35 Burst results for "Rod Blagojevich"
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"Felonies, the former president will plead not guilty, according to his lawyers. On some of what's ahead in a concern for prosecutors, ABC News legal analyst and attorney Jeffrey Robinson. If any juror, a single juror, has reasonable doubt or what he or she perceives as reasonable doubt about whether or not this is biased or politically motivated or you should pardon expression trumped up, then the prosecution loses. So the prosecution has to be hugely careful. Chuck see, rich and ABC News. If Trump's legal team does speak after the arraignment, you'll hear it right here on WLS. Former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich is weighing in on Trump's case, Nick Gale has more. Blaming a corrupt district attorney for essentially shredding the constitution Blagojevich believes like he did in his own corruption trial that this is purely politics. He was on Fox this morning. Experience informs me deeply that there won't be anything in there that's criminal. This is a private matter with private money and incidentally. There's something like $15 million in a fund in Congress that actually pays with taxpayer money. Congressman paying off people hush money who said that they've sexually harassed or done other things to them. The idea that they would criminalize this in Trump's case and these hypocritical politicians who are going along with that. My own party, Democrats, selfless, selfishly exploiting this for political reasons, is really disgraceful. Nick Gale, 8 90 W, LS news. Chicagoans are hitting the polls as today's runoff election is set to decide the city's new mayor This voter headed out early and spoke with ABC 7. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to vote. I teach around the world and many places where people don't get to vote, and I know how important this is. Well, many voters are concerned about crime, others are worried about south and the west sides of the city. My concern is economic development on the south and west sides of the city. Not paying so much attention to the downtown area of what's happened up north, but moving into the neighborhoods and taking care of
Opening Arguments
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on Opening Arguments
"The first year of the Trump presidency when, you know, he was pardoning fraud scumbags and liars. And Trump floated, he was like, well, I'm going to pardon rod Blagojevich as well, and it was like, I think there was oh, no, I remember this. I'll tell you exactly what happened. Jared Kushner told him that because Blagojevich was a Democrat that he Trump would win kudos from Democrats for pardoning rod Blagojevich because I don't know because Jared Kushner is not all that smart. So anyway, it did not work out that way, but on the other hand, he's gotten rod Blagojevich to come out and say nice things about him for like the past 6 years. So I guess it worked out. And here he is making a truly bizarre baseball analogy where he's like a minor league fraudster and Trump. Let's remind the audience why Blagojevich went to jail and it was because he was trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat when Obama got elected. Isn't that what happened? I've got this goddamn gold mine and I'm not just going to give it away for nothing. Yeah, no, he put a $1 million price tag on Obama's Senate seat. Yeah, and so I think if I can get inside his very weird head and by the way, odd seeing blogger with the same kind of bowl haircut only it's all almost entirely white now. It's just weird. I mean, that's his real hair. But okay. I don't know what it is, but it's still weird. Anyway, I think he means that he's triple-A in the sense that he was a governor, right? And that not the president, the presidency is the majors being a governor is triple-A, like being a mayor would be double-A. Why are you trying to read sense into these goat entrails? It's just baseball. I know it's really a big day. But this I'm excited. I'm glad for you. And this is all. Cool. Anyway, so CNN says that Trump faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud. So that would be very interesting because that would be quite a lot of counts and I don't know what that is. Maybe they charged each one of the checks or who the hell knows. Yeah, that has to be each check gets a gets account. And that would be as you suspected in episode 7 ten, one of the ways potentially around the statute of limitations, right? Continuing enterprise last check in the series, right? Again, yeah, I think there remain real statute of limitations issues, and even if you get around those, there are real issues involving proving mens Rea. But okay, 30, 30 counts of business fraud that's got to be each check. I don't know. I don't think they're worth that many checks. I think that's right. Because they were 35,000. Right. And I think it was like a total of $420,000. The Wall Street Journal, before the indictment came down, reported that remember there was Karen McDougal before stormy Daniels. I'm assuming everybody kind of knows, we're not going to go back over the whole stormy Daniels, hush money, pay off, you live on Planet Earth, you listen to this podcast, you know. Yeah, well, and again, we talked about mcdougall yesterday on the show, right? That was the last story that David pecker AMI, the national review. That's not Freudian. Leave that, leave that one in. Okay, don't edit that one out. Anyway, the national inquirer completely negotiated before getting cold feet about interfering with an election. Right, right. They paid Karen McDougal, who was a former Playboy model who had a ten month relationship with Trump. They paid her a $150,000 for the life rights to her story. And then they didn't run it. She later talked about it with Ronan farrow. And is it interesting character? But the Wall Street Journal reported that the grand jury has been investigating her, too, and there are reports from our buddy Jose paglieri at The Daily Beast that Allen weisselberg that is, Trump's longtime CFO, current resident of Rikers. The one who was convicted of fraud has parted ways with his lawyer Nicolas gravata. Now, the Trump people are saying that it was totally amicable and that it was weisselberg's decision. But The Daily Beast says that the Trump organization fired gravity because he was too loyal to weisselberg and not loyal enough to Trump that they were sort of pissed off that he let weisselberg cooperate too much in the prosecution of the Trump organization. And we have talked about that before the person who is paying the lawyer. The person who can fire the lawyer, that's the real client. And so in addition to this, there are reports that the district attorney has been pressuring weisselberg with further felonies because weisselberg was highly resistant to cooperating and never flipped and we have given DA brag a lot of shit about that on this show, but you know, maybe being in Rikers would change his mind about further felonies. I love, I love the reporting. I would like to be on team optimist here. I will believe it when I see it. I think if you're weisselberg, you stared down Alvin Bragg, he said, I can go in and try you tomorrow and get 5 to ten years for tax fraud. And Alan weisselberg said, fine, show me. I had to do 5 to ten years of record stand on my head. And then a week later, Alvin Bragg came back and was like, how'd you like 6 months with credit for time served? And you don't have to cooperate, but please don't make me get a paralegal and go to trial and I still have not forgiven him for that. Although, you know, everybody else has, so. Right. He did get us an indictment. I sure as hell hope it sticks. Yeah. And I don't know, do you have any more to say about this one? Or should we move on to the rest of the show? I guess what I want to do is kind of answer a couple of questions that I've gotten. Obviously lots of poured in. And these are friends, family members, occasional show listeners, right? And I think it is worth us sort of taking a step back and realizing we live this, we breathe this week. We talk about this 12 hours a day every day. Not everybody else does. So shout out to my mom, who says, I'm surprised to see New York going first because it's not the federal case and he could still run for president.
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"First Happy birthday. Do Which one are you going to open first? Honey? Yep. Even easier than that, Plus, with no fees or minimums on checking and savings accounts is banking with capital one even a decision that's banking reimagined. What's in your wallet? See Capital one dot com slash bank for details. No fees are minimums on new consumer accounts, Capital One and a member of the I. C. The most important financial decision you'll make isn't picking the next hot stock or fund manager. It's choosing the right financial advisor. How do you pick the advisor? That's right for you. Find out in a special encore presentation of our virtual event with Ric Edelman on Tuesday, September 14th at three P.m. or a P. M. Eastern, It's free register at Edelman financial engines dot com. He'll get advice on how to select the right financial advisor and you'll get a list of the 11 questions to ask before hiring one. Take this list with you when you interview financial advisors, And if you already have one, use the checklist to evaluate if they are right for you. You will get all the information you need and Rick will make it fun and entertaining. It's free. So register right now for a special encore presentation of our virtual event on September 14th at three p.m. or A P. M. Eastern. Register at Edelman. Financial engines dot com. That's Edelman financial engines dot com. Control at WLS am dot com Featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89 w L S B heard calling for four for the USA Now to let them know what you think. 844443872.
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"Thoughts. I'm Dr Sanjay Gupta, helping you live a better life. Look, staying healthy isn't easy watching your diet, hitting the gym, avoiding stress, but a good night's rest helps boost your overall health and wellness. And it couldn't be easier. The new sleep number 3 60 smart bed senses and automatically adjust to keep you both effortlessly comfortable. Result. You wake up ready for anything Proven quality sleep. Is life changing sleep? Don't miss the final days of the big sale of the year. We're all smart bets are on sale. Save 50% on the new sleep number 3 60 limited edition smart that ends Monday to learn more, go to sleep number dot com. Why give your family just ordinary eggs when they can enjoy the best egg lamb's best the only eggs with more fresh and delicious taste, plus superior nutrition compared to ordinary eggs with six times more vitamin D. 10 times more vitamin E 25% less saturated fat and 38% more lutein Because the way you care is anything but ordinary, Only egg lands best. Better taste better Nutrition. Better eggs. Podcast central at wls am dot com Featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89. W L s It's the Bruce ST James Show. Right here on 8 90. W L s Good morning. Happy Thursday. It's Bruce. Judy. DJ Brett in for D. J. T s today, Um, Vermont. We hardly knew you. You know, we remember what we had Vermont cancel my resort Reservations, Remember? Remember the good old days when for months no shit up for you was the only place you could safely travel to no longer Vermont is off the list. Now. Unbelievable..
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"But to get an honest day's work, you need a callback. You need a job. Express employment professionals can help will connect you to the right company were committed to your success and never charge a fee to find you a job express nose jobs. Get to know express find your location and express pros. Com or on the express jobs, app. When clients come to you to shape their financial portfolios. They're not really asking about numbers and accounts. They're seeking guidance to help goals become reality. Luckily for them, you've got thriving asset management and together we're always looking at what's ahead, designed with long term opportunity in mind, our investment options can help you realize the difference in active management approach can have on your client's futures will even work with you to see how our variety of investment products can help meet your Clients needs thrive. An asset management we invest in potential. Click the banner to learn more about thriving asset management or visit thriving funds dot com slash advisor. That's thriving funds dot com slash advisor. Dr. An asset management, a division of private offers financial professionals, a variety of investment products that help meet their clients needs. Private distributors LLC member Finra as I P C is a subsidiary of thrive and the marketing name for thriving financial for Lutherans. Might have noticed the change in your neighborhood lately. Yep. Sprint stores are now T mobile stores Now that spread his T mobile, you get more coverage value and benefits than ever before. We've invested billions to bring our five G from big cities to small towns across America and great coverage is just the start. High speed mobile hotspot data, weekly deals and giveaways. Our customers get tons of great benefits head to your new T mobile store to learn more qualifying service and capable device required coverage not available In some areas. Some users may require certain planner feature C T mobile com Control WLS am Com featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89. W L s Be.
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
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WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"He'll be here in just Few minutes to try to talk in off the ledge. Parent ology is not an officially recognized fields yet, but I think we're making strides in that direction. More on that with Dr Rick in just a few minutes. Well, normally the wheels of justice grind on but they grind pretty slow but as chuck out, he said on channel 70 joins us now in a lightning fast verdict. Chicago banker Steven Cox has been found guilty on all counts earlier this morning in a federal bank fraud case. Wow, that, uh, that escalated quickly, didn't it? Chuck? Son. It's a bad sign when a jury comes back in only a couple of hours after a 33 week trial. It's not a good sign if you're to defend them, and does the judge take that into consideration during the sentencing process. Well, the sentencing will be interesting in this. You've got a guy without a criminal history who's led a charmed and fairly successful life with a lot of friends in high places in Chicago and in Washington. And when he goes to sentencing in January, I think the judge is going to have a hard call here. He could get up to 35 years in prison. He's obviously not going to get anywhere near that. But do you give jail time to a guy like this? Or is he on home confinement or is he sent to club fed somewhere? Well, it depends on whether the judge thinks that he would be a deterrent to future crimes of the same nature. Well, the U. S attorney in Manhattan has already put out a statement saying Just this case and the guilty verdicts are deterrent to this type of corruption in high places, so they're already trying to make hay of that. Chuck Audi is here from the I team at ABC seven. Chuck bring my listeners up to date on the genesis of this way back the 2016 election how he connected with Paul Manafort, who at that time was the former president's campaign manager. And the allegations now proven allegations are that he essentially was going to loan Manafort a boatload of cash, but he wanted to be secretary of what the Navy or the Army. I can't remember. Well, he had a whole list that he gave the Manafort at the time $16 million in personal loans were pending from his bank in full market. He at the top of the list. Secretary of the Army. But he also would have settled for Secretary of Commerce or HUD, or a couple of deputy deputy secretary positions. And then he also had 19 ambassadorships that he would he would have accepted. The problem for Mr Cock was that this was all playing out with Paul Manafort, while Manafort was in a position of power and The loans were all pending at his bank. So it ended up being a fairly easy decision. It would seem for this jury. Pardon me Did did he ever make alone to Paul Manafort? He did. And then they did the bank in the bank reclaim some of that property for Manafort, Uh, some residences and and so that the bank actually did Well, when they recoup some of that, didn't they? Even though it's now out of business didn't recruit much of it did agree. My understanding is that Manafort defaulted on most of this money and the bank has had to eat it. Um It's been a problem for the bank. And that was one of the things that the government pointed out was that caulk and the people who examined this at the bank should have realized Manafort was in a bad way and really wasn't qualified for these loans. Certainly not personal loans totaling $16 million Doesn't seem that maybe the feds brought the charges against Mr Cock, Uh, in an effort to maybe get him to turn on Manafort. And then when Manafort was pardoned, it just pulled the rug out from under them as far as using cock for what they truly wanted to use him for. Well, don't forget. Manafort was already convicted in in a separate case and ended up pleading in a second one and was imprisoned during during this time that the clock thing was playing out. So they didn't really need cock, uh, to put Manafort in prison, and it certainly didn't. It certainly didn't help. Cox case. Um Manafort never took the stand. You may remember a couple weeks ago, Anthony Scaramucci took the stand and That didn't go well, either for cock. Uh, Scaramucci was a government witness who basically said that he was presented with cock and told that you know he should. He should run them up the flagpole to be one of these high ranking secretaries or ambassadors or whatever. And it doesn't have kind of a reminder of ring from the blow. Go trial. This is how everybody does it Defense. Well, you know, it's interesting because this trial was in New York. The government opposed moving it to Chicago, which is where caulk wanted it mainly out of convenience and expense. But this certainly is the Illinois Rod Blagojevich horse trading argument right here that this is how business is done. And now caulk is looking at potentially prison time for doing it that way. When does he get sentenced? Uh, January. 10th is the sentence saying and he's free on bond. Until then. Some people have have made a point on social media. He's a flight risk, but, uh, I'm not sure that that is the case. And the judge certainly didn't think so. No, I don't think he's a flight risk. Chuck County. Are you glad that you're back at state and Lake back in the studio? I was watching you for the better part of a year, and it looks like you're done very nice bookshelf, by the way. Yes, sir. Thank you. Everything is good getting back to normal and we're all happy to be headed that direction. Thank you very much. Check out for popping on at short notice. We appreciate it. John. Always great to be with you. Thank you. Take care as I get up in age people remind me. Uh, the waiter doesn't need to know my name. You have to learn how to silence your phone. I? I watched Dr Rick on a regular basis because he seems to know all that needs to be known about parent ology. Do we really need a sign to live? Laugh and love? Yes, The answer is no. I can help new homeowners not become their parents he on now. Chloe, No one. No walking. No. Just takes practice. Give it a shot. Yeah..
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"So aside from expensive appointments and lotions and potions, what can you do? Four things. Watch your diet, especially how much sugar you eat. Get plenty of exercise. That means cardio weight bearing workouts and stretching. Make sure you're getting enough sleep for most of us that 7 to 9 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep a night. And four. Try to reduce your stress or learn to manage it as best you can. I'm Dr Sanjay Gupta, helping you live a better life. Doctors Without Borders. Teams confront hard facts and conflict in crisis zones When others look away. We step into act because measles still kills more than 100,000 Children. Every year. We're there to vaccinate more than one million because some countries have only one or two mental health professionals we provided over 400,000 mental health consultations last year. The fact is, your support makes our life saving work possible. Picture the impact we can have together. Doctors without borders dot org Look, staying healthy isn't easy watching your diet, hitting the gym, avoiding stress, but a good night's rest helps boost your overall health and wellness. And it couldn't be easier. The new sleep number 3 60 smart bet is the only bet that effortlessly adjusts in response to both of you the results you wake up ready for anything Proven quality sleep. Is life changing sleep during our lowest prices of the season, the new queen Sleep number 3 60 C to spark It is only 8 99. Only for a limited time to learn more. Go to sleep number dot com Podcast central at wls am dot com Featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89 w L s It's the Bruce ST Change show right here on 8 90. W L s, uh, good morning to you in a happy When's day. It's Wednesday already. Oh, my goodness. This is outstanding. Bruce,.
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"Are here. So shop summer styles now and earn rewards faster through July 5th. It's a special time when Star reports members earn bonus points and get to their next reward. Faster. Get $10 in star money for every $50 spent with a Macy's card or for every $100 spent with a bronze membership. Visit. Macys dot com slash star money for exclusions and details. Offer may vary in select stores. Mm. Listen to that sizzle. That's the sound of America's most trusted, affordable and high quality meat from good ranchers. Good ranchers dot com. Our mission is to help the American family. How by working together with local farms and shipping straight to your door at good ranchers dot com. Your meat is never shipped from overseas. Like the other online butchers, we know pathetic. And at half the price of the Omaha meet guys, you get more of the cuts you really want for less like New York strips, juicy T bones, filet mignon, natural, all beef burgers better than organic chicken and more good ranchers dot com. It's a safe and convenient way to order your meat. We save your family money and help the American farmer good ranchers is ethically raised. Sustainably sourced always delivered free to your door. And did we mention delicious so good? We guarantee it and right now save $25 off your first order with code. Save 25 that save 25 Find out more good ranchers dot com Know where your meat comes from. With good ranchers dot com At wls am dot com Featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89 w L s Here at the Big 89 as our next guest road, and I saw this at the American conservative dot com site, Roy Blunt a man right out of central casting, seemingly tailor made for senatorial glory. Will not run again for the upper chamber place. He spent the better part of a lifetime trying to reach look forward to all of this year and the rest of and then next year. As we have a chance to continue. What will be my by then? 26 years in the Congress.
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"News on the hour and a half of one of breaks Continuous coverage at wls am dot com. The Bruce ST James Show on the way Next. I'm Mikhail 8 90 WLS news. Family gatherings. Summer cookouts vacations. It's time to get back to the things we've missed by getting protected with the Covid 19 vaccine. Do your part. Find out more at coronavirus dot Illinois gov. Better life with Dr Sanjay Gupta. Time for a gut check. I'm Dr Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent. New guidelines from the American Heart Association say. Measuring your waist circumference is just as important as knowing your body weight or BMI. That's because the fact in and around your abdomen visceral fact. Is more dangerous than that subcutaneous fact. This bed actually wraps around your organs and raises your risk for heart disease. Type two diabetes stroke. High cholesterol experts think that because visceral fat makes more inflammatory proteins that narrow blood vessels raise blood pressure and inflamed tissues and organs. Scary stuff. The American Heart Association says the best way to lose belly fat is aerobic exercise. That means cardio, not crunches. Interestingly they say, you don't even have to lose weight to see the health benefits. Just kind of shrink your waist line. I'm Dr Sanjay Gupta, helping you live a better life. On the battlefield. There's a saying America's military men and women live by, never leave a fallen warrior behind ever off. The battlefield Wounded Warrior project operates with the same goal. Wounded Warrior project was created to help our men and women returning home with the scars of war. Whether those scars or physical or mental wounded warrior project we never leave a fallen warrior behind. Ever learn more about what we do at wounded warrior project dot org Panera favorites are hot and ready to serve for dinner taste Our creamy Mac and cheese served in a crispy bread ball or the classic bacon, turkey. Bravo featuring our signature sauce. How about our new mouthwatering chipotle chicken and bacon flatbread pizza? These and other favorites are waiting for you. Order dinner tonight for delivery or pickup only at Panera availability and pricing. They're very Podcast Central at WLS am Com featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89. W L s. It's the Bruce Saint Jane Show right here on 8 90..
WLS-AM 890
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WLS-AM 890
"But to get an honest day's work, you need a callback. You need a job. Express employment professionals can help. Will connect you to the right company. We're committed to your success and never charge a fee to find you a job express nose jobs. Get to know express, find your location and express pros dot com or on the express jobs, app. Mm. Listen to that sizzle. That's the sound of America's most trusted, affordable and high quality meat from good ranchers. A good ranchers dot com. Our mission is to help the American family. How by working together with local farms and shipping straight to your door at good ranchers dot com. Your meat is never shipped from overseas. Like the other online butchers, we know pathetic. And at half the price of the Omaha meet guys, you get more of the cuts you really want for less like New York strips juicy T bones for les mignon, natural all beef burgers better than organic chicken and more good ranchers dot com. It's a safe and convenient way to order your meat. We save your family money and help the American farmer good ranchers is ethically raised. Sustainably sourced always delivered free to your door. And did we mention delicious so good? We guarantee it and right now save $25 off your first order with code. Save 25 that save 25 Find out more good ranchers. Com Know where your meat comes from, with good ranchers dot com. Podcast central WLS am Com featuring lightning ride with Rod Blagojevich exclusively from the Big 89. W L s It's the Bruce ST James Show. Right here on 8 90. W L s, uh, hey, we still have a great opportunity for you to come out and play a little golf.
WGN Radio
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WGN Radio
"Enter the code Word Thunder 10 minutes before eight o'clock in Chicago magazine senior editor Tall. Rosenberg has a very interesting piece, the headline Worst thing. Chicago politicians have said on a wiretap you ranked these, uh, tapes didn't shoot tall. Yes, I did. It must have been hard to figure out the best one. You have a lot to choose from. Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, that is the case. Um and we went into it expecting Robert voyage to be number one. But we're hoping that he would be upset, but, uh, Fortunately or unfortunately for him, he takes the cake. So, uh, yeah. Uh And is it because of social media that these conversations have become so public? I don't know. I mean, a lot of this wiretap stuff predate social media. I mean, uh, we're going to bitch J. B. Pritzker in 2000 and eight for dhowley at all That stuff was before Social media, So I think it's just Chicago's Shameful and spend. Unfortunately hilarious history of people not realizing they're being recorded when they say extremely embarrassing things. Yeah. All right. You mentioned Rod Blagojevich. Why don't we play that clip if we can, Joe number three and this is famous, its infamous and I think this This is an example of the ultimate in what people hate about politicians, Right talking out of both sides of your mouth and the hypocrisy of it all. Here it is. Listen up with my ex people off and give your grandmother if we throw out on a bus Okay. I gave you baby. They had health care. I thought everyone of them including every special interest out there who can make my life easier and better because they want to raise taxes on you. And I will I fight them and keep them split it. And when I get for that only 13% of y'all out there Think I'm doing a good job, all of you. Yeah, He was pretty angry, wasn't he? He was Yes. He was pretty angry, um and and almost cartoonishly angry, I think The cartoonist aspect of radical image. Um, absolutely made that, Uh yeah, it took number one for sure. You ranked Ed Burke as number two and that that was just recently. In the news. Uh, what can we say about that comment? Well, I mean, it's an anti Semitic remark its brazen and its anti Semitism, which was Big reason that I think it was number two. Um, I mean of all the, uh, Surveillance wiretap, uh, material we had to choose from. I think that was the one that was, uh, the most offensive to a group of people. I mean, it takes a lot to become number two on the list, but, uh, Ed Burke made it. And then Edvard Oli yak right behind him, Number three with his comment back in 2000 and about schemers. Right? Yeah. Yeah, I mean again. It's uh I mean, that that itself is on the play. It's a caricature in some respect of the corrupt Chicago politician. I actually I we had some debates about what should be number three and I lost out on that one. But, uh I mean, I can't argue with it too much. It's kind of classically Chicago and it's corruption. You have Governor Pritzker made the list at number four. Let's play a little bit of this, and then we'll talk about his now famous comment here of all the African marriage. I don't think that are sort of like qualified and people in vetted and people will say, Oh, that's you know, that's that's a pretty good pick. Um, the one you know that the least offensive and maybe get to the most because it gets to that Secretary of State appointment is Jesse Watters. Yeah. Jesse, wait talking about your tax dollars at work Their hotel? Yeah, I mean, I think the thing about that one is knowing what we know. Like J. B. Pritzker now just so out of character, and, um, with that kind of reductive stereotype is embarrassing. Also, that was on the same call with the both of its quote, which I think gets you points automatically despite being associated With Blagojevich..
WGN Radio
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WGN Radio
"Overnight. It happened near Laramie and Congress. Of Eugene's Eric Wrong Is it Stroger Hospital with details? Chicago Police are telling us that the mother of the child had a couple of graze wounds hit twice with bullets. Her one year old son was hit in the legs shot twice. We're told that the one year old is now out of surgery and is in stable condition. Elise you're looking for any surveillance video that could help them identify that suspect. To Chicago police officer is now being investigated for allegedly beating a teenage boy during an arrest. The 17 year old is accused of hitting a squad car where the stolen vehicle, then pointing a gun at responding officers in Woodlawn last January, citing records from the civilian Office of Police Accountability, The Chicago Tribune is reporting the officers were accused of punching the team without justification. Have been relieved to police powers but have not been charged with any violations. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich is no longer on supervised release. WGN's Kevin Wale Wells has that U. S District Judge Sarah Ellis has put an end to his two year period of supervised release. The former governor had his 14 year federal sentence commuted by former President Donald Trump last February. After he was convicted on corruption charges back in 2011. Since his release from federal prison. Blagojevich has earned money by making videos on cameo, a site where users pay for notes from celebrities while also hosting a weekly podcast called The Lightning. Rod, Kevin Wells. WGN NEWS Gary Chicago International Airport has received a $3.5 million Federal grant, which will allow for runway expansion. Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Says the funds will help with expansion of the airport. We are poised from our.
WGN Radio
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WGN Radio
"A lot of vaccination sites shut down. Right, and they're not getting him in either you like they were, so there's sort of a little bit of a hiccup there. I also heard there was an oversupply to some of the nursing homes. And so that became an issue that they assumed that everybody would take them. And even the workers there and they didn't. They didn't know what to do. And Pritzker, his redeployed some of that over supply to the long term care facilities and nursing homes, But we're hearing you know, vaccine acceptance. If that's what you want to call it. You know has been low. Not just, you know, in certain minority communities where there is some skepticism towards a quote unquote, you know, Trust me. I'm from the government Here. Take this shot. Um, to you know, depending on your political views, it was one of the collar county sheriff's pointed, I pointed out that I think only 50% of his employees were willing To take the vaccine when offered, So that could be an issue going forward as well. Okay, what else is coming up on Channel Nine news. We're covering stone stow and more snow. All those cars now in cased in snow he tombs were going to do how How are they? How you can't leave that that long morning. People were digging out today. Clyde born was a mess. The side streets are still a mess. Up in Highland Park. There's some homes that don't have heat. So our Dana Reddick is up there looking into that we're talking about the vaccine issues. Now the snow storm is going to slow things down. And Julian Ruse. Rod Blagojevich interview tonight at nine. Okay, we'll stay tuned for that. And also stay tuned for Tom Skilling. He's coming up next. I've been upstaged. Well, you love your opinion. I missed you actually been. Oh, I did. I did. You were gone. You were doing your stuff, and then I was gone. So we get to talk again them back together and better than ever. Absolutely, Ben, you have a good afternoon. Good evening. It's 3. 31 gets the news and then Tom Skilling on the other side in just moment. Here on WGN. It's.
WGN Radio
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WGN Radio
"To prison for 14 years. I never took that time or a penny was none of that kind of stuff. This wasn't corruption, a brown paper bag. This was routine politics. Robbed a grave. It's there on the Channel nine WGN TV Morning show. Ben Bradlee joins us now. Ben, did you run over the studio? Did you want to ask a question? I mean, every like, Hey, wait a minute. I got something Wow, didn't cross a single line, he said Has no remorse, he said. You know, I don't know. I think I could look at my own life and say, I've got plenty of reports about things. I mean, even across the field level, and I've never been to federal prison. You know, it is interesting to me because, um, I Remember his statement in court after he was found guilty. On and he Did take a level of responsibility, not full responsibility. That time he expressed contrition. On then, Um, he decided it would be better for his fight to jump on the Trump train and use some of the same verbiage that Donald Trump Was using at the time about the Russia investigation. And the rest, as they say, is history. President Trump Community sentence let him out early. It was one year ago this week. He walked out of that prison in In Colorado, which is why you're seeing some of the coverage. He was on the morning news today in our Julian Drew spent some time talking with him spend some time at his house with his Family kind of seeing what the last year has been like for Rod Blagojevich. It's been like none other for any of us, because the pandemic, but he came out of prison and basically walked into this pandemic. How's he getting by a zero sum of things, Julie? Is talking the former governor about that piece of beyond tonight at nine, you know? Is it surprising to you Because it is to me. I think everyone believed that when he got out he was going when there wasn't a microphone he did was gonna like, and he was gonna step in front of it and talk about it and and and he's continued talk. This messaging is staying clear, but he and and consistent But he hasn't to my knowledge been out there in in a really big way. Well, he does have a podcast that he likes to promote. He Is charging people for video messages via service called Cameo, which has a lot of celebrities and pseudo celebrities. Basically, you know, they said, a rate and you say, Hey, I'd like to have a video of Rod Blagojevich, wishing by Mother in law, Happy birthday And then the joy of which records that and sends you the video he makes 80 bucks. Or that's 80 bucks per cameos what they charge. I don't know what his take of it is and says he's done 2000 or so in the last year or so before cameo gets a cut of it. That's 100 $60,000. So I don't know. They may take 40% of 50% of something, but he's making some money. People are asking for those videos. He also told her Julian drew that his wife Patty's insurance business is going gangbusters. And that has allowed the family to stay in their northwest side, home and state financially afloat. Yeah, you know there It is funny because when we open up the phone lines on issues like this throughout time, Actually, we could come up just you know so many times, I think people there there seemed to be some people who did feel really did feel for Robert boy. But because of the sentence the length of the census stiff sentence. Yeah. And Look, we all felt for him and his family. All right, Justice, we would anyone else who's in a ripped apart from their family. I think the difference is most of the time. That person is willing to take some level of personal responsibility for how their own actions got him into that situation, and Robert Goya, vich is really struggled to do that. Consistently. And that to me has been where he loses may from a, you know, sympathetic figure, and you and I have talked about this before. His corruption his attempt to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat for As he put it, I've got this thing and it's bleeping Golden. What can I get for it? An ambassadorship or aboard appointment That pays me big money or You know, shaking down a hospital, Children's hospital CEO, Um, give me campaign contributions or you're not going to get your reimbursement increase. Um People forget that there were real victims beyond the caricature. We heard in those audiotapes. And I think people need to remember, too, that the reason he got such a stiff sentence. Is because George Ryan the governor before him, had gone to prison. So this was In many ways, Young Blagojevich went into this thing I was wide open, he campaigned as a reformer, somebody would clean up the corruption. That came about from the George Ryan era. And he didn't No, no, I mean, come on. There's a long, storied history with this in our in our city and our state and it it's not something I love something I actually you know, really have spent a lot of my career talking about trying to expose the selling of the Senate seat, though I the charges in relation to that were mostly thrown out because of that was sort of they political sort of wheeling and dealing that that that's how that was ruled. Yes. So there were some subsequent cases that caused the re sentencing and it gets super complicated, but No, there's there's a legal term called pattern and practice and I think if we were to look back at Rob Lowe, Goya vich is political career the one consistent You know, aside from his great oratory skills is the pattern and practice. Of Fundraising and breaking the norms and bringing in the aggressive way in which he was interested in how he could benefit. You know, when you're when you're when you're holding up the function of certain state agencies until Check clears your campaign fund. Yeah, isn't it? Yeah. And leave behind a curtain at least make the effort to make it a little less obvious, And I think that was what was so shocking. Yeah, well, if we were to peek behind the curtain, though, I mean, wouldn't you think that there's a little bit of that going on just about every single day? This is the issue on ditz. Not acceptable is acceptable inside something. Now that is not the way good government should run And we don't exactly have the benefit of having a great government in general, Generally speaking that pointing anybody over the years and years and years, which is part of the reason where we are where we are. I wonder if the comments scandal is going to lead to sentences that are that strength like we're gonna get a 14 year. You know, some sort of a sentence doled out to somebody in that. Situation. Well, we should it should. Because we're all the victims when comment is putting ghost pay rollers, you know, on the on the payroll. Curry favor for legislation that may or may not cost more to consumers s. Oh, there are a lot of victims in that story. And you know, while comment paid a record $200 million fine. Don't know about you, but I didn't see any of that, did you? Nope. Yet, So waiting, still waiting, And there is a cost to corruption, which we can talk about it another time, And I'm sure you will. But, hey, good. There's a fairly good Covad news or maybe very good. I'm hearing city and state wide. Yes. So restaurant capacity is expanding in the city of Chicago. Numbers continued and Improve. In fact, our case positivity rate now below 3% for the first time in a very long time. Hospitalizations continue to plunge. The one thing that I think we need to absolutely get better at our vaccinations. In fact, while 12% of Illinois ins have received at least one dose, the vaccine 10 states doing better than us. They're just 3.3% of Illinois ins have had both doses and worth the bottom. Only Alabama doing the worst job in that category. What is the reason for this? Because we've talked about this, too. I thought we were getting this together. Yes. So there was some stalls out of the gate as Illinois trying to decide if they're gonna have a private vendor. Help out with the distribution, you know? A lot of Ah lot. There were mistakes made for sure. Now. Sometimes when we talk about other states doing better, they're doing better by 1/10 of a percentage point than us, But You know it, Zamudio target and let me tell you this This snowstorm not gonna help because.
AM 1590 WCGO
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on AM 1590 WCGO
"Here. 844305 78 101 Final word. And this will be the last time make on subject today. In all of American history. Actually kind of cool. You're living in a historic time in all of American history. This is America's first Hostile. Transfer of power. In all Think about that in all of American history. This will be the first time We did not have a peaceful Transfer of power. It's been hostile. Think about everything we've gone through. Think about how bad this has been. Think about how dangerous this has been. Think about how deadly this has been. This hostile transfer of power. Mean an amazing run. As we said a couple weeks ago, going all the way back to the year 18 01 when John Adams and you know peacefully transferred the reins of power to Thomas Jefferson. That set in motion. An amazing chain. Peacefully transferring power. Broken this year. Understand how this fields and let us pledge all of us Republican Democrat independent, all of us conservative liberal, whatever you are, let us all pledge that we will never allow this. To happen again. Never again in this country. Donald Trump tomorrow is going to drop about 100 pardons. He's expected to drop a batch. Of about 100 pardons and commutations tomorrow. On the last full day of his presidency. Now, um Just so you know, that's not a record right. Other presidents have greatly abused. The president's pardon power. What makes trump different is and we saw this. In all the pardons he's given to date is Donald Trump has not bothered to use The Justice Department's pardon, attorney. Typically a president. Will clear the Justice Department has a whole pardon department. Ah, whole pardon Legal department and a president will typically clear His pardon requests with the pardon attorney at the Justice Department to make sure everything's kosher. Trump's never done that. People seeking pardons are going directly to the White House. They're contacting Jared Kushner. They're contacting of Banca Trump. On Trump and Trump's White House. Are doing this all on their own. Without any consultation with the Justice Department. Most of the people trump his pardon so far are pretty much his buddies. His associates Roger Stone, Michael Flynn. People who have legal troubles but have remained loyal to him. He's also given pardons to celebrities. Gave a part in the Rod Blagojevich, former corrupt governor of Illinois. People like that. Um By and large Hit the volume of Trump's pardons. Is a bit on the high side, but it's not off the charts. Again. What makes Trump's pardons different is he hasn't consulted with the Justice Department at all. And Very, very few. People that he has pardoned. Have expressed any contrition. Any remorse for their crimes. Which is what traditionally The president's pardon. Power is used for It's expected that the hunter that Trump's gonna dumped Morrow Um Will include a mix of people. There will be obviously some controversial picks. Think I'II think friends again Friends Associates of Trump's people who have lied for Trump. People who have gotten in trouble legally for Trump. Those are generally the kinds of people that Donald Trump likes to pardon. There are reports today. That Trump Has decided. That is not going to pardon himself. And he is not going to pardon any member of his family. I think the only correction to these reports is Come, probably wants to do it. Trump wants to pardon himself. He would love a blanket pardon for everybody in this family. He's been strongly advised. By whoever Legally. He's still giving him advice. Trump's been strongly advised. Not to pardon himself. And not to pardon his family. And he's been told rightly, I believe, and there is a huge question as to whether a president can pardon himself. But he would be in huge trouble. I think if he did And Let's not forget There's a decent chance there's going to be an impeachment trial in the Senate. Maybe beginning this week. Nancy Pelosi still has not delivered that article of impeachment over the Senate. Once she does the next day, the Senate has to take it up. I'll tell you. What if Donald Trump on his last day in office tomorrow, issues himself a pardon and his family a pardon? Well, the odds Finding 17 Republicans in the United States Senate who will vote to remove Convict and remove Trump from office and who will vote to disqualify Donald Trump from ever running for office again will dramatically jump. Why did Trump If these reports are accurate, and I think they are decide over the weekend, not to part himself. As if he did, he'd be convicted and removed in that impeachment trial. And.
WGN Radio
"rod blagojevich" Discussed on WGN Radio
"There's game. My guest. This 1st 45 minutes. A rare 45 minute rather than 30 minute interview is my colleague. And friend Jeff Cone of the Tribune. But more importantly, the author of Stunning, stunning book, Murder in Canary Build the true story behind a cold case and the Chicago cover up, Jeff Oh, area. Rick, I am doing well, It's very good to hear your voice After all these months. I know this is such a drag sucking drain Nazi friends. I have not talked to you. I can't remember the last time I'm sure it was spring. It could have been spring something about something. Maybe something about your new baby. The subtitle This book, True story behind a cold case in Chicago cover up, I would hazard to say, and I have not encountered many more cold cases. This was really a freezing Freezing case involved. The shooting death of a young man with a lot of potential named John Hughes died at Mercy Hospital at 1:20 A.m.. On May 15th 1976. You could not possibly have known about this case before coming upon it years years later, much like the hero of this book. Copper named Jim Sherlock. Had you even any hint of this case before that? You know, I was trying to think if I had because I did have some decent relationships with being special prosecutions types when I worked at 26 accounts. Sure, the criminal courthouse here. But I don't remember it specifically. And you're right. It was pretty well locked away for many years. I think You know, The main reason that Sherlock really decided to pick it up was just the three questions about the police involvement in it. And he had, you know, it's a career. Least officer here. He had so many friends and mentors who were aware of it. That's for sure that they kept talking about it. And so he kind of took a flyer on it as he was getting ready to retire. Otherwise, Yeah, I would talk to me about him. He is one of the most sort of quietly heroic figures I've ever encountered. You bring up you bring up the old film called Northside 777 is a example of Jimmy Stewart playing a very Doggett reporter going after the thing. This guy Sherlock is his dog did as dog it can be. You write in the book, and I'm going to read some stuff. Guys think the book is beautifully written. No with secrets would not come easily. Jim. Sherlock knew it And that was fine. Lost causes of the only ones worth fighting for Clarence Darrow supposedly once said. Maybe that's what this was whatever truth was buried here, whatever the streets of Bridgeport and Canary Ville would dish out. He would take. He was a Chicago is They were in some ways the perfect person to take this up and not look back when he took this up. When did you When did you and Sherlock talk? He was pretty well winding down, I think and, you know, had some frustrations with it. He had actually read my first book, family secrets, and I think he was interested in You know if this tale could ever potentially be told, I think he Not like I would understand some of the characters that were involved in issuer would on gesso. Yeah, He brought it to me One point and we started to talk. And then as he was closing it, um I kind of restarted it myself. Sure. Sure. Journalists. I went back over it. I wound up interviewing myself some of the key people that he talked to the key witness in the case. One of the police officers who worked at the time who was sure that there are all kinds of Dark forces at work against it. I spoke to him myself, and I kind of built it myself. I saw what Sherlock did, Which was there were some real problems here. Um And yeah. Do you think he was the perfect person to handle it? I think, um, for a lot of reasons he was where he is from there Right on. I think he's the He has a grandfather police officer that he really looked up to. He's got other cops in this family's got a couple of boys Iran right now, and I think it just did not sit with him that this one would would just fade into history. He just didn't want it to happen when it was on the face of it When you and you do a remarkable trump that first chapter is really stunning it almost. It almost brings me to tears, frankly. When you know this isn't even innocents Guy. This is not a time when every teenager in the world had a gun. This was relatively innocents era. It. Woz. What would have been a year before? Under the different circumstances? Just a fist fight and it wanted up killing this kid. Johnny's must have haunted you a bit, too. Uh, In that you have a picture of the beginning of the book where you dedicate the book to your wife and child in the picture for me is is really wanting. There's a real innocents about that. You know, whatever was a class photo or something. You must have felt you must have felt some kind of. I don't know, Jeff if he felt a duty to do this kid, right, But there was something about him. Was there. Not the way you detail amuse admired. He had a lot of friends. He wasn't a bad guy. He must have gotten under your skin a bit, too. He did quite a bit. I think that you've characterized this correctly. First of all that it was a more innocent time, honestly shocked that I went in one of the first steps you would do is reporter his go look for clips. There weren't there weren't any. That's a stunning Yeah, really. It's a period when Chicago like now, but even more so had hundreds of murders a year. But you can imagine if this Happened today. You know, a teenager. Uh, what's face it, white kid getting killed in the middle of the city park. It would have been stories for days. You know, probably, um You know, I'm fairly so no question. What you know you would've profiled everyone in his family had a very big family. We got to take a break now, but I'm keeping Jeff Cone until well, maybe until the bear score again. But if least 60 at least until quarter to seven, because the book he is the author of three books, koa. Family secrets that he was just talking about the case that crippled the Chicago mob in 2009, then with the Great John Chase, who no longer works for this golden how Rod Blagojevich. What's rockabilly Goya? Vich will be back in two minutes..
The Frankie Boyer Show
State panel recommends ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich be disbarred
"State panel recommending rod Blagojevich be discarded USA radio's Chris Barnes reports the ruling by the Illinois attorney registration and disciplinary commission came a week after the three member panel heard arguments over whether the former democratic Illinois governor's law license should be revoked we're going to miss didn't attend the hearing the final decision will be made by the Illinois Supreme Court going which is been in the spotlight again recently since being released from prison last month after president trump commuted his sentence he had served nearly eight years behind bars for federal corruption charges
Austin's Morning News
Chicago: Illinois Attorney Registration And Disciplinary Commission Recommends Disbarring Rod Blagojevich
"Of them we sent the rod Blagojevich was freed from prison sentence commuted by the president the former Illinois governor could be disbarred state panel is recommending he be stripped of his law license the ruling by the Illinois attorney registration and disciplinary commission comes a week after commission attorneys reminded the three member board about things that led to bill going victories conviction on corruption charges and his fourteen year prison sentence the Illinois Supreme Court would have to approve the panel's decision before he suspended license is permanently
FT News
Is Trump abusing his power over the judiciary?
"This is news in focus where we offer our insights into the stories that matter before we go any further. I want to address today. Sentencing of a man Roger Stone Roger Stone. He's become the sentencing of Roger Stone. A LONGTIME CONFIDANTE DONALD TRUMP for lying to Congress obstruction and witness tampering was mired in controversy. Over how the. Us Justice Department handled the case under public pressure from the president. Mr Stone received a forty month sentence whereas prosecutors had recommended that he serve up to nine years. This followed seven cases of presidential clemency for White Collar criminals whose convictions included extortion fraud and lying to White House officials. Yes we have commuted. The sentence of Rod Blagojevich. He served eight years in jail We have Birdie character we have Mike Milkin. Who's gone around and done an incredible job? Offer is the independence of America's judiciary under threat. Or as Mr Trump simply using the powers a lot to him on the line with me to discuss this is ed loose. Us National Editor and columnist and Cottam Schober US legal and enforcement correspondent. I let's hear a clip from president trump taken. Just a couple of days before stone sentencing. Just so you understand. I chose not to be involved. I'm allowed to be totally involved. I'm actually I guess the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the country but I've chosen not to be involved but he is a man of great integrity. But I would be. I could be involved if I wanted to be man of integrity he is referring to is the US Attorney General William Bar but is this credible given the tweets he published before the sentencing of Roger. Stone got tell us first about the case of Roger Stone which you've covered for the F. T. Who was he exactly? What was his crime? And was the sentence particularly lenient for this kind of case. Roger Stone is a flamboyant veteran political operative in the US. His career goes all the way back to working on Richard Nixon's election campaign and he has basically been the person you call as a Republican presidential candidate. When you want to get your hands dirty. He called himself a dirty trickster and he is an expert in this sort of Makir side politics in the two thousand sixteen election. He was a sort of informal adviser to Donald Trump. And one of the things he was trying to do was make contact with wikileaks. When it became known that wikileaks had a trove of hacked emails from the Democrats to use it for political gain. The thing that he was convicted of is in two thousand seventeen when Congress began investigating. What exactly went on to twenty sixteen election? The House Intelligence Committee called on Mr Stone and asked him about some of the comments he had made during the campaign and Mr Stone lied to. Congress about who is intermediary was or who he was referring to when he was talking about having an intermediary allied when. He said that he didn't have any documents or any written materials or any taxed of his conversations with that intermediary. The sentence he eventually received was actually probably pretty in line with what other sort of white collar criminals convicted of lying to. Congress or the government have received the key issue in his case was he had threatened a longtime friend of his who was also another witness. Basically saying don't contradict my story and those thrashed included threatening his dog for example the key issue at stake was whether he was serious about that and whether therefore has sent should be jacked up significantly because he had made violent threats and eventually the judge took the view that although it was serious that he'd made violent threats. The person that he had threatened didn't actually feel like they were going to experience violence. Ed Tell us a bit more about Mr Stone. And the history of his friendship with the President and whether you think Mr Trump's tweets constituted interference in the judicial process. Yeah as I said. He's a flamboyant dirty tricks. Who GOES WAY BACK TO LATE? Six hundred seventy trump maximum in the late seventies. He was introduced to try but he quickly hit it off. They shed philosophy of you know playing to win that no method is invalid. Never apologize never explain. Stone set up with couple of other people are very well known lobby group in Washington. One of his clients was trump who was seeking tax breaks a casino. He was setting up in Atlantic City. And really they've been great friends since then so the ties between trump and stone go along way that very deep and they're often allegedly nefarious in terms of the League outlook from this. I have no doubt that trump will seek to podcastone fast opportunity. Trump's on the Guy Senate acquittal spring cleaning of his administration ruthlessly seeking out anybody who isn't very very loyal so to get rid of weather that Meghan appointees the civil savage. Anybody perceive does slightly disloyal. Not Enough is being pledged. Loyalty is a hugely important hugely. Important thing to trump and stern has shown loyalty he has not. He is not divulged things that have damaged the president. He's showing toughness. He's been very Trumpian in how he's dealt with. Franchi's accused the judge me by of being a biased judge which she's rejected this very trumpian and I have no doubt that it will culminate in at some point. President trump pardoning Roger Stern question about what trump actually did part of the reason. Roger Stone was so controversial. Was that line prosecutors involved in this case we're uncomfortable with what Mr Trump and the justice department we're doing. Can you explain that to viewers and why it was such a problem so there are four prosecutors who secured Mrs Jones conviction trial so the trial team? They filed their sentencing recommendation which was seven to nine years which there's no bones about it. That's a serious sentence for anybody to serve and then that evening all of a sudden early hours of the morning so after midnight trump tweets calling it a miscarriage of justice. He says this is unacceptable and Lo and behold the very next day the DOJ which is the US Department of Justice DOJ officials. Start saying that they agree that the sense would be unwarranted and adair kind of reverse it. The following day afternoon we see all four the prosecutors quit the case including one of them actually quits his job at the DOJ entirely and subsequently a new sentencing recommendation is put forward. Which says we'RE NOT GONNA ask for a particular sentence but it ought to be far less than seven to nine years. The idea that four prosecutors would quit a case. All at once is astonishing and it was a very serious and important moment and DOJ his trip shook the DOJ. It was a very dramatic moment in Washington and the question then was was doj senior leadership. William bar the. Us Attorney General. Was He reacting to an order from trump or was something else going on now the lion that DOJ has stuck to is that there was a miscommunication between the US Attorney's office in Washington DC and between main justice headquarters also in DC? But they're separate offices. Basically Mr. Barr says he was not expecting to see a seventy nine year recommendation. The new prosecutor brought on sat at the sentencing that the prosecutors who filed a recommendation that you good faith and thought that they had been given approval to do so and so Mr Bar said listen. This is not about trump. This is about. I think that that sentence was appropriate and I was not told about what was going on. The important thing here is whether or not Mr trump explicitly ordered the attorney general chains recommendation. It's still gets to this question about how our friends of the president being treated in their cases now it's pretty common across the US for federal prosecutors to request tough even harsh sentences. That's not unknown. You don't often see the attorney general weighing in to ask for lighter sentences and certainly DOJ policy at the moment is to prosecute people to the fullest extent of the law to secure the longer sentences possible so whether or not Mr Trump's tweets were an express order to Mr Bar that he followed a whether he was acting independently. It still gets to this question about if your friend of the president. How are you going to be treated by this? Doj while we're on the subject of Friends of the president. The other thing that happened last week was a series of presidential pardons for White Collar criminals specifically several that have connections to Mr Trump. I talk about Michael Milkin. What did he do and why does it matter that he was pardoned? Michael Milkin is to people on Wall Street a hero. He effectively invented the junk bond or high yield bond market in the eighties and then he was brought low by prosecutors and the SEC and eventually guilty to securities fraud and nine hundred ninety. He served about twenty two months in prison after being initially sentenced to ten years. Ever since then he's been rebuilding his reputation. He's a philanthropist. Now has the Milken Institute and for a long time people on Wall Street rich and powerful people have felt that he was prosecuted unjustly and deserved a pardon. The other person. Mr Trump pardon rod blagojevich is perhaps less of a popular figure in any area. He was the former Democratic governor of Illinois and was prosecuted for trying to extort a children's Hospital for campaign contributions and also trying to sell the vacated Senate seat of Barack Obama when he became president his case involves some quite lurid wiretap quotes. Where he talked about Mr Obama's Tennessee. Being a very valuable thing with various explosives and that he wasn't going to give it away for nothing. The fact that these pardons came just a day or two before Roger. Stone's sentencing is pretty mistake -able signal of Mr Trump's power to grant clemency. Whatever case that he wants so prosecutors can go after his fans and associates. Jerry can commit crimes. Judge can sentence them to however long they want ultimately. Mr Trump has under the constitution the pardon power and that was a pretty stark exercise of that pardon power on the eve of a close friend of his being sentenced. Ed Do you think we're gonNA see more interventions this spy trump perhaps related to the Mueller probe into Russian interference in the election. People like Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. Who Manafort I think would definitely be a case for another pop and I would be very surprised if Michael Cohen Without Him. Because Michael Cohen Tablet Trump describes a rat in that inimitable. Kind of multi language that the president sometimes uses Michael. Cohen testified to Congress very damagingly against president. Trump's he's considered to be a tax cut. The thing that links you know all these Haden's whether it's Michael Milkin Rod Blagojevich Obama Carrick. Us police commissioner who was the security guard incidentally for Rudy Giuliani. The thing that links all of them is that they're pretty well connected people who've committed white-collar crimes and who have upbeat through Fox News. In some cases that Bregovic wife spoke on Fox News. He carrots by on Fox News to capture the president's attention and I think the pattern is again very trumpian thing. It's it's about. People who trump identifies with he feels as acute. Did he feels. He's fatty toxic at he. Identifies WITH OTHERS. Who fit that description again though. The role of connections and of mutual friends and a Fox as dishing platform for pardon. These are very common. There's a pattern here. How big a cause of concern is all this. I mean it's trump's use of the pardon power markedly different from other presidents will Clinton famously on his last day in office Rich Hedge Fund billionaire and friend of the Clintons Madonna to the Clintons and that caused a lot of bad blood. Clinton was heavily criticised for intervening on behalf of a friend and it stood out and I guess the reason I mentioned that is it. Was Fatty unusual. It's now completely normal. Trump has happened many many people who under the inventions of us? Pardon history wouldn't ready quantify so I think he has changed quite dramatically and just to add on. There's an interesting historical link year. Another controversial use of the pardon power in the past was George H W Bush who infamously pardoned a whole swath of former officials who are indicted in connection to the Iran Contra Scandal and bill bar the current. Us Attorney General was back then also attorney general and so Mr Bar He had pushed not just for one. Pardon of Caspar Weinberger. Who was the former Secretary of defense? He said listen. If you're gonNA pardon any of these people you have to pardon all of them. I think his quote was in for a penny in for a pound and so you may have the curious historical echo if MR trump loses later this year of his attorney general at the end of his time in office being the same attorney general at the end of George W Bush's time in office advising him on. You know who to pardon before he leaves Hamas all this been received in Washington and then around the US do people care. It's been received as many other actions by president trump being received with a high temperature reaction inside the Washington. Beltway and shrug outside the GNOMES that being trashed here in a row very significant look at the powers of the presidency. The procedures the the president uses before he acts and the conventions so that being shredded caused great angst in Washington. Dc across the political divide and almost badly registered a ripple outside of Washington. The same of course applies to impeachment. It really didn't resonate much isn't resonating match in the Democratic primaries. In places like Iowa New Hampshire and so I think this is far far lower. It may be it should be different than ideal while but it registered FAFA LOA on the vote says right of than than even impeachment.
Masters in Business
Disgraced former governor among 11 criminals granted clemency by President Trump
"The former governor of Illinois granted clemency by president trump makes no apologies for his white collar crimes after a few Republican senators said president trump it learned a lesson from being impeached the president when asked said yes he learned that the Democrats were crooked a few days after he was granted commutations serving eight years out of fourteen former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich sounding a similar lesson learned and look back on some of the things you might have done different that I certainly wish I would have done more on I didn't know how corrupt the criminal justice system was intimidated to me he was convicted of trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat and shaking down a children's hospital for a campaign contribution Bob Costantini
Mass Wealth Radio with Jake Lowrey
President Trump pardons former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
"Post impeachment presidential pardons and appointments since the impeachment acquittal president trump has been flexing his executive powers by pardoning seven people this week including the junk bond king Michael Milken and Bernard Kerik the former New York City police commissioner he also commuted the sentences of former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich and three others he's also made some major appointments in an effort to surround himself with loyalists you can trust especially in the spy agency arena the most notable being Richard Grinnell the U. S. ambassador to Germany to the powerful position of acting director of national intelligence and they can get an acting position the president was able to sidestep Senate
5 Things
Miami: Fort Lauderdale resident and Trump Associate Roger Stone To Be Sentenced Thursday
"Stone is set for sentencing on Thursday the longtime ally of President Donald Trump will receive his sentence amid an outcry of political meddling by attorney. General William Bar in criminal cases tied to trump the sixty seven year old stone was found guilty. Last fall on seven counts of lying to Congress witness tampering and obstruction. Prosecutors initially recommended that he be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison. But the Justice Department which is headed by bar intervened to reduce the sentence following criticisms from trump. The president called the initial sentence recommendation an insult to the country but the recommendation was ridiculous. I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous and I look at others. That haven't been prosecuted or I know where it is now but when you see that I thought it was an insult to our country and it shouldn't happen and we'll see what what goes on there but that was a that was a horrible aberration. These are the I guess. The same muller people put everybody through hell and I think it's a disgrace. The Justice Department's interference has been widely controversial and received more backlash on Tuesday when the president commuted the prison sentence of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich while also announcing orden's for seven others former federal prosecutor. Juliet Sorensen told the Associated Press that? Trump's clemencies are sending an inconsistent message. Nobody's disagreeing that. It's Daddy did in the president's power to issue these pardons and commutations. It certainly is I think the question is whether or not there is a compelling basis for doing so. They don't seem to individuals to whom society has dealt unfair hand They don't seem should be convicted of crimes where there is increasing consensus. That insist were unjust. Or especially punitive
Jay Talking
Blagojevich praises Trump from Chicago home after release
"Former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich had nothing but praise for president trump who commuted his federal prison sentence this week in a twenty minute long statement outside of his home former Illinois governor rod will go away that said the president didn't have to commute his sentence president trump is a man who is tough and outspoken but he also has a kind heart you also use of trump terminology when discussing his own political battles I would allow that's one up in Springfield and my fellow Democrats down there we just want to raise taxes on the working people to raise their taxes they did governor said if he's allowed to he would vote for trump this fall
Bloomberg Law
Trump declares himself 'chief law enforcement officer' of America
"After commuting the sentences of former Illinois governor rod the glade vision former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik among others president trump seem to take his authority one step further yesterday I'm actually I guess the chief law enforcement officer of the country but I've chosen not to be involved my guest is former federal prosecutor Jennifer Rogers who teaches at Columbia Law School so chief law enforcement officer is the designation usually given to the U. S. Attorney General can trump claimed that title as president I don't think so I mean he's not a law enforcement officer at all I mean he's the head of the executive branch of course and you know it is true to say that there's no legal barrier to him presiding over and involving himself in the department of justice's work but that's not the same thing as saying he's the chief law enforcement officer which suggests that he actually has not just the authority but a reason to do that like he's supposed to be involving himself in that matter he said this after he granted clemency in several politically charged cases without going through the established pardon process what do you see this ad is it trump flouting his authority is it from setting up future pardons for friends or something else well I think both of those things I mean it you know some of the people pardoned or granted commutation yesterday did have relationships with him I mean rod Blagojevich for example was on celebrity apprentice with him years ago so it's certainly some of that but I think it's also the first point you make which is I don't care about how things are supposed to be done I don't care about the men and women of the justice department who worked so hard in these cases and who in the normal pardon process would give me the benefit of all of their wisdom about these cases I'm just going to do whatever I want to DO and guess what no one can do anything about it I mean that's a big part of the message here that he's not only flouting the regular kind of establish procedures by you know kind of thumbing his nose at all of us in a way there's nothing we can do to stop it well he also contrary to the stated preferences of Attorney General William Barr he continued his tweets about the Roger stone case and denigrated the judge in that case you have to wonder where he's going with that yeah I mean this is also part of a pattern he has been denigrating judges since he was a candidate you know remember he what he said about the judge who had part of the fraud case against his trump university so they know this is part of the pattern for him and the and again it's you know I can do what I want no one can stop me not even you know I'm I'm not even considering off limits that another branch of government you know he'll go ahead and denigrate judges and challenge them and of course the judiciary is you know a separate and co equal branch of government so that's part of his pattern as well I don't think the judge Amy Berman Jackson is or will be intimidated or wait at all by what the president is saying so won't have that particular impact but again it's part of him telling the rest of us you know I am I can do whatever I want I'm uncontrollable and he's going to continue to be that way I think what does this do to the career prosecutors at the justice department he's commenting on cases and judges and granting clemency without going through the process have you talked to colleagues in the justice department to see where they're at yeah it's really demoralizing for people at the justice department I mean I certainly spoken with many former colleagues of mine and I know also that people still in the department are just very concerned about what's going on you know they are taught from day one we all were that your job is to do the right thing it is in a political job you don't take those issues into account and you're not supposed to do favors for people you know friends of people in power just like you're not supposed to go after the political enemies of the people in power and so to see the president urging those things that are so contrary to the fair administration of justice as all people in the justice department swear to uphold is really concerning and so I think that the department is really revealing right now which is part of the reason that Bill bar with I think trying to calm people down with the statements that he made the other day there are also rumors that bill Barr was going to resign as Attorney General of course the department spokeswoman said he has no plans to resign with those rumors possibly aimed at an audience of one president trump I have no idea you know whether that was aimed at at trump to push back on him a little bit or aimed at the men and women in the department to say don't worry I take this very seriously and I'm ready to resign if you know our independent our ability to do our job continues to be meddled with by the president but I also hate those statements of the rumors of those statements with an entire shaker full of salt because you know it seems to me that bill Barr has been doing exactly what he had wanted to do in terms of increasing executive power at the expense of his own department since he came into the job so the notion that as successful as he's been seeking really exactly these results that he's working on now you know that he would resign now seems to me a far
Clark Howard
Trump commutes Blagojevich's sentence and grants clemency to 10 others
"President trump goes on a commuting Sri this week lifting the sentence of former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich and ten
Joe Pags
Chelsea Handler mocked after incorrectly suggesting President Trump only pardoned white people
"Home it would Chelsea handler tweeted something out of course he's an idiot and which she said was dead wrong but you could at any way you can I tell the people from the place for all of doctor missing comedian Chelsea handler made a bold assumption after president either yeah I'm sorry the color yeah your name I'm not I'm never never get anything that she's done but I did left one time so they could picture but hello made a bold assumption after president Donald Trump granted clemency to let people on Tuesday suggesting her social media followers and notice what color all the criminals are the him herself appears not to have right past the headlines in the twittersphere was happy to lighten her as the fact there was quite a bit of diversity in the group of people who received either partner computation percent so the president earlier in the day and president trump issued pardons to seven individuals and commuted the sentences of four others on Tuesday and several of the more high profile even controversial at the media and turn highlighted the release of former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich and the pardons a former New York City Mick police commissioner Bernard Kerik financier Michael Milken and a former San Francisco forty Niners owner Eddie DeBartolo junior of all the notable names dominated the presses one critic accuse president trump of granting favors to crooks with his executive actions as CNN's Chris Cuomo tweeted president trump just pardoned only elites several outlets took the time to reveal all of the people who were soon either reunite with their families or have the records wiped clean thank the president evidently miss Taylor did not read any such coverage well our president exonerates criminals and releases them from jail notice what color they all are handler tweeted apparently ignored the fact the number of women of color were pardoned or freed thinks president trump's actions on Tuesday I've noticed a lot of them are black what you trying to say Chelsea replied conservative writer and media analyst mark dice a director and producer Robbie Starbuck took the time to educate him the further between pictures of three of the women impacted with the message Chelsea this is the anti Stanton tiny cell and crystal Yost over granted committed sentences or a full pardon heated eleven commutations or pardons today at eleven seven looked white account and whites account for seventy seven percent of the population your those are tweeting have Chelsea handler Chris Cuomo apologize for their feigned outrage after getting if you're getting it wrong our own troops we put at real dollar from here just of the mid season real dollar terms pardons and commutations do you think they've done that innocent
Brett Winterble
Trump commutes Blagojevich's sentence
"Today former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich one of eleven white collar criminals to receive clemency yesterday from the president was released from prison today CBS news Natalie brand reports former Illinois governor rod look way that his back home in Chicago after president trump commuted reason sentence on Tuesday your supporters I say we ship them I love them I'm grateful to the Democrat who was once a contestant on Mr trump's celebrity apprentice was convicted in twenty eleven of trying to sell then president Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat book wave it was sentenced to fourteen years in prison the survey years in jail is a long time to go many people disagree with this Natalie brand CBS
Ben Shapiro
Chicago: Blago holds court, gives dramatic account of life behind bars, declares he’s a ‘Trump-o-crat’
"Former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich met the media outside of his ravens would manner home this morning the day after president trump commuted his prison sentence president trump is a man who is tough and outspoken but he also has a kind heart and this is an act of kindness and I also believe it's the beginning of the process to do actually turning justice into a justice in the wake of his release after eight years served on corruption charges blog vowed to work to reform what he called a broken criminal justice
Mark Mason
Blagojevich makes a statement outside his Chicago home
"Former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich makes a statement outside of Chicago home
Morning News with Manda Factor and Gregg Hersholt
Blagojevich posts sign thanking Trump outside his Chicago home
"The former governor of Illinois rod Blagojevich is getting ready to hold a news conference he is one of more than a dozen convicted criminals who sentences were either pardon commuted by president trump this week A. B. C.'s Ryan borough is outside the globe which is home in Chicago this is a very familiar scene to reporters who covered will go a bench when he went to prison back in March of twenty twelve a bank of microphones positioned on racks in front of his front door dozens of cameras crowded together on a small patch of grass news vehicles clogging up the narrow streets reporter settling in their news trucks trying to stay warm this time there's a heart balloon flowers and a sign that read thanks Mr president we're expecting the former governor to step out of his home and answer questions at eleven AM central time Ribeiro ABC news Chicago
Dan O'Donnell
President Trump pardons former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
"The issue is former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich he was freed from prison after he was granted they commuted sends by president trump and yes yes yes yes I know this was not a presidential pardon he was commuted there is a difference pardon means basically you're absolved of all crimes you get to go Scot free that's a pardon whether it's done by a president or or governor etcetera being commuted means it's just changing the type of punishment you still guilty but your charge less for example in again this is not applied to Broadway bridge which is to just to be clear it's like if you were given the death penalty and the president commutes you're sentenced to a life sentence you still guilty is still in prison but the penalty was in essence reduced that was the case for Robert boy **** the former governor of Illinois was serving a fourteen year prison sentence for taking bribes back in two thousand nine to sell the Illinois Senate seat that was vacated by Barack Obama the blood going which is the governor Obama wins the presidency back in two thousand eight Senate seats open the steel line from Scott Walker when he became governor Robert go age it's basically just said Hey this seat is open for business my friends actually he didn't say that you don't he said I have the core here he basically said and I have to believe myself out I've got this thing and it's a bleep in golden ticket after all it is the Chicago way this is how politics is done in Illinois well he was caught and he was caught rabbit my goodness you thought OJ was guilty as sin you thought the evidence was overwhelming there I I I can't think of anything more cut and dry then look away which is guilt no one denies he was guilty but it was sentenced to fourteen years in prison spend behind bars since two thousand eleven until yesterday president trump basically we descends letting go Scot free
The KFBK Morning News
Rod Blagojevich to hold a news conference after Trump commutes his sentence
"Former Illinois governor rod look with its will hold a news conference later today following his release from prison president trump commuted his sentence along with more than a dozen other convicted criminals or pardon by the president on
South Florida's First News with Jimmy Cefalo
Chicago: Rod Blagojevich Expresses ‘Everlasting Gratitude’ To President Trump After Being Released From Prison
"News former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich says he has everlasting gratitude for president trump for commuting his prison sentence logo adventure served as seven years of a fourteen year sentence on corruption charges including trying to sell Barack Obama's old U. S. Senate
WTOP 24 Hour News
Eye Opener: Trump pardons disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
"Former Illinois governor rod Blagojevich is waking up at home a day after president trump commuted is fourteen year prison sentence for trying to sell Barack Obama's former Senate seat I can't Mr trump pardon the former junk bond king an X. and Y. P. D. commissioner friend of Rudy Giuliani's and the former owner of the forty Niners Loyola University law professor Jessica Levinson I think this bodes very well for people like man afford stone in full and I think they're looking at the present he's using his partner thorny very broadly he has extremely broad discretion to use that authority he's absolutely exercising it