By By: The Associated Press/IL Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wsiu/local-wsiu-907950.mp3
Illinois Radio Networks Dave Dahl reports on FBI wiretap tapes that are now available to the public.
Chicago, IL – An IRS investigator says she has traced money from a lobbyist who made a huge commission off a $10 billion sale of state bonds to top fundraisers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Shari Schindler testified at Blagojevich's corruption trial and focused on $600,000 that went from lobbyist Robert Kjellander to Joseph Aramanda, a longtime friend of jailed fundraiser Tony Rezko.
Kjellander and Aramanda have said the money was a loan. But Aramanda said Rezko ordered him to dole it out to a list of people.
Schindler said two men who got hundreds of thousands from Aramanda then sent money to companies operated by Rezko _ and some then flowed to fundraiser Christopher Kelly.
Meanwhile you can play along at home with the federal jury hearing the corruption case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The U. S. Attorney's office has posted its exhibits - including audio of wiretapped conversations - on its web site.
The tapes played for the jury are part of the government's attempt to establish a "pay-to-play" operation in which the governor would sign bills in exchange for campaign contributions.
In a conversation with lobbyist and former chief of staff Lon Monk, Blagojevich instructs Monk to get a contribution from race track owner John Johnston a certain amount of time before Blagojevich signs legislation benefiting horse tracks - so it does not appear as if the two are connected.
Within three days of Blagojevich's arrest, he and his brother, Robert Blagojevich, exchanged words over the campaign's faltering fund-raising. "This is not good," says the then-governor, raising his voice. "Your numbers keep coming down. You were safely at 4 million, now we're 250,000 short of that?" Later in the conversation, Robert Blagojevich quips, "Don't do any (expletive) poinsettias and Christmas pictures. Factor that in!" Rod Blagojevich responds, "No, that's an investment. Those are my supporters, man." "Yeah, okay!" his brother chuckles.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to scheming to sell President Obama's former senate seat and plotting to launch a racketeering scheme.
