Jan 7, 2009 5:26 pm US/Central
Alleged Shakedown Target Revealed
Prairie Materials Corporation Revealed As Alleged Shakedown Target
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (left) introduces former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris as his choice to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama during a press conference at the Thompson Center Dec. 30, 2008.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Roland Burris will be in the spotlight again Thursday in Springfield, at a key impeachment hearing. That hearing could make or break Governor Blagojevich.
CBS 2's Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the case against Gov. Blagojevich is now being fine-tuned; the House is ready to impeach; the Senate is getting ready for trial. The grounds for impeachment include abuse of power as well as prosecutors' criminal charges.
For the first time, CBS 2 can reveal the target of one of the largest alleged shakedowns ever.
Prairie Materials Corporation is one of the largest concrete contractors in the Midwest. The Bridgeview firm founded by the late John Oremus, now run by his grandson, was allegedly asked to raise half a million dollars for the governor in return for work on a proposed billion dollar plus Toll way project.
According to the criminal complaint, Blagojevich was caught on tape saying "If they don't perform, f___ 'em."
CBS 2 has confirmed that the executive approached, a Prairie Materials Vice President, is now cooperating with prosecutors.
The governor's fund-raising was targeted for the first time by the Impeachment Committee early Wednesday.
"We also subpoenaed friends of Blagojevich asking for a list of contributors from July 1st to December 31st," Impeachment Committee Chair Barbara Flynn Currie said.
That revelation came after the committee met behind closed doors, finalizing the report. It expects to vote on Thursday or Friday.
As CBS 2 reported Monday, that report covers 54 pages, though it will probably get longer.
Half of the report deals with allegations contained in the U.S. Attorney's criminal complaint, like the alleged Prairie Materials shakedown. The other half deals with past legislative complaints.
All that is left for the committee at this point, is to hear from Burris, whose appearance and cooperation with Senator Harry Reid was set as one condition for his being seated in the Senate.
Burris has already submitted to the Impeachment Committee the same affidavit he gave Senator Reid and the State Supreme Court, maintaining he was first approached about the Senate seat on December 26th, agreed to take it in on December 28th, and had no other discussions with Governor Blagojevich.
Committee members also conceded Wednesday afternoon that they'll have to proceed without the secret tapes offered by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Attorneys for those caught on tape plan to formally object to their release in federal court Thursday.
With or without the tapes, though, the committee will approve the impeachment report. Within 48 hours, the entire House will vote to impeach.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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