Avid PUMAs may remember the article we had about Alexi Giannoulias alleged banker to the mob, Obama fundraiser, DNC Convention speaker, and Illinois' State Treasurer.
We got word earlier this week that Tony Rezko had started talking about Alexi as part of his plea-bargain negotiations. Earlier today, Michael Sneed, columnist for the Chicago Sun Times had this blurb:
Sneed hears rumbles political fund-raiser/fixer Tony Rezko, who is now singing sweetly to the feds from his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, has been talking about his "dealings" with a Chicago bank, which has political connections.
Stay tuned.
Hmmmm. Hillbuzz it seems also got independent confirmation on the "bank" in this blurb being Broadway Bank. Giannoulias was the bank's vice president and chief loan officer under whose watch more than $15 million in loans was approved. Some of these loans went to Michael "Jaws" Giorango, a Chicagoan twice convicted of bookmaking and running a nationwide prostitution ring.
What the heck is the Rezko connection in here you may wonder, PUMA Pundit, aren't you merely grasping for straws you may think? Not at all, there is a major connection.
According to an article in The Chicago Sun Times , in 2006 Rezko wrote $450,000 in bad checks drawn to this bank, at a time Alexi Giannoulias listed himself both as President and as Chairman of the Board. Coincidentally, and I use this word lightly, in 2003:
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.
But wait, there's more. What do we know about Demetris Giannoulias? Well for starters, based on his profile at Crossroads Fund where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors:
Demetris Giannoulias, Chief Financial Officer of Broadway Bank in Chicago, is interested and involved in community organizing and economic development in low-income communities.
Community organizing? Guess which organization has been getting grants from the Crossroads Fund? ACORN of course… Incidentally, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dhorn are active fundraisers for the fund. Last year when the fund held its 25th anniversary, Barack Obama was one of the Honorary Hosts.
But enough about the Crossroads Fund, let's get back to Demetris and Rezko.
Professionaly, here is what Demetris has been doing with Broadway Bank:
Since 2000, Mr. Giannoulias has been responsible for the administration and oversight of Broadway Bank… first as Chief Financial Officer, and currently as President and CEO.
Ok, that was kind of round-aboutish, here's the consice and condensed version:
In 2002, under the guise of funding a construction project, Rezko and his then-business partner, Daniel Muhra had borrowed $10.9 million from Broadway Bank an institution headed by Demetris and Alexei. In 2003, Demetris was recommended by Rezko to Governor Rod Blagojevich for a seat on the Illinois Finance Authority Board, for reasons yet unknown, Demetris was not appointed.
In 2003/2004 Tony Rezko was one of Obama's biggest fundraisers during his Senate run. Among the contributors to the Obama campaign fund other than Rezko were Demetris and Alexi Giannoulias, both still executive officers of Broadway Bank.
Obama's Campaign Funds were kept in … You guessed it, Broadway Bank.
In 2006, Alexi Giannoulias was endorsed by Barack Obama for Illinois State Senator. This is despite the fact that most other leading Illinois Democrats were puzzled as to what qualifications a then 28 year old Alexis had to run for such a position.
Between March and July of that same year, Tony Rezko was charged with writing over $450,000 in bad checks in Las Vegas. Checks which were drawn to Broadway Bank. On November 7th, Alexis was elected into office.
It is worthy to note that Rezko is not alleged to have gambled the money, merely to have gotten casino chips and cash in exchange for the checks. In other words; reverse money laundering, if there is such a term. $450,000 in unmarked, untaxed bills. Demetris was President and CEO of the bank at the time. Since even grocery stores have check verification capabilities, I am sure Vegas Luxury Hotels do to, therefore there is no way someone could have written $450,000 in bad checks over the course of 5 months and not had his account shut down, or the checks refused. In other words, to say the least, someone at Broadway Bank played a role in facilitating the verification of those checks.
Fast forward to 2008, without bothering to justify why, Obama gives Alexi Giannoulias a slot to speak at the DNC.
Rezko is now a convicted felon.
Obama is in the Senate, attempting to become President, Demetris is still "running" the bank, Alexi is still the State Treasurer and Rod Blagojevich is the Governor. Tony Rezko is now a convicted felon (yes, I'm saying it twice for emphasis).
Before he is convicted however, Rezko promises not to squeal as long as Obama and Blagojevich take care of him:
"Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened," he wrote. "They are pressuring me to tell them the 'wrong' things that I supposedly know about Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. I have never been a party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator."
"Despite my belief in my innocence, I understand I may well lose this case, If I do, I am prepared to serve my sentence."
Unfortunately for him, his coded message fell on deaf ears, and Obama and Blagojevich decided not to intervene. Realizing jail is not such a fun place, Rezko has chosen to do what he threathened to do; squeal.
So there you have it folks. Connect the dots. Where this will lead, I don't know. The question one has to ask is whether George Bush will authorize the DOJ to indict the first "black" nominee of a major party, with less than30 days left to go before the election? I don't have the answer to that question, but if the spirit of the law is followed, Obama might be in federal custody in the not too distant future.
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