Holy Shit:
82. On November 21, 2008, approximately five minutes after the previous
conversation with JOHN HARRIS, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke again with HARRIS. At
the end of this call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that “the Tribune thing is important, if we
can get that.” HARRIS replied, “delicate, very delicate.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said, “I
know, I know. Use your judgment, don’t push too hard. But you know what you got to do,
right.” HARRIS responded, “Alright, sir.”
83. After hearing that Tribune Financial Advisor had assured HARRIS that the
Tribune would be downsizing or making personnel changes affecting the editorial board,
ROD BLAGOJEVICH had a series of conversations with representatives of the Chicago
Cubs regarding efforts to provide state financing for Wrigley Field. On November 30, 2008,
ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Sports Consultant, the president of a Chicago-area sports
consulting firm, whose remarks during the conversation indicated that he was working with
the Cubs on matters involving Wrigley Field. In that conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH
and Sports Consultant discussed the importance of getting the IFA transaction approved at
the IFA’s December 2008 or January 2009 meeting, because ROD BLAGOJEVICH was
contemplating leaving office in early January 2009 and ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s IFA
appointees would still be in place to approve the IFA deal. On December 3, 2008, ROD
BLAGOJEVICH spoke again with Sports Consultant and explained that ROD
BLAGOJEVICH had control over state funds designated for use in connection with science
and technology, and which could be used to pay for improvements at Wrigley Field. Later
that same day, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Cubs Chairman and said that he could
make state science and technology funds available to the Cubs without having to go through
the legislature, and suggested that the Cubs come up with proposals that would allow the use
of such funds.
84. On December 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Spokesman. On
December 4, 2008, the Chicago Tribune announced it was reducing the size of its workforce
by 11 members. During the phone conversation, Spokesman informed ROD
BLAGOJEVICH that the Tribune had its “cuts” but that Spokesman did not think the “person
we mentioned” was cut. ROD BLAGOJEVICH asked “McCormick?” Spokesman
responded “right.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH instructed Spokesman to “go tell HARRIS that.”
Spokesman stated he had already informed HARRIS of the information.
85. On the morning December 5, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with JOHN
HARRIS. On the morning of December 5, 2008, the Chicago Tribune ran a front page news
story discussing an ongoing criminal investigation involving ROD BLAGOJEVICH. During
the phone conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and HARRIS discussed information
contained in the newspaper article. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “what’s the deal? So, do
McCormick stays at the Tribune, huh?” HARRIS stated “we haven’t heard that he’s gone,
so.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “I mean, those layoffs were minor (the December 4, 2008
Tribune layoffs).” HARRIS stated “well, I know they got a lot to do.” ROD
BLAGOJEVICH asked “there’s still more coming?” HARRIS responded “yeah, they got a
lot of cuts to make.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “okay, at some point we should talk to
[Tribune Financial Advisor] again, right?” HARRIS confirmed they should talk to Tribune
Financial Advisor again.
ArchPundit