Friday, February 13, 2009

Blago scandals march on...O'Hare Airport

As I noted in my prior post, there is a corruption problem in Chicago. As I continue to catch up in my blogging while recovering from the flu, O'Hare Airport is my next destination.

Here's what the Chicago Sun-Times reported yesterday:

Federal authorities are investigating five construction companies that collectively have gotten hundreds of millions of dollars in construction work at O'Hare Airport under Mayor Daley, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

One question being looked at, sources said, is how the companies landed those city deals.

News of the probe comes two days after Daley lobbied Congress to pass President Obama’s multibillion-dollar stimulus bill — a package the mayor wants to include money for his O'Hare Modernization Program, which could cost as much as $15 billion.

The investigation appears to be an outgrowth of the probe of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose fund-raiser Christopher G. Kelly was a top roofing contractor at O’Hare. Kelly worked at O'Hare when John Harris was a top city aviation official. Harris, who later became Blagojevich’s chief of staff, was arrested with Blagojevich on Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

It's believed that John Harris is cooperating with federal authorities.

The Blago investigations will probably go on for years. And of course it won't be just about the disgraced former governor. It's hard to be corrupt by yourself.

Related posts:

Daley sneak attack on O'Hare Modernization Project

O'Hare secrets to spill?

O'Hare Modernization Program is now the O'Hare Pork Program

Ex-Blago fundraiser Kelly charged with money laundering

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