Radogno slugs Alexi on mob ties: Cable and streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying that Alexi Giannoulias is lying about this [What he knew and when he knew it regarding loans to mobbed up borrowers?]
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he’s being evasive about it. Because he’s been all over the map. But I do want to mention bankers I’ve spoken with have talked about the “four Cs” of making loans. There’s “credit-worthiness, cash flow, collateral, and character.”
Jeff Berkowitz: Character counts?
Sen. Christine Radogno: To consider character as an element in making these loans is certainly germane. ... We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars that had been invested—one to buy a property in Florida that actually a prostitution ring was run out of...it’s the pattern of this behavior—not just one, but more than one loan to more than one crime figure. So I think that’s problematic.
****************************************
"Public Affairs," is featuring Christine Radogno, State Senator and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, this week in thirty-five Chicago Metro suburbs [See end of this post for a detailed suburban airing schedule] on Comcast Cable; next Monday night [Sep. 25] through-out the City of Chicago on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21 at 8:30 pm; And, All of the Time [24/7],on the "Public Affairs," podcast page on your computer [Watch Radogno, Peraica, Stroger, Blagojevich, Topinka, Obama, McCain and many, many others here].
****************************************************************
The "Public Affairs," podcast page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," including this week's suburban show with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer Christine Radogno and 8th CD candidates Bean, McSweeney and Scheurer and many, many more on our video podcast page[Watch here].
***************************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno is included below.
******************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, as we sit here on September 10th, how clear is it that Barack Obama is endorsing, wholeheartedly, Alexi Giannoulias?
Sen. Christine Radogno: I am not sure it’s clear at all. In fact, he [Alexi] was on the radio this morning [Sep. 10, WBBM 780 AM’s At Issue] and Alexi was asked that very question, and he certainly did not say that he would have Barack doing commercials for him again. In fact, he was very evasive on that issue.
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, he didn’t say he wouldn’t, he just didn’t quite say one way or the other. Would that be accurate?
Sen. Christine Radogno: That would be accurate.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. So there’s that issue-- the Obama factor, the experience factor. You mentioned the loan factor—the loans that Alexi was involved with at Broadway Bank.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: As you’re out on the campaign trail, how important is that [the loans made from his family's bank to alleged "mobbed up," borrowers] as you see the voters thinking about and assessing you and Alexi Giannoulias?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, I do think it’s an issue, because what he has put out there in terms of his resume is that he’s been a banker for three and half years and he was in charge of the loan portfolio. Yet, when he’s been asked about loans to crime figures, he’s been all over the map. He said at one point that he wasn’t really involved with them, his brother made the contact. Then, at another point, he says, well, in retrospect, he wouldn’t have made those loans. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of accountability or a good explanation for those loans.
Jeff Berkowitz: When you say [loans made by Alexi or his bank to] crime figures, who are you talking about?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Michael Giorango is one of the individuals, and then there’s another, a self-described “mobster,” Boris—it’s a difficult name [Boris and Lev Stratievsky], and in fact [he] Boris Stratievsky has some property up in this area.
Jeff Berkowitz: This area where we tape, Skokie?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Correct. But he’s a guy who in federal papers described himself as a mobster. And that was another twenty million dollar loan. It’s a pattern of big money loans to people who are connected with organized crime. [Radogno has stated elsewhere that millions were loaned by Alexi and his family’s bank to reputed mobsters Boris and Lev Stratievsky, who were charged with money laundering and forgery].
Jeff Berkowitz: Alexi would probably say that federal regulators have not found problems with Broadway Bank. He said they’re not required to make criminal background checks as they issue loans. And, I think he implied that he didn’t know the criminal background, and his bank did not before making these loans. You dispute that?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, yes, actually he has said he was aware of legal problems. Again, he’s been pretty evasive as to whether he knew those were criminal problems or just legal problems. He also said initially he didn’t know Michael Giorango, and then it came out he actually went and visited with him in Florida. So he’s been all over the map on the explanations. Now, were the loans legal? Probably. But I think that’s a very low bar when you’re looking for someone to step in and basically take over the keys to the State Treasury. I think you want to have someone who has the good judgment to know that it probably isn’t appropriate to associate with known crime figures. That’s a problem.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, if you’re a banker and you’re issuing loans and you think there’s a chance that somebody has a criminal background and is involved in criminal activities, even though you are saying it wouldn’t be illegal, you’re saying if you were there, if you were the banker at Broadway Bank, you would not have made the loan.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, right. And in talking-
Jeff Berkowitz: Is that right?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Yes. And Alexi actually said that as well, that in retrospect, he wouldn’t have made those loans.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, he said that [would be the case] if he had the information that he has now.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re disputing that, you’re saying that he had enough information to make that decision before.
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he knew more than he’s telling.
Jeff Berkowitz: You think?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying that Alexi Giannoulias is lying about this?
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he’s being evasive about it. Because he’s been all over the map. But I do want to mention bankers I’ve spoken with have talked about the “four Cs” of making loans. There’s “credit-worthiness, cash flow, collateral, and character.”
Jeff Berkowitz: Character counts?
Sen. Christine Radogno: To consider character as an element in making these loans is certainly germane. And we’re not talking about ten thousand dollars for a car loan. Everyone’s entitled to that kind of money. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars that had been invested—one to buy a property in Florida that actually a prostitution ring was run out of. So it’s the magnitude of it, it’s the pattern of this behavior—not just one, but more than one loan to more than one crime figure. So I think that’s problematic.
Jeff Berkowitz: What does that tell you about him being in the position of, or you being in the position of Treasurer for the State of Illinois?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, what I would ask voters to look at is the very short history that Alexi’s put forth, the problems that we’ve just talked about versus myself—ten years in the Senate, eight years prior to that in local government, which, by the way, you don’t get one cent for. That’s strictly volunteer. We didn’t even get a meeting stipend in LaGrange.
Jeff Berkowitz: You were not paid a lot as a Village Trustee. I understand that.
Sen. Christine Radogno: We were paid less than zero. We were paid absolutely nothing.
Jeff Berkowitz: They could double your salary and it wouldn’t help you much.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Ten years in the state senate. I’ve been on the ballot nine times. I think the voters pretty well know where I’m coming from. I not only have a history of legislative accomplishments, but also a completely, unblemished history when it comes to any kind of ethical issues, and in fact, I have taken a leadership role in advancing some proposals relative to ethics and curtailing “pay to play” in this [the Blagojevich] administration.
******************************************************
From this week’s [Sep. 18] suburban edition of Public Affairs with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno.The program, recorded on September 10, 2006 will also air though-out the City of Chicago next Monday night, Sep. 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and can be viewed anytime on your computer [Watch here].
*****************************
Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
***************************************************
In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs tonight in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35 on Tuesday night, as indicated, below.
In ten North Shore suburbs, the show is also airing in its regular airing slot at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below.
******************************************************
The episode of Public Affairs, featuring Christine Radogno, State Senator and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, airs tonight:
at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
And at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 and in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
******************
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he’s being evasive about it. Because he’s been all over the map. But I do want to mention bankers I’ve spoken with have talked about the “four Cs” of making loans. There’s “credit-worthiness, cash flow, collateral, and character.”
Jeff Berkowitz: Character counts?
Sen. Christine Radogno: To consider character as an element in making these loans is certainly germane. ... We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars that had been invested—one to buy a property in Florida that actually a prostitution ring was run out of...it’s the pattern of this behavior—not just one, but more than one loan to more than one crime figure. So I think that’s problematic.
****************************************
"Public Affairs," is featuring Christine Radogno, State Senator and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, this week in thirty-five Chicago Metro suburbs [See end of this post for a detailed suburban airing schedule] on Comcast Cable; next Monday night [Sep. 25] through-out the City of Chicago on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21 at 8:30 pm; And, All of the Time [24/7],on the "Public Affairs," podcast page on your computer [Watch Radogno, Peraica, Stroger, Blagojevich, Topinka, Obama, McCain and many, many others here].
****************************************************************
The "Public Affairs," podcast page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," including this week's suburban show with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer Christine Radogno and 8th CD candidates Bean, McSweeney and Scheurer and many, many more on our video podcast page[Watch here].
***************************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno is included below.
******************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, as we sit here on September 10th, how clear is it that Barack Obama is endorsing, wholeheartedly, Alexi Giannoulias?
Sen. Christine Radogno: I am not sure it’s clear at all. In fact, he [Alexi] was on the radio this morning [Sep. 10, WBBM 780 AM’s At Issue] and Alexi was asked that very question, and he certainly did not say that he would have Barack doing commercials for him again. In fact, he was very evasive on that issue.
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, he didn’t say he wouldn’t, he just didn’t quite say one way or the other. Would that be accurate?
Sen. Christine Radogno: That would be accurate.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. So there’s that issue-- the Obama factor, the experience factor. You mentioned the loan factor—the loans that Alexi was involved with at Broadway Bank.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: As you’re out on the campaign trail, how important is that [the loans made from his family's bank to alleged "mobbed up," borrowers] as you see the voters thinking about and assessing you and Alexi Giannoulias?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, I do think it’s an issue, because what he has put out there in terms of his resume is that he’s been a banker for three and half years and he was in charge of the loan portfolio. Yet, when he’s been asked about loans to crime figures, he’s been all over the map. He said at one point that he wasn’t really involved with them, his brother made the contact. Then, at another point, he says, well, in retrospect, he wouldn’t have made those loans. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of accountability or a good explanation for those loans.
Jeff Berkowitz: When you say [loans made by Alexi or his bank to] crime figures, who are you talking about?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Michael Giorango is one of the individuals, and then there’s another, a self-described “mobster,” Boris—it’s a difficult name [Boris and Lev Stratievsky], and in fact [he] Boris Stratievsky has some property up in this area.
Jeff Berkowitz: This area where we tape, Skokie?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Correct. But he’s a guy who in federal papers described himself as a mobster. And that was another twenty million dollar loan. It’s a pattern of big money loans to people who are connected with organized crime. [Radogno has stated elsewhere that millions were loaned by Alexi and his family’s bank to reputed mobsters Boris and Lev Stratievsky, who were charged with money laundering and forgery].
Jeff Berkowitz: Alexi would probably say that federal regulators have not found problems with Broadway Bank. He said they’re not required to make criminal background checks as they issue loans. And, I think he implied that he didn’t know the criminal background, and his bank did not before making these loans. You dispute that?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, yes, actually he has said he was aware of legal problems. Again, he’s been pretty evasive as to whether he knew those were criminal problems or just legal problems. He also said initially he didn’t know Michael Giorango, and then it came out he actually went and visited with him in Florida. So he’s been all over the map on the explanations. Now, were the loans legal? Probably. But I think that’s a very low bar when you’re looking for someone to step in and basically take over the keys to the State Treasury. I think you want to have someone who has the good judgment to know that it probably isn’t appropriate to associate with known crime figures. That’s a problem.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, if you’re a banker and you’re issuing loans and you think there’s a chance that somebody has a criminal background and is involved in criminal activities, even though you are saying it wouldn’t be illegal, you’re saying if you were there, if you were the banker at Broadway Bank, you would not have made the loan.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, right. And in talking-
Jeff Berkowitz: Is that right?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Yes. And Alexi actually said that as well, that in retrospect, he wouldn’t have made those loans.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, he said that [would be the case] if he had the information that he has now.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re disputing that, you’re saying that he had enough information to make that decision before.
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he knew more than he’s telling.
Jeff Berkowitz: You think?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying that Alexi Giannoulias is lying about this?
Sen. Christine Radogno: I think he’s being evasive about it. Because he’s been all over the map. But I do want to mention bankers I’ve spoken with have talked about the “four Cs” of making loans. There’s “credit-worthiness, cash flow, collateral, and character.”
Jeff Berkowitz: Character counts?
Sen. Christine Radogno: To consider character as an element in making these loans is certainly germane. And we’re not talking about ten thousand dollars for a car loan. Everyone’s entitled to that kind of money. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars that had been invested—one to buy a property in Florida that actually a prostitution ring was run out of. So it’s the magnitude of it, it’s the pattern of this behavior—not just one, but more than one loan to more than one crime figure. So I think that’s problematic.
Jeff Berkowitz: What does that tell you about him being in the position of, or you being in the position of Treasurer for the State of Illinois?
Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, what I would ask voters to look at is the very short history that Alexi’s put forth, the problems that we’ve just talked about versus myself—ten years in the Senate, eight years prior to that in local government, which, by the way, you don’t get one cent for. That’s strictly volunteer. We didn’t even get a meeting stipend in LaGrange.
Jeff Berkowitz: You were not paid a lot as a Village Trustee. I understand that.
Sen. Christine Radogno: We were paid less than zero. We were paid absolutely nothing.
Jeff Berkowitz: They could double your salary and it wouldn’t help you much.
Sen. Christine Radogno: Ten years in the state senate. I’ve been on the ballot nine times. I think the voters pretty well know where I’m coming from. I not only have a history of legislative accomplishments, but also a completely, unblemished history when it comes to any kind of ethical issues, and in fact, I have taken a leadership role in advancing some proposals relative to ethics and curtailing “pay to play” in this [the Blagojevich] administration.
******************************************************
From this week’s [Sep. 18] suburban edition of Public Affairs with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno.The program, recorded on September 10, 2006 will also air though-out the City of Chicago next Monday night, Sep. 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and can be viewed anytime on your computer [Watch here].
*****************************
Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
***************************************************
In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs tonight in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35 on Tuesday night, as indicated, below.
In ten North Shore suburbs, the show is also airing in its regular airing slot at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below.
******************************************************
The episode of Public Affairs, featuring Christine Radogno, State Senator and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, airs tonight:
at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
And at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 and in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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