Obama Chicago crony part of grand jury investigation

By Thomas Lifson

One of President Obama's closest friends from Chicago days, Dr. Eric Whitaker, has had his records subpoenaed by a grand jury in Chicago.

Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco And Tim Novak of the Chicago Sun-Times report:

The investigation involves "faith-based initiatives" and health-awareness campaigns funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health when Whitaker ran the agency for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to copies of subpoenas obtained under the state's Freedom of Information Act.

Obama has said he recommended Whitaker for that job, which Whitaker landed in April 2003. The president's friend resigned in October 2007 to join Obama's wife, Michelle, as an executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

That's the job in which Michelle got paid a six figure salary (that multiplied when her husband was elected to the Senate) in order to design and run, and get community acceptance of what amounted to a patient dumping scheme, so the University of Chicago Hospital wouldn't have to take care of so many indigent patients from the surrounding minority community. This job financed the family's lifestyle, since hubby was earning a state senator's salary, and the Obama family's tastes included enough luxuries that budgets were strained. Michelle has lamented how difficult it was, and groused about the burden of repaying educational loans.

Whitaker is described as one of Obama's "best friends" in Chicago.

There is no indication Dr. Whitaker is part of the probe, but involves money handed out to nonprofits, an industry in which Barack Obama himself was active, from his days as a community organizer, to his days handing out 8 figures worth of grant money for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.