July 2010
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07/28/10Jesse Jackson Jr. Makes The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful ListHis career may be in the tank and his White House dreams shattered, but there’s some good news for Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. this week: He made The Hill’s “50 Most Beautiful People 2010” list—even cracking the coveted top ten... Posted at 04:17 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1) |
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07/28/10Veteran Defense Lawyer: Blago Will Win Some CountsAfter the closing arguments on Tuesday, I called a prominent defense lawyer in town whom I’ve known for decades. He asked not to be identified, but his insights are worth sharing as jurors begin deliberating today in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich. Caveat: His experience, legal acumen, and street smarts are from years of working as a criminal defense attorney... Posted at 12:25 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (2) |
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07/20/10Eight Things You Didn't Know about Robert BlagojevichThe Blagojevich defense opened its case Monday with the ex-gov’s older-by-16-months brother, Robert Blagojevich, testifying on behalf of Rod (and also himself—Rob is the alleged middle man in the plot to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat). Rob, 54, said on the stand that the siblings were close growing up, but they... Posted at 03:52 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (3) |
07/19/10Blago Defense Lawyer: Ex-Gov 'Runs the Show'"Quite frankly, it’s [Blagojevich’s] case, and it’s the high stakes that he’s facing, so he certainly runs the show on many of these things," says Aaron Goldstein, the youngest—and arguably the most effective—member of Blago's defense team. Posted at 02:07 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (6) |
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07/14/10Will Blago Drag Jesse Jackson Jr. Down with Him?In tapes played for the jury last week at the Blago trial, the ex-gov was heard telling aides that if both Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. were drowning, and he could only save one, he’d probably pick Jackson. Back in the ’90s, Jackson was said to be Blago’s closest friend in the Illinois congressional delegation... Posted at 03:29 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (5) |
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07/09/10Blago's Lawyers Feel Judge's HeatBy several accounts, Blago’s defense lawyers have come off looking like rookies—often tutored by U.S. District Judge James Zagel in a manner reminiscent of a an impatient and bored professor. (Don’t start a question with “so,” etc.) That goes for Sam Adam, father and son; for Blago’s old friend and former employer Sheldon Sorosky; and for Aaron Goldstein, the youngest of the group at 35. If Zagel gave Goldstein... Posted at 01:07 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (4) |
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07/02/10Blago’s “Regular Guy” Act Takes a Hit with IRS Agent's Testimony about His Suit Addiction“I hear you’re an Oxxford guy,” I said to Rod Blagojevich in 2003, shortly after he became governor. His beady, closely-set eyes popped in excitement, and he launched into a detailed timeline of his suit and “accessories” purchases. Blago’s enthusiasm was palpable, but I didn’t know its $200,000 pricetag until the IRS weighted in this week at his trial... Posted at 10:49 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (5) |
Felsenthal Files is a blog by author Carol Felsenthal, a lifelong Chicagoan and self-proclaimed political junkie. Her focus here will be Chicago politics, which, in the age of Obama, extends to the national and international spheres. Felsenthal is a regular blogger for The Hill and The Huffington Post and has written several books, including Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House. Among her many stories for Chicago are memorable profiles of Michelle Obama and Rod Blagojevich.
