29May/13

Hey, Chicago Tribune: Why are you helping Rod Blagojevich blackmail the Feds?

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Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief

A proven reliable source reports that Rod Blagojevich is attempting to blackmail his way out of prison.

And, there are indications that the feds are in the process of capitulating to Blago’s demands, aided by the collaborative assistance of the ChicagoTribune, in what amounts to a cover-up of a crime.

(Read this email thread from bottom to top)

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-----Original Message-----

From: <redacted>

To: Len Goodman

Sent: 2013-05-24 17:24:37 +0000

Subject: Is it a real appeal?

Mr. Len Goodman

It has come to my attention, that there is a strong possibility your client Rod Blagojevich is blackmailing former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and the federal government.

Are you familiar with the interview Rod Blagojevich did with Brian Ross?

(Sender redacted here and below when not otherwise indicated)

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: <redacted>

To: "Kimberly Nerheim" <[email protected]>

Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 1:08:10 PM

Subject: Fwd: Brian Ross 8-26-2010 Blago threatens

Kimberly

Please contact me about these very important matters.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

----- Forwarded Message -----

From:<redacted>

To: "Randall Samborn" <[email protected]>

Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 1:00:28 PM

Subject: Fwd: Brian Ross 8-26-2010 Blago threatens

Randall Samborn

Looks like Rod Blagojevich's decision to go the route of extortion might be working for him? . In plain site on ABC.

Do you think if he does not get the deal he wants Rod Blagojevich will tell the public the information Patrick Fitzgerald supposedly wanted the morning he arrested Blago.

More important does Patrick Fitzgerald want information about corruption at the level that Blago speaks of in this interview.

Blago say's some very telling things in this interview with Brian Ross that will help expose the truth. Simple questions, who told John Chase that the feds had a wire on Blagojevich and that John Wyma was cooperating with U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Who,what,why,when and where was the decision made to warn Blago ?

Why is no one asking ? That last question was rhetorical, I know why no one is asking.

Randall, lets not forget our discussions about these matters. Maybe this is one of those times that calls for a Special Counsel to be appointed.

Trial or not, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered starting with the ones John Chase has never answered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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----- Forwarded Message -----

From: <redacted>

To: <redacted>

Sent: Monday, March 7, 2011 9:54:37 AM

Subject: Brian Ross 8-26-2010 Blago

Pertinent memory refresher.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/video/rod-blagojevich-reveals-jail-activity-11493201 

Pop quiz:

Question. Why did the feds give the Blago wiretap tapes and transcripts to the Chicago Tribune and only the Tribune?

Answer. So the Tribune could lie and tell the public that there is nothing on the tapes that Rod Blagojevich could use to blackmail the Feds.

Question. Why are the Chicago Tribune and their reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen refusing to report what is on the tapes and transcripts?

Answer. They are part of the criminal cover-up dubbed "Chicagogate"

Question. Why are the Blagojevich brothers reevaluating whether or not the public should hear the tapes or read the transcripts that they and their attorneys would not shut-up about in the past?

(Read this email thread from bottom to top)

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-----Original Message-----

From: Robert Blagojevich

To: <redacted>

Sent: 2013-05-09 19:10:09 +0000

Subject: Re: Inquiry (your statement)

<Name redacted>

Understand this; everything I've either written to you or said is off the record.

Please respect my position.

Rob Blagojevich

Sent from my iPhone

------------------------

On May 9, 2013, at 1:33 PM, <redacted> wrote:

Robert

If you cannot go on the record stating that it is unacceptable for the Feds to give Tribune reporters and only Trib reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen copies of sealed tapes and transcripts, tapes and transcripts that yourself and Rod were not allowed to keep.

You are making a statement.

Are you sure this is the statement you want to make?

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: <redacted>

To: Robert Blagojevich

Sent:Thu May 9 02:55:54 UTC 2013

Subject: Fwd: Inquiry

Robert

How does Rod's appeal have anything to do with whether you believe the tapes should be made available to others in the Media?

The Feds gave access to the tapes to the Chicago Tribune, and only the Trib.

And, according to John Chase and Jeff Coen, the Tribune can grant Rod and yourself your wish, and publish the transcripts.

All I am asking is: Do you still believe that all the wiretap tapes should be played?

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Robert Blagojevich

To: <redacted>

Sent:Thu May 9 02:38:16 UTC 2013

Subject: Re: Inquiry

To clarify and be specific, I don't want to say anything publically until my brother's appeal has been heard.

At that point I will reevaluate.

Sorry about the confusion of my previous email. Rereading it, it confused me as well.

Robert

------------------------

On May 9, 2013, at 9:22 AM, <redacted> wrote:

Robert

I do not understand. You and Rod have repeatedly expressed your desire for the public to hear all the wiretap tape recordings.

Help me understand.

Do you still believe the wiretap tapes should be played for the public?

What has changed?

----- Original Message -----

From: Robert Blagojevich

To: <redacted>

Sent:Thu May 9 11:40:36 UTC 2013

Subject: Re: Inquiry

(Name redacted)

At this point what I believe Chase and Coen should do has to remain with me until Rod's appeal is completed.

I hope you can understand my position.

Robert

---------------------

On May 8, 2013, at 2:51 PM, <redacted> wrote:

Robert

Do you believe Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen should publish the wiretap transcripts they received from the Feds that were never made public?

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-----Original Message-----

From: <redacted>

To: Robert Blagojevich

Sent: 2013-05-07 15:03:50 +0000

Subject: Tapes and Transcripts

Robert

John Chase and Jeff Coen had this to say "no legal ban on us publishing" when asked about the wiretap tapes and transcripts that were never made public.

Tapes and transcripts that they received from the Feds.

Don't you think it's time for people to publicly insist that they do publish them?

Perhaps, if you ask.

 

Conclusion: If the Feds keep their word and release Blago from jail, the Blagojevich brothers will never reveal what’s on the wiretap tapes that the feds don’t want you to know.

Here's a question: Should you trust the Tribune Company?

Particularly now that it’s becoming clear that it works for the federal government.

Answer. I think not!

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15May/13

To Trib Editor Gerould Kern: Tear down this wall…

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Thomas Barton, Investigative reporter

 

Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen say the Feds gave them access to the Blagojevich wiretap tapes and transcripts they used in writing their book entitled “Golden.”

This access was granted to them when the material was under seal and unavailable to anyone else, in or out of the media.

IP2P has learned that Coen has made another claim – one that takes the cozy relationship between the Tribune and the Feds to a whole new level. Remember, the Feds initially leaked information to the Tribune about the existence of the Fed’s wiretap on Blago.

When asked about the sealed Blagojevich tapes and transcripts that the Feds shared with the two reporters for their book, Coen replied that the leaked material was “the Tribune's business.” He refused to elaborate.

In other words, talk to my boss. So we’ve talked to Coen’s boss.

Tribune Editor Gerould Kern was asked why the Trib has failed to share the tapes and transcripts with its readers.

Kern will not respond.

We call upon the Chicago Tribune to inform its readers and publish the transcripts. After all, they represent news, and the paper is supposed to be in the news business.

There is no legal ban on printing the material. Chase and Coen have already referred to tapes in their book. But there they only quoted material from inane conversations with little news value to Chicagoans.

In other words, they teased their readers, but didn’t inform them.

So to Gerould Kern we say: Tear down this wall that hides the Blagojevich tapes.

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6May/13

Chicago Tribune reporters work for Federal Government

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Thomas Barton, Investigative Reporter

In an interview with veteran reporter Barbara Hollingsworth, Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen revealed that the Feds gave them the tapes and transcripts that the U.S Attorney's office still refuses to share with anyone else.

That begs this question: Why did the Feds give the Trib reporters, and only the Trib reporters, access to this incendiary material?

Here’s our answer: So that Chase and Coen could assure you that there’s "Nothing to hear on these tapes, folks. Move along now."

Consequently, we believe the Trib reporters colluded with the Feds, with the complicity of the Tribune management, in order to dupe you, the public.

We also question why we’ve heard no outrage from Rod Blagojevich or his attorneys. Do you suppose there’s a "back-room deal" to trade Blago's silence for his early-release from prison?

John Chase and Jeff Coen have revealed none of the taped conversations, they say the Feds gave them, that recorded Blago’s conversations with multiple prominent persons in the Washington D.C. halls of power.

To change that, why don’t Chase and Coen start by sharing the Rahm Emanuel-taped conversations with Chicagoans? He is our Mayor, after all.

As this story unfolds, and as the true reasons for Patrick Fitzgerald having been appointed U.S. Attorney Northern District of Illinois become clear, it will also become clear that this level and scope of corruption requires the co-operation of the Chicago media.

The struggle to remain a free people requires an honest "Fourth Estate." And today, Chicago doesn't have one.

Read Hollingsworth's article here:  Source of Leaked Transcripts of Blagojevich Tapes

H/T Chicago Daily Observer:

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22Apr/13

BREAKING NEWS: Blagojevich Attorney calls out Chicago Tribune reporters

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Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief

Kudos to the Chicago Daily Observer for their relentless pursuit of the truth. (Unlike the Tribune Co., which is largely responsible for the prostitution of the dead-tree "Fourth Estate" in Chicago.)

Today, at the Chicago Daily Observer, you’ll find an example of legitimate journalism displayed by Barbara Hollingsworth, as we learn that one of the Blagojevich attorneys has gone on-record stating that Chicago Tribune reporters Jeff Coen and John Chase are lying about having had access to the federal wiretap tapes and transcripts – material that was never made public.

And, furthermore, that the U.S. Attorney's Office was so concerned about the contents of the tapes being leaked, they insisted that the Blagojevich's and their attorneys return all copies of tapes and transcripts back to the government.

Excerpt:

Michael Ettinger, one of the defense attorneys for Blagojevich’s brother, Robert, was even blunter: “If Jeff Coen said he listened to the 500 hours of tapes, he's a liar," Ettinger told me in a recent email. “The government wanted all tapes, copies and transcripts returned before [Robert’s case] was dismissed out.” Ettinger added in a follow-up phone conversation with me that, “Rod’s team had to give them back, too. No one kept them.”

Read more of Hollingsworth's article here: Just How Did those “Sealed” Blagojevich Tapes Get to the Tribune Reporters?

Hats off to Barbara Hollingsworth and the Chicago Daily Observer. An honest Fourth Estate is essential to fight corruption and remain a free people.

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9Mar/13

Why no Grand Jury? Chicago Tribune reporter John Chase involved in a crime. AGAIN!

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Thomas Barton, Investigative Reporter

Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen are on-record claiming to have had access to all the Blagojevich wiretap tape recordings that were never made public.

The U.S Attorneys Office has gone on-record claiming that they did not give Chase or Coen access to the Blagojevich wiretap tapes and transcripts.

So, here's what we know for sure:

(1.) The Blagojevich wiretap tapes and transcripts are sealed by a federal protective order signed by Judge James Zagel. The only way to legally obtain them is from the feds.

(2.) Chase and Coen claim to have had accessed the recordings and have offered up a sample of taped conversations that were never made public as proof of possession.

(3.) The U.S. Attorney's Office insists that no one there provided the tapes or transcripts to anyone, including Chase and Coen.

Doesn't that mean Chase and Coen have confessed to being involved in the act of breaking a federal protective order signed by Judge Zagel?

Keep in mind that this isn't the first time Chase has received information as a result of someone acting above federal law. The existence of the federal wiretap made its way to Chase after someone in the Department of Justice broke the law and leaked it to him.

Why did U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald enforce federal law when it involved New York Times reporter Judith Miller, but chose not to enforce federal law when it involved Chicago Tribune reporter John Chase?

Do the Chicago Tribune editors and reporters act with impunity outside of federal law?

And, hey, why are the Chicago and national media ignoring this story?

20130311-100650.jpg

Does Judith Miller have any thoughts on the subject? We'll ask her.

Developing.......

 

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3Mar/13

Stunning development in Chicagogate: Publisher of Blagojevich book “Golden” confesses

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<< Breaking News >>

Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief

Jeff Coen and John Chase celebrate the publication of "Golden" with their editor from Chicago Review Press

 

In a stunning development, Chicago Review Press, publisher of "Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself out of the Governor's Office and into Prison," confessed to failing to fact-check the book.

Cynthia Sherry of Chicago Review Press recently went on the record stating that the publisher "trusts their authors," and that she "trusted the Chicago Tribune and their reporters so there was no need for her to fact-check the book."

Does that mean Chicago Review Press does not fact-check any of the books they publish?

Ms. Sherry also acknowledged that she didn't confirm that John Chase and Jeff Coen actually had access to the wiretap recordings they claim in the book.

Chicago Review Press' trust of the Tribune, Chase, and Coen is even more remarkable when you consider that Ms. Sherry, and others at Chicago Review Press, were provided verifiable information that should have insured that they take all precautions and thoroughly vet the claims Chase and Coen made.

That is, unless fact-checking the book didn't fit the publisher's agenda.

Did Chicago Review Press betray our trust?

What really should have Chicagoans scratching their heads is this:  The Blagojevich legal team has remained silent as Chase and Coen tell the world there's nothing on the tapes that vindicate Blagojevich, and that the tapes prove his guilt.

Keep in mind, these are tapes that Blago and his lawyers claim they can't talk about. And, these are tapes that Chase and Coen could not have obtained legally, unless they recieved acsess from the feds.  And the feds have denied giving them that access.

So, how is Blagojevich helped by silence?

Why are lawyers remaining silent?

Remember, the appeal they filed is (suppose to be) for the right to a new trial.  Not for freedom.

No comment from Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky has been yet offered. Only the sound of crickets.

Sheldon where are you? Why aren't you representing your client, Rod Blagojevich?

Much more to come........ 

 

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22Feb/13

Now that Jesse Jackson, Jr. is a convicted liar and thief

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Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief

It's time for the U.S. Attorney in Chicago to reopen the criminal investigation of Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s attempt to purchase the U.S. Senate seat that Rod Blagojevich was found guilty of trying to sell to him.

After all, why are we to believe Jr. when he say's he did not try to buy the senate seat?  He's a confessed liar.

Plus, Jackson is bipolar, right? So ask him again. Maybe this time he'll confess.

Don't forget: the prosecution has Jackson friends and allies, Raghuveer Nayak and Rajinder Bedi, ready to testify under oath that Jr. tried to buy the seat.  And then there's Rod Blagojevich sitting in a federal prison for attempting to sell the Senate seat to Jr.  What more does a prosecutor need?

Sounds like a slam dunk conviction. (Maybe that's the problem.)

If prosecutors want overkill, they can call John Chase and Jeff Coen to testify about the contents of the wiretap recordings - recordings that only John and Jeff were allowed to hear.

Keep in mind, the statute of limitations on this crime expires next December.  It's time to act.

This would come as great news to Robert Blagojevich.  He's expressed disappointment to Carol Marin of the Chicago Sun Times that the House Committee on Ethics would no longer be investigating Jackson's attempt to purchase the Senate seat, due to the fact that Jackson resigned from congress.  (Which is like telling a teacher who sexually abused students that arrest is avoided by resigning.)

Robert Blagojevich, we at IP2P stand with you in your quest to have this fully investigated, and call on the DoJ to reopen the criminal investigation into Jackson's attempt to purchase the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

And furthermore, we urge Carol Marin and the Sun Times to get behind Robert in this worthy cause.

Let's all help Robert Blagojevich get the investigation into Jackson reopened.  Let justice be served.

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16Feb/13

Rod Blagojevich: How could I be guilty of selling, if Jesse Jackson Jr. was not guilty of buying?

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Hugo Floriani, Investigative Reporter

It's only a matter of time before we hear Rod Blagojevich's advocates ask the question: How could Blago be guilty of trying to sell the U.S. Senate Seat that Barack Obama vacated, if there was no buyer?That's coming, as part of the puppet show staring Blago.

There was a buyer. But the feds just put him on ice with an indictment that could have, should have, been issued years ago.

The timing of the U.S. Attorney's office (USAO) in Washington, DC decision to stop looking the other way as Jesse Jackson Jr and his wife Sandi broke campaign finance laws, could not have been better. That is, if your goal is to protect Barack Obama and his administration from Chicagogate.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. has presented a dilemma for the Obama administration since the USAO in Chicago gave the go-ahead to the Chicago Tribune to warn Rod Blagojevich that the feds were recording him.

It was a warning given in order to save Jesse Jackson, Jr. from being arrested in a trap set for Blago.  After all, not only did Jackson Co-chair Obama's 2008 Campaign Committee, Obama and Michelle are near Jackson family members.  And J.J., Jr. knows too much - way too much.

However, as the Jackson's are learning, even family members are expendable if it means protecting the Obamas.

When J.J., Jr. resigned from congress not only did his political career end (perhaps), the investigation into his attempt to buy a U.S. Senate Seat ended, too.

And, the reason Jackson resigned?  The USAO in D.C. decided to indict Jackson for crimes the Attorney General had known about for years: Jackson's violation of campaign finance laws.

Simultaneously, the DoJ is protecting Jackson from being indicted for a different crime that the Attorney General has known about for years: Jackson's attempt to purchase a U.S. Senate Seat from then Governor, now federal prisoner, Rod Blagojevich.

It is all part of the puppet show.

And the media is doing their part, by being complicit in covering up the entire story.

Here's a radical idea.  Suppose some media personality asks John Chase, and the Chicago Tribune editors, this question: Why did you warn Rod Blagojevich he was being recorded by the feds?

Any takers?

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2Feb/13

Chicago Review Press: Do they ignore the facts?

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Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief

 

Since the release of the book "Golden," by authors and Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen, serious questions have been raised about the honesty of the book's claims.

IP2P has received information from several sources that lead us to conclude this: Someone is not telling the truth about the claims made in the Chicago Review Press publication.

These public assertions lead us to that conclusion:

(1) The man who warned Rod Blagojevich that the feds were recording him, Tribune reporter John Chase, was a co-author of the book.

(2) Chase and Coen claim, in their book, to have listened to, and read, the transcripts of all the Blagojevich wiretaps...that have never been made public.

(3) The U.S. Attorney's Office insists the wiretap tapes and transcripts were provided to no one - including Chase and Coen.  Even though Chase and Coen insist that the USAO did provide the material.

(4) Prior to Chicago Review Press publishing "Golden," a credible source made attempts to provide important information to the publisher that would have helped insure that their book was factual.

U.S. Attorney's Office claims author's of Blagojevich book "Golden" lying

(5) To date, Cynthia Sherry and the Chicago Review Press have refused to answer basic questions that a publisher should expect from the media: (A) Did Chicago Review Press fact-check the book they published as non-fiction? (B) Did the authors actually have access to the tapes and transcripts of the Blagojevich wiretaps that were not made public?

From: (Redacted)

To: csherry

Sent: 2013-02-01 21:00:02 +0000

Subject: Fwd: Publishing False Information

Ms. Cynthia Sherry

Did The Chicago Review Press verify that John Chase and Jeff Coen actually possessed and listened to all the Blagojevich wiretap tape recordings and read transcripts that were never made public, per their claim in the book you published titled "Golden" ?

If you did verify, please explain how.

(Name redacted)

-----Original Message-----

From: (Redacted)

To: csherry

Sent: 2012-12-08 23:15:43 +0000

Subject: Publishing False Information

Ms. Cynthia Sherry

The U.S. Attorney's Office Northern Dist. of Illinois has just gone on the record saying that John Chase and Jeff Coen are not telling the truth about having access to tapes a transcripts of the Blagojevich wiretaps that were never made public.

Ms. Sherry,  as publisher of Chase and Coen's book "Golden" you can clearly understand the ramifications if this is true.

Did Chase and Coen publish false information?  The USAO says yes.
Ms. Sherry, what do you say?

(Name redacted)

All of this begs the question: Was Chicago Review Press so concerned with telling the authors' version of the Blagojevich story that they ignored the facts?

Listen to Cynthia Sherry explain Chicago Review Press promotion of progressive  writings and social justice.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/299785-1

At IP2P we ask this: Did the truth about the Blagojevich case not work for their progressive agenda?

More on this soon............  

 

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29Jan/13

Robert Blagojevich dodged going to prison

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Hugo Floriani,  Investigative Reporter

Jesse Jackson Jr. was not the only one saved when John Chase called the Blagojevich camp and warned them that the feds were listening.

Remember, it was Robert Blagojevich that would have been caught on surveillance tapes, meeting with Jackson's money man, Raguveer Nayak.  Chase not only saved Jesse Jackson, Jr. from prison, he also saved Robert Blagojevich.

Hold that thought. We'll come back to it later.

November 21, 2012: Within hours of Jesse Jr's resignation from Congress, Robert Blagojevich expressed his disappointment.  He felt he likely would never be able to clear his own name.

Why is that? you ask.

Well, R. Blagojevich assumed there'd be no ethics committee investigation of Jesse Jackson Jr's attempt to buy the U.S. Senate seat his brother, then Governor Rod  Blagojevich, was selling.

Robert was right.  The DC pols didn't want to investigate that attempted transaction.

However, there's nothing to stop Robert Blagojevich from making his case to the public.

That is, if Robert truly believes his name could be cleared.

Robert Blagojevich has all the FBI wiretap tapes that brother Rod and his attorneys have.

Robert has listened to all the government's wiretaps, and, as of today, he hasn't expressed any disagreement with Chase and Coen's assertion that the contents of the tapes show his brother is guilty.

Furthermore, Robert, Rod, and their respective attorneys have remained silent, while Chicago Tribune reporters Chase and Coen assert that the Blagojevich defense was built on a house of lies.

Remember, the entire Blagojevich entourage was screaming that "the tapes would set them free," if only everyone could hear them.

In their book "Golden," Chase and Coen claim they listened to all the wiretap tapes, and that there is nothing there that suggest Rod or Robert are innocent of attempting to sell a U.S. Senate seat.

So, in a nutshell:

In the past.

The Blagojevich brothers and their attorney's repeatedly professed that proof of their innocence is captured on the government's tapes.  And that, if the public were allowed to hear the tapes, the brothers would be found innocent.

Present day.

(1) John Chase and Jeff Coen claim that the Blago's and their attorney's were lying.

(2) The Blago brothers and their attorneys are not disputing Chase and Coen's claims.

Conclusion:

The Blago's and their attorney's lied about what's on the tapes.


So, what will the Brothers and their attorney's want you to believe next? (coming soon)

Questions:

(1) What was captured on roughly 400 hours of recorded Blago wiretap conversations?

(2) Why can't we hear them?

(3) Why are the Blagojevich's and the U.S. Attorney's Office hiding behind a phony protective order?

Developing  story...... 

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