Rod Blagojevich to be released from prison
Thomas Barton, Investigative Reporter
All indications are that the former governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich will be set free mid 2013.
This is being done in the usual Chicago Way - smoke and mirrors narrative put out by the Chicago media to deceive the public, while deals are made in the back-room.
The deafening silence you hear from Rod Blagojevich's legal team in the midst of John Chase and Jeff Coen running around town saying that they have listened to the never made public wiretap tapes, and that there is nothing on them, says it all, the deal is done.
This is the same legal team that consumed Blago's $3,000,000. campaign fund in his first trial, running around town screaming the tapes will prove Blago's innocent if only the people could hear them all.
Listen to what Sam Adam Jr. had to say on Dec 8, 2011, no doubt before the back-room negotiations were concluded.
Did Sam Adam, Jr. mean, if only John Chase and Jeff Coen could hear them his client would be exonerated?
And Mr. Sheldon Sorosky - aren't you in the process of an appeal for Blago?
How does John Chase and Jeff Coen, running around town claiming there is nothing on any of the government wiretap recordings of Blago that exonerates him, not concern you as his attorney?
Sheldon aren't you the least bit curious how John Chase and Jeff Coen got their hands on the non-public tapes and transcripts?
And then there's Rod's loving partner in crime and Dick Mell's daughter Patti, why is she silent on the matter?
Could it be because recently her husband has publicly asked her out on a date next August, and that she has stated she believes this will be the last holiday season he spends in prison?
So, Patti believes her husband is going to serve approximately 1 year of a 14 year sentence, at a time when Chase and Coen are claiming the tapes do not point to anything other than Blago's guilt.
There will be time for us to address how the "Blagojevich Show" got to this point, and what can be done to stop this back-room deal and insure that justice is served by Blago paying his debt to society behind bars.
However, what should be most concerning to honest law-abiding citizens at the moment is, why is the government involved in this back-room deal with Blago?
Most of all. Why are we expected to take John Chase and Jeff Coen's word for anything?
Didn't the USAO just call them liars?
Time for the public to hear the tapes and read the transcripts that everyone keeps talking about.
Time for some honest answers.
Hey Chicago Tribune, what kinda Journalism is that?
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
The traditional rules of journalism apparently don't apply to the Chicago Tribune. Now it's the rules of "Forward Journalism" that they follow.
For example:
Basic rule #1 - When you get the inside scoop on a wiretap the government's running on a sitting governor, you don't make a decision at 10:20 p.m. to derail the government's investigation, while, at the same time, flushing the biggest news story of the year down the drain with a John Chase phone call warning Gov. Blagojevich that the feds are listening.
Unless you "report" for the Chicago Tribune.
Basic rule # 2 - When you write the self-described definitive book about the Rod Blagojevich affair, as reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen claim to have, and the U.S. Attorney's office publicly takes issue with the honesty of your claims, you back up your story with evidence that supports your words.
Unless you work for the Chicago Tribune
Basic rule #3 - When the honesty of reporters is challenged by the U.S. government, the Editor stands by his or her reporters, or excepts responsibility for their mistakes and makes the appropriate changes to protect the integrity of the newspaper.
Unless you're an Editor at the Chicago Tribune.
Ever since the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois went on the record disputing claims made by Chase and Coen, the two Tribune reporters have been mute, refusing to comment.
Not only are they not responding to troubling accusations from the USAO, Tribune editor Gerould Kern, and the publisher of "Golden," the Chicago Review Press, are, also, hunkered down refusing to comment.
So is that the new style of "Forward Journalism"?
We, at IP2P, subscribe to the American traditional rules of journalism. We call for honest answers from the Tribune, on behalf of the citizens of Chicago, and Illinois.
They deserve the truth
U.S. Attorney’s Office claims author’s of Blagojevich book “Golden” lying
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
Comments from the spokesperson at the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) of the Northern District of Illinois take the position that Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen are lying about their special access to wiretap tapes and transcripts from the Blagojevich investigation - tapes and transcripts that were never made public.
The USAO refuses to comment on whether or not the Chicago Tribune was given advance notice of Blagojevich's arrest.
So, why are Chase and Coen making false claims about their access to the Blago files?
Not only is the USAO disputing Chase and Coen's depiction of their exclusive access to evidence, IP2P has received evidence that Chicago Review Press, the publisher of "Golden," was cautioned to be diligent in their pre-publishing fact-checking of the reporters' book.
All indications are that the publishing company did not thoroughly fact-check the book. We wonder: Why that didn't happen?
Unfortunately, Chicago Review Press spokesperson, Cynthia Sherry, was unavailable for comment
____________________________________________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: (Redacted)
To: csherry
Cc: jen
Sent: 2012-08-19 19:19:54 +0000
Subject:Fwd: Fact check "Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself Out of the Governor's Office and Into Prison,"
Ms. Cynthia Sherry
As a person of considerable first hand knowledge concerning John Chase's and the Chicago Tribune's role in the investigation and trials of Rod Blagojevich and Tony Rezko. Knowledge including but not limited to John Chase's and the Tribune's cooperation with the U.S. Attorney and their intentional distortion of the facts in their newspaper. I extend to you my offer below.
(Name redacted)
-----Original Message-----
From: (Redacted)
To: sbetz
Cc: daisybuchman, jen
Sent: 2012-08-15 16:10:36 +0000
Subject: Fact check "Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself Out of the Governor's Office and Into Prison,"
Sue
My offer to fact check the Jeff Coen and John Chase book "Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself Out of the Governor's Office and Into Prison," still stands. As we discussed, you do not want to put yourself in a position of publishing false information when verification from someone who has first hand knowledge is readily available to you. If you get me an advanced copy of the book to review, it may save both Chicago Review press and IPG a great deal of embarrassment.
(Name redacted)
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: (Redacted)
To:sbetz,daisybuchman
Sent:Sun Apr 3 06:35:58 UTC 2011
Subject: Chicago Review Press clients John Chase and Jeff Coen
Sue
I will follow up with you on the discussion we had, and provide you with more details soon. I hope the inside information I provided helps you. If you have any question feel free to call me.
(Name redacted)
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: (Redacted)
To: "Jen Wisnowski"
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:58:03 PM
Subject: Fwd: Jeff Coen on Blago (Attention Jen Wisnowski )
Jen,
I think you might be missing the larger picture here, perhaps this email below will help you understand the gravity of the agreement John Chase and Jeff Coen have entered into with you and Independent Publishers Group. While I do not know the particulars of your contract, I feel confident it is that I can help you. I believe It will be very difficult if not impossible for Jeff Coen or John Chase to deliver a book based on the facts, due to legal reason's. Jen, perhaps this should be of concern for IPG? Please advise
(Name redacted)
From: (Redacted)
To: Chase, John
Sent: Thu Dec 17 20:10:27 2009
Subject: The Chicago Tribune
John
do you have any comments
(Name redacted)
To whom it may concern John Thomas was a mole for the FBI in the case in Illinois against Tony Rezko and others. The Chicago Tribune was aware of the fact and chose not to write a story about him at the behest of Patrick Fitzgerald (U.S Attorney Northern Dist IL). The Tribune eventually wrote a story about John Thomas, however the story they wrote was not accurate. My source at the Chicago Tribune claims that when Patrick Fiztgerald asked the Chicago Tribune to sit on the Thomas story, claiming it could put his life in danger, the Chicago Tribune refused. The Chicago Tribune told Mr Fitzgerald that they were going to run the story anyway. It was only when Patrick Fitzgerald told the Chicago Tribune that if they ran the story that it would affect the Presidential election did the Chicago Tribune agree not to run the story. My source at the Chicago Tribune confirmed this meant Obama. My source also informed me of other information that would be of interest to the people of Illinois that was not being reported in the Chicago Tribune.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jen Wisnowski"
To: (Redacted)
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 1:00:00 PM
Subject: RE: Jeff Coen on Blago (Attention Jen Wisnowski )
Hi, (Name redacted), Thank you for your email. Sorry to have missed your phone call earlier today; unfortunately a few meetings have kept meaway from my desk today, but our customer service department let me know youcalled. At this point, I'm afraid I can be oflittle help as we don't have any materials at this stage. But please feel freeto get in touch with Jeff Coen and John Chase directly about it.
Thanks again, Jen
Jen Wisnowski
Publicity Manager
Independent Publishers Group
814 N. Franklin St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312.337.0747 ext. 227
312.337.1807 faxwww.ipgbook.com
Expert distribution services for innovative publishers
From: (Redacted)
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 1:01PM
To: Jen Wisnowski
Subject:Fwd: Jeff Coen on Blago(Attention Jen Wisnowski )
Jen,
As we discussed, not only would you like them to submit a book that is worth reading, it is important that it is accurate.That is where I can help you.
(Name redacted)
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: (Redacted)
To: "Jeff Coen" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 2:07:19 PM
Subject: Jeff Coen on Blago
Jeff,
How is the Blagojevich book that you are writing with John Chase coming? Have you figured out how you are going to get around the sticky problem below, and the problem the Tribune's involvement in the John Thomas scandal presents for you, as well as all the other obstacles we discussed? My offer to help still stands, please advise.
(Name Redacted)
-----Forwarded Message -----
From: (Redacted)
To: "John Chase" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Gerould Kern" <[email protected]>, "John Kass" <[email protected]>,"Eric Zorn" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 7:02:15 PM
Subject: Our most recent conversation 3/25/11
John,
Recapping our conversation yesterday, I want to give you yet another opportunity to answer the following questions. (1) Who informed you that the FBI was recording Rod Blagojevich, and when were you informed? (2) Who informed you that John Wyma was cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's Office and when were you informed? John, you expressed in our conversation yesterday that you will not reveal your source involving the recordings and John Wyma's co-operation. Furthermore, you informed me that I can speak to the Chicago Tribune attorney's about this issue, and that you already have spoken to them regarding this issue. Your stated position is that this is a first amendment case, and I would have to take you to court. John, as we discussed yesterday a crime was committed by the person or persons that leaked this information that originated within the U.S.D.O.J., and was under seal. Ultimately, you will not have the protection of our 1st amendment in this case. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with Patrick Fitzgerald's opinion on the subject as it related to one of your colleagues, Judith Miller (New York Times Reporter) If your position has not changed, please let me know the names and contact information of the attorney's that you consulted with at the Tribune, so that they may be contacted.
(Name Redacted)
cc Gerould Kern
Chicagogate: Cover-up Exposed
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
Reporters John Chase, Jeff Coen, their employer the ChicagoTribune and the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) of the Northern District of Illinois are, and have long been, involved in a criminal cover-up.
Chase and Coen have published information they know to be false, both in their newspaper, and in their co-authored, recently-released book entitled Golden.
The spreading of false information is being done with co-operation and guidance from the USAO and Holder’s DoJ.
ILP2P has received information from a credible source suggesting the involvement of members of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Oversight Committee in this cover-up.
Furthermore, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s recent resignation is an element of the cover-up.
Conveniently, the Ethics Committee will no longer be investigating Jackson’s attempted purchase of Obama's vacated senate seat.
Its time for John Chase, Jeff Coen, Jesse Jackson Jr and Patrick Fitzgerald to answer question.
Time to answer to We the People.
Developing.......
When will the Chicago Sun Times get their copies of the Blagojevich tapes and transcripts?
Thomas Barton, Investigative Reporter
When is the Department of Justice going to give other news outlets access to the Blago tapes and transcripts-startng with the Chicago Sun Times? They deserve a copy, don't they?
After all, the feds gave copies to John Chase and Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune.
In-fact, according to an article published by the Indiana University School of Journalism, Jeff Coen revealed that the Tribune had access to wiretap tapes and transcripts before Blagojevich's second trial in 2011. Quoting from that journal:
"Even though they were working on the book outside their day jobs, the two said the Tribune required that if any information surfaced that could be considered breaking news, they had an obligation to bring it before the newspaper first. For example, as current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was running for office, the pair’s editors wanted to know the two had turned up anything about Emanuel as they researched their book.
'We got all the tapes for this project now, but even before that, I had to go get Rahm-specific tapes to try to make sure we wouldn’t get beat on something,’ Coen said. ‘We were kind of working both jobs at the same time.' "
So far, ILP2P has not succeeded in securing our copies. But it’s is only a matter of time; the feds wouldn't just give them to only the Trib - would they?
We wonder – are other news outlets around the country, and in Chicago, experiencing trouble getting their copies, too?
They must be, or we’d be reading the transcripts in their newspapers, or be hearing the tapes on their local or national TV and radio programs.
There’s nothing stopping the Chicago Tribune from making the tapes, and transcripts, available to the public. At least, nothing legally preventing that from happening.
So why is the Trib stashing the Blago tapes in a vault like the Tribune owned LATimes did with the Rashid Khalidi tape?
Why don’t you ask Tribune Editor Gerould Kern: Email [email protected] Tel 312-222-5555
Those concerned about preserving the fourth estate should demand the same access to the Blago files that the feds granted Chase and Coen.
If you believe that, tell it to the spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago: Samborn contact info here: Email [email protected] Tel 312-353-5318 Cell 312 613-6700
And, ask Congressman Darrell Issa’s office if it’s even legal for the feds to only give access to the tapes & transcripts to the Trib:
Email [email protected]
Ca 760-599-5000
Wash 202-225-3906
All they can say is…nothing. And that alone will tell you something.
Chicago Tribune reporter John Chase talks about Rezko’s friend and sponsor
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
Trib reporter John Chase knows much about Dr. Ronald Michael, the mystery man pictured with George W. Bush at a fundraiser sponsored by Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Chase told a source that Tony Rezko lived with the Michael family when he came to Chicago from Lebanon as a young man. Chase said that Michael was involved with Rezko in securing reconstruction contracts in Iraq. And, that Michael was trying to get Federal and Illinois state funding for a project involving property he owned in Iraq.
When pressed for details, Chase would not disclose where the monies would come from, nor for what purposes they’d be granted.
Chase was also the first to confirm that the “John Doe” filed lawsuit against the Sun Times was filed by Dr. Ronald Michael. Furthermore, Chase confirmed that Michael threatened to sue Chase and the Trib if he, Chase, outed him as Mr. Doe.
Michael's threat worked.
John Chase, who has much to tell about the mystery man who, according to Chase, gave convicted felon Tony Rezko his start in Chicago, has never told Tribune readers what he knows.
Oh, did we mention that Michael was on the Blagojevich $25,000 Donor Clout List? And that Michael’s name also appeared on a list of possible appointees to the Illinois Health Planning Board with the initials “TR” next to it?
Michael was not appointed to the Planning Board, but his friends Dr. Fortunee Massuda, Dr. Michel Malek, and Dr. Imad Almanaseer were.
Michael followed the banking route instead, and that venture will cost the FDIC over $3,000,000. (Stand by, we’ll have more on the bank thing later.)
Why would someone who purports to be a "journalist and author" leave out such relevant, interesting and important information from his articles and book?
John, you saving the good stuff for a screenplay, or what?
Meanwhile, the Valarie Plame story is falling apart. Who will have the most interesting story there - once-jailed New York Times journalist Judith Miller, or John Chase?
Open message for Rep. Darrell Issa, Re: John Chase of the Chicago Tribune
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
When John Chase of the Chicago Tribune testifies about the part he played in derailing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's multi-year, multi-million dollar investigation of corruption in Illinois, don't forget to have him explain what he knows about the man pictured with President George W. Bush at the Bush/Cheney fundraiser held in Chicago in 2003 that Antoin "Tony" Rezko co-sponsored.
You can ask Fitz later.
Developing story....
Why are Blagojevich’s attorney’s silent?
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Cheif, Illinois PayToPlay & Hugo Floriani, Investigative Reporter
Why are Blago’s attorneys silent in the face of the Tribune’s claim that there’s absolutely nothing, nada, zilch, on the Blago tapes to support their assertion of Blago’s innocence?
How come Blago’s attorneys are not standing outside the U.S. Attorney's Ofiice screaming about how access to the tapes and transcripts was given exclusively to the two Trib reporters?
The two reporters-authors of Golden claim there is nothing on the fed’s wiretaps of Blago’s phone conversations to suggest that Blago is innocent.
Recall that Sam Adam, Jr. was the lead attorney for Blago back in 2009 when Blago’s legal defense team agreed to the protective order dealing with the government’s evidence.
Throughout that episode, we were led to believe that Judge James Zagel restricted Blago and his attorneys from discussing the content of Blago’s phone calls recorded by the feds.
But now we know that wasn’t true and that there was, and still is, absolutely nothing, nada, zilch, preventing Blago and/or his brother, Robert Blagojevich, from talking about the recorded conversations.
On Dec 8, 2011, Sam Adam, Jr. went on the record saying,“I’ve said this from day one, having listened to them – not just talking, having listened to them – I honestly believe in my gut, there is no doubt that this trial would have been different. I honestly believe there is no doubt that this case would have been different, and if I’m wrong, why can’t we hear them now?”
Well, that’s a crystal clear statement. But wait…
The Trib reporters-authors, John chase and Jeff Coen, who’ve now listened to the tapes, have stated, for the record, that there is nothing on them supporting claims of Blago’s innocence.
So, how come Adam isn’t standing outside the Federal Building, wearing a sandwich board reading “Free Blago,” and screaming, "Why the hell can't we hear the tapes - Now?"
And, what’s more, why didn’t Adam call John Chase to testify in Blago’s trial? What’s up with that?
Oh, and by the way, Sam Adam, Jr. has been named as a possible candidate to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. as part of a pending Jackson plea agreement. But, of course, that would have nothing to do with all this Blago stuff, would it?
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Rod Blagojevich made a deal
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
Illinoispaytoplay.com has learned that Blagojevich’s attorneys’decision to not call John Chase to testify in their client’s trial was part of a backroom negotiation to insure that Blago spent little time behind bars.
We’ve also been told to expect Blago to be released from prison…soon.
You’ll remember that Chase is the Chicago Tribune reporter who informed Blago that John Wyma was co-operating with the U.S. Attorney, and that the feds were recording Blago.
Chase recently revealed, in the book entitled Golden, that the U.S. Attorney's Office leaked information about their investigation of Blago to the Trib.
Additionally, Chase revealed that he and co-author Jeff Coen, another Trib reporter, were given exclusive access to the federal government’s tapes and transcripts of the Blago wiretaps.
While this story unfolds, ponder these questions:
(1) Why would Blagojevich’s attorneys not call the one witness who represents a serious problem for the prosecution (After all, Patrick Fitzgerald had established a precedent in cases involving leaks to the press)?
(2) Why would the Feds give Chase exclusive access to the tapes and transcripts of government wiretaps after he derailed their investigation by revealing the existence of said wiretaps?
(3) If what Chase and Coen assert in their book is true, that there’s nothing on the Blago tapes worth reporting, why do the feds refuse to make the tapes/transcripts public? And why were they sealed in the first place?
(4) Why are Blago's attorneys so silent?
(5) Is it a coincidence that former U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is now Greg Craig's* business partner?
* Greg Craig was Obama's White House Counsel.
Issa’s committee investigates Chicago USAO
<BREAKING NEWS>
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in -Chief, Illinois PayToPlay
A confidential source, familiar with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), has informed illinoispaytoplay.com that Issa's committee is conducting a preliminary investigation into the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (USAO) pertaining to USAO leaks to the media that may represent an obstruction of justice.
The source further informs IP2P that the inquiry is focused on claims made within a recently-released book written by two Chicago Tribune reporters. The book states that the authors were given exclusive access to transcripts and tapes of government wiretaps in the case against Rod Blagojevich; and, that sensitive information had been previously leaked from the USAO to the Trib.
According to the book, one of the authors, John Chase, was chosen by his editors to notify Blagojevich that his phone calls were being monitored by federal agents. Chase completed that assignment the night before a scheduled meeting between Blagojevich and someone attempting to purchase a U.S. Senate seat for Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Four days later, FBI agents arrested the then sitting Governor of Illinois at his home.
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