Feds Had Blagojevich Campaign Office Under Video Surveillance

Federal authorities used a video camera as part of their cache of tools to investigate Gov. Blagojevich in the final weeks of 2008 before his arrest, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The camera, which likely was remote-controlled, was trained on the Friends of Blagojevich offices, 4147 N. Ravenswood, to help FBI agents identify individuals entering and leaving the campaign offices -- and to identify who was talking on bugs agents covertly planted inside.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[denbenenki]

I want to read the TS myself. Anyone have a link?
These same people told me Mjackson had child pornography, that OJ killed two people, that the Vietnamese attacked the U.S., that spain had attacked the U.S., that mexico had attacked the U.S., that Castro was torturing his people, that saddam had wmds, that Bush had faulty intelligence, that 19 arabs attacked on 911, that bernie ward was a pedophile—
ALL OF THESE REPORTS WERE FABRICATED! Sadly, most have stuck.
THAT IS THE POWER OF A FASCIST STATE!

[postman606]

If Patrick Fitzgerald were sent to Alaska, Sarah Palin would have to helicopter to Russia.

[Whinger]

For goodness sake Rod get a haircut, it looks like Karl Roves wig!

[Bobleblah1]

You fools!

I cant belive that you people have not figured this out yet.
Rod Blagojevich has not been convicted of anything.
Here are a few questions for you.

1) Why has the prosecutor asked for 90 more days to gather "NEW" evidence?
2) Why did the the chief of staff (Rahm Emanuel) give and ACTUAL list of names to the Gov?
3) Why do you think those wiretaps havent been used yet?
4) Who do you think is on those tapes with Rod?
5) Why would the Governor give up his constitutional authority to pick the senator to Rahm Emanuel?
6) How much of a coincidence is it that these so called tapes and charges magically materialize only after Rod refused to be strong armed by Rahm or Obama regarding the pick?
8) How could you be Gov of Illinois and not have dirt on Rahm and Obama?
9) What does Rod know that has him so calm and collected and capable of picking Burris and having it work?
10) Has Roland Burris opened his senate office?

This whole thing was a shakedown from the start. Gov Blago refused to be strong armed, so they then tried to destroy him. Gov Blago refused to go down without a fight because he knows that
the people involved in the "so-called sale are members of Obama's staff.

There is your story people. If Gov Blagojevich goes down, so does Rahm Emanuel (at least).

[sasson]

Seriously, what is wr.ong with you? How do you explain the Tribune shakedown and the Hospital shakedowns? Why does he need 90 more days? maybe because the Tribune forced him to rush the arrest. in addition, politicians are coming out of the wood work to squeal.

I expect these sort of arguments from Republicans, not Democrats. The only person who tried to destroy G-Rod was G-Rod.

[mjb5406]

Look at my reply to him... he's as clueless as Burris is!

[Pete2069]

Wonder how many Republicans have been under 24.7 surveillance in the past 8 years..
And just where are the republicans which have committed treason , torture , lies for war , illegal spying , stealing of our tax money for corporations and the ones which has ..... all over our constitution and laws..

Where was this 24/7 coverage on Abramoff , Rove , Bush , Cheney , Halliburton and the republicans which have done serious damage to our citizens and our country..

This goes beyond stupidity..

[mjb5406]

(1) Everyone and their brother is running to squeal on Blago.
(2) Emanuel had every right to pass along a list of candidates from Obama
(3) Maybe because it hasn't gong to trial, and Blago hasn't even been indicated yet. DOH
(4) Maybe Rod's mom
(5) He has no constitutional authority to pick a US Representative; that authority is for appointing a senatorial replacement only
(6) And Patrick Fitzgerald, a Republican, just flipped over for the Democrats, right?
(7) Gee, you have NO #7!
(8) If there is no dirt, he won't have any... and if he has none, he'll just make some up like he always does
(9) He's got a massive ego and he's a narcissist and channels Nixon's idea that if the president/governor does something, it's not illegal.
(10) I'm sure he has... and already had "US Senator" chiseled onto his mausoleum.

You're obviously not from Illinois, and not well-read on the facts. We don't need more conspiracy theory tro//s here.

[postman606]

1) Not at all unusual for a prosecutor to ask for more time when "New" evidence is actually coming in.
2) There would never be a case when the person, outgoing would not have people who they felt would be appropriate replacements.
3)Goofy, the wiretaps are part of a criminal investigation going to trial, not fooder for the media.
4)Possible you.
5)He shouldn't have given it up, the Ill. Leg. should have impeached him a long time ago.
6)No coincidence, Fitzgerald peeped Blago's whole card.
8)You skipped 7 but you have no clue about Ill. politics, where every swinging dickie knew Blago was dirty and no one would have anything to do with him.
9)Rod is a socio-path on medication, which I suspect you should try. Roland was Blag's race card, everyone except you knows that.
10) First thing on your list that was right.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Stewart said it best: "Blago hosts the largest concentration of free-range follicles in America."

[postman606]

Excellent investigation, Blago's defense team has to drop back because they have no idea who is auxiliary in this process who will now be compelled to step forward and talk to prosecutors.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

When they take down Blago they will take him down hard; And all those socially with this man should be very worried.

[changeme09]

blago!!! please disappear, resign, leave...just go away! you'll never be our golden boy like OBAMA!!

[rebelright]

Why can't you people just stay on point? A wire tap was obviously obtained from a judge that
was convinced it was justified. It proved to be, in that Blago was trying to sell a Senate seat.
Your idea of justice is to attempt to find a conservative with a fault and make a comparison.
That's why the man is either guilty or not guilty under the law. What kind of a defense is:
"Yeah, but look what they did."

Can you just honestly state an opinion about the Blago situation without trying slam Republicans?
As that is your default position every time you have a bad one turn up, I didn't think so.

[mjb5406]

All the talk that the wiretaps were obtained illegally is a smokescreen promulgated by Ed Genson, Blago's bottom feeding attorney. Anyone with intelligence knows that wiretaps are not just "put into place" willy-nilly, which would result in them being thrown out of court.

[johnnyybgood]

Why is it that Bush/Gonzales prosecutors go after Democratic governors but no republican governors? They put the Alabama Gov in jail on bogus charges. They have Gov Richardson tied up in an investigation. They had an obvious mission from God to get Blago to throw mud on Obama's party. I think Congress should investigate the prosecutors. At least fire them all, start over, then investigate Gonzales boys.

[BethinIllinois]

As an Illinoisan, (and liberal), I am THRILLED with Fitzgerald's work. This guy doesn't care about who's Republican and who's a Democrat. He cares about the crime, he cares about the law. Blagojevich deserves to be on trial. It's not an obvious mission to derail Obama -- the investigation started years before Obama was running.

And what makes you think Richardson doesn't deserve to be investigated? My relatives in NM think he's way crooked. They're thrilled with that investigation.

[diogenes1967]

No, Fitzgerald also took down the Republican governor George Ryan. Fitz has been pretty impartial as far as corruption investigations are concerned in Illinois.

[sasson]

You are obviously not from Illinois. Nor do you seem to have access to wikipedia. This guys a modern Elliot Ness.

[mjb5406]

Fitzgerald scares people in both parties since he, unlike so many prosecutors, doesn't care about party affiliation... he'll take you down if you perform illegal acts whether you're a Democrat or a Republican. The guy's a straight shooter (and should be a role model for other prosecutors).

[postman606]

Fitzgerald put former Ill. Gov. George Ryan in jail, he's a Republican.

[PATina]

And they still don't have enough evidence to indict the man??? Sorry... I still think there is something wrong w/ this whole situation.

[Elderlady]

How much of this you reckon was backed up by warrants?

If they have "thousands" of wire-tap conversations, they must have also wire-tapped every pizza joint in Chicago.

This is looking more, and more, like Mr. Fitzgerald wanted some job security --- into the new administration. It's getting to the point, where it doesn't pass the smell test.

[Grunty1]

[How much of this you reckon was backed up by warrants?]

All of it. If they aren't backed up with warrants, none of the evidence would do any good at all.

[mcantwell]

How appropriate to have the advertisement just above, for the INTELSPY hidden wireless spy camera for $39.95.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Random thoughts:

1) Who watches the watchers?

I am still mindful of how the feds, for political purposes at the behest of Karl Rove, threw the Governor of Alabama, Don Siegelman, under the wheels of INjustice. And into prison.

2) DId Burris, or his emissaries, appear on the tapes?

[ideveloper]

1) A question as old as civilization...

2) From what I've read there's no evidence of a Burris connection to the scandal and it would be a safe bet to say he was picked specifically because he was far removed from Blago's exemplary administration and likely to come through his vetting clean.

[chitown]

More interesting - where are the transcripts of Harry Reid's conversations with Blagojevich? He was caught on tape. Blagojevich claims that Reid pushed Lisa Madigan and Tammy Duckworth for Obama's Senate seat, over the more qualified black candidates, because they "couldn't get elected statewide". Reid denies saying that, but "can't remember" the details of the conversation. Maybe Patrick Fitzgerald can provide clarity on this issue.

[LHoney]

I hope Mrs. Palin's office has the same accoutrements!