Gov's 'clout lists' surface in Rezko trial
FEDERAL COURT | Records reveal who fund-raiser pushed for state jobs
"Clout lists" that tracked politically backed job seekers to Gov. Blagojevich's administration have surfaced in the case of indicted businessman Tony Rezko, with Rezko's lawyers arguing the documents shouldn't be allowed as evidence in his upcoming corruption trial.
The lists, which total 26 pages, offer yet another glimpse into the administration's hiring practices shortly after the governor took office in 2003. They include dozens of recommendations made by Rezko, other Blagojevich fund-raisers, members of the General Assembly and lobbyists for full-time jobs and seats on unpaid state boards and commissions.
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The lists also use some of the same political-sponsorship codes as a separate clout list the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed in May 2006. Rezko, for example, is identified as "TR." Another top Blagojevich fund-raiser, Christopher G. Kelly, is "CK."
One of the lists, Rezko's lawyers said, is a spreadsheet of "recommended candidates" for state jobs "made by or through Rezko" to Blagojevich's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. That list includes 39 recommendations, including one for Joseph Aramanda, a Glenview businessman whom sources have identified as the unnamed "Individual D" in prosecutors' case against Rezko. Aramanda allegedly was part of a kickback scheme involving Rezko and co-defendant Stuart Levine, who has pleaded guilty and is to testify in Rezko's trial.
Aramanda was to be considered for a "budget/financial aid" job. But like 32 of the people on the list, state records show he wasn't hired.
The governor's office wouldn't vouch for the authenticity of the lists and defended its hiring practices, which have been under federal scrutiny since before Rezko's October 2006 indictment. The governor has maintained political considerations haven't played any role in hiring decisions.
"We don't know what they're referring to," spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said of the hiring records. "We made hiring decisions based on who we thought was right for the particular position."
Rezko lawyers charged that the government is trying to wave clout lists in front of the jury "to show that Rezko wielded great influence in state government." But his lawyers contend that the trial involves Rezko's involvement specifically with two state boards and not his role in getting state jobs for friends.
Rezko, according to the lists, appeared to be pushing several candidates for what one of the spreadsheets describes as the "Hospital Licensing Board," an apparent reference to the scandal-plagued state Health Facilities Planning Board that Rezko allegedly used to leverage campaign contributions to Blagojevich from hospitals seeking state approval for projects.
Among those candidates were Dr. Paul Ray, a Rezko business partner, and Charles Hannon, whom Rezko allegedly owed millions of dollars and who is identified by the feds in the Rezko case as "Co-schemer F."
Ray is listed as "Investor 1" in a Rezko indictment, a title that stems from Ray's ownership role in a Rezko fast-food business. Neither Ray nor Hannon have been charged, and neither was appointed by the governor.
Another planning board candidate linked to Rezko, according to the records, was Dr. Ronald Michael, who has contributed $63,810 to Blagojevich's campaign. Michael, too, was not appointed, though a Sun-Times report in October raised questions about how Blagojevich administration officials signed off on his purchase of a Downstate bank given that he had once headed a company that went bankrupt.
Rezko also pushed for the appointment of Chicago banker Demetris Giannoulias, brother of Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, to the Illinois Finance Authority board, records show.
Other Rezko-backed candidates on the lists of potential state job applicants or of those seeking state board appointments included Jabir Herbert Muhammad, a Rezko business associate who City of Chicago officials say headed a minority-front company that enabled Rezko to open three Panda Express restaurants at O'Hare Airport.
Contributing: Steve Warmbir