How Things Work in Obama's — and the Machine's — Chicago

Machine politics in Chicago is an uncoordinated criminal enterprise. It works more like the traditional Chinese Triad than the Sicilian La Costa Nostra. There’s room for criminal entrepreneurs. The rollout from Chicago Alderman Isaac “Ike” Carothers plea deal, covered in Big Journalism here, is a case study in how the Machine oils its gears.

Ike wore a mic for the Feds, specifically for the office of U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald. The first rollup of Ike’s crooked connections began February 2.

A 51-year-old businessman from Naperville was formally charged Tuesday with offering bribes to Chicago Ald. Ike Carothers. Carothers, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges Monday and promptly tendered his resignation, said in his plea deal that the businessman, Wafeek “Wally” Aiyash, paid him $40,000 in bribes in exchange for help on developments in Carothers’ 29th ward. Aiyash’s attorney would not comment.

But Aiyash was charged in what is called a criminal information, rather than an indictment, which usually means the defendant will plead guilty. In previous court documents, Aiyash was accused of offering $100,000 in cash bribes to Carothers if he would help secure concessions contracts at O’Hare and Midway airports.

The criminal complaint, United States of America v. Wafeek Aiyash, dated Oct. 30, 2009, is FBI Special Agent Brendan’s narrative of how to catch a thief using a crooked politician as a CW (Cooperating Witness).

Note this language in the document:

In paragraph 12, page 5, “AIYASH informed CW that there were four other partners on the concession contract and that ‘each guy got to come to the table.'” We await four more criminal complaints in the days ahead.

In paragraph 13, page 5, “According to CW, AIYASH wrote the words ‘Broker’s Commission’ and pointed to the number 20.” This referred to the $20,000 from each of the five persons involved in the bribery amounting to a total broker’s commission of $100,000 offered to Carothers. The broker’s commission is a common pay-to-play technique used by the Machine.

In paragraph 30, page 11, Aiyash leaves a voice mail on Carothers’ phone saying, “Hey, um, [CW] this is Wally. Give me a call. I’m with Alderman [A]. Give me a call.” Don’t be surprised if that second unnamed Alderman [A] is now wearing a wire like Ike did.

Here’s what His Honor Mayor Daley had to say about Carothers:

All public officials whether you’re appointed or elected have public trust. Remember you have the responsibility of handling the public money, hard earned taxpayer’s money, and it’s very disheartening to see what he pled to.

Compare the Mayor’s comments above to what he said in a press conference upon the indictment of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The Machine takes a hit now and then, but it cranks on, year after year. Meanwhile, like Sergeant Schultz of Hogan’s Heroes, His Honor the Mayor knows nothing:

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