Giannoulias misleads voters again on Blagojevich trial

The spinning from the Alexi Giannoulias camp continues. From an Illinois Republican Party press release:

Giannoulias said he received the subpoena "not too long ago" but couldn't say exactly when. – Chicago Tribune, June 27, 2010

Defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. told WLS' Holly Garland that the subpoena was mailed to Giannoulias between April 27th and April 29th. – WLS, July 1, 2010

For a year and a half, Alexi Giannoulias never disclosed his involvement in the events leading up to the arrest of Rod Blagojevich. Now, more than a week after his name first came up in the trial, Alexi Giannoulias has not missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity to come clean.

Concealing His Call to John Harris:

Last Wednesday, without any prior notice, the government played a wiretap conversation in which Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris tells Rod Blagojevich that Alexi Giannoulias had called him regarding the U.S. Senate seat. The Giannoulias campaign matter-of-factly admitted to the phone call without explaining why it had not been disclosed before the trial.

Concealing His Subpoena, Meeting with Federal Investigators and Meeting He Brokered for SEIU Illinois President Tom Balanoff:

Instead of providing further details at the time, the Giannoulias campaign only admitted to the phone call to Harris and nothing more. On Sunday, the eve of Tom Balanoff’s testimony, Giannoulias suddenly disclosed that he was subpoenaed as a witness in the Blagojevich trial, that he had previously met with federal investigators and that he had brokered and attended a meeting between Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett to discuss the U.S. Senate seat. When asked at the time when he was subpoenaed, Giannoulias would only say "not too long ago."

Concealing His Request to Be Appointed Senator:

On Sunday, while disclosing his meeting with Balanoff and Jarrett, Giannoulias downplayed the importance of the meeting. But on Tuesday, again without prior notice, Balanoff testified that Giannoulias asked him to ask Blagojevich about appointing him to the Senate seat. When asked to comment, Giannoulias claimed he made the request "half-jokingly."

Concealing the Timing of His Subpoena:

Yesterday, WLS News confirmed that Giannoulias misled reporters on Sunday when he disclosed his subpoena. In fact, he was not subpoenaed "not too long ago" – he has known about the subpoena for nearly two months.

Technorati tags: politics Illinois Election Democrats cronyism Alexi Giannoulias crime Blagojevich senate Chicago Barack Obama Obama unions organized labor SEIU labor 2010