U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) was admonished Friday by the U.S. Senate ethics committee over his testimony in Springfield concerning how he got appointed to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. The committee's inquiry and subsequent reprimand comes after a Chicago Sun-Times investigation brought to light Burris' inconsistent statements before a panel weighing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
In a sworn statement filed with the House panel Jan. 5, before he testified, Burris said he had no contact with Blagojevich's camp about the Senate seat aside from his appointment in late December of last year.
In testimony before the committee, he disclosed only that he spoke with Lon Monk, Blagojevich's former chief of staff.
Three weeks after he was sworn into his Senate seat, Burris filed a supplemental affidavit revealing he also spoke with Robert Blagojevich -- the ex-governor's brother and fund-raising chair -- as well as Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.
The Sun-Times reported in October that the Senate ethics panel was still weighing action against Burris even after he announced he would not seek election next year.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel on Monday approved a bid from William Cellini to be tried separate from ex-governor Rod Blagojevich. The government and Cellini's lawyers agreed last week that the two should be tried separately because there wasn't enough overlap between the two cases.
Meanwhile, the former governor's brother, Rob, will also ask to be tried separately, his lawyer, Michael Ettinger, said today.
Here's a statement from Cellini's lawyer, Dan Webb:
"Today's ruling by Judge Zagel granting the Government's motion to hold a separate trial for my client from former Governor Blagojevich demonstrates what we have said all along - that there was never any justification for including Bill Cellini in any indictment with former Governor Blagojevich. "The allegations against former Governor Blagojevich have absolutely nothing to do with Bill Cellini. Months ago, Mr. Cellini executed an affidavit stating that he does not now nor has he ever had a relationship with former Governor Blagojevich. Mr. Cellini has never spoken on the telephone with former Governor Blagojevich nor has he ever had a substantive or private conversation with former Governor Blagojevich on any topic, including fund raising. Moreover, Mr. Cellini is a lifelong Republican who supported both Jim Ryan and Judy Barr-Topinka in their campaigns against Rod Blagojevich.
"Bill Cellini was never aware of, nor involved with anyone in the Blagojevich group in the alleged fund-raising scheme. Bill is completely innocent of these charges and will continue to vigorously fight these charges as he has done since the day he was indicted. Bill is confident that a jury will find him not guilty."
And then there were two.
Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Rob, will go to trial without anyone else next year after the government agreed to try Downstate businessman William Cellini separately.
Cellini was charged in 2008 with allegedly trying to shake down a movie producer seeking to do business with the state's school pension board.
When the former governor and his brother were indicted in April, prosecutors superseded their case onto Cellini's, creating speculation they were trying to "pick" their judge.
Cellini's lawyers from the beginning argued their client had nothing to do with the ex-governor's case and should be tried separately.
The government disagreed at the time.
But since then, two defendants in the case dropped out of the trial.
Two former aides charged in the case -- John Harris and Lon Monk -- each pleaded guilty.
But most significantly, Christopher Kelly, who died of an apparent suicide, is no longer part of the case. Prosecutors say Kelly was the bridge between Cellini and the former governor.
"It was the allegations and evidence against Kelly that provided much of the rationale to keep the defendants together in one trial," prosecutors wrote in a filing today. "As the government no longer needs to prove the allegations against Kelly, who was integrally involved in the activities underlying the charges against both Cellini and Rod Blagojevich, there is now significantly less overlap in the evidence that the government anticipates would be introduced against Rod Blagojevich and Cellini."
The government points out that Cellini is not charged in any count with either Blagojevich.
The matter is up before U.S. District Judge James Zagel next week.
Rod Blagojevich's lawyers are asking a federal judge to move his trial date from June of next year to September, arguing they're awaiting a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that could affect the case.
In a new court filing, Blagojevich's lawyers say the high court could come down with a decision concerning the honest services statute just before the ex-governor is set for trial.
Both Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich face charges involving the honest services statute. The Supreme Court last month signaled it was on a path to redefine the statute that is often criticized for being too vague and giving prosecutors too much leeway in filing charges.
The statute is often used by prosecutors to charge public officials and others of depriving the public of their right to "honest services." But just when that line is crossed is open to interpretation, critics say.
Lon Monk's guilty plea Tuesday ramps up the pressure on Rod Blagojevich. From the Sun-Times today: Blagojevich has repeatedly sought to distance himself from Tony Rezko, essentially claiming that Rezko duped him. Monk's plea not only puts the two in the same room, but it also alleges that Blagojevich gave both Rezko and Kelly free rein over his administration. Monk "understood that Blagojevich and [Monk] would use their power and authority in state government as needed to assist whatever plans Rezko and Kelly put in place to make money," the plea states.
From the Chicago Tribune: Pulling back the curtain on how Blagojevich and his cohorts allegedly went about their plan, Monk's plea suggests a possible pattern of political crimes that took place well before Blagojevich allegedly offered the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama to the highest bidder. As part of his deal, Monk told prosecutors that he, Blagojevich and key fundraisers Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Christopher Kelly repeatedly met about how the four of them could secretly make money through state deals, offering the most specific account yet of how the alleged conspiracy in the case formed.
From AP: The plea is guaranteed to be a blow to Blagojevich, who is scheduled to stand trial starting June 3 on corruption charges that included allegedly trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat President Barack Obama held.
A lawyer for ex-governor Rod Blagojevich deemed a slew of allegations leveled by onetime top aide Lon Monk: "one-thousand percent false."
In a plea deal made public today, Monk, 51, said there was an ongoing agreement among Blagojevich and his closest advisers that involved making hundreds of thousands of dollars off state business deals.
The money would be split four ways, according to Monk. The alleged recipients: Blagojevich, the now-deceased fund-raiser Christopher Kelly, convicted businessman Tony Rezko and Monk.
"That is completely false. One-thousand percent false," Sheldon Sorosky told the Sun-Times. "Blagojevich never participated in any deal or conference where he'd receive a kickback from any investments or any money that Rezko and Kelly made -- from the state or otherwise."
In a major victory for federal prosecutors, a longtime friend and ex-chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich said today he was an eyewitness to a litany of corruption under the former governor in a deal that pledges his cooperation in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Lon Monk, 51, of Decatur, said in his plea agreement that during the ex-governor's first term in office, there was an ongoing agreement among Blagojevich's closest advisers involving making tens of thousands of dollars off of state business.
The money would be split four ways, according to the plea. The alleged recipients: Blagojevich, the now-deceased Christopher Kelly, convicted businessman Tony Rezko and Monk.
Monk admitted to knowing about a variety of alleged schemes, but pleaded guilty to just one charge -- that he schemed with the ex-governor to shake down a racetrack businessman for a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for the governor's signature on a pending piece of legislation that would benefit horse racing in Illinois. Some of the conversations related to the scheme were caught on tape, according to the plea.
Rod Blagojevich's lawyer lashed out in a fiery diatribe this afternoon after prosecutors complained about his upcoming appearance on "Celebrity Apprentice."
Prosecutors in court said Blagojevich has discussed evidence in the case on TV and has misstated evidence. They didn't ask the judge to bar Blagojevich but raised issues about what the ex-governor might say on TV. U.S. District Judge James Zagel shared those concerns and asked the two sides to talk.
"This is a little mystifying. This is the first time I have ever heard of a
law enforcement official coming into court and saying: "Judge shut the
defendant up,'" Blagojevich's lawyer, Sam Adam Jr. said.
Adam went on a tirade about the government -- at one point bringing up
Guantanamo Bay tactics -- saying prosecutors had their press conference
after Blagojevich's arrest, but are trying to keep him from responding to
their charges.
The remarks came shortly after Zagel said he worried about
confessionals on the reality TV show and whether Blagojevich could complicate his own trial by speaking out of turn.
Zagel said it wasn't his job to worry about Blagojevich implicating himself, but feared the former governor could make remarks that would affect "the administration of the trial."
Zagel told both sides to talk and said nothing of blocking Blago's appearance.
Adam said he'd abide by any ruling, but said it was curious that prosecutors were trying to curb Blagojevich's speech.
"Give me a good, solid reason why a law enforcement official ... would want
him to shut up now," Adam said. "Because he's telling the truth. When he
comes out and says "I didn't do it,' he's telling the truth."
"Be quiet Mr. Blagojevich, you actually have an audience," Adam said,
mimicking the government. "You don't agree with what we've said in this, we
need you to shut up.'"
"We watched all these things that happened down in Guantanamo,"Adam
continued. "We've seen all the things over the years that have happened in
this country ...
Is that what we are left to? When you take an elected official, a governor,
rip him from his family at 6 o'clock in the morning and then say he did all
these things but you can't answer it? Is that really where we are?"
The Chicago Sun-Times reports today that the president of a topless bar was among those on a clout list who appeared to get people hired during Rod Blagojevich's administration.
Perry Mandera, of Glenview, was listed among clout-heavy political sponsors in a secret hiring database obtained by the Sun-Times.
Mandera's name was linked to 10 job candidates.
Four of the people on Mandera's list wound up getting state jobs, the records show.
Mandera, the president of a company that owns VIP's A Gentlemen's Club, a topless bar on the Near North Side, said he knew of no such list.
"I have no knowledge of what you're talking about," Mandera told a Sun-Times reporter. "This is the first time I'm hearing about this."
The Mandera report was the third report in a series about patronage under Blagojevich.
The first report indicated that Blagojevich ordered a hiring freeze while in state office, but, behind the scenes, "flouted the supposed freeze, forging a patronage machine that -- despite their boss' public promises -- eventually would provide state jobs or promotions to nearly 2,500 people with enough clout to have political sponsors."
On Sunday, the Sun-Times reported that the same lawmakers who forced the ex-governor's ouster, once begged him for jobs.
Will a federal judge let Rod Blagojevich appear on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Appearance?"
Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich will be in court today to argue that the former governor shouldn't be barred from Donald Trump's reality show.
Prosecutors are expected to challenge the former governor's appearance on the series, which is being filmed now but won't be aired until March.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel barred Blagojevich from appearing on the Costa Rican set of "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here," earlier this year.
"I don't think this defendant in all honesty ... fully understands the position he finds himself in," Zagel said at the time.
Zagel held that authority because he would have had to grant the ex-governor special permission to travel outside the country. (Former First Lady of Illinois, Patti Blagojevich, went in her husband's stead.)
It's unclear what legal blockade could be used to bar Blagojevich. He's free to travel throughout the United States and his lawyers will likely argue he needs to work. He was ousted from his post as governor in January. He will be a paid contestant on the show, sources have told the Sun-Times.
Prosecutors will likely argue that the March airing could taint the potential jury pool for Blagojevich's June trial, sources said.
The former governor, who has been in New York for the taping, is not expected to be in Chicago's federal courthouse today.
Federal prosecutors on Monday are expected to raise concerns over Rod Blagojevich's slotted appearance on Donald Trump's reality show: "Celebrity Apprentice."
At issue is the March airing of the show, which is just months before jury seating is to begin in the former governor's criminal trial, sources said.
The corruption trial is set to begin in June.
Since his December arrest, Blagojevich has embarked on a media bonanza, including releasing a personal memoir and going on a coast-to-coast book tour. Blagojevich has appeared on the "Daily Show," David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel, to name a few.
So why the concern now?
"Celebrity Apprentice" doesn't air until next spring, so prosecutors are likely complain there's a possibility of tainting the jury pool, sources said. Blagojevich will reportedly join Cyndi Lauper and Sharon Osbourne, among others.
The matter will be before U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who denied Blagojevich's bid to travel to Costa Rica earlier this year. Blagojevich wasn't allowed to travel out of the country. Zagel also encouraged Blagojevich to instead focus on his criminal trial. Patti Blagojevich took her husband's spot on the show instead.
Blagojevich, who is being paid to be a contestant on Trump's NBC show, has been in New York this week to begin filming the reality series.
A U.S. Attorney spokesman had no comment.
By taking up the case of Enron executive Jeffrey Skilling, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled Tuesday it is on a clear path to tackle the amorphous "honest services" statute, something that could impact Rod Blagojevich's upcoming trial.
The lawyer for Rod Blagojevich's brother, Robert Blagojevich, told the Chicago Sun-Times he thinks the statute "is going to be shredded," possibly resulting in a trial delay or new charges against his client.
Robert and Rod Blagojevich were indicted together April 2.
Honest services makes up a good chunk of Blagojevich's indictment. The only two charges against Robert Blagojevich are rooted in alleged honest services fraud.
"Blagojevich has traveled across the country proclaiming his innocence," writes Chicago Tribune columnist Greg Burns today. "Maybe his next stop should be on the steps of the Supreme Court."
It's the third honest services case the high court has taken up (the others are that of media baron Conrad Black and an Alaskan state lawmaker). Lawyers see that as a sign that justices are out to better define a statute often criticized as vague. The law says one can be found to have deprived a company or taxpayers of his or her honest services even if there was no financial loss -- or personal gain. But just when that line is crossed is open to interpretation.
In today's New York Times, Adam Liptak reminds us it was a Chicago case that propelled justices to take another look at the statute.
The high court in February refused to take up the case of patronage chief Robert Sorich. Sorich and others were convicted of denying Illinois taxpayers their honest services by fostering City Hall's patronage system even though Sorich didn't make any money off the deal. The case drew a strong rebuke from Justice Antonin Scalia who wrote: "It is one thing to enact and enforce clear rules against certain types of corrupt behavior ... but quite another to mandate a freestanding, open-ended duty to provide honest services -- with the details to be worked out case-by-case."
U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is still on the hot seat. The Chicago Sun-Times reports a congressional panel was querying state lawmakers about Burris' testimony before a state House panel. The questioning of the senator appointed by Rod Blagojevich came about one month after the Chicago Democrat announced he wouldn't run for a full term in 2010.
For more background on Burris happenings, click here.
Listen to the secretly recorded phone call between Burris and Robert Blagojevich, the ex-governor's fund-raising chief.
Rod Blagojevich has made money off of Donald Trump before he ever signed on to "Celebrity Apprentice."
Trump has donated $9,000 in campaign contributions the indicted ex-Illinois governor since 2002. The billionaire's most recent donation of $2,000 came in 2007.
The Sun-Times had the scoop online yesterday. Blagojevich is expected to begin filming the reality TV show later this month.
Donald Trump vs. Rod Blagojevich.
It could be the hair battle to end all hair battles.
And it's expected to play out soon on national television because the onetime governor is expected to be a contestant on Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice."
The mega-rich developer is famous for telling contestants: "you're fired."
But that isn't anything the indicted Blagojevich hasn't heard before.
The former governor was booted from his seat by the Illinois legislature last January.
Now he's looking for ways to make money.
This time, he'll go head to head with Trump in a boardroom.
Sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Blagojevich, who will be paid for his appearance, will begin filming later this month and it could take three weeks or more.
Like most reality TV shows, Blagojevich stays on as a guest until he gets canned, in this case, by Trump.
Blagojevich's PR agent, Glenn Selig, would not comment.
"We don't comment on rumors or projects or anything we don't have an announcement about," Selig said.
A Trump spokeswoman also had no comment.
Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge James Zagel denied the ousted governor's bid to travel to Costa Rica and star in a different reality show.
Zagel said Blagojevich was better off tending to his criminal case.
His wife, Patti Blagojevich, went on instead. She gobbled down a tarantula and was among the last ones standing in "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here."
Because "Celebrity Apprentice" is filmed in the United States, the former governor won't need the judge's OK to travel.
Patti Blagojevich is taking aim at her former employer, filing a defamation lawsuit against a top official for allegedly making defaming remarks to a newspaper columnist.
Mrs. Blagojevich filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court charging that Rick Roberts, the senior director of strategy and communications for the Chicago Christian Industrial League, made defaming remarks about her by claiming she inappropriately took an internal email list from the group when she was fired in January.
Roberts made the remarks two weeks ago initially to columnist Michael Sneed. He then repeated them the next day in the Chicago Tribune.
Roberts called Patti Blagojevich "unethical," saying she used the email contacts to try selling her husband's new book.
Patti Blagojevich later told the Sun-Times that it was Roberts who was inappropriate; she said she dumped her own email list into the league's database to help bolster fund-raising.
"The galling thing about this is before I got to CCIL -- there was no e-mail list. They had no e-mail outreach at all," she told the Sun-Times in a Sept. 18 story. "I dumped all my contacts of all my friends. . . . Their list is my list."
Roberts could not be immediately reached for comment.
This is from the Patti Blagojevich and Rod Blagojevich's PR group.
(PRNewsChannel) / Chicago, Ill. / Less than two weeks after being accused by her former employer--a charity--of inappropriately taking its 'proprietary' donor list and then using it to promote her husband's new book, former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich fought back today by suing for defamation.
The lawsuit, filed this morning in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., names Richard Roberts, the senior director of strategy and communications for the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL) as the defendant.
According to the lawsuit, Roberts falsely accused the former first lady of stealing CCIL's donor list.
But according to the suit, CCIL never maintained an email list of donors for purposes of outreach. The suit says Mrs. Blagojevich created her own list building on her personal Outlook contacts.
When her husband was arrested, Mrs. Blagojevich was abruptly fired.
The complaint alleges that Roberts made false accusations to 'Chicago Sun-Times' columnist Michael Sneed, who then published the statements in a column on September 17, 2009.
The suit does not name the 'Chicago Sun-Times,' Sneed or the charity itself as defendants.
"There is no easier way to attract media attention and generate free publicity than to make false accusations against a person whose life is the focus of constant public attention and scrutiny," says Jay Edelson of KamberEdelson, the lead attorney in this suit. "Hopefully, this will send the message that making false statements against Patti or Rod Blagojevich will not go unanswered."
KamberEdelson LLC. has been handling the defense of various civil actions filed against the former governor of Illinois following his removal from office.
In the days following President Obama's election, his now-chief of staff Rahm Emanuel
wanted then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint a longtime ally to fill his 5th Congressional District seat. There was also discussion of a possible cabinet position. Emanuel didn't know at the time that Blagojevich didn't have authority to make the appointment.
At the request of prosecutors, a federal judge this morning dismissed the case pending against Christopher Kelly, a onetime fund-raiser and adviser to Rod Blagojevich, who died earlier this month.
U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle agreed to dismiss the case against Kelly as well as Kelly's BCI Commercial Roofing.
Kelly, 51, of Burr Ridge, died after an apparent suicide. He had been indicted three times since 2007, including in the case involving BCI.
That case was set to go to trial in early September before Kelly pleaded guilty to charges of bid-rigging at O'Hare.
In court on Sept. 8, Kelly told the judge he felt pressures "in my life." He later died of an apparent overdose.
Earlier this week, Kelly's case before U.S. District Judge James Zagel was dismissed. In that case, he faced racketeering and extortion charges with Blagojevich. Kelly had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The dismissal of the O'Hare charges means that Kelly's agreement to turn over $450,000 in cash and home equity to the government is now voided out.
Kelly's guilty plea is wiped clean because he wasn't sentenced before his death.
But the prosecution could have pursued a case against BCI because it still exists as an entity, defense lawyer Tom Leinenweber said. The government chose to drop the case, he said.
"I think the government really did the right thing," said Leinenweber, who represents BCI Commercial. "The assets of the company will be used for his wife and children."
The Rod Blagojevich media blitz continued Thursday night as the embattled former governor appeared on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."
Blagojevich ensured host Jon Stewart that he's been falsely accused of trying to sell President Obama's vacated Senate seat for financial gain.
After Stewart made a few hair jokes, he asked Blagojevich point-blank about the now-infamous line that came out in the indictment: "I've got this thing and it's f****** golden."
"My accusers, who had a press conference while I was locked up in a jail cell, said that I said that. They have since gone to court and have gotten a court order that prevents me from finishing out that conversation and telling you exactly the next sentence or the next paragraph."
In the second part of the interview, Blagojevich said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan "may have some criminal culpability."
"He was holding back a jobs bill, not expanding health care," Blagojevich said. "If he was leveraging that for [his daughter, Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan's] Senate seat then you have to ask yourself if that's legitimate or not."
Blagojevich reiterated his assertion that third parties were involved, including White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who wanted Blagojevich to appoint Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool to his vacated 5th Congressional District seat, according to an article in today's Sun-Times.
Comedy Central posted the entire, unedited, three-part interview on the show's Web site.
A lawyer for Rod Blagojevich said outside of court today that the recently deceased friend of the former governor will "speak ... from the grave," at Blagojevich's trial next year.
Wasting no time in spinning the death of Christopher Kelly, who died of an apparent suicide last week, Sam Adam Jr. told reporters today that Kelly's refusal to plead guilty in Blagojevich's case serves as proof that the ex-governor did no wrong.
At next June's trial: "Chris Kelly's voice will speak louder from the grave," Adam said. Chris Kelly pleaded guilty to two criminal cases in federal court involving income tax fraud and fraud at O'Hare Airport.
Kelly faced an extraordinary amount of pressure by federal prosecutors to cooperate in federal court. He was indicted three times in two years.
But Kelly's refusal to plead guilty in Blagojevich's case shows Blagojevich was not involved in wrongdoing with Kelly, Adam said.
"He told the truth in the first case. He told the truth in the second case," and he told the truth in Blagojevich's case by not pleading guilty, Adam argued.
Kelly's guilty pleas in two separate fraud cases each came on the eve of trial.
Kelly was to face trial on racketeering and extortion charges with Blagojevich next June.
Asked if the government can be accused of "piling on" charges against Kelly, another lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky said: "It would be inappropriate to do any post-mortem" on who is at fault.
A confidant of Kelly's told the Sun-Times last week that Kelly was prepared to go to trial in the second case he faced involving bid-rigging at O'Hare. But Kelly, 51, of Burr Ridge,
changed his mind at the last-minute when the government moved to revoke his bond, according to the confidant. Kelly came up with a compromise to turn himself into jail a week later. He killed himself in the interim.
Kelly, who was angered with the government for playing hardball with him, was steadfast in his refusal to cooperate against Blagojevich, those close to him have said.
Meanwhile, in court this morning, U.S. District Judge James Zagel formally dismissed charges against Kelly.
There was little formal talk of Kelly in the courtroom except for prosecutors asking to dismiss the counts against Kelly.
"On suggestion of death?" Zagel asked. "Motion granted."
Kelly's lawyer, Michael Monico, was not in court.
(PRNewsChannel) / Chicago, Ill. / Rod Blagojevich is scheduled for the following interviews for Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, according to The Publicity Agency, the PR firm that represents the former Illinois governor.
Blagojevich's new book THE GOVERNOR was released last week.
RADIO
8:10am CENTRAL, WIYY-FM Baltimore MD
8:20am CENTRAL, WJFK-FM Washington DC
8:35am CENTRAL, CFYI-AM Toronto Ontario
9am CENTRAL, KPOJ-AM Portland OR
9:15am CENTRAL, KMOX St. Louis MO
10:05am CENTRAL, KABC-AM Los Angeles CA
10:20am CENTRAL, WEBE-FM Bridgeport / NYC CT / NY
10:30am CENTRAL, KSLG-FM Humboldt County CA
9:00pm CENTRAL, Westwood One, 60 min, Live, with Late Night The Jim Bohanon Show
Photo by Jean Lachat Grace Kelly (center, with hand on her stomach) is consoled by family at her father's funeral.
In his final hours, Christopher Kelly called his brother, Charlie, with a request: keep his funeral service short, keep his eulogy brief.
Above all, he wanted his family and friends to know one thing, his brother said this morning:
"Christopher Kelly is at peace," Charles Kelly said. "Nothing more. Nothing less."
At a funeral service this morning at St. John of the Cross Church in Western Springs, there was no talk of Rod Blagojevich, of federal prosecutors or of a suicide investigation of the onetime political insider that has dominated the news in recent days.
Photo by Jean Lachat Pallbearers, led by one of Chris Kelly's brothers (right) and nephew (left) carry Kelly's casket from the church Wednesday.
Charles Kelly said his brother in no uncertain terms told him he was at peace and that he wanted that communicated to his family.
Charles Kelly said his brother was blessed with a loving and devoted wife, Carmen and that the entire Kelly family was proud of his brother.
Charles spoke of his brother's intense love for his three daughters: his first-born, Grace, his middle daughter Jacqueline, who is named after the Kelly patriarch, John "Jack" Kelly and the youngest, Claire, whom Chris Kelly liked to call "Claire Bear."
Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, as well as their two daughters attended the funeral. They did not speak publicly afterward. Also in attendance was Kelly's lawyers and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke.
Photo by Rich Hein Chris Kelly's girlfriend, Clarissa Flores, leaves Kelly's funeral Wednesday.
Kelly died Saturday morning after overdosing on a bottle of aspirin, according to police. In recent years, Kelly was under the weight of three federal indictments.
Authorities said Tuesday that Kelly made a first attempt at suicide just hours after he pleaded guilty in federal court last week. That day in federal court, Kelly told reporters: "My life is over."
In court, Kelly told the judge he faced pressures "in my life."
Country Club Hills Police today said former gubernatorial fund-raiser and adviser Christopher Kelly killed himself, ruling out suicide.
They also revealed that Kelly had attempted suicide days earlier -- on the same day that he had pleaded guilty in federal court.
The Sun-Times reported today that Kelly pleaded guilty after the feds moved to have a judge revoke his bond.
Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, plan to attend Wednesday's funeral of
Chris Kelly, the former governor's one-time fund-raiser and close aide.
The indicted former governor, through his publicist, announced his plans to
attend the funeral in Western Springs.
There was no word if he would attend tonight's wake in Roselle.
Kelly died Saturday following an apparent overdose.
More details on his death are expected to be released by Country Club Hills officials this
afternoon.
Country Club Hills police are investigating the death of Chris Kelly, the longtime loyal friend, adviser and fund-raiser of Rod Blagojevich.
Hours before Kelly was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, he called a friend to tell her he was going to kill himself, the Sun-Times is reporting.
A source familiar with the investigation said that Kelly, who is married, called a friend and told her he took some pills and was going to kill himself.
She found Kelly and drove him to Oak Forest Hospital, dropped him off and called police to report she did so, the source said.
Oak Forest Hospital does not have a trauma unit and was unable to treat Kelly, who then was rushed to Stroger Hospital in an ambulance.
Kelly, 51, had been indicted three times but refused to cooperate against the ex-governor. He pleaded guilty last Tuesday was set to turn himself in to prison on Friday.
