Witness says Hastert linked to alleged plot (Rezco)

[deminks]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rezkoapr29,1,5644219.story?track=rss

House speaker would have picked Fitzgerald's replacement, defendant's ex-associate claims

By Bob Secter and Jeff Coen | Tribune reporters
April 29, 2008

The name of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was added Monday to the roster of political heavyweights linked by witnesses to an alleged plan to dump Chicago's top federal prosecutor and kill a criminal investigation into a top fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

A witness at the corruption trial of Blagojevich insider Antoin "Tony" Rezko testified that Rezko told him in February 2005 about an effort under way to fire U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and replace him with someone more compliant to be hand-picked by Hastert, then the top Republican in the House.

Rezko said the Hastert designee would then "order the prosecutor to stop the investigation," recalled Elie Maloof, a former Rezko business associate who also testified that Rezko had told him to keep Rezko's name to himself if he were questioned by authorities because it could damage Blagojevich.

Hastert spokesman Brad Hahn said the accusation that Hastert might be in on a scheme came "out of left field" and was without basis.

[KharmaTrain]

1. Oh The Webs We Weave

I'm hoping this Ata dude drops the dime on all his contacts...turn what was supposed to be a bombshell against Obama onto the GOOP. Looks like Rove has his fingers all over this and this may give Fitzgerald his opening to go after him and several others for throwing "sand in the eyes" of yet another judge. Local media has been abuzz lately with all sorts of high level GOOPers who appear to have been contacted or otherwise involved with this.

The Rezko case should put an end to Blago's career...it looks good there will be an ammendment for recalling him in November and a vote shortly thereafter.

[L. Coyote]

3. Get Fitzgerald! (Round Two)

Get Fitzgerald! (Round Two)
By Paul Kiel - April 28, 2008 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/get_fitzgerald_round_two.php

Last week, prosecutors in the trial of Tony Rezko revealed that a government witness would testify that Rezko had said he was plotting to get U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald canned. His buddy and Republican bigwig Robert Kjellander was in talks with Karl Rove, the story goes.

Both Rove and Kjellander denied ever speaking of canning Fitzgerald, and the plot did seem to fall somewhat short. The alleged plotting happened back in 2004, right when Fitzgerald was in the thick of the Valerie Plame leak investigation. As I said last week, it would have been an unbelievably bold move even for Rove. Nevertheless, it does appear that Kjellander would have been looking for any opening to get rid of Fitzgerald.

Today the Rezko trial brought another aspect of the somewhat hapless plot:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/04/witness_patrick_fitzgerald_wou.html#more

[KharmaTrain]

4. There's Other Shoes Here To Drop

Note that its the government that put this information out there...not the defense...and methinks this is the prelude for a deal. There've been several stories leaked about the heat Peter Fitzgerald took for nominating and standing behind Patrick Fitzgerald (no relation)...and that it cost Peter support from the state party and he chose not to run for re-election (opening the door for Barak Obama). The scepter of tampering must have Fitzie's attention and he could "squeeze up" with Ata and Rezko through Kjellander and onto bigger fishes. One's gotta think that Fitz has a lot of misgivings for not nailing Rove in Plamegate considering all the stuff that has come out (and continues to be revealed) about his tampering with the DOJ. We now have a pattern of obstruction trailing from Alabama through Illinois and who knows where else.

Stay tuned...

[xchrom]

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