth. I never rescinded my original findings."
Critics of Mr. Obama's dealings with Rezko charge that the senator may have gotten a deal on his property purchase, noting that Mrs. Rezko paid the full asking price for her property on an adjacent lot. Both of which were sold by a single seller. Mr. Obama bought his house for $1.65 million - $300,000 below the asking price.
When the property was sold, Mr. Obama knew Rezko was under investigation on fraud charges.
The complaint said the Rezko loan was approved by Mutual Bank President and CEO Amrish Mahajan and others so that Mrs. Rezko could buy a 9,090-square-foot vacant parcel of real estate. It said that in January 2006, Mrs. Rezko and Mr. Obama, along with his wife Michelle, signed an agreement to sell a 10-foot strip of the property to the Obamas. At that point, according to the complaint, Mr. Connor's firm asked him to conduct the reappraisal.
The complaint said Mr. Connor is seeking $4.2 million for compensatory damages, plus unspecified punitive damages.
Rezko was a key supporter and donor throughout Mr. Obama's political career, with the Illinois Democrat estimating that Rezko raised $250,000 for his various political campaigns, though not for his presidential bid. The two were friends who talked frequently about politics and occasionally dined out together with their wives.
Rezko was convicted this summer on federal charges of using his clout with state government to squeeze kickbacks out of firms wanting to do business with the state. The charges did not involve Mr. Obama. Rezko is now cooperating with federal prosecutors in a continuing probe of corruption in Illinois government.
Mr. Obama consulted Rezko, a real estate developer, before buying his home in 2005.
As a state senator, Mr. Obama wrote letters endorsing government support of a Rezko housing project for senior citizens. Obama aides say he was simply supporting a project that would help residents of his district, not doing a favor for a friend.
Jennifer Haberkorn contributed to this article.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/18/whistleblower-hits-obama-friends-appraisal/