Building Executive Gerald Krozel Testifies About Blago Shakedown

Rod Blagojevich Trial Extended Coverage >>

Chicago - On day 20 of the Rod Blagojevich corruption trial Gerald Krozel, a former road building executive testified he felt pressured by Blagojevich to raise money for his campaign or Blagojevich would not support a $6 billion Tollway project. On cross-examination, Krozel admitted no direct threats were ever made.

Later, a leader from the Indian community talked about his efforts to raise money for Blagojevich's re-election campaign, and efforts to get Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. appointed to the Senate seat.

Key Points:

• Rajinder Bedi, the published of an Indian newspaper in Chicago, testified about meeting with Jesse Jackson, Jr. to talk about the Senate seat, and about a fundraiser thrown for Blagojevich.
• After Krozel testified, the prosecution called real estate agent Sean Conlon to the stand, who said he sold two floors in a building in July 2003 to a Brian Hynes, who later wanted Patti Blagojevich added to the contract as a broker.  That was then changed to Rezmar and Tony Rezko on the final contract.
• Jurors Tuesday also heard testimony that the sale of a townhouse on the near West Side produced a $14,000 commission for Patti Blagojevich, even though she had nothing to do with the sale. Realtor Marianne Piazzi testified that she was the exclusive agent for developer Tony Rezko on the sale, not Patti Blagojevich. Prosecutors say the commission was actually a bribe paid to Rod Blagojevich by Rezko, in return for favors Blagojevich had done for his friend.

 

UPDATE:  5:00 p.m.
Prosecution played more calls, all from December 5, 2008.

The prosecution asked if the Blagojevich fundraising event was held on December 6 and whether Robert Bedi said yes.

The prosecution asked if Bedi ever talked with Blagojevich about Jackson being interested in the Senate seat. Bedi said no.

The prosecution is done with the direct examination.

Robert Blagojevich's attorney Ettinger cross-examined Bedi. Bedi testified that he met Robert Blagojevich in person at a northside restaurant.

Bedi said they mostly talked about the governor's need for campaign funds and Bedi said he would try to help. Bedi said they asked him to help because he had raised money for Blagojevich before.

Bedi said it was hard to raise money for Blagojevich at that time, in part because Blagojevich had ignored some events in the Indian community. Bedi suggested holding the October 31 luncheon where Blagojevich would invite members of the Indian community and appeal to them for money.

Ettinger asked Bedi about the October 28, 2008 meeting with Robert Blagojevich at the Starbucks on Montrose. Ettinger asked if Robert Blagojevich brought up Jackson at this meeting. Bedi said no. Earlier, Bedi told Robert Blagojevich that Nayak could raise money, and that Nayak was very close to the Jackson family, and that Jesse Jackson, Jr. was interested in the Senate seat.

Ettiner asked if Robert Blagojevich told Bedi that Blagojevich would never appoint Jackson to the Senate seat because Jackson did not endrose Blagojevich in his first bid for governor. Bedi said yes.

Ettinger asked about the October 31, 2008 fundraiser at India House. Bedi said he saw Robert Blagojevich and Jackson there, but didn't talk with them. That was Ettinger's last question.

Court adjourned until Thursday morning, when one of Rod Blagojevich's attorneys will cross-examine Bedi.

After the jury left, the judge went back to the issue of whether prosecutors could ask Bedi about his conversation with Jackson and Nayak at the 312 Restaurant. Prosecutors said that was when Nayak mentioned raising $1 million for Blagojevich if he appointed Jackson to the Senate seat. The prosecution said that Nayak went on to tell Bedi not to tell Blagojevich.

Robert Blagojevich's defense attorney Mike Ettinger argued he didn't want this line of questioning permitted, since some of it would be based on hearsay.

The judge told the prosecutors they couldn't ask Bedi for more specifics about this conversation at this point in the case, but they could raise the questions later on in their presentation.

 

 

UPDATE:  4:25 p.m.
Prosecution played three more tapes, all from December 4, 2008.

Bedi identified a December 5, 2008 Tribune article with the headline: "Feds Taped Blagojevich, Advisor Cooperated" and identified a photo of Blagojevich and Wyma.

Prosecution is playing another call.

  

UPDATE:  4:15 p.m.
The prosecution played a call from November 14, 2008, recorded at 6:25 p.m.

On the tape, Robert Blagojevich can be heard saying something to the effect that he's gotten two faxes from Indian groups, including Nayak and Ata, and they think that Blagojevich should appoint Jackson to the Senate seat.

Bedi said he continued to talk with Robert Blagojevich after the October 31 fundraising event. There was another event scheduled for December 6. Bedi said the event did happen on December 6, and he spoke with Robert Blagojevich about the details in the week leading up to it.

The prosecution is now playing another call.

  

UPDATE:  4:10 p.m.
The prosecution has played about five calls in a row now. They haven't asked Bedi anything, except to confirm times and dates of the calls.

 

UPDATE:  3:50 p.m.
The prosecution played another call, which occurred on October 31, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.

On the tape, Robert Blagojevich can be heard asking for directions from Schaumburg to Midway Airport.

Bedi testified that in this call, he talked with Robert Blagojevich about having Blagojevich arrive at about 12:30 p.m. for the event.

The prosecution played another tape from October 31, 2008. This one was recorded at 12:58 p.m.

On the tape, Robert Blagojevich said he and his brother are about five minutes from the fundraiser in Schaumburg.

Bedi said he met both men when they arrived at the back door of the India House banquet hall. He walked them into the main room and introduced them. Bedi also saw Nayak in the room.

Bedi said Blagojevich was there for about an hour, and he said Blagojevich and Nayak speaking to each other at the event. He didn't know what they talked about.

The prosecution played another tape.

  

UPDATE:  3:45 p.m.
The prosecution played a call that took place on October 29, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.

The prosecution asked Bedi if they did indeed hold a fundraiser at India House in Schaumburg on October 31. Bedi said yes.

  

UPDATE:  3:40 p.m.
Court is back from a short break.

The prosecution is back to questioning Bedi about a breakfast meeting with Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Nayak at 312 Restaurant.

Bedi said there was a conversation about Jackson wanting the Senate seat, and about fundraising.

After this meeting, Bedi said he met with Robert Blagojevich to talk about an October 31, 2008 fundraising event. Bedi said that he met with Robert Blagojevich around 2:30 p.m. at the Starbucks on Montrose near Ravenswood. Bedi said Nayak was invited to the Halloween event and was expected to attend.

The prosecution asked if Bedi talked with Blagojevich about a named Shaw. Bedi said yes.

During this conversation, Bedi said that Robert Blagojevich talked about Gov. Blagojevich possibly taking a trip to India. Bedi said he advised Blagojevich shouldn't mention this trip unless he really planned on going, because getting people's hopes up and then not going would upset some people.

Bedi said he and Robert Blagojevich talked about Jackson's interest in teh Senate seat, and that Nayak was close to Jackson and could help get Jackson appointed.

Bedi said Robert Blagojevich gave him "a good talk about how desperately Blagojevich needed money" and that these people could help get Blagojevich money if Jackson was appointed.

Bedi said that Robert Blagojevich said his brother would never appoint Jackson to the seat, because Jackson did not endorse Blagojevich in Blagojevich's first election. Bedi said that Robert Blagojevich "didn't see it happening."

Bedi said this meeting lasted about 15-20 minutes.

The prosecution then played another tape.

  

UPDATE:  3:15 p.m.
The prosecution asked Bedi about Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Bedi testified that he had see him at fundraising events at Nayak's house.

The prosecution showed Bedi a picture of Blagojevich and Jackson at a fundraiser at Nayak's house.

Bedi said he attended the Democratic National Convention and watched part of it from Jesse Jackson, Sr.'s suite.

Bedi testified that he saw Blagojevich and Jackson, Jr. at a fundraising event in 2008 and that he saw them interact. Bedi said that Jackson wanted to talk with Blagojevich about building an airport in Peotone. When Jackson mentioned this to Blagojevich, Bedi said Blagojevich told Jackson that Bedi would talk with him more about the airport.

Bedi said he met with Jackson on October 28. 2008 at 312 Restaurant in Chicago. Bedi said he and Jackson sat a table and talked for a while. Nayak joined them a short time later.

Before Nayak arrived, Bedi said that Jackson talked about how important the Peotone Airport would be to the South Side economy. After Nayak arrived, Jackson talked about his interest in being appointed to Obama's Senate seat.

The defense attorneys objected to this line of questioning.

The jury left the room on a short break.

Attorneys for both sides argued over whether this line of questioning can be pursued. The prosecution said this conversation leads up to a deal being made for the Senate seat.

Defense attorney Ettinger is arguing that questioning Bedi in detail about this conversation would allow a lot of hearsay to be testified to as evidence.

 

UPDATE:  3:00 p.m.
The prosecution called Rajinder Bedi as its next witness, a man who owns a global trade consulting company and publishes a newspaper in Chicago's Indian community. He testified under a grant of immunity.

Bedi testified that he was a key advisor for Blagojevich regarding fundraising in the Indian community, advising Blagojevich on the best ways to raise money in the community. Bedi said he got a job with the state after Blagojevich was first elected to office in 2002 and stopped fundraising for a while.

The prosecution asked Bedi about meetings he had in 2008 with Brian Daly, Blagojevich’s assistant deputy chief of staff, and Robert Blagojevich. Bedi said they were planning a fundraising event for Dec. 6, 2008.

Bedi was asked about a man named Raghuveer Nayak, whome Bedi said he had a business and social relationship with. He received checks from Nayak, which Bedi testified he didn’t do any work to receive. The money was inaccurately accounted for on his tax returns, and he wasn’t paying taxes on the money.

 

UPDATE:  2:14 p.m.
Court was called back into session after lunch.

Rod Blagojevich defense attorney Sam Adam, Jr. began cross-examining Sean Conlon by asking Conlon if he ever met Tony Rezko. Conlon testified he met Rezko once at an event at the Hilton, but otherwise didn’t really know him.

Adam, Jr. showed Conlon a copy of a contract dated Sept. 4, 2002 for the fourth floor at 1101 W. Lake St. that was signed by his partner Tim Sullivan. The purchaser is Lake Abderdeen LLC, and it listed Rezko as the corroborated seller on the contract.

Adam, Jr. began rapidly firing questions at Conlon about the deal, prompting Judge Zagel to remind Adam, Jr. about rules of behavior when questioning witnesses.

Adam, Jr. asked Conlon if he changed the price from $600,000 to $644,000 on one of the contracts. Conlon said yes. Adam, Jr. showed Conlon the contract. Conlon recognized his hand writing but didn’t necessarily remember doing it.

Adam, Jr. asked Conlon about when he spoke to U.S. Attorneys about the case.

Adam, Jr. tried to discredit Conlon by pointing out in a statement to U.S. Attorneys he said he didn’t remember changing the numbers on the contract, whereas now he said he recognized his handwriting on the contract, so he must have changed the sale price.

Adam, Jr. asked Conlon about the $700,000 price being changed on the other contract, asking if Conlon recognized the hand writing, and if he knew who wrote and when. Conlon said he didn’t know who changed the price to $721,000 or when.

Adam, Jr. asked Conlon a series of detailed questions about these contracts on properties at 1101 W. Lake St.

Adam, Jr. asked Conlon why utilities were written in on some versions of the contracts and not others, arguing that Patti may have written in some of those changes, so she did work on those deals. Conlon testified he did write all the changes seen on these contracts.

 

UPDATE:  12:41 p.m.
The prosecution’s next witness was Sean Conlon, 41, an Irish immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1990 to "chase the American dream.” His first job was as a janitor, and he now owns his own real estate company, Conlon & Co.

Conlon testified about a property at 1101 W Lake Street and said a man named Brian Hynes wanted to buy a whole floor in the building. Conlon said it would cost approx $600,000 and a few parking spaces would be included. Conlon added Hynes was fine with the price and didn’t try to negotiate. Conlon testified Hynes was not working with a broker. Conlon testified Hynes agreed to buy another floor in the building for approximately $700,000 and gave a verbal commitment to purchase both floors. Conlon testified it took about eight months to execute the written contracts for both floors.

After receiving the contracts, Conlon said Hynes called him to say he wanted to add a broker's name to the contract, Patti Blagojevich. Conlon testified he never talked to her about these contracts or dealt with her regarding these deals. Conlon said Hynes never mentioned a broker at all up to that point.

Conlon testified he told Hynes he wouldn’t pay a broker as the seller in the deal. Conlon said Hynes then asked him to increase the sales price to take into account a broker's fee. Conlon said he did change the price and added in the broker's name to the sales contract. Conlon testified he changed the purchase price on one of the sales contracts from $600,000 to $644,000 after Hynes asked him to. The date on the sales contract was July 22, 2003.

Conlon also testified he added Patti's name and River Realty to the contract as the broker after Hynes asked him to. Conlon said he did not change anything else on the contract.

Conlon testified prior to Hynes’ call, he had never heard of River Realty and there were no brokers working on the deal.

Conlon testified he made the same changes to the second contract, adding Patti in as the broker and changing the price from $700,000 to $721,000.

After making the changes, Conlon testified Hynes called him again a week or two later saying he wanted to change the name of the broker on the contract to Rezmar and didn’t say why. Conlon said he told Hynes to pick up the contract and make that change. Conlon testified the broker’s name on the contract was changed to Tony Rezko and Rezmar, and he didn’t know who made that change.

Conlon said he wasn’t at the closing for the purchase and he didn’t pay close attention to the closing documents.

The prosecution was then done with direct examination.

Court took a lunch break.

 

UPDATE:  12:10 p.m.
Blagojevich defense attorney Aaron Goldstein brought up State Sen. Martin Sandoval, who was on the state transportation and state appropriation committees. Krozel testified he attended a fundraiser for Sandoval after the Sept. 18 meeting with Blagojevich. When asked if he felt uncomfortable there, Krozel said “not really.”

Goldstein asked Krozel if he ever told Blagojevich during that meeting if he felt uncomfortable or that Blagojevich was connecting state contracts and fundraising, and Krozel said he was afraid to. Goldstein asked Krozel if he called the authorities after this meeting, and Krozel said no.

Krozel confirmed he called Richard Olsen of Prairie Material after the meeting to see if he'd like to meet with Blagojevich.

Goldstein asked, when the new ethics law came up in Sept. meeting, if Blagojevich was trying to comply with it. Krozel said he didn’t know. By asking Krozel to donate at that time, Goldstein argued Blagojevich was asking him to comply with current fundraising laws.

Regarding a Sept. 24, 2008 meeting at My Way restaurant, Krozel testified they talked about a lot of things for about 90 min, and fundraising was not discussed.

Goldstein asked Krozel about an Oct. 22, 2008 phone call from Blagojevich, asking if Blagojevich said “if you don’t contribute to me I won’t give you the $6 billion project.” Krozel said no.

Goldstein asked Krozel if he told the FBI on Feb. 12 , 2009 that he told Monk previously that the road builders weren’t going to contribute to Blagojevich because people didn’t want their names in the papers. Krozel testified he told this to Monk when the two met at a Norridge restaurant right before Thanksgiving in 2008. Earlier, Krozel had testified under direct examination he never told Monk he wasn’t going to raise money for Blagojevich.

Despite telling Monk that road builders wouldn’t raise money for Blagojevich, Goldstein asked Krozel, Blagojevich didn’t pull the $1.8 billion project. Krozel confirmed that was the case. Goldstein asked Krozel if he felt pressured to fundraise money because it was connected to Tollway projects.

Goldstein asked Krozel if he lied to the FBI on Dec. 9 because he wanted them out of his house and because he was afraid he was going to be arrested.

Goldstein asked Krozel if he felt pressured now. Krozel said he felt uncomfortable but said he was telling the truth.

Goldstein was done with cross-examination and Krozel was finished testifying.

The prosecution read stipulations in court to get them on the record. The stipulations were informational details both parties agreed to as fact regarding the next witness's testimony.

 

UPDATE:  11:28 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich defense attorney Aaron Goldstein began cross-examination by asking Krozel about the different government affairs committees he's served on for various road construction associations. Krozel testified he personally contributes to political candidates in both parties, Republican and Democrat.

Goldstein asked Krozel how he first became involved in political fundraising for the road construction industry in 1982 when he met then Governor Jim Thompson. Krozel said Thompson told him to get "politically involved" and that his company, Prairie Material, contributed to Thompson. Goldstein said when Thompson asked Krozel to contribute, Krozel wasn’t uncomfortable because they contributed.

Goldstein asked Krozel about a Sept. 2008 meeting with Blagojevich and Tollway projects. When asked, Krozel said Blagojevich did not tell him he must fundraise or Blagojevich wouldn’t announce the $1.8 billion project.

Goldstein asked Krozel if Blagojevich told him during the Sept. 2008 meeting when he would announce the $6 billion Tollway project, but Krozel said he couldn’t remember.

Goldstein showed Krozel a copy of Krozel's statement to the grand jury and asked Krozel to read it. The prosecution objected and Judge Zagel told Krozel to read it to himself and then Goldstein could question him on it. Goldstein read Krozel’s statement to the court and then Goldstein told Krozel Blagojevich never told him the $6 billion project would be unveiled Jan. 2009. Krozel insisted Blagojevich must have told him otherwise, asking where he would have gotten the impression that’s when Blagojevich would announce the project.

Goldstein asked Krozel about another portion of his grand jury statement regarding if Blagojevich told Krozel the $6 billion project was a secret. Krozel said the governor told him not to tell anyone about it.

Goldstein asked Krozel if he told the FBI that Blagojevich told him not to tell anyone about the $6 billion. Krozel testified he told someone along the way, but didn’t remember who exactly. Goldstein showed Krozel the FBI report of one of his interviews with prosecutors, asking if it '”refreshes” Krozel's memory. After reading the report, Krozel said he thought he told FBI that Blagojevich said the $6 billion Tollway project was a secret. Goldstein asked Krozel if he was having trouble remembering whether or not Blagojevich told him on Sept. 18, 2008 that the $6 billion project was a secret, and Krozel said "he told me that.'

Goldstein asked Krozel about the capital bill. Krozel testified he didn’t think the bill would pass, but he told Blagojevich he kept working on it. Krozel said he did keep working on it because he didn’t want to give up on it. Goldstein brought up how the capital bill was held up in the State House by Speaker Mike Madigan. Goldstein tried to ask Krozel about Blagojevich's relationship with Madigan and the capital bill, but the prosecution objected and judge sustained. Judge Zagel called the attorneys to the bench for a sidebar conference.
 

 

UPDATE:  11:18 a.m.
During a break, Judge James Zagel denied two motions for a mistrial filed by the defense regarding testimony given by former Rezmar employee Robert Williams last week and by an FBI agent and a former Friends of Blagojevich finance director Danielle Stilz. The defense was claiming they weren’t able to do a meaningful cross-examination of these witnesses based on objections by the prosecution that were sustained by the judge. Zagel denied the motion regarding Williams’ testimony.

Defense attorneys for both Blagojevichs submitted the list of tapes they plan to play when they present their case. Zagel told them to go over their lists again and choose the conversations with the most significant passages, as the lists they submitted would have the jury listening to tapes for two to three weeks. Zagel said that would be a waste of time.

The prosecution asked Zagel to ask the defense teams to make it clear soon what witnesses they plan to call to testify. Zagel determined the defense has until Monday to do so.

Court resumed from its short break and Blagojevich defense attorney Aaron Goldstein began cross-examining Krozel.

 

UPDATE:  10:43 a.m.
Robert Blagojevich’s defense attorney Mike Ettinger began cross-examining Krozel by asking about how the different road construction organizations Krozel was involved in handled political fundraising. Krozel confirmed the Illinois Road Builders contributed to Blagojevich from 2001 to 2007 and that the money came from both Political Action Committees and individuals.

Krozel also confirmed that he told Lon Monk he was in favor of the Tollway being expanded before a Sept. 18, 2008 meeting.

When he attended the Sept. 18 meeting, Ettinger asked Krozel if he expected someone to ask him to hold a fundraiser for Blagojevich since he had held them for Blagojevich from 2002 to 2007. Krozel testified he wouldn’t have been surprised if someone asked.

Krozel confirmed he met Rob Blagojevich for the first time that day.

Krozel testified the meeting lasted about an hour and ten minutes, and they talked about Tollway projects, Emil Jones retiring and the ethics law going in to effect.

Ettinger asked Krozel if Rob Blagojevich talked to him about the ethics bill at the Sept. 18 meeting, and Krozel said no.

Ettinger asked Krozel if Blagojevich talked about forming a PAC at the Sept. 18 meeting as a way to get around the ethics bill, and Krozel said no.

Ettinger asked Krozel if Rob Blagojevich spoke to him at the meeting, and Krozel testified he spoke to him only about Krozel's wife. Krozel said he thought Rob Blagojevich was at the meeting for the whole time but wasn’t sure.

Ettinger asked Krozel about when he talked the FBI agents at his house on Dec. 9,2008. Krozel testified he talked to two agents for about two hours at his kitchen table. Krozel said they asked him about the Tollway projects but wasn’t sure if they brought up the ethics bill. Krozel said he told the agents he didn’t feel any pressure to fundraise for Blagojevich.

Ettinger asked Krozel if he remembered telling FBI agents he "never felt Tollway bill was dependent on his fundraising efforts." Krozel said no, but Ettinger showed Krozel a copy of the FBI's report on his interview. Krozel said he did say that.

Ettinger asked Krozel if he'd been charged with making a false statement regarding the Tollway bill being dependent on fundraising, and Krozel said no.

When Ettinger asked Krozel if he ever talked to Rob Blagojevich after the Sept. 18 meeting, Krozel said no and that the only one from that group that he talked to after the meeting was Lon Monk.

The jury was let out of the room on a short break while the judge handled three motions recently filed in the case.
 

 

UPDATE:  10:26 a.m.
Oct. 22, 2008, Krozel testified, Blagojevich called him on the phone and though he didn’t want to talk to him, he took the call because it was the governor was calling him and he had to hear what Blagojevich had to say.

The prosecution played the recorded phone conversation. In the call, Blagojevich said, "I'm doing pretty good. We’re excited about the Tollway," referring to a $1.8 billion project, Krozel testified.

"Lon is here with me. Thought we'd call, see how you’re doing on the end of the year deadline," Blagojevich said on the call. Krozel testified Blagojevich wanted to know how he was doing raising money for the campaign and was reminding him about the new ethics law that would take effect at the end of the year.

"We're off and running and there's going to be more," Blagojevich said. Krozel testified Blagojevich announced the smaller Tollway program and at a later date would announce the $6 billion program.

In the call, Blagojevich said the bad news for them was they wouldn’t be able to 'bully' Krozel for money any more. Krozel testified Blagojevich was telling him that after Jan. 1, 2009, Blagojevich wouldn’t be able to ask for any more money from the construction industry because of the new ethics law.

"We'll be addressing it again in another week or two,” Blagojevich said on the recording, meaning Blagojevich was going to call him again in a few weeks to see how he was doing fundraising for him according to Krozel.

Krozel testified it was the third time this question was asked of him with Blagojevich present. Krozel said he was not working on raising money for Blagojevich. He had casually talked to others about fundraising for Blagojevich but got a negative response.

Krozel said an Illinois road foundation was served a subpoena regarding fundraising for Blagojevich on or around Nov. 2, 2008. Krozel knew of the subpoena because he was on the government affairs committee for the organization.

When asked why he didn’t tell Blagojevich he wasn’t going to fundraise for him, Krozel said he didn’t do so because he was afraid that would be the end of the Tollway construction projects. Krozel testified there was a connection between the Tollway projects and the $600,000 fundraising event Blagojevich wanted Krozel too hold for him.

On Dec. 9, 2008, FBI agents came to Krozel’s house at 6:30 a.m. and asked Krozel about his Sept. 18 meeting with Blagojevich. When the agents asked Krozel if he felt any pressure in that meeting, Krozel said he told them he didn’t feel any pressure. Krozel testified he was terrified that agents were there to arrest him as well, so he said he didn’t feel any pressure in the Sept. 18 meeting with Blagojevich. The agents were actually there to serve him a subpoena.

Krozel testified he spoke to Lon Monk several times between Oct. 22 and Dec. 9, 2008 and that Monk would talk to him about raising money for Blagojevich. Krozel said he didn’t tell Monk he had no intention of fundraising for Blagojevich because Monk was close with Blagojevich and Krozel didn’t want to jeopardize the upcoming Tollway projects.

Krozel testified he hadn’t raised any money for Blagojevich when he was arrested on Dec. 9, 2008.

The prosecution was then done with its direct examination.

 

UPDATE:  9:51 a.m.
Court was called into session and the prosecution resuming its direct exam of Gerald Krozel.

The prosecution asked Krozel when Blagojevich met with the principals of Prairie Materials following a fundraising meeting Krozel attended at Friends of Blagojevich. Krozel testified he spoke several times with Lon Monk following a lunch meeting he had with Monk, Blagojevich and the new principals of Prairie Construction in Sept. 2008 at a restaurant called My Way.

Krozel testified Monk talked to him about fundraising for Blagojevich and that he didn’t tell Monk he didn’t plan to fundraise for Blagojevich because he didn’t want to jeopardize an upcoming Tollway project. Krozel testified he didn’t talk to anyone other than Monk about the lunch meeting.

The prosecution showed Krozel a copy of a Sept. 15, 2008 press release in which then-Governor Blagojevich announced Tomorrow's Transportation Today, a $1.8 billion Tollway project.

 

UPDATE:  9:23 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich arrived at the Dirksen Federal Building.  He signed autographs and talked to people outside court.

 

Exec Testifies About Blago Shakedown | Originally Reported By: MyFoxChicago.com

 

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