John Kass from the Chicago Tribune profiles corruption-buster David Hoffman who is running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama:
"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." * * * 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."
