* Here’s some good news, the prosecution expects to wrap things up in two weeks…
Government prosecutors have on a couple of occasions said they’re ahead of schedule in their case against the former governor of Illinois.
Now, the Chicago Sun-Times has just learned that prosecutors may rest its case against Rod Blagojevich the week after next.
Judge James Zagel had set aside 15-17 weeks for the trial.
The trial is only now in its fourth full week and the government is already moving on from the bulkiest part of its case — testimony about the U.S. Senate seat.
While there’s expected to be additional testimony in that regard, including about a $1.5 million promise of a contribution in exchange for a Jesse Jackson Jr. appointment, numerous key recordings were already played about the Senate seat.
Government witnesses have taken the stand and delivered explosive testimony at a quick clip. Key witnesses — including former chief of staff John Harris and lobbyist Lon Monk were on and off the stand in a matter of a few days.
By contrast, Stuart Levine, the chief witness in the trial of businessman Tony Rezko, was on the witness stand in that trial for parts of 15 days.
* Remember, this is the same guy who blasted “Gucci-wearing lobbyists” and worked mostly out of his home and his campaign office…
In November 2008, Rod Blagojevich was plotting for a new job with his advisers, loudly complaining he was desperate for cash.
“Amy is going to college in six years, and we can’t afford it,” Blagojevich screamed on the Nov. 10 call. “I feel like I’m f—— my children.”
Four days later, he dropped $429 on two ties at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Two days after that, he hit Saks again, spending another $429 on a pair of neckties.
He was in way over his head…
Blagojevich and his wife were awash in more than $200,000 in consumer debt when he was arrested in December 2008, federal agent Shari Schindler said at the former governor’s corruption trial.
“Sometimes they used credit cards to pay for other credit cards,” Schindler said. […]
Several entries, Schindler said, showed Blagojevich spent more than $10,000 a day on suits. A basket-weave tie from Saks cost $179.85. Around the same time, Schindler said, Blagojevich spent $2,590 in a single store on shirts. A charge on Patti Blagojevich’s card showed a payment of $3,800 for furs.
The couple displayed a special fondness for Saks, spending around $57,000 there over the six-year period - the fifth-largest itemized expense; they spent $28,000 at Neiman Marcus, the 11th largest. By comparison, in the same period, they spent less than $50,000 on child care and less than $100,000 on groceries.
The Rezko cash payments weren’t enough. They needed a lot more money to stay afloat. As I told subscribers today, there’s your financial motive.
* Mary Schmich wraps it up nicely…
On Thursday, Rich Miller, who runs the Capitol Fax blog, asked his readers, “What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on an item of clothing?”
Few admitted to spending more than $500, even fewer said more than $1,000.
Money is a mirror. How you spend yours reveals who you are. It reflects your activities and your aspirations.
The $400,000 Blagojevich and his wife spent on clothes during his years as governor offer a telling portrait, and a sad one.
It’s a portrait of a man out of touch and out of control, consumed by appearances, striving to belong to an elite of leading men and titans that the best suits in the world would never let him enter.
The jury will never forget - and won’t likely forgive - that IRS testimony.
- How Ironic - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:01 am:
More than anything I think the jury is really going to connect with the prosecution over the clothing expense. It speaks of a person that is desparate for money, and has no control over his priorities.
It’s damming evidence that Blago was out of control, and the huge pile of debt that he was under.
No wonder he wanted so much cash.
I wonder how Sam Adams is going to try to rebut it.
- "Old Timer Dem" - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:09 am:
It is almost sad to hear how out of control Blago actually was/is. I feel sorry for his children. I also think a lot less of Patty for allowing and being part of all of the excessive behavior.
- Gunner the Runner - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:13 am:
it seems perfectly blagojevichian to in one moment declare he’s broke, then the next go buy some exotic suits.
One thing that has struck me is how insecure the man was. If you listen to the tapes you will hear the Governor consistently say “right? is that not true? am i correct?”> he does this usually after declaring some statement forcefully. “I have been a great Governor doing things for people… right, Fred?”
Maybe his suits were a way to wash out the inferiority complex he had. Whatever your politics, this story is so interesting. I guess i now understand older generations’ fascination with Nixon.
- Bluefish - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:16 am:
Blago appears to suffer from oniomania, amongst other mental disorders. I wonder if this inadvertently will help bolster his “he’s so nuts he didn’t know what he was doing” defense?
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:39 am:
Some analysts have still been saying there’s no smoking gun. They’ve missed the point. The opening for the defense was designed to portray Rod as a well-meaning but not very bright dupe who was manipulated by super-smart advisers into doing bad things. The tapes have obliterated that defense.
And if the jury still had any sympathy for this guy before yesterday, it was killed by finding out that he and Patti spent $400,000 spent on clothes in six year. The prosecution (primarily through those tapes Rod so desperately wanted played) has successfully alienated the jury from Rod and Patti. And that’s even before the Children’s Memorial testimony comes out.
Watch for the defense to neither call Rod and Patti or even mount a defense. They simply can’t let them testify.
This thing is over and they know it.
- just sayin' - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:43 am:
I like Sarah Palin (and I’m no fan of Blago) but just for comparison’s sake I would note that the RNC spent over $150,000 on clothes for her, and that was just over a few month period.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14805.html
Granted that caused a big dustup too.
Blago deserves to go down but so far the Fed’s case has been a lot weaker than I was expecting. A lot of the stuff about the senate seat for example just strikes me as run of the mill political sausage making.
What’s also struck me is that Blago was a piker in this thing. It was GOP honchos like Kjellander, Cellini, and Levine who really cashed in personally during the Blago Administration. Blago was mostly their stooge.
Just sayin’.
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:44 am:
Will these clothes get auctioned off when Rod goes to jail? How much would someone pay for a Saks tie worn by a convicted governor?
- Pat Robertson - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:46 am:
==I wonder how Sam Adams is going to try to rebut it. ==
First, he’ll get the girls a little cocker spaniel, which they will name Checkers. Then dress Mrs. B in a respectable Republican cloth coat. Then, when G-Rod takes the stand . . .
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:47 am:
Blagojevich knows the art of the political facade. He knows the art of the sale. He knows the power of charm. Knowing this and making this his political strength brought him incredible success as a politician. The higher he climbed on the political ladder, the tighter he clung to what worked to climb that ladder. We all do this. We all try to repeat our successes. Rewarding Blagojevich with political power based on these facades, only made the facades more important to him. Rewarding Blagojevich also brought him a feeling that he didn’t need to work, learn, or build up any skills beyond this. Again, we all do this in a way. If we can all eat tastey food on teh corner without costs, why learn to cook, clean, or even work?
Problem was, he won in 2002. The amateur needed to become a professional, and Rod Blagojevich didn’t have the spine to make the attempt.
So, once he climbed his way into the governor’s mansion, he hit a wall that required real ability he never developed. His strengths couldn’t resolve the reality he faced. He never even wanted to become our governor beyond using our highest elected office to become a president. He didn’t know how to hire, fire, compromise, administer, execute, or manage, so as governor he floundered. Like a stopped clock, occasionally he was right. But for the rest of the 23.58 hours and minutes of daily governing life - he was in varying degrees horribly wrong.
All he had was his facade. It cost thousands to maintain. It got him to the top of the Illinois political heap. Not bad for the expensive empty suit he really was. Insecure? Of course he is! He, of all people, know exactly how far off the rails he drove all of us into fiscal bankruptsy. He of all people, knew how stupid and incompetent he was.
Rod Blagojevich wasn’t insane. He was just like the rest of us when we find ourselves outgunned mentally, lacking wisdom and experience, and failing to find answers in text books and academics, in moments requiring more than ourselves. Rod Blagojevich faked it, hoping to make it to the White House. As he failed, he grasped at criminal acts, unethical behavior, and failing further, anger, profanity and doom.
His story isn’t that special. Whenever we see someone without the wisdom and experience for the political offices they seek, and they fail to demonstrate an ability to recognize their failures, or learn from them quickly - they will suck in office.
- Leave a Light on George - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:49 am:
Wonder how brother Rob feels now that he knows he was brought on board to keep big brother and Patti in undies from Sax Fifth Avenue?
- Irish - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 11:56 am:
It always seems like it is the little things that end up being the most damning. In all of the hoopla and buildup to the impeachment and the trial we heard about all of the statements that were going to be the one thing that was going to be the unraveling thread in Blago’s world. Yet here it is the amount of money he and Patty spent on clothes that actually shows the true character and mental state of the ex gov. AND it sears into the minds of the Jurors his motivation for more and more money. And THAT makes it very easy for them to believe all the rest of the evidence of his pay to play campaign to bolter his income.
Blago undone by $479.00 ties. Film at eleven. lol
- Secret Square - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:01 pm:
“Blago undone by $479.00 ties”
An image that has the potential to stick in the public memory much like Imelda Marcos’ shoe closet, Paul Powell’s shoeboxes, and the $600 Pentagon toilet seats.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
Just another chapter in how far Dick Mell carried the mope Blagoof…..Now we must ask who has toted NoTaxRushmore because it is clear that out on his own he is no NOVA
- soccermom - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:07 pm:
Rich makes a good point — where was Rod going to wear all this stuff, given that he spent the majority of his time running or watching cartoons with his kids?
And as the parent of a child who is about to go off to college, let me say that the amount he spent at Oxxford alone would be enough to cover four years at an Ivy League school.
Maybe they can hold a garage sale and net some cash for the girls’ college fund…
- Responsa - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:11 pm:
Do brothers Rod and Rob wear the same size? There may be some nice “hand me downs” available in a little while.
- Vole - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:14 pm:
Was there some coke or dope sewed into those ties?
- Gregor - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:37 pm:
$400 ties… I see a lot of Father’s Day ads based on Blago for next year.
- Steve - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:44 pm:
400K is a lot money to spend on clothes. It’s good to know Blago doesn’t have a gambling problem like Chris Kelly and Tony Rezko. Blago would never have a money problem because of gambling. Just a clothing problem. Blago levitates of his friends Lonk Monk, Chris Kelly ,and Tony Rezko.
- Chad - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:46 pm:
What a burden for the defense. Every day Blago shows for court, the jury will be checking out the duds. Every glance at him in the courtroom in is Oxxfords and ties will telegraph “out of control”. I just came back from lunch with six non-political types who raged at the guy the entire hour. Blago’s guilt was nailed for them with this evidence.
- paddyrolingstone - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 12:54 pm:
All of these comments are right on the money (so to speak). I try federal criminal cases for a living and that batch of evidence regarding the clothing is now impossible for the defense to overcome. I think the defense can’t really put on a case now - there’s no way I would let my wife go up there and try and explain this ghost payrolling stuff and as for Rod testifying, I’ll believe it when I see it. I have a case of Yuengling beer riding on his testimony. If he doesn’t take the stand, its all mine.
- Northside Bunker - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
I don’t think the last six Illinois governors spent that much on clothes. What a nimrod!
- dupage dan - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
Not nice to flaunt the easy beer, paddyrolingstone. Maybe you could make use feel better if you offer to share
Looks like this might be over before it really began. The Adam tag team may try to stretch it out but they appear to be in over their heads. Daily demands for a mistrial seems to be the only thing they got right now. What a legacy for their children to endure. After RB is convicted and imprisoned the rest of the family may have to move to one of Saturn’s moons to get far enough away from people who will know about this case. Of course, that was because neither one could keep their mouth shut - more for their children to deal with once they get older. Truly pathetic.
- If The Shoe Fits - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:15 pm:
Wonder if Rod will change his attire for the remaining trial?
Jogging Suit?
T-shirt & Jeans?
Cargo Sorts & Tank Top?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:33 pm:
You’ve got to be a real chump to spend $400 bucks on a couple of ties.
- plutocrat03 - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:34 pm:
The window into his conflicted priorities is chilling. What parent has not shivered at the prospect of paying the costs of a college education for one not to mention multiple children?
To then go and spend hundreds of dollars of money he did not have on non-essentials while complaining the he has no money to educate his chilling is simply mind boggling.
Unfortunately it is also the mindset of the Legislature who has spent hundreds of millions on ‘nice to have’ items in the budget while not having the means to do so.
Are there any adults left in Illinois government?
- Secret Square - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:35 pm:
Where was Rod going to wear all this stuff? Maybe he was getting a head start on his White House wardrobe… just about every POTUS in the past century has worn an Oxxford suit after all.
- bored now - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:39 pm:
pivoting off of responsa’s comment: can we force rod to sell his clothes before the government has to pay for (the remainder of) his defense???
- justsickofit - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:41 pm:
I am bothered by the judge allowing the tie/underwear testimony. Showing their consumer debt would have gone to motive without detailing every dime of it. It just seems purposefully inflammatory to me, and the comments here, rather show that. Maybe Rod is another Mary Todd Lincoln, and bi-polar? I am bothered by a whole lot in this trial. Potentially exculpatory recordings, and the judge says he’ll allow them to be played if the defendant takes the stand, which he is not required to do under the constitution? Not allowing the defense to hear the interview the FBI had with Obama? Isn’t the defense allowed to decide the probity of that? Zagel trying to dissuade the prosecution from calling Rezko? Ending defense questioning for no good reason that I can decipher, and allowing ties and underwear? I want to hear about the special pot being set aside to be divided up later among the conspirators from the pay to play crowd, like Kejellander. The rest of it is all sausage making, like “just sayin’” says.
- Mr. Green Jeans - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:44 pm:
Been about two years since I posted this, and what a wild ride it has been. Thanks to the GOP for making me famous with the pins at the State Fair.
- Mr. Green Jeans - Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 2:41 pm:
I know the truth, and I have nothing to fear but the truth. 22:12
- If The Shoe Fits - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:45 pm:
July 1st 2010 / Day 21 - That’s got to be a record for Rod. Showing up to do the “people’s business”.
I have a feeling if really gets on the stand he”ll go into vapor lock.
- Excessively Rabid - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:55 pm:
As much as I loathe Blago, spending insane amounts of money you don’t have for clothes you don’t need so that you can feel like something you’re not is not a federal offense. I just hope the prosecution can tie this together so that this guy is behind bars for a very, very long time.
- Secret Square - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
On a lighter note, the end of the week video ought to be either “Sharp Dressed Man” or “I’m Too Sexy.”
- paddyrollingstone - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 1:59 pm:
The question regarding whether the judge should let in this type of evidence is whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs the possible prejudice to the defendant. The money being used for expensive clothes is not even a close call for the judge. It is, the G believes, evidence of motive - the guy lived an expensive lifestyle and needed more money. It makes me feel bad for the defense now to have to address such ridiculous behavior by the Blagos.
- If The Shoe Fits - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:02 pm:
The fireworks are going to occur after the 4th of July for Rod & Patti Show. The prosecution is going be presenting extremely damming evidence in weeks to come.
Rod may need to purchase some Depends for the ride.
Are Depends considered attire?
- KeepSmiling - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:20 pm:
Or, that being a politician is expensive. And you’re assuming Paddy, that the jury doesn’t have experience in spending well beyond their means or know of people who have. You might have noticed a few foreclosures lately.
Anyway, does he still have all of those clothes? If we don’t know that, I think we should all sit down, and wait to hear from the Defense.
Some people constantly buy clothes or shoes and return them. They wear them once, and bring em back. Serial returners. Or, they buy them, wear them a bit and sell them at an Oak Street consignment store. Also, maybe Rod felt compelled to buy expensive thank you ties for donors, and the expensive obligation was starting to get on his nerves.
I’m not trying to defend the guy, but I do believe in listening to the Defense’s side of the story.
- JJJ - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
Shopping
Rod Blagojevich spent more on high-end, tailored clothing, fancy ties, shoes and even underwear, than he did on anything else — including his mortgage, child care and private school tuition. That is all according to an IRS agent — numbers guru Shari Schindler — who was tasked with crunching the numbers from the Blagojevich family 2002-2008.
Here’s just some examples of credit card purchases, according to the government.
Jan. 16, 06: $179 basket weave tie. Jan. 17, 06: $195 another high-end tie. Jan. 2006: Oxxford custom clothing: $7,781 May 25, 06: ties, $664 at Saks May 26, 06: $2,973 on Geneva Custom Shirts Nov.06: $406 Allen Edmonds shoes Nov. 06: $600-plus on ties, Saks Jan. 2007: $200-plus on ties Geneva Custom shirts $1,977
Late January 08: $13,758 on Tom Jones/Oxxford clothing Jan. 5: Saks ties $200 Feb 9: Saks ties $201 Feb 15: Saks ties $188 Nieman Marcus $594
Fall of 08: $219.99 ties Hanro underwear $63 Sept. 08: Geneva Custom shirts $1,400-plus Tom Jones/Oxxford $5,000
The expenditures go on and on…
Rod & Patti
1. Knowing that someone’s got your back: priceless
2. Your world is in perfect harmony: priceless
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:24 pm:
Fitz’s team is putting together a similar type of fed prosecutorial plan like the DOJ used in the corporate fraud cases from the early 2000s. The Enron guys and Dennis Kozlowshi were the poster children for robbing their companies and shareholders blind so they could enjoy lavish lifestyles while thinking they were too smart to get caught. Blago is not much different. He turned a job so many people can only dream about into a factory of scheming and expensive suits and incompetence. The motive for Blago is the same motive shown by the former (real) corporate raiders: excessive living with a penchant for believing you’ll never have to pay the piper.
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:26 pm:
on behalf of those who crossed Mary Schmich’s $500 line,
myself included,…bite me.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:44 pm:
Team Sleep,
That is a good point and it reminds me how much Blago would always refer to himself as the CEO of a 60 billion company (not understanding he was the CEO of a 60 billion NON-PROFIT public trust and not a for-profit publicly traded corporation).
I just am really glad the prosecution got this clothes stuff so I feel better about him winding up behind bars. Brilliant lawyering by the prosecution to have this set up so the clothes stuff is what the jurors are left to think about during the big holiday weekend.
- Vole - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
JBT caught on video dancing with George Ryan. OMG! What was she thinking? (Blago campaign ad/s)
What were we thinking?
You just can’t make this stuff up.
- 3 beers to Springfield - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 3:13 pm:
“Sometimes they used credit cards to pay for other credit cards,” Schindler said. […] Sounds a lot like the State of Illinois.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 3:20 pm:
Mhmmm…and who was the “problem child” that released that video?
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 3:23 pm:
paddyrolingstone,
I couldn’t agree with you more. The spending goes directly to motive and should be allowed. If they just entered the amount of consumer debt without any details, it would be without foundation. While prejudicial, these are the facts and they are probative. Are they prejudicial? Yep - because they apparently very accurately capture the motives of the warped mind that is Rod, which is also on full display in the tapes.
And while I’m also concerned about some of Zagel’s sarcasm in sustaining objections as being prejudicial, I doubt it rises to the level of reversible error.
The simple fact is the Adams’ CLEARLY don’t know how to try a case in Federal court. The defense has been repeatedly warned and advised prior to this trial that the lawyers need to understand the differences between practicing in Federal Court vs. 26th and Cal. Apparently they ignored everyone who said that and now are paying the price.
I have no sympathy for anyone at that table other than Rob Blagojevich who I think is getting a raw deal and who I think will win on appeal even if he is convicted.
For Rod “play all the tapes” and Patty “pay me 12k a month for a ghost payrolling job” and the Adams’ “objection sustained”, I have no sympathy.
- lakeview - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 3:46 pm:
The prosecution had to show what the Blagojevich’s spent their money on. Otherwise, the defense would have used the “poor middle class” defense and tried to argue that the family simply didn’t have enough money to cover a house and education in Chicago on a public servant’s salary. No matter that they could have lived at taxpayer expense in the Springfield school district.
A lot of families in Chicago have big mortgages and big school worries, even with decent incomes. They aren’t spending money on expensive clothes, though, although they may be sad that they can’t.
- Zora - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 3:58 pm:
The prosecutors had to explain in detail where the money went for two reasons:
First, in order to argue that current debt and future gain were the motives, the feds have to provide details that prove this and that prove it would have gone on, had the arrest not interrupted the “crime spree.”
As the details that trouble justsickofit show, Blago and Patti didn’t stop after they built a nice wardrobe. These two had first class tickets to Imelda-land.
Second (KeepSmiling, I’m talking to you now), anyone who knows anything about Blago knows that he’d use a human shield to cross the street. In the absence of these details, the defense would claim he went into debt to shoe orphans, provide mammograms to grandmothers and healthcare for all tots. The feds had to get the real story out first.
Like the classic narcissist that he is, Blago screamed about his kids’ college funds and draped himself in ermine.
He’s not a doofus. He’s evil.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:05 pm:
I can easily follow Zora’s logic.
- Secret Square - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:12 pm:
So Fitz actually arrested Blago “in the middle of what can only be described as a political corruption SHOPPING spree.”
- KeepSmiling - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:31 pm:
==anyone who knows anything about Blago knows that he’d use a human shield to cross the street==
And he wouldn’t just use any old humans for shields, he would make darned sure they were children.
But presumably, the jurors were selected because they don’t know much about Blago. I just think this may not be as big of a gotcha as others do. His overspending is not a crime, it’s part of his personality. Moat people have at least one overspending big shot in their family, but they don’t think it directly gives their relative motive to be a criminal. Still, I can’t wait to see what Blago wears when he takes the stand, presuming he’s still planning to do so.
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:33 pm:
As a state employee who was forced by Blago to take an ethics test, I am enjoying this immensely. In our office we were forced to display a poster saying, “I’m and ethical employee. Are you?”. All this fake ethics talk from a guy who has no principles whatsoever.
What an arrogant, self-absorbed nincompoop.
- one day at a time - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
I bought a $25.00 tie, once about 25 years ago. It comes back in style every 4-6 years….so some of Blago’s should come back in style upon his release from federal corrections.
At least they will be stain free.
- Zora - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 4:42 pm:
In their closing arguments, prosecution can paint a picture of this checked-out, decked-out do-nothing governor hanging out at home, taking calls while pumping iron and then connect it to next sweet gig he tried to stomp and scream his way in to.
If the feds didn’t get him now, they would have gotten him when he was a checked-out, decked-out do-nothing CEO “running” a 501(c)(4) from his over-mortgaged home in some Virginia suburb.
The IRS doesn’t cotton to flim-flam advocacy groups that keep dollars out of the tax base. Duh. As end games go, his was pretty lame.
- Emily Booth - Friday, Jul 2, 10 @ 7:53 pm:
Excuse me for commenting — this was all about clothes? We had severe staffing shortages after Blago took office. I didn’t get a raise for 4 years. It was all because of clothes?
- Excessively Rabid - Saturday, Jul 3, 10 @ 7:44 am:
I didn’t know this: Joseph Aramanda, who testified under immunity in mid-June, was the manager of the Chicago census office.
http://www.mytwocensus.com/tag/joseph-aramanda/
- justsickofit - Saturday, Jul 3, 10 @ 8:42 pm:
As JJJ itemized, there was, to me, unusual detail in the clothing expenditures. Motive can’t be proved up saying the couple spent 60-70g’s a year on clothes on top of mortgage, private schools, etc., with a few examples of expensive suit, shirt or fur purchases, to detail the consumer debt? I conceeded the spending went to motive — but underwear? I think Team Sleep who wrote that this is being tried like the Enron corporate corruption cases were, is correct. Justice should not depend on trying to prejudice a jury, but, then I am old school, and I hold government attorneys to a higher standard.