Item: Blagojevich Prosecutor To Lead NJ Bridge Scandal Inquiry - CBSPhilly

[WillyT]

Blagojevich Prosecutor To Lead NJ Bridge Scandal Inquiry
CBSPhilly
January 15, 2014 2:40 PM

<snip>

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The federal prosecutor who helped convict former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is being asked to investigate the apparent political payback scandal involving New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration.

The New Jersey Assembly tapped former assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar, who helped convict Blagojevich of corruption, as special counsel Wednesday.

The special counsel will advise a legislative committee investigating a plot that shut down lanes to the George Washington Bridge for four days in September

<snip>

Link: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01/15/blagojevich-prosecutor-to-lead-nj-bridge-scandal-inquiry/

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. Uh oh....

....weren't there people here who though Rod Blag was a victim?

[geek tragedy]

3. just like there are people who think Sarah Palin is smart nt

[Berlum]

2. Tick, tick, tick...

[bigdarryl]

4. Oh shit this guy is NO JOKE!!!

[libdem4life]

5. Just the fact he took the case says quite a lot. You'd think when Mitt turned him down for his

skeletons...apparently fairly well known in NJ political circles, he'd have taken the hint. In-State shenanigans are one thing, but national airing and vetting is quite another.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Looks like Smoking Gun coming up.

[crazylikafox]

7. It's Fitzmas!!!

[questionseverything]

8. i hope i am wrong but

this guy rose to the top in the era of "good bushies"

he spent 5 years investigating a sitting popular dem gov

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Since 2003, Schar and a team investigated allegations of illegal activity occurring in the State of Illinois government as part of the Blagojevich administration. Through outstanding, dedicated and zealous investigative work, trial preparation, and trial presentation, Schar led a team that obtained the indictment and conviction of numerous individuals involved in corruption at the highest levels of Illinois government, including former Gov. Blagojevich, two of his chiefs of staff, and a variety of insiders who profited from their relationship with corrupt officials. This series of prosecutions was more involved than the usual complicated public corruption case. The investigation included numerous wiretaps on multiple phones. Indeed, one of these wiretaps in late October, 2008 resulted in recording of the then-governor making incriminating statements. Based upon these statements and other evidence, Schar and a team immediately produced wire applications for Governor Blagojevich’s home phone, campaign phones, and the phones of additional members of Blagojevich’s inner circle. These wire taps were approved and the recordings on those phones began approximately October 28, 2008.

The wiretaps were maintained until December 9, 2008. During that timeframe, Schar worked 7 days a week to analyze the wiretaps and continue the investigation based on leads obtained in the on-going recorded conversations. Through Schar’s hard work, crimes were uncovered related to the attempted selling of the United States Senate seat, and the Blagojevich-led shakedown of a children’s hospital and two individual contributors. Ultimately, Blagojevich, then the sitting governor of the State of Illinois, was arrested on December 9, 2008, along with his chief of staff, John Harris.

In August 10, 2010, the jury convicted Blagojevich of making a false statement to the FBI, but was hung on all other charges.
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if any1 can find ONE republican this guy has ever investigated or convicted pls let me know

[monmouth3]

9. Christie may be his first...n/t