Ex-CPS principal found dead on day of sentencing

 This story caught my eye and is worth sharing.

Former Brennemann Elementary School Principal Sarah Jackson Abedelal was found dead after she failed to show up for her sentencing in an overtime kickback scheme, her lawyer told a judge Wednesday.

Abedelal, 61, had been scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday morning before U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, who issued an arrest warrant after she failed to show up an rescheduled the hearing for Wednesday afternoon.

At those proceedings, Abedelal’s attorney, Jonathan Bedi, told the judge he was informed last night that his client had passed away. No further details of the circumstances of her death were discussed in court.

You might want to know what she did that caused Federal scrutiny

Abedelal was charged in July 2021 in a 10-count wire fraud indictment alleging a seven-year scheme to have employees file for overtime they didn’t work and kick back at least $200,000 to her, which she allegedly used for her own purposes including for her car and her student loans.

Abedelal was one of six defendants — including two of her underlings — ensnared in the case, which also involved an alleged scheme to falsify orders for school supplies to provide iPhones, iPads and prepaid gift cards to school officials for personal use.

Abedelal pleaded guilty to a single wire fraud count nearly three years ago. Prosecutors had been seeking a 38-month prison sentence, arguing she “diverted critical funds meant to further children’s education away from a school and school district that were already having financial difficulties in order to line her pockets.”

A statement from her lawyer emphasized that this chapter of her life and that she impacted the educational journey of "hundreds of students". And will be deeply missed by her many friends, family and colleagues.

Also this not to stay in the negative with regards to her:

Abedelal’s attorneys, meanwhile, had asked for six months behind bars. In a recent court filing, Abedelal’s lawyers said she has a history of mental issues including bipolar disorder and depression, and they asked she be placed in a treatment program if she was incarcerated.

 Now that she's no longer with us the charges against her will be formally dropped.

The Madigan Rule Ep. 5: Patterns & Practices

 

This is the final edition of the fascinating podcast about the public life of one Michael J. Madigan who was the longtime Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives who was forced to give up the gavel in January 2021. Indeed he gave up his longtime seat in the state house and the chairmanship of the Illinois Democratic Party. He still remains committeeman of Ward 13 in Chicago.

In this episode they talk a lot about another reason that Madigan had to step aside and it was his role with one of this state's major utility companies ComEd  - who in the Chicago area provides electricity. The Chicago way used to involve getting favored people jobs in key parts of a government like the city of Chicago or state of Illinois or with a state utility.

A state is suppose to regulate the utilities however what if you're influence over a branch of a government enables you to exact some "concessions" from a utility such as ComEd. Perhaps get someone a job who worked hard for you in your political operations. Someone who has a knack for getting out the vote.

Of course we know about his work as an attorney working with say any company with regards to property tax appeals. We know about issues of sexual harassment in his political operations. We know he knows how to play the game after many years in state gov't. And sometimes all of those operations seems to open the door to potential charges of corruption.

Madigan has denied these allegations and he's smart enough to avoid incriminating himself. He hasn't so far been caught on any wiretaps incriminating himself. The question now becomes will the federal gov't ever come close to finding anything concrete on Madigan.

Another thing up for debate beyond that is what is Madigan's legacy. In my mind I think he's been the only adult in the room, perhaps he has no core values. I just admire that more often than not it seems looks at the big picture.

On the other hand many who either worked with him or against him will say there are some things he missed the ball on. And the corruption will certainly play a hand in this also

Episode 4 - The Madigan Rule: What comes up...

 

Here's episode 4 of The Madigan Rule. This time I'm forced to embed this episode via spotify as the Better Gov't Association has yet to upload this episode to their YouTube channel. No big deal just adjust and adapt. :) 

The title of this episode is What Comes Up (transcript). Well what comes after that? This is what's being explored what helped end the tenure of Michael Madigan as the longest serving Speaker.

Well, there was an episode of patronage. Name the agency or even a power company like Commonwealth Edison...err ComEd or Metra and he used his influence to get people connected with his organization jobs.

Another thing that had come up in the five episodes of the podcast was his ability to seek out business for his law firm. The primary business of his firm is to represent clients on property tax appeal. He's a powerful politician who represents a major business in the intensely political process of property tax appeals. That certainly raises some eyebrows perhaps he could use his position as speaker of the house as part of his "side job".

Oh yeah let me be clear technically speaking being a state legislator in Illinois is in fact a part-time job.

Anyway, what provided major problems before Madigan ended his tenure was allegations of sexual harassment. A loyal soldier in his organization accused another member of sexual harassment and faced retaliation for her allegations. The former Speaker tried to handle it the old school way telling the accused to knock it off, however, other than the ComEd federal investigation this provided the reason why earlier in 2021 Madigan would step away from public life.

I hope you enjoy.

CapitolFax: Rewriting history

Rewriting history https://t.co/fYPcfkzozc

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 29, 2021

This post is actually about our former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He was impeached and removed from office in 2009 because of a corruption scandal and later served time in federal prison until President Donald Trump commuted his sentence.

Capitol Fax: Emil Jones explodes at Pritzker, “safe blacks”; Bishop Trotter disinvites; Staffer quits

In this campaign with the wealthy JB Pritzker as a front runner seeking to be the Democrat nominee for Governor against the also wealth incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner some long ago wiretaps have been heard from in campaign ads. This time however another wiretap from what I can tell never heard in a campaign commercial so far has caused a different more racial controversy.

On Tuesday at the CapFax the comments made in this wiretap where JB Pritzker calls then Gov. Rod Blagojevich - shortly before his arrest by the FBI on corruption charges that would see him removed from the office of governor. Pritzker & Blagojevich discusses who to appoint to Obama's US Senate seat & yes this probably wasn't long after Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States. The comments Pritzker made offends one of Obama's mentors former state Senate President Emil Jones Jr.

As you'll see when you click the tweet below, Jones isn't happy - it's also noted that Jones in fact supports another wealthy candidate Chris Kennedy for governor. I could attribute this to hurt feelings and even if it was only that Jones definitely plays the race card.

Fallout: Emil Jones explodes at Pritzker, “safe blacks”; Bishop Trotter disinvites; Rally canceled; Staffer quits https://t.co/SnhSX8FIyV

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 7, 2018

Of course there is more to this. The chairman of the city council Black caucus Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward) offers a statement:

Finally let's get to this ABC 7 story further discussing this. At about 2:15 into this video Ald. Anthony Beale (9th ward) he absolutely takes umbrage to Pritzker's statements with regards to the Black community.

Allow me to pull this quote:

"This is a slap in our face, taking our community for granted, playing our community against each other, this is not the kind of leadership we need at this time," said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale.

Now I wonder who Beale supports in the Democrat primary for Governor.