Guv's office hit with subpoena
This can't be good.
Federal prosecutors are conducting a criminal grand jury investigation into the hiring practices of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office, according to sources and documents reviewed by the Tribune.
The Blagojevich administration acknowledged it has recently hired a former assistant U.S. attorney to handle investigators' requests for documents from the governor's office.
And aides to the governor confirmed late Monday that they received a fresh subpoena seeking personnel documents related to hiring in the state's child welfare agency. [...]
The letter notes that "the government is conducting a grand jury investigation regarding allegations of criminal wrongdoing of Victor Roberson, Robin Staggers and Joe Cini in relation to public corruption." Porter was not available for comment.
Cini is the director of the governor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the centralized clearinghouse for the administration to review state job applicants. Cini, who worked on Blagojevich's first campaign for Congress in 1995 and later worked for Mell, was hired from the Chicago Park District to the governor's office post shortly after Blagojevich was inaugurated as governor.
Reform and renewal.
posted by Rich Miller @ 10/25/2005 11:26:00 AM
76 comments
76 Comments...
WARNING: Personally insulting and otherwise inappropriate comments (including all profanity) will be immediately deleted! Threads will be closed after 3 deletions. Try to behave like reasonable adults.Click here to notify the "Comment Posse" about objectionable posts.
Joe Cini is the patronage guy but the buck stops at Lon Monk
There is a major Federal invesitagtion with informants all over
Banami Obadale is TOAST
Look into the HDO patronage at the state with Victor Reye's niece and the HDO guys and the contracts at the Toll Authority with Reyes as the lobbyist
DCFS was badly run even under Edgar.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Expect Joe Cini, Robin Staggers, and Obadale to be indicted before the general election.
Take that to the bank
Doesn't Jack Hartmann's sister work at CMS in a key position?
Shame on Fitzgerald. He should be focusing on the CIA leak case, which is actually important instead of the hiring of qualified people by the best governor in IL history, Abraham Lincoln included.
Well my o my what else is new.What does the feds think everyone has been talking about.Look at Sam Flood 96 Thousand dollar a year job his only experience campaign worker and friend of the governor and his son Scott.Look at mental health and now it has leaked out that some of these appointments in some of these mental health places are basically to fire some of the employees who are close to retiring or have been injured on the job.IDOT ,DOC and on and on.These people make Ryan's hiring deals look like a day at the Easy Day Kindergarden.
I bet the taxpayers of Illinois are paying a pretty penny for this attorney that the Administration has bought (I mean hired).
These posters are just a plot from Teddy to get Rod Blagojevich and his family. They are all lies. Lies. Lies. Lies.
Republican lies
Lies from Dick Mell
Lies from the Media
Teddy is out to get Rod
Rod is the best governor ever
He wants to give insurance to kids
He has the best hair
He doesn't even know Tony Resko that well
Stuart Levine is Jim Ryan's guy
Dick Mell controls the media
Stop Teddy Stop
Why do so many resumes have CK1 written on the back of the applciations?
Did Chris Kelly really say he wanted to be Rod Blagojevich's Tim Degnan?
How did Chris Kelly's sister get her job?
You see little Jimmy God really does love Republicans.Bring it on Gov.Quinn
Why didn't the inspector general find any of this out?
Rich I think this is a pretty fair answer to your question of the day.Thanks enjoy your blog and you have the latest of the late breaking news.
Joe Cini is the patronage guy I'm sorry but I will have to correct you.The patronage system in the state of Illinois is illegal.Would the governor do something like that?I know what he will do.Comb his hair,get on t.v. and say well we will have Lisa Madigan investigate it and that will be the last time you hear anything about it.Then it's on to the elections and kidcare.
I guess my response to the new supoena is -- so, what else is new?
But a couple of observations. Anon 11:40 says DCFS was run badly even under Jim Edgar. That's a true statement, but it doesn't go far enough. DCFS has always been a huge problem -- it has an impossible mission and regardless of what action it takes, it is always seen as doing the wrong thing. Jess McDonald was probably the best director the agency ever had, but moreso for his honesty and efforts to bring consistency to the agency than anything else. Second observation is that the timing of the supoena must leave at least some wondering about timing....Could there possibly be an agenda from the US Attorney? I rather doubt it, but the delivery of new supoenas on the same day the governor FINALLY unveils details of AllKids should at least an eyebrow.
Maybe this is why Sam Flood left the Governor's office in Springfield.
Could the U.S Attorney in Springfield finally be getting some courage.
Anon 11:44 (1st), can you remind me when Abraham Lincoln served as governor?
wildcat, he meant president. honest!
just as bill clinton was known (in some circles) as the governor of the united states, blago must be the president of illinois.
tongue firmly in cheek...
I actually feel sorry for the Guv's spokespersons, especially Abby and Becky. Where are they going to find jobs once the Virility King gets thumped?
So Abby thinks Dick Mell lied and that's what is driving the subpoenas? - I say he only back-tracked under the threat of never seeing his grandchildren again - so much for the Guv and Patty and their help for kids.
I think they should start at the top with the subpoenas, in the Guv's inner circle, especially Monk, Kelley, Rezko, etc. That's where all the action in. The other lower depts just feed their corruption into that central tank.
Abraham Lincoln did not serve as Governor -- he served on the Springfield city council and state Comptroller.
This kind of topic really brings out the articulate, savvy, posters, eh?
Someone may wish to ring McFarland and see if they have anyone who answers to "Teddy" who didn't show up for lunch and midday meds, for starters.
Seriously, though, the Trib article makes some points that the lunatic fringe has missed and which deserve some discussion:
1) Another Federal investigation of the Blago administration. 9 total State/federal. George looks like a shoplifter by comparison.
2) If Bob Schiller was telling the truth, perhaps part of his ouster was his refusal to "play ball." A common thread of some of the Blago scandals has been the attempt to infiltrate and gain control of State agencies historically not under the direct control of the Governor and make them de facto Governor's agencies. In the ISBE case, they went in through the front door, but at the Tollway and several other places they used the back, often with Kelly, Rezko, or Filan holding the door. Examples?
IL Finance Authority, Health Facilities, State Investment Board, and probably a couple I'm forgetting. Oh, Universities Retirement until they got caught, not that publicity will stop them.
Inquiring minds should look at who has been hired at ISBE since the Governor took over and see how they stack up compared to their predecessors.
3) Anyone defending Rod Blagojevich by saying "the US Attorney has an agenda" is an automatic finalist for hypocrite of the year.
4) That question above "who is paying all thes lawyers" is a good one
Rod Blagojevich is a hero who saved those POWs from Slobodan Milosevich. Fitzgerald should be replaced by a chimp, as that would be an improvement. If you are opposed to Blago, you hate democracy.
I guess I hate democracy.
If they get the right guy,and they might have already, there is going to be so much crap falling that every Democrat in the state is going to have to wear a hard hat.The thing about the feds they never quit.If you thumb your nose at them then they make it prsonal.I do not believe that if they were to indict Blago they would wait till he is out of office.Some of this has to also be a violation of state law.WHERE IS LISA MADIGAN?WHY IS SHE NOT INVESTIGATING THIS?
Lisa Madigan is caught in a difficult position. The difference that I perceive between Lisa and Patrick Fitzgerald is that Patrick is beholden to no one. He is an equal opportunity and "take no prisoners" legal zealot. Lisa has quite a few I.O.U. markers out there. Sometimes, when others are put in that position, they are less zealous in their pursuit of alleged wrongdoers. I am not saying that this is the case for her. I am only saying that I do not envy her position. It would be similar to me catching my dad cheating on my mom with another woman. What do you do? You know that you are in a no-win situation. You love them both and you wish to do no harm to either of them. That is when the words "conscience" and "integrity" enter into the picture.
If one remembers correctly Blago once said he didn't do anything on his trip to see Slobodan and the POW's. He let Jesse Jackson do all the talking and thinking.
Representative Napalm at his finest!
I don't know which inspector general was supposed to find all this out but many in the agency believe that the DCFS inspector general will be going under the Blago bus. After all, as Obadele, still the guv's close pal, pointed out to the Trib, she was appointed by the Republicans. And Blago can't be too happy that she turned that info on Obadele over to "law enforcement".. presumably the feds.
Excuse me 1:11 p.m.--
--just how is it that being crtical of an elected official equates to "hating democracy" ?
In my world( the one with a first amendment) you can love democracy and still dislike the democrat.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lisa Madigan already said she will support Rod politically. How can she investigate him!
Lisa Madigan has two problems on her hands. First, her dad is the co-chair of Blago's campaign and I don't want to hear the "she's independent from Mike"...that's a clear conflict of interest. Second, she more than likely supports most/all of Blago's policies (i.e. All Kids, KidCare, I-Save Rx, etc.), and going after Blago and his closest advisors could go against her principles. I hate to say that, but everyone knows it's true. After all, they campaigned and did fundraising together three years ago, and I'm sure they'll do it all again.
Patrick Fitzgerald is certainly not beholden to anyone. He's gone after George Ryan, Lee Daniels, Rod Blagojevich, Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney's office all within the past three years. He is tireless and fair-handed. It really is a shame we didn't hae him when George Ryan was the SOS because our state wouldn't be in the current mess.
I am also hoping that this move will result in Blago cleaning up his office and hiring practices. Really, what does it hurt for him to make lower- and mid-level positions open to the most qualified applicants? He needs to start a new way of business.
I have a question that I bet nobody knows the answer to - guess who already lawyered up to get ready to cooperate? Hate to do this to you all, but I can't share it with you, but it will give you all something to think about. Especially those of you in the Thompson Center.
To quote Flounder from Animal House, "This is going to be great!!!"
Someone said they felt sorry for Abby as the governor's spokesperson.
I don't.
I think that was probably the best hire Blagojevich has made since being elected.
She came from Amtrak so she knows how to handle train wrecks.
Let's look back for a second....
1. What state was the Office in when GRod got it? (Thank's to the almighty Rich Good Ol'boy's. Judy included!)
2.How long did it take the republican's to put us in the red, keep us in the red, lock out the minority's, and employe their family members? (Way too long!)
3.If you drop a man in a football full of $hit how long does he get to clean it up? (More than 4 years one would think?)
4.Funny how so many republicans are still working for a adminstrations they hate! (but love cashing their over-paid check thanks to Mr. Ryan)
People in the media need their jobs and are allowed to push the truth whenever they need a boost. Just like the cop at the end of the month trying to make his/her quota.
Grow up people!
Better yet, didn't you Mother tell you if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all, but most of all don't believe everything you read!
No one is perfect, or are you??????
Team sleep he owes to many people to clean up his office.Also he wants to be governor again he will sell,cheat ,steal,lie or anything as long as he gets what he wants.This is this guys drug and it will be his downfall.
Anonymous 3:04.
Your right nobody knows the answer and neither do you. If everybody was smart you would keep a lawyer. With backstabbers and counterfit friends in this political game today. Im sure you know something about it. Dont you.......
Anon 3:06... Cheryl Jackson came from Amtrak. She is rarely quoted anymore, but that's probably another story. Regardless of what you think of the Governor, Abby is doing a good job. I wouldn't want that job for $200 K. Someone who can handle that much pressure will always land on their feet. She's just doing her job.
Kind of ironic that the subpoena's came out the same day that my colleagues and I (yes I am a State employee - but I'm on personal time now) received our required ethics training.
It was a relief to be told just how seriously the State of Illinois takes issues such as receiving gifts from contractors, giving contract preferences, politicing on State time, and hiring friends and family. I got a ten out of ten on teh quiz and received a nifty certificate that proves that I'm ethical. Maybe these folks just didn't get the right training...
Everyone knows Joe Cini is the go to guy for jobs. He is in charge of patronage.
Blagojevich doesn't have the same lack of grasp for the English language to defend patronage like Daley does.
Joe Cini is the Victor Reyes for Blagojevich and they know each other.
3:04 -I bet you do know! It's probably your yellow-belly, cowardly, snitching behind!
Get a life!
Look at the hiring practices at IDOT and DOC. Many rutan exempt employees with 20 plus years with state government were fired and replaced almost the next day with inexperienced people.
Yea I passed it to and I like to drink,smoke,cuss and love to be corrupted.O.K. that means I get a promotion to I-love-the-man-rodney's staff.Maybe he will put me in charge of his sweetheart troop.
I'm going to take a wager.If Arod gets indicted will he step down.I say no.His ego and the thought that he is a little god will not allow him to do it.Who says he will.
Subpoena, big deal! Here we go again: This is the end, he's toast, stick a fork in Rod, hello Judy, bla, bla, bla.
Every administration has a patronage guy. Again, big deal.
I don't know why the Feds need a subpoena, all they would have to do is get on this blog and read all of these honest, accurate, truthful postings. If some of you anonymous posters would leave your name, the feds could get with you and prepare the indictments. Hell, you've got all the investigations complete.
The answers are right here....Silly Feds.
I've read many things on here.I will not tell which agency I work but I am close to the top and what is making me sick is once you get the label of not being a team player these people destroy you.I am looking elsewhere before I get that label.Remember the words team player.When I took this job I thought it would be different.
Hey 4:48, I know exactly how you feel. I've worked for corrections for the last 19 years. Prior to this administration, a person was crucified for asking why, questioning a rule, being a member of AFSCME, not having lobster and steak prepared when the director arrived, not attending political functions (if you were an SPSA), being a D, and sometimes just for the fun of it.
So now you have to do your job, what gives?
It's fun when you're in the driver's seat. But when your forced to sit in the back, it kind of sucks, doesn't it?
"Every administration has a patronage guy. Again, big deal.
I don't know why the Feds need a subpoena, all they would have to do is get on this blog and read all of these honest, accurate, truthful postings. If some of you anonymous posters would leave your name, the feds could get with you and prepare the indictments. Hell, you've got all the investigations complete.
The answers are right here....Silly Feds."
Perhaps the point is, 4:44, that the B-Team has gone so far beyond "every administration" in its hiring practices (and apparently a handful of other things) that it's going to take a Federal power washing (couldn't resist) to clean the mess that has been made.
As for anonymity, you post your name and I'll post mine.
3:18, please take your Mother's advice.
Far beyond any other administration, are you kidding me?
The last adiministration was so cavalier about the hiring, the chief of staff kept favor lists so he wouldn't forget who owes.
I'm sure that a certain somebody remembers that....
my mother always said "if you can't say anything nice about womeone, come sit here by me"
My mother always told me that it is nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Take a look at how many Public Admin Interns this administration has hired and the salaries that have gone with them, they serve a probationary period of six months usually, then they get promoted to a secure title. (Sometimes Union covered)
Its funny how so many people have so much to say, but won't acknowledge who they are. "Anonymous" is just another way of saying I am mentally and emotionally challenged.
Yes, this is bad news for the Governor, but lets not forget that an subpoena is not an indictment.
A subpoena is just a legal request for information.
If Cini was smart, he did not allow politics to influence hiring for civil service positions. If he did, and he broke the law, he should be punished.
But let's remember that most public figures get in trouble not for breaking the law, but for perjury and obstruction of justice. See Nixon, Clinton and Rove.
Blago's hiring of a former federal prosecutor to handle things with Fitzgerald's office shows that he is cooperating fully with the Feds, a smart way to prevent big problems.
And unless they can nail them for bribery, perjury or obstruction, or show that favors were returned as a quid pro quo for contributions, or the allegations reach Lon Monk, I doubt the public will care.
I'd also agree that Abby Ottenhoff is one of the brightest stars on that team. It's a miserable job to be the flak jacket for an administration, but she takes alot of abuse for her team yet always keeps her cool with the media.
Finally, stop ranting about Lisa Madigan, please. Former AG Jim Ryan will tell you -- in fact said it many times -- that a concurrent investigation by the AG's office while the Feds are investigating could undermine the Feds case.
If Lisa Madigan investigated the Governor, Republicans would complain of politics if she gave him a clean bill of health and Rod would complain of politics if she accused his staff of wrongdoing. She's doing the right thing, and any other AG from either party would do the same.
I'm Lisa Fischer now what can you do with that. Nothing!
While your talking I see you signed in as anonymous. Looks like the pot caling the kettle black!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anonymous said...
Its funny how so many people have so much to say, but won't acknowledge who they are. "Anonymous" is just another way of saying I am mentally and emotionally challenged.
10/25/2005 7:10 PM
10/25/2005 7:10 PM
Maybe the feds could set up a website to enlighten us about all the DCFS and guv's office corruption stuff, as Fitzgerald has done with the CIA leak investigation.
At 10/25/2005 7:20 PM, Yellow Dog Democrat said...
God Bless you! I agree 1000%
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
It would be interesting to be a "fly on the wall" in the Gov's office this week. It seems to be the accepted fact that Cini was the chief hack- and has received the first "Q & A" from the feds.
Hmmmmmm- has "John G." and Sam gotten anyone knocking on their doors this week? Is that why Sam Flood promoted himself to Dup Director at DNR- with a $20,000 raise?
I gotta get me one of those jobs where you do nothing, you work from your house, you get paid great and you get defended by the Gov's press people "he is greatly qualified" (yet never list his experience or education)- and add that to a $52,000 yearly pension that he currently receives.
Naaaa- this administration has not done anything improper- it's a damn witchhunt! I forgot what their motto was for this new administration- was it "reform and renewal" or "It's our turn"?
Yellow Dog is now defending Jim Ryan as every Democrat in the world allowed Rod to peddle his phony charges about not investigating George. Where is Lisa? Is she investigating or not? Why is she endorsing Rod politically? Where is the press?
The Three R's of Team Blago:
Reform
Renewal
Reward your friends
Blagoyaliar is a complete hypocrite.
It is politics as usual
A leaner George Ryan with more and darker hair
While Bradley and company desperately are trying to change the discussion with All kids and other diversions the feds are methodically taking the administration apart.
The defenders of this administration are blind to the likelihood that the activities of Cini and his cohorts, along with the reform and renewal cabal at OMB and CMS, are likely to bring down this administration in ways that will not only hurt the Governor politically but can result in their own legal jeopardy.
Every personnel director, in every agency, is keenly aware that they have been systematically engaging in wholesale subversion of all the hiring rules. It will be difficult for them to hide their activities of the last three years because of the large number of participants in the scheme. This is why so many of them are trying to find jobs outside of personnel in the administration and elsewhere.
They have made the process of patronage very modern with a system called the EPAR. This is an electronic process for making sure that all hiring is controlled by Cini and Monk in Chicago and Gianulis,Flood and Reinhart in Springfield. The database used will probably be a part of the next subpoena or press FOIA.
Interviews and selection are a shame process and many of the jobs created or specifically designed to hire a specific person.
The participants think what they are doing is just a more organized process and one that has always been done. What they miss is that the current U.S. Attorney in Chicago, who is prosecuting their predecessor and is investigating the Daley administration's personnel practices, thinks what they are doing is criminal.
Whoever is left standing at the end of the Republican Primary may well end up being Governor by default when the inevitable indictments come down from the U.S. Attorney in Chicago. We may even see the U.S. Attorney in Springfield or even a courageous State's Attorney in Sangamon County stepping into the cesspool. There is certainly enough criminal wrong-doing to keep a stable full of prosecutors busy for a very long time.
There are many arrogant young Blagojevich staffers who may end their public careers in prison jumpsuits and few will mourn their demise.
Perhaps the Governor's own Inspector General may cease to be the Cover-up Corporal and actually investigate the agency personnel directors rather then spending so much time pursuing the little people.
We may even see the capitol press corps begin to get out and follow some of these very obvious trails that are being left open to investigative inquiry. It should be obvious to them by now that there are not going to be any more job opportunities for them as CMS press flaks so they might as well start being journalists.
Blago and his boys might have more problems coming.There is a possibility they violated federal security laws.In other words a new investigation coming.
You guys lost you will loose again get over it get on with it and grow up, the Ds are just playing by your rules set over the past twenty five years and you cant handle it.
Govenror Cub Fan ought to thank God that the White sox are hogging vrtually all the media attention. Otherwise, this bad situation would already be far worse for the Governor.
Yes Sam F did get an increase in pay but i bet he is still making less that the Ryan admin guy who had the same job, and i think his new pay is still less than a 90% of the R people in less qualified and lowere level job holders and i will guarntee you that the r in the same job he help at the gov office was making 30-40,000 more than he was mr kettle said to the pot, there are carry over R in every agency at levels substantially below Dep Dir of an agenciy making more money and check out his credentials will put them against any r andytimne anyday and we will see who is qualified and who isnt
Blame it all on Dick Mell
Hope for a bad Repulican
You demos keep going back to Ryan to cover this clown's butt.HE PROMISED ON A BIBLE THAT ALL PATRONAGE,ALL PLAY FOR PAY AND ANY CORRUPTION WOULD END.The only thing he has down is make it worst.Blago is governor and the buck stops there not with ex-governors.
Mr R when and where did the Gov swear on a bible and say patrongage would end, Idont think he did. And the big difference is unles laws are changed companies doing business with the state can legally donate to the candidate of their choice, What they cant do is say i need fifty grand cash for my pocket to go to the Casino Queen to gamble or you wont get your contract, to date this has not been accused of the B admin or proven as has been done to both of the last r gov edgar and ryan
Mr. blago is the patronage king. When ryan was in office he had some physical responsibility. I know for a fact that ryan's administration had eliminated four management jobs to cut back. Look now, blago was in office two months and recreated those positions for non-qualified democrat's at donating salaries ($40,000.00)/yr.. This is in dan reitz dist. you all know, the gov's old springfield roommate..The both of them should go next election...If i can help them and i will!!! "see ya" Robinhood
Becky is capable, but like many from Daley in the administration she did not know very much about State government going into the position and has suffered as a result. They did not realize that the state capitol is much different than City Hall. Coming from MJM's staff Abby knew what the opposition and a hostile press is like. The Daley people rarely, if ever, had to deal with hostile press in Chicago-much less real political opposition.
I hope they get it now.
I think Abby & Becky should turn this around ... and become the Woodward and Bernstein of their generation.
Joe Cini knows the Governor very, very well. Cini was a fundraiser for the Governor when he ran for Congress the first time, and they worked very closely with each other right in Mell's Ward Office. Cini chose not to go and work for Rod in Congress, but Mell rewarded Cini for helping elect his son-in-law to Congress by raising funds with a job in the Daley administration. Eeventually, Cini ended up at the Chicago Park District.
When Rod was elected Governor, Rod and Mell made Cini the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Gov, and the rest-----is history.
It is really surprising that Mell would allow Cini to hang like this, their being at one time so very close.
All very bizarre...and sad for the hard-working, honest civil servants in Illinois government and the hard-working taxpayers of Illinois to see our Governor and his aides sully public service so very much.
Post a Comment
<< Home