 Rejinder Bedi, a fundraiser for Jackson Jr., on Wednesday testified
during Blagojevich's corruption trial that he was with the
congressman and another major political player, Raghuveer Nayak, at
a gathering in a Chicago restaurant in late October 2008 when the
Senate seat came up. Prosecutor Christopher Niewoehner said Bedi
allegedly witnessed Nayak tell Jackson he would raise the
seven-figure sum if Jackson got the appointment.But Bedi was not
allowed to tell the story in open court. Federal Judge James Zagel
classified the details of the meal-time money scheme as hearsay.
But the message certainly made it back to Blagojevich, who made
mention of the offer in a phone call with Bob Greenlee, an adviser,
on Oct. 31.
"(Nayak) offered $500,000 and he said another man would raise $1
million," Blagojevich said.
"You know, I'm not surprised," Greenlee said. "That man is
shameless."
Bedi said he discussed the possibility of the appointment with
Rod's brother, Robert Blagojevich, who has been absent from almost
all of the testimony thus far. In a call taped on Nov. 14, the elder
brother, who served as the governor's fundraising chair in late
2008, talked about growing pressure from the Indian community.
"We are getting faxes from various Indian organizations that are
advocating that you choose Jesse Jr. for the next Senate," he said.
"I'm just passing it on for you."
"No, don't pass it on," Gov. Blagojevich snapped back.
The defense said in its opening statement that Nayak offered the
governor $1.5 million in campaign contributions in exchange for a
Jackson appointment. But this is the first time Jackson Jr., the son
of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, has been drawn directly
into the trial independently.
A call to Jackson Jr.'s office for comment was placed late
Wednesday afternoon but had not been returned by the publication
deadline for Illinois Statehouse News.
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Bedi said both politicians crossed paths at fundraisers with the
Indian community, although there was minimal interaction. Nayak,
Bedi and Blagojevich had been in talks of a Dec. 6 fundraiser, but a
Dec. 5 Chicago Tribune story about the FBI wiretaps that are now at
the center of the trial ended those plans.
Blagojevich's attorneys are arguing that the governor never
considered Jackson anything but a political ploy for negotiating
with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. He has said in past
tapes that an appointment of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
could help push his legislative agenda, which Speaker Madigan,
Lisa's father, had been blocking.
Bedi is testifying under protection of immunity. He admitted on
the stand that he helped Nayak launder money and failed to report
his extra income on his taxes.
Blagojevich faces more than 400 years in prison if convicted of a
bevy of corruption charges, including the alleged attempt to sell
the Senate seat.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BILL McMORRIS]
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