Blagojevich insider testifies how then-Illinois governor appointed ‘ambassadors’ to key boards
By Mike Robinson, APThursday, June 10, 2010
Blagojevich insider: ‘Ambassadors’ named to boards
CHICAGO — A one-time chief of staff for Rod Blagojevich has picked up where he left off at the former Illinois governor’s corruption trial, testifying Thursday about alleged moneymaking schemes that he, Blagojevich and others concocted.
The judge in the case also warned Blagojevich to sit still and control his emotions, after prosecutors complained that he made gestures and comments the day before during the testimony of key prosecution witness Alonzo Monk.
Monk testified Thursday about how Blagojevich put supporters and fundraisers on state boards that oversaw major business sectors, often at the urging of members of his inner circle.
Prosecutors are expected to argue later that the appointments were a bid to ensure loyalists were in place so Blagojevich’s insiders could readily exert influence on key board decisions and profit from them
Monk explained how Blagojevich was fond of referring to board appointments as “ambassadorships.” Blagojevich felt they were “spots that he had the power to appoint not unlike the president appointing ambassadors” to foreign countries, Monk said.
Monk described Wednesday how a close group including himself, Blagojevich and fundraisers Tony Rezko and Christopher Kelly sketched out moneymaking plans shortly after Blagojevich became governor. He testified that some were written on an easel as the four sat around a conference table.
“Any money earned would be held in separate accounts that would be hard to locate,” Monk said.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to profit from his power to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama and squeezing people for campaign contributions. If convicted, he could receive up to 415 years in prison, though a judge would consider a variety of factors in imposing any sentence. Blagojevich also could face fines totaling $6 million.
Among other things, Monk is likely to tell jurors how racetrack owner John Johnson was allegedly pressured to deliver a hefty contribution to the Friends of Blagojevich. Monk has pleaded guilty to scheming to pressure Johnson and took the witness stand in the hopes of getting a lighter sentence.
The former governor’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, 54, a Nashville, Tenn., businessman, has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the plot to sell the Senate seat and to scheming to illegally pressure a racetrack owner, who wanted the governor’s signature on legislation involving the tracks, for campaign money.
Prosecutors say Johnson was eager for legislation that would have required Illinois casinos to pay his tracks millions of dollars in subsidies, but Blagojevich was threatening not to sign it until Johnson came up with a sizable campaign contribution.
Monk told the jury on Wednesday how Rezko, a real estate developer who is awaiting sentencing for fraud and other offenses, and Kelly, a roofing contractor, raised millions of dollars for Blagojevich’s campaign fund and were rewarded with jobs and contracts for their friends.
The men referred to themselves as “one, two, three, four,” Monk said. He said the first person to talk to him about making money using Blagojevich’s power was Kelly, at a meeting in a garage during the 2002 race for governor. Kelly committed suicide in September 2009, days before he was to report to prison for an unrelated tax conviction.
Blagojevich and his wife watched Monk intently during his early testimony and the former governor took notes.
But he’ll have to restrain himself a bit after Judge James Zagel told him not to make any facial or other expressions during the trial. Prosecutors had said several jurors clearly took notice of his gestures the day before. An attorney for Blagojevich told the judge that it would be taken care of.
Prosecutors also say they’ll ask that the former governor’s wife leave the courtroom when testimony about her comes up. The often stone-faced Patti Blagojevich has sat in the courtroom since the trial began. She’s arrived each day with her husband, often holding hands.
But according to procedures established earlier, she’s supposed to leave when certain testimony arises.
Zagel says he’ll rule on whether she’ll have to step outside right before the testimony that involves her. A defense attorney for Blagojevich has said she’ll testify in the trial.
