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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Uh-oh, Jessie Jr.!
2008-12-22
A key figure in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat has sought immunity from federal authorities in return for his cooperation in their ongoing probe, the Chicago Tribune has learned.
The Feds would have had Junior dead to rights if the Trib had kept their mouths shut for another week or two ...
Raghuveer P. Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman and political fundraiser, is the unnamed "Individual D" who prosecutors say was being squeezed by the governor for campaign cash in return for appointing U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, sources said.

Investigators appeared at Nayak's Oak Brook home the morning the FBI arrested Blagojevich, the sources said. Nayak was among a number of people connected to the case who were contacted by federal agents that day.

Nayak has not been accused of wrongdoing and declined to comment. It is unclear what information he can provide to authorities, who said they had more work to do after moving quickly to interrupt the governor's alleged scheme.
He's the linchpin: Blago wanted money in return for the Senate seat. Nayak is one of Junior's bagmen. Nayak raises the money for Blago who gives the seat to Junior who in the near future shows his gratitude to Nayak.
The 54-year-old millionaire, who made his fortune in medical businesses, was until recently little-known outside Chicago's close-knit Indian community and the state's political fundraising circles. But since the governor's Dec. 9 arrest, Nayak has emerged as a central figure in a scandal that has shaken the foundation of Illinois politics and thrust the state into a spotlight of national scorn.

The Tribune has reported that Nayak hosted an Oct. 31 luncheon where he discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade the governor to choose Jackson. The congressman's brother Jonathan appeared at a Nayak-sponsored fundraiser for the governor three days before Blagojevich was arrested.

The congressman has acknowledged speaking with Nayak about his desire for the Senate seat but said he did not endorse and was not aware of a fundraising effort to support his bid.

On Sunday evening, Jackson's lawyer, James Montgomery Sr., reacted to the news of Nayak's bid for immunity by saying, "If that is indeed the case, and if that cooperation relates to my client, then [Nayak] is trying to save his own skin. That's all I have to say."
"The doity rat!"
Attempts to reach the congressman were unsuccessful Sunday evening.
Posted by:Frank G

#14  Blago's wife has the dirt on Obama. She was the realtor in the land and house deal between Obama and Rezko, so Blago knows what she knows. Should be fun times ahead.
Posted by: tipper   2008-12-22 20:40  

#13  Who will Blago rat out for a reduced sentence at Club Fed? The suspense is killing me.
Posted by: ed   2008-12-22 18:31  

#12  Ahem, theres also big daddy Jesse Sr's role in Jr's and Blago's activities.
Posted by: Hupimp Borgia3748   2008-12-22 18:23  

#11  Steve White - True - I'm assuming Holde ris confirmed, and it may be worse it he's not. At least a bit of his dirty laundry is being aired. If PEOTUS has to move to plan B that may be even worse - see Reno, J..
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division   2008-12-22 17:41  

#10  That assumes Holder is confirmed, and I dunno about that. But you've got a point: whoever the AG is, Mayor Short Shanks is counting on that person to muzzle the DA for Northern Illinois ...
Posted by: Steve White   2008-12-22 16:11  

#9  RJ basically hits it in #4. Fitz himself said as much in the news conference. The dilemma seemed to be that the Trib was tracking the events (as well the should) and with or without sources in Fitz's office, they were printing enough so that the crooks could see what was coming.

There's no way, nor even interest in Fitz stopping that generally - he only asked for help in what appear to be some very specific instances related to methods and ops..

The decision then was driven by the imminence of the appt. - which may have been the afternoon of the day Blags was arrested. Recall that Jr. and Blags met the day before, and the fundraising preceded this by a few days - seems all the fixes had been made, and the only thing left was the criminal accounting. Wonder if Fitz and the FBI have the subpoenas and banking records lined up to show that as well?

Finally, the ultimate political deal may well be that Fitz keeps his job, subject only to the great one himself not being touched. Of course, the arguments will be who is the great one, BHO or Richie or both, and the extent to which this can all be reeled back into AG Holder's domain and a supine press.

Perhaps.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division   2008-12-22 15:48  

#8  The Trib was going to publish and said so. Fitz then made the arrest as a pre-emptive measure.

As for getting too close, you'll have to ask the Trib's editors and publisher.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-12-22 15:25  

#7  The Feds would have had Junior dead to rights if the Trib had kept their mouths shut for another week or two ...

Was it the Trib or did Fitz pull the trigger? What was the investigation getting too close to?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-12-22 13:37  

#6  "Nayak was part of the Blagojevich transition team that recommended appointments to health-care boards."

IIRC, When Barak Obama was chairman of the Illinois SenateÂ’s health committee he too was involved in recommending appointments to the Health-care boards. But IÂ’m sure thatÂ’s just a coincidence.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2008-12-22 13:25  

#5  It depends upon how much you like to stir the bugs you find under the rock.
Posted by: tipover   2008-12-22 12:16  

#4  The way I heard it the FBI jumped the gun to avoid the real turmoil of an arrest after the Senate Seat had been sold. This action very well might mean that a few people walk when its all over but is probably in all of our best interests in the long run.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-12-22 10:33  

#3  Oh, no! Not the dreaded FFFI!
Spam content is 0 percent
Posted by: Fred   2008-12-22 09:52  

#2  fat friggin fingers of incompetence
Posted by: Frank G   2008-12-22 08:42  

#1  dammit! Entered without the link
Posted by: Frank G   2008-12-22 08:38  

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