Burris tie to Blago's wife's job?

After Illinois voters made a horrible blunder and chose Rod Blagojevich as governor in 2002, Blago sheepishly announced that he would not live in the governor's mansion in Springfield. No other governor had done that since the mansion was built in the 1850s.

The Chicago Democrat explained that it was a "family issue," and that he didn't want to send his children to a new school.

However, many now believe Blagojevich's motivation was to keep his wife's lucrative real estate business going. Many of Patti Blagojevich's deals were with now-jailed Tony Rezko, and other politically-connected folks.

But the Illinois first lady's business has closed down. Last fall, Patti got a $100,000 a year job with the Chicago Christian Industrial League.

On the board of group, which places poor people in jobs, is Fred Lebed, a longtime business partner and political associate of Roland Burris.

In his Crain's Chicago Business blog, Greg Hinz takes a close look at things:

So, do the dots lead from point A to point B? Or does it merely look that way?

Mr. Lebed said he'd joined the league's board only a couple of months before the hiring and that he had absolutely, positively nothing to do with getting the job for the woman who is married to the man who named Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate.

"I learned about Patti's hiring as a contractual staffer after the hire (was made)," Mr. Lebed said in a phone chat. "They were looking for a development director, and the executive director hired her," he said. "There is not a shred of truth" to talk that he was involved, Mr. Lebed concludes.

The executive director has since left the agency, and was not available for comment. The agency's spokeswoman declined several requests for comment.

Related post:

Illinois corruption update: First Lady's suspicious real estate dealings

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