Gov. Rod Blagojevich marches in the Indian community's Independence Day parade on Devon Avenue Aug. 16, 2003, in Chicago, with Raghuveer Nayak on his immediate left. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)..
by Frank James
We now know the Identity of the Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. ally who mentioned in the federal criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a Jackson "emissary" though the congressman has denied authorizing anyone to approach the governor about the vacant U.S. Senate seat. It's not exactly a household name.
According to a story by Chicago Tribune reporters David Kidwell and John Chase:
A key figure in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat has sought immunity from federal authorities in return for his cooperation in their ongoing probe, the Tribune has learned.
Raghuveer P. Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman and political fundraiser, is the unnamed "Individual D" who prosecutors say was being squeezed by the governor for campaign cash in return for appointing U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, sources said.
Investigators appeared at Nayak's Oak Brook home the morning the FBI arrested Blagojevich, the sources said. Nayak was among a number of people connected to the case who were contacted by federal agents that day.
Nayak has not been accused of wrongdoing and declined to comment. It is unclear what information he can provide to authorities, who said they had more work to do after moving quickly to interrupt the governor's alleged scheme.
The 54-year-old millionaire, who made his fortune in medical businesses, was until recently little-known outside Chicago's close-knit Indian community and the state's political fundraising circles...
... The Tribune has reported that Nayak hosted an Oct. 31 luncheon where he discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade the governor to choose Jackson. The congressman's brother Jonathan appeared at a Nayak-sponsored fundraiser for the governor three days before Blagojevich was arrested.
The congressman has acknowledged speaking with Nayak about his desire for the Senate seat but said he did not endorse and was not aware of a fundraising effort to support his bid.
On Sunday evening, Jackson's lawyer, James Montgomery Sr., reacted to the news of Nayak's bid for immunity by saying, "If that is indeed the case, and if that cooperation relates to my client, then [Nayak] is trying to save his own skin. That's all I have to say."
Comments
Infospigot put together who Individual D was about ten days ago. http://infospigot.typepad.com/infospigot_the_chronicles/2008/12/reading-the-complaint-dramatis-personae.html?cid=143275178#comments
Posted by: Lou Grant | December 22, 2008 9:15 AM
The Tribune reported today that the Jackson camp is calling Nayak a liar.
If that is true and they are doing it this early in the game then I believe the Jackson's are concerned about what he might say.
This will be interesting.
Posted by: Pat H | December 22, 2008 11:40 AM
The Blago denial last week sounds awfully familiar. I just KNOW I've heard this somewhere before. Oh yeah, now I remember:
"I did not...have sex...with that woman...Miss Lewinsky...not a single time...never. Now I have to get back to work for the American people..."
Has it really been 10 years already? Ahh, the memories.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | December 22, 2008 12:15 PM
Meanwhile, in yet another poll the poll-happy Swamp is ignoring, CNN reports that the American people, by a 48-43% margin, think Obama or his staff did something illegal or unethical with Blago and the senate seat. See http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/22/poll-finds-public-split-on-obama-aides-contacts-with-blagojevich/ for the poll The Sawmp doesn't want anyone to know about.
Posted by: Change You Can Believe In | December 22, 2008 5:16 PM
"Change" we'll wait for the actual facts, okay?
Posted by: rupert | December 22, 2008 6:01 PM
I can't help but think that if Blago were a Republican, Dems would long ago have resorted to comparing his looks to that of an orangutan, much like Bush=chimp.
Posted by: huh | December 23, 2008 8:57 AM
""Change" we'll wait for the actual facts, okay?
Posted by: rupert | December 22, 2008 6:01 PM"
The Swamp has run at least 300 articles on polls. "Rupert", if you wish to be taken seriously, name one time prior to this that you objected to noting a poll result.
Posted by: Change | December 23, 2008 9:35 AM