FBI Tapes Reveal Patti's Potty Mouth

Rod Blagojevich Trial Extended Coverage >>

Chicago - Former Blagojevich Deputy Governor Bob Greenlee testified Blagojevich would shut people out and avoid working on legislation Thursday. The jury also heard phone calls and testimony about Blagojevich considering appointing himself to Senate and wanting the Tribune editorial board fired.

Key Points:

• On tapes played Thursday, Patti Blagojevich was heard cussing out the Tribune because of its editorials, and Rod Blagojevich was heard ripping Illinois residents, citing his own accomplishments and wondering why only 13 percent say he is doing a good job. "Only 13 percent of you think I'm doing a good job, so f*** all of you," Blagojevich was heard saying. When he was not invited to the Grant Park celebration for Obama’s victory in the presidential election, Blagojevich said, "You honestly think they would snub me?"
• Though court won’t be in session, Judge James Zagel indicated there may be a hearing Friday on whether jurors' names should be released to public.
• Rod Blagojevich said the phrase “pay to play” in phone call played in court Wednesday , mentioning Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. According to the call, $1 million was offered in exchange for the U.S. Senate appointment. The million dollar offer was made in the presence of a state employee, but jurors didn't get to hear it all. Judge James Zagel dismissed the jury during the questioning of former Blagojevich fundraiser Rajinder Bedi Wednesday because the testimony was considered hearsay.
• Bedi testified Jackson, Jr. was at a downtown lunch where an Indian businessman said he would contribute $1 million to Blagojevich's campaign fund if Blagojevich would appoint Jackson to Obama’s Senate seat. Jackson, Jr. has denied any wrongdoing and hasn't been charged in the case. He did not return calls for comment.
• Jurors did hear wiretaps of a conversation between Blagojevich and his deputy governor about the approach involving Jackson, Jr. “We were approached, pay to play. That, you know he'd raise me 500 grand, an emissary came, then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a Senator,” Blagojevich said in the call. 
• Questioning of former Deputy Governor Bob Greenlee covered a number of recorded conversations between he and Blagojevich. Topic covered included the appointment to the senate seat and increasing Medicare payments to a Chicago children's hospital.
• The prosecution said it may complete its portion of the trial by Tuesday. Defense witnesses could take the stand as early as Wednesday.

UPDATE:  5:06 p.m.
The questioning then turned to Blagojevich's alleged shakedown of Children's Memorial Hospital.

Greenlee testified about a meeting where a representative from Children's stated they wanted to build a new wing and needed state grant money to build it. Also, the the hospital doctors wanted to be reimbursed more by the state when they treat a medicaid case.

Greenlee said, from a policy perspective, this is something Blagojevich was interested in, but given the economy at that time, the state might have to extend the time allowed to make payments back to the doctors.

Greenlee says Blagojevich called him out of the blue after the meeting and asked him about it.

On tape, Blagojevich said "we should look in to it."

On another call, recorded November 12, 2008, Greenlee and Blagojevich again discussed increasing Medicare payments to Children's Hospital.

Greenlee said this call confirmed Blagojevich wanted him to look in to and to make it happen.

Greenlee said it was scheduled to happen January 1, 2009.

Blagojevich then asked if he could stop the increase for "budgetary concerns." Prior to this call, Greenlee said this rate increase was not considered a budgetary concnern.

The prosecution asked if Blagojevich ever raised budget issues as a reason to not move forward on an initiative the would help people. Greenlee answered no and that he did not know why he was being asked not to move this forward. Greenlee said he knew it was not because of the budget.

Greenlee said he learned on December 9 this increase was not going forward.

Greenlee testified that prior to December 9 he and Blagojevich had another phone call about the rate increase. In that call, Blagojevich said not to move forward with it because the hospital had fired Wyma as a client.

With that, court adjourns for the week.

The prosecution said it could wrap up its side of the case by Tuesday.

UPDATE:  4:24 p.m.
Greenlee testifed about a December 4, 2008 conversation where he, Blagojevich and Fred Yang discussed the senate seat.

In this conversation, Greenlee testified Blagojevich said both Lisa Madigan and Jesse Jackson, Jr. were repugnant choices, but Jackson was the less repugnant of the two.

Blagojevich then said, according to Greenlee, that Madigan would be an appointee for the good of the people and Jackson would be for Blagojevich's financial gain.

When Greenlee suggested Tammy Duckworth as an altenative for Jackson, Blagojevich said he would get flack from the black community for appting her over Jackson and threatened to fire Greenlee.

On the call, Yang told Blagojevich he's running out of time and he needs to move forward with the Lisa Madigan plan. Blagojevich said he doesn't want to and stalls for time by saying he needs to know his second, third and fourth options.

Greenlee is heard saying Jackson is the only seat candidate to offer "tangible" things in exchange for the seat.

Blagojevich said appointing Madigan could lead to the best results for the people of Illinois, but Jackson would be a tougher deal to cut because it would involve "a down payment." Greenlee testified that meant campaign funds or other money in exchange for the senate seat.

The prosecution asked Greenlee if he talked to Blagojevich about senate seat between December 4 through 9, 2008. Greenlee said the main topic was Blagojevich appting Lisa Madigan or himself.

Greenlee testified he was not aware of any efforts to implement the Madigan option.

UPDATE:  3:30 p.m.
Greenlee testified he and Blagojevich disussed the governor's desire to become secretary of Health and Human Services.

On tape, Blagojevich is heard saying he has an advantage over all the other possible nominees because only he has the power to appoint Valerie Jarrett to the senate seat.

The tape continues with a conversation about what Blagojevich would do if he does not get something from the Obama administration in exchange for sending Jarrett to the senate.

Blagojevich is heard talking about appointing Lisa Madigan to the senate as a way to make progress on with his Springfield agenda and speaker Mike Madigan.

On another recorded call, Blagojevich asks Greenlee if a spouse can lobby. Greenlee tells the governor the rules allow it.

Blagojevich then suggests he appoint himself to the senate and Patti can spend the next two years working as a lobbyist in Washington.

Greenlee testified Blagojevich learned on November 12, 2008 that Valerie Jarrett was taking a position in the White House and would not be in contention for the senate seat.

Greenlee said Blagojevich asked him to draft a list of things to ask for from Mike Madigan if Lisa Madigan was appointed to the senate.

On another tape, Blagojevich mentions being approached by emissaries of Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. with a "pay-to-play" offer.

In another recorded conversation, Blagojevich and Greenlee discuss further the possibility of appointing Jackson.

Greenlee is heard arguing agaist the nomination, but Blagojevich likes the idea because "some of those tangible things can happen now."

Greenlee testified Blagojevich meant he would get campaign donations before he appts Jackson.

UPDATE:  2:16 p.m.
Court resumed after lunch and the prosecution continued its direct examination of Greenlee.

The prosecution played another tape from the evening of Nov. 6, 2008. Earlier that day Blagojevich had met with Tom Balanoff of the SEIU to discuss the Senate seat appointment.

On the call, Blagojevich asked if he was likely to be appointed to HHS, making a reference to being the next Donna Shalala.

Greenlee said the Obama administration wanted Valerie Jarrett to be appointed, but he should get something in return for it. Greenlee said Blagojevich thought appointing Lisa Madigan was a better option for him.

Blagojevich said, “I didn’t say it directly,” meaning he told SEIU he could appoint Jarrett to Senate in exchange for an appointment for himself, Greenlee testified. "She really wants it and he wants her to have it," Blagojevich said, referring to Jarrett and the seat.

In this talk, Greenlee said they mentioned that the Obama administration might be afraid of the Rezko thing.

Greenlee said Blagojevich wasn’t initially invited to the Obama rally in grant park on election night. Greenlee said he knew because they didn’t receive an invitation to the rally, so he worked on getting an invitation being sent to them.

"You honestly think they would snub me?" Blagojevich said.

He got an invitation, but they made the decision Blagojevich wouldn’t attend. Then Blagojevich changed his mind on Election Day to attend, and that “raised red flags" with the Obama people because Greenlee said they didn’t want Blagojevich there. Greenlee testified Obama's people reached out to Bill Knapp to see if Blagojevich was really coming and why.

The prosecution went over an email chain between Bill Knapp, Anita Dunn, from the Obama campaign, and Greenlee. Knapp wrote to Greenlee that Blagojevich was going back on a promise not to attend because if he did it would be problematic. Greenlee wrote back to Knapp that even though Blagojevich said he wanted to attend the rally, Blagojevich may still not attend that night.

As a result of Blagojevich not being initially invited, Greenlee tried to tell Blagojevich that Obama administration had concerns about Obama being seen with him, but Blagojevich told Greenlee he was wrong, that he was invited and that "the Rezko thing is meaningless."

UPDATE:  12:43 p.m.
The prosecution asked Greenlee about a list of nonprofit positions he put together for Blagojevich as possible exchanges for the Senate seat.

The prosecution played a recorded phone call from Nov. 5, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. In the call, Blagojevich asked Greenlee about the nonprofit organization Families USA and how much money one of their officers made. Greenlee said he didn’t know the salaries, and Blagojevich was more interested in the money than what the organization did.

On tape, Blagojevich said he was going to say he was not considering himself for the Senate seat at a press conference later that day and that he would only give the answer if asked a question about it. Greenlee testified that wasn’t true and Blagojevich was still considering himself.

In the call, Greenlee said Blagojevich rehearsed his spiel on what to tell the press regarding what he's looking for in a Senate appointee. Blagojevich said healthcare is the most important criteria, but Greenlee testified that wasn’t true.

At the Nov. 5 press conference, Greenlee said Blagojevich was asked if he was considering himself for the seat, and he gave responses similar to what he told Greenlee in the phone call.

Greenlee said he talked to Blagojevich after the press conference that day in Blagojevich's office and gave him the research he did on nonprofit positions. Greenlee said he told Blagojevich it wasn’t a good option and to keep looking.

On Nov. 6 2008, Blagojevich met with SEIU leaders, Greenlee testified, and he met with Blagojevich and Harris after that meeting. Greenlee testified he remembered Blagojevich saying he asked Tom Balanoff for the HHS position and that Blagojevich said it probably wouldn’t happen.

Court went on recess for lunch break.

UPDATE:  12:26 p.m.
The prosecution played a conversation between Blagojevich and Greenlee from Nov. 4, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. In the call, Greenlee said Blagojevich was asking him for the list of ambassadorships he was asked to put together.

In the call, Blagojevich also mentioned Emil Jones, and Greenlee testified that Blagojevich had previously mentioned possibly appointing Jones to Senate, the only advantage of which was his campaign fund.

The prosecution asked Greenlee about another call he got from Blagojevich that afternoon that referred to Doug Scofield. Greenlee said he took Scofield's old job as deputy governor.

The prosecution played a recording of a call from Nov. 4, 2008 at 12:19 p.m.

On the call, Blagojevich told Greenlee how Scofield had been telling Blagojevich he couldn’t appoint himself to Senate, and Blagojevich wanted to know what was Scofield's "f***ing problem," and what was Scofield's "f***ing angle?"

Greenlee confirmed such conversations factored in to how he would deal with Blagojevich.

On tape, Greenlee tried to tell Blagojevich Scofield may have been giving an unbiased opinion and didn’t have an angle. Blagojevich disagreed and said Scofield may be motivated for several reasons to tell Blagojevich not to appoint himself to the Senate seat.

Greenlee tried to tell Blagojevich people can give honest opinions without having ulterior motives. Blagojevich still disagreed and told Greenlee Scofield was disagreeing with Blagojevich because Scofield was concerned he may lose clients or something bad could happen to him.

On the call, Blagojevich said he yelled at Scofield for disagreeing with him.

“Since this election blocks me from any upward movement, now is the time to for me to put my family first," Blagojevich said.

The prosecution asked Greenlee about a Nov. 5, 2008 conversation with Harris. Greenlee said he told Harris he got a call from Blagojevich that morning that Blagojevich was still interested in an ambassadorship or cabinet post in exchange for the Senate seat appointment.

Greenlee said Harris said it was best to steer Blagojevich toward other options. Greenlee said the conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Blagojevich.

Greenlee confirmed he, Harris and Blagojevich discussed Blagojevich possibly taking a job with a foundation in exchange for a Senate seat appointment.

In the call, Blagojevich asked Greenlee to find possible nonprofits for him to work at. Greenlee testified he would work on it in addition to his other duties. Greenlee said the positions, in Blagojevich's mind, had to be worthy of a Senate seat appointment. Greenlee said he did the research and didn’t find any positions he thought Blagojevich would find appropriate. Greenlee said it wasn’t "a fruitful" option.

UPDATE:  11:59 a.m.
The prosecution played a conversation between Rod and Patti Blagojevich and Greenlee from the evening of Nov. 3, 2008

Greenlee called Blagojevich about a Tribune article called Giving up the Governor and articles where the Tribune endorsed various candidates.

On the call, Blagojevich told his wife about the Tribune article. Greenlee said he was on speaker phone when talking to Blagojevich, so Patti is also heard on the call.

In the call, Greenlee testified Blagojevich said they should hold up the Illinois Finance Authority purchase of Wrigley Field. Greenlee said Blagojevich also thought he had to consider he might be impeached next year, since the Tribune was pushing for it.

In the call, Greenlee said, "They should just sell the f***ing paper." Greenlee said he meant Sam Zell should sell the newspaper instead of Wrigley Field to solve the company’s financial problems.

On tape, Blagojevich said, “Someone should get rid of these people,” meaning Tribune editorial board, Greenlee testified. Greenlee added he tried to tell Blagojevich that it was wrong to say the editorial board should be fired or he'd pull state support for the Wrigley deal.

Greenlee said Blagojevich said it was ok to do it if they told the Tribune the deal was wrong for the state of Illinois.

On tape, Blagojevich said, “Maybe we cant do this now. Fire those f***ers." Greenlee testified Blagojevich was saying unless the editorial board was fired, the deal couldn’t happen.

Greenlee said Blagojevich also mentioned trying to get Obama involved in trying to get Speaker Mike Madigan ousted. When Greenlee told Blagojevich, it’s a bad idea, Obama won’t want to do it, he said Blagojevich agreed.

The prosecution asked about a conversation with Blagojevich on Nov. 4, 2008. Greenlee said he talked to Blagojevich that morning and Blagojevich wanted to know if the research concerning the Tribune was continuing.

The prosecution asked Greenlee about a conversation he had with John Harris on Nov. 5, 2008 in his office. Greenlee said he pulled together a number of articles the Tribune did on impeaching Blagojevich and sent them to Blagojevich.
 

UPDATE:  10:59 a.m.
The prosecution asked Greenlee about talking to John Harris on Nov. 3, 2008 in Greenlee's office. Greenlee testified Harris told him that he had been contacted by Rahm Emanuel speaking for the Obama administration, and they wanted Valerie Jarrett appointed to the Senate seat.

Greenlee testified Blagojevich met with Tom Balanoff on Nov. 3. He saw them come into the governor's office and spoke to Blagojevich about the meeting later. When he spoke to Blagojevich about it, Greenlee said it became clear the SEIU could possibly influence who was appointed to the Senate seat.

The prosecution played a recorded phone conversation from Nov. 3, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. Greenlee said it was typical to get calls from Blagojevich at this hour and didn’t refuse them.

In the call, Greenlee testified Blagojevich there wasn’t much to gain from appointing Jackson, Jr. to the Senate seat because there were people who didn’t want him appointed.

When Blagojevich said, "If they're not going to offer anything of value," Greenlee testified Blagojevich was saying if he didn’t get one of the positions he wanted for the Senate seat that he might appoint himself.

In the call, Blagojevich talked about being impeached in the spring and that he might be kicking himself if he appointed a Senator who wouldn’t help him out if he was impeached.

Greenlee said Blagojevich also talked about how his presidential aspirations for 2016 would be more damaged if he's impeached than if he appointed himself to Senate.

Greenlee testified a good way to maintain a good relationship with Blagojevich was to tell him what he wanted to hear, especially regarding future positions he'd like to have, as in ambassadorships and cabinet posts.

Greenlee said Blagojevich also talked about how the Tribune might support him being impeached and the negative press he was getting in the paper. Greenlee testified he told Blagojevich he hadn’t' seen a fair story about Blagojevich in the Tribune. When the prosecution asked Greenlee if he believed that, Greenlee testified that he was just telling Blagojevich what he wanted to hear. After the phone call, Greenlee testified, he had a staffer pull all recent Tribune articles on Blagojevich.

The prosecution asked Greenlee if he was aware at the time of a deal involving the Tribune, Cubs and Wrigley Field. Greenlee said the Illinois Finance Authority was working on trying to buy Wrigley Field to help Tribune Company relieve some of its debt.

UPDATE:  10:40 a.m.
The prosecution asked Greenlee about a conversation he had with John Harris about possible qualifications Blagojevich should look for in a Senate appointee. Greenlee testified he put a list together and submitted it for approval.

Greenlee testified the list was never used to pick candidates and that, while a search committed was formed to pick a Senate seat appointee, the committee never did any work.

Greenlee says he generally remembers several phone calls with Blagojevich leading up to the Nov. 4 election about the Senate seat appointment, and Blagojevich mainly talked about an ambassadorship, appointing himself or the HHS seat.

Greenlee said he didn’t think Blagojevich would be appointed to the health and human services cabinet position but didn’t tell him because Blagojevich wouldn’t want to hear it and would argue with him. He testified if you argued with him, Blagojevich had an "in or out" mentality, and if you were out Blagojevich wouldn’t communicate with you. Greenlee said he needed to communicate with Blagojevich to get his job done, such as needing direction on how to handle certain pieces of legislation.

Greenlee confirmed he sometimes needed to track down Blagojevich to act on legislation that was about to become law and Blagojevich hadn’t reviewed yet. Greenlee said the best way to track Blagojevich down was to either go to a public event with him or one time, Greenlee went to dinner with the Blagojevich family. Greenlee testified he went to dinner with them at Southport Billiards and Lanes and went over 20 pieces of legislation.

The prosecution asked if Greenlee ahd seen any one shut out by Blagojevich. Greenlee testified he saw Blagojevich avoid John Filan by hiding in his office and the bathroom and by leaving work early. Greenlee testified Blagojevich shut out others in addition to Filan.

Greenlee testified he talked to Blagojevich Nov. 3, 2008 and Blagojevich asked him to put together a list of ambassadorships that would be appropriate for him, meaning ambassadorships that were high profile enough to warrant a Senate seat appointment. Greenlee said he put the list together that morning.

Greenlee confirmed he had to put the list together while trying to work on pending legislation at the same time. The list included India, Great Britain, France and Italy. Greenlee told Blagojevich five former ambassadors to Great Britain became U.S. presidents, with resonated with Blagojevich who frequently asked how he handled the Senate appointment would affect his long-term goal of running for president in 2016.

UPDATE:  10:29 a.m.
The prosecution’s next witness was Robert Greenlee, currently a full time student and part-time editor. Greenlee went to law school at Yale in 1999, clerked for a federal judge and worked for Kirkland and Ellis before beginning to work for the state of Illinois in Nov. 2003. He worked in the budget office as federal funds coordinator until Jan. 2007. Greenlee said he was promoted to deputy director of the budget office during that time and eventually began working in the governor's office in Jan. 2007.

Greenlee became a deputy governor under Blagojevich when Sheila Nix stepped down and was recommended by John Wyma.

The prosecution asked if in Oct. 2008 Greenlee had any conversations with Blagojevich about who to appoint to Obama’s Senate seat. Greenlee testified they spoke over the phone about it and that they were general discussions, but nothing too specific. Greenlee said he was on the phone at his office for these calls and Blagojevich was usually on his cell phone heading some where.

Greenlee testified they talked generally about the Senate seat Oct. 26, 2008, and Blagojevich was interested in how could he still remain politically viable based on who he appointed to the seat. Greenlee said Blagojevich mentioned four options: Blagojevich being appointed as an ambassador, being appointed to the health and human services position, appointing Lisa Madigan to move his Springfield agenda forward or appointing himself.

UPDATE:  10:12 a.m.
Court was called in session for the day. Rod Blagojevich defense attorney Aaron Goldstein began cross-examining Rajinder Bedi. Goldstein asked Bedi about his relationship with Raghuveer Nayak, who Bedi testified he’s known for 30 years. He said they are close friends, but haven’t talked in a few months.

Goldstein asked Bedi who attended a May 10, 2008 event when a political official from India was in town. Bedi said Blagojevich was there along with Nayak and Jan Schakowsky.

Goldstein asked Bedi about Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. In 2008, the Indian community in Chicago celebrated on Dec. 6; it was also a fundraiser for Blagojevich that Bedi planned with Rob Blagojevich. Bedi said Rob and Rod Blagojevich both attended this event.

The witness was excused.

UPDATE:  9:28 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich arrives at federal court.

Tape: Blago Got Offer for Jackson, Jr. | Originally Reported By: MyFoxChicago.com

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