Operation Board Games
Operation Board Games is the code name for an FBI investigation into fraud and extortion against the incumbent Governor of Illinois , Rod Blagojevich , that was initiated by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in 2003.
The name of the operation refers to the board of governors for the Teacher's Pension System and the Health Facilities Planning Board .
history
In the summer of 2006, Fitzgerald first made public that the FBI was investigating a localized endemic hiring fraud within state agencies in Illinois ( Operation Board Games ) for which Governor Blagojevich was responsible. Despite the investigation and the reference to a number of eyewitnesses, no charges were initially brought against the governor. The charges brought against Blagojevich by Chicago federal attorney Edward Vrdolyak in May 2007 revealed his involvement in illegal real estate speculation (sale) of various properties in the Chicago Gold Coast neighborhood . In addition to the governor, 14 more people could be charged based on the results of the Operation Board Games investigation . The 13th defendant, William F. Cellini, Sr., was the last before the main charges against Blagojevich and Harris in October 2008.
The focus of these trials was Governor Blagojevich, whose disclosed criminal acts led to the Rod Blagojevich corruption scandal .
"A longtime political insider in Springfield was indicted today on federal corruption charges for allegedly conspiring with two Chicago businessmen and others to obtain political contributions for a certain public official by shaking down an investment firm that was seeking a $ 220 million allocation from the state Teachers Retirement System (TRS). "
The former Senator and President-elect of the United States, Barack Obama, was neither a target of the investigation nor could any misconduct be proven, as Fitzgerald expressly pointed out to the media. The 2008 presidential election was also not mentioned in the indictment, contrary to what the media would have us believe when they pointed out the Senate post that had only become vacant due to the election and speculated about its reassignment.
Obama's connections to one of the target persons in the investigation, Tony Rezko , who was already indicted in 2006 and arrested in 2008, was repeatedly discussed in the media. For example, the Obamas family would have acquired a piece of land from his wife Rezko. While the transaction was legal and at market prices, it was only carried out after Rizko was indicted.
Web links
- Businessman and Political Fundraiser Antoin Rezko Indicted in Two Fraud Cases, Including Scheme to Extort Millions of Dollars from Firms Seeking Teachers' Pension Fund Investments (English; PDF file; 95 kB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Ray Long: Pulling No Punches Rod Blagojevich was no student – of boxing or school – but he's learned the tough lessons of politics . In: Chicago Tribune , October 25, 2006, p. 1. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
- ^ John Flynn Rooney: Feds Indict Vrdolyak in Real Estate Scheme . In: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin . 153, No. 93, May 10, 2007, p. 1.
- ↑ Michael Scherer: Governor Gone Wild: The Blagojevich's Scandal ( English ) In: Time . Time Inc. . December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ↑ Podgor, Ellen S .: Operation Board Games - Another Indictment in Illinois ( English ) In: White Collar Crime Prof Blog . November 5, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ↑ Randall Samborn: William F. Cellini, Sr., indicted for alleged role in defrauding teachers retirement system with Rezko, Levine and others ( English , PDF; 80 kB) October 30, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008. ( Page not more available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Isikoff, Michael: Corruption in the Land of Lincoln: These shoulderstand be heady days in Springfield, but state politicians have been jolted by unseemly accusations . In: Newsweek . Newsweek, Inc .. November 15, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ↑ ILLINOIS GOV. ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN HARRIS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES ( English ) United States Department of Justice . December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ↑ Korecki, Natasha: Timeline: 'Operation Board Games' . In: Chicago Sun-Times . Digital Chicago, Inc .. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Information: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
