This is a rare find indeed. This guy needs to watch his back. "David Hoffman, running for the U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary, is the former federal prosecutor who investigated sleaze as the city's inspector general, until he committed a series of cardinal sins as far as Mayor Richard Daley was concerned.
The sins? He did his job.
"The culture of corruption runs throughout Chicago's history, one hand washing the other," said Hoffman in an interview last week. "It's not about serving the public. But it is all about maintaining and controlling power."
He nailed it, didn't he??
"The presumptive front-runner is Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a well-funded friend of President Barack Obama. But Hoffman perceives weakness there. He's going after Giannoulias' tenure as an official in the Giannoulias family Broadway Bank, and the bank's dealings with convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko.
Rezko is scheduled to testify at former Gov. Dead Meat's corruption trial in June, before the general election. Rezko bounced a series of six-figure checks at Broadway Bank that he made out to casinos. The bank has come under fire for loans to convicted bookies and others. The national Republican Party will focus on these if Giannoulias wins the primary, Hoffman argues.
"If I or you bounced a four-figure check or a five-figure check, as Tony Rezko did, my guess is our banks would say we are not interested in your business," Hoffman said. "I've been saying it, and I'm going to continue to say it. It's fair to scrutinize the record. I'm happy to have my record scrutinized. Everyone should."
Yet many Democrats consider citing their records as a personal attack, particularly in general elections. I wonder why that is??
"Hoffman angered Daley by issuing a scathing critique of the mayor's outrageously costly parking meter deal. Hoffman's investigations of illegal political patronage also embarrassed City Hall.
But what really frosted Daley was when Hoffman wired up a building inspector and later called in his fed colleagues at 219 S. Dearborn. If the feds ever focus on how city occupancy permits are granted to clout-heavy nightclubs, they might find a treasure trove, a never-ending pinata party with subpoenas instead of candy.
Hoffman also investigated that city pension fund deal involving the mayor's nephew, who received almost $70 million in investments, a deal the mayor said he knew nothing about. City Hall refused to honor subpoenas, so Hoffman again turned things over to federal prosecutors.
If you plan on parking in Chicago any time in the next 75 years, remember the parking rates were increased again and will keep going up in the years ahead.
"It was a dubious financial deal," said Hoffman. "Everybody parks on the streets, everybody uses the streets, and there was no public discussion. It makes people feel as if something was imposed upon them from on high."
Like Daley's office?
"I think that's a fair description of what happened."
Mayoral chief of staff Paul Volpe became the fall guy and was dismissed."
Somebody had to take the fall, and it wasn't going to be Hizzoner. Again, David Hoffman is a rarity, because he's a Democrat taking it to Daley and fighting corruption. This makes him a Democrat I actually like, the first one since Zell Miller. (HT Michelle Malkin & Chicago Tribune):
Michelle Malkin: A Democrat takes on Chicago’s culture of corruption. Really.
Chicago Tribune: Former Daley thorn hopes to take tenacity to Senate
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