And of course he wants to raise our taxes. That's why he wants to go to Washington.
Related from the Blago trial. Illinois GOP:
Michael Winter: Another Giannoulias Ally on the Stand
Contributions to Citizens for Giannoulias: $19,000
Loans from Broadway Bank: $2 million
Background: Yesterday, jurors in Rod Blagojevich’s criminal trial heard more testimony from former Tony Rezko employee Michael Winter regarding his knowledge of a business arrangement between Rezko and Patti Blagojevich. Like many characters in the Blagojevich trial, Michael Winter played a prominent role in Alexi Giannoulias’ election to State Treasurer.
Contributions to Giannoulias Campaign: According to the State Board of Elections, Winter contributed $19,000 to Giannoulias’ 2006 State Treasurer campaign: $2,000 on December 1, 2005; $2,000 on February 1, 2006; $10,000 on June 16, 2006; and $5,000 on September 12, 2006.
During the campaign, Giannoulias’ opponent called on him to return $14,000 in contributions he had received. As it turned out, Giannoulias had already accepted another $5,000.
Loan from Broadway Bank: According to the Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court, Broadway Bank loaned one of Michael Winter’s companies, Oceanna Holdings LLC, $2,171,856 to purchase an apartment building in Sarasota, Florida. The mortgage was filed one day after Giannoulias’ campaign received a $2,000 contribution from Winter.
More on Michael Winter from the Washington Examiner:
“Two other Giannoulias donors — Myron Cherry and Michael Winter — appear by name in the Blagojevich evidence document because in 2004, they became part of another Rezko scheme.
“Thanks to his influence with the governor, Rezko controlled a member of the Illinois state board that decides where the state’s multibillion-dollar teachers retirement fund is invested. Rezko could steer a few million in investments wherever he liked, and he wanted money to go to a firm that would pay him a finder’s fee in exchange.
“That’s where Winter, one of Rezko’s office mates, came in. In exchange for part of the finder’s fee, he found an investment firm that was willing to pay. As Winter would later testify in court, he convinced Cherry, his attorney, to be the front man whose name would appear on the papers. The court document stated that things fell apart after the pension board objected to having any payments go to Cherry because — this seems to be a theme — he hadn’t done any work on the deal.”
Previous posts: Kirk is the Clear Choice, Bleepin' Golden Boy Alexi, Bombshell at Blago Trial on Alexi
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