Monday, October 29, 2012

NWH spins Koziol Petition for Special Prosecutor

One of yesterday's articles in the Northwest Herald had my head spinning. Actually, all of them about the Koziol Petition in McHenry County Circuit Court about Undersheriff Andy Zinke caused me great wonder about the difference between newspaper reporting of fact and the opinions of the reporters and editors. Reporters' opinions are probably widely shaped by editors' red pens and Approved stamps.

This one paragraph - these few words - were among the most misleading: "No one is denying that Zinke met with Goode at some point after the undersheriff learned about the investigation. Zinke even brought Goode to Koziol. What’s not clear is whether the DEA gave Zinke the OK to meet with Goode, or whether the DEA thinks Zinke interfered with the probe."

Key in on the words "at some point".

On July 11 Sgt. John Koziol dutifully reported to Undersheriff Zinke, even bypassing his immediate superior, that drugs were headed to the RITA Corporation in Crystal Lake. See below for why Zinke would know the RITA Corporation.

By July 13 Zinke had told Goode. So, what's with the "at some point"? The "point" is known - actually. It didn't occur at some vague time in the future. Zinke would have contacted Goode on July 11, 12 or early on the 13th. Care to guess? How about July 11? That's my guess.

"Zinke even brought Goode to Koziol." Where do you suppose the Northwest Herald got that goodie? Not from the Petition. Why would Goode show up in the Sheriff's Department parking lot with a fistful of company records?

And the spin on this? "What’s not clear is whether the DEA gave Zinke the OK to meet with Goode..."

You be the judge. The Petition says that, when Koziol reported to the DEA agent that Zinke had revealed the confidential investigation to Goode, the DEA agent said "are you fucking [sic] kidding me". Does that sound to you like the DEA agent had told Zinke to talk to Goode?

In five words the DEA agent made it clear that Zinke had ruined an investigation. How (and, more importantly, why) would the Northwest Herald spin it?

Why does Zinke know RITA Corporation?

1. The address for Zinke's political campaign is at the RITA Corporation.
2. Brian Goode, President of RITA Corp., is a long-time member of the McHenry County's Department Merit Commission.
3. More than $50,000 in political campaign contributions have been made over the past ten years to incumbent Sheriff Keith Nygren. (Why such big bucks to an incumbent who often ran without opposition?)
4. As Undersheriff, Zinke would have known of the assignment of a marked squad car parked in the driveway of Goode's residence for lengthy periods.

2 comments:

Curious1 said...

Sadly you are taking one persons hearsay accusation as fact. Gus, at least be self aware enough to know it is because of your personal bias and not that of some proven fact. If that 5 word hearsay quote was by someone who disagreed with your personal bias you would be claiming conspiracy and demanding proof.

Ms.Hillary said...

Why the big contributions? PAY ME! Give me! Kiss my ring! or I'll bury you.

BTW they get to keep the money when they leave office.

Nygren is the Local GOP God. He hands out money to local candidates to get their support. Ever wonder how he gets aways with his SH%T? They come to him and beg for scraps.

The NWH is as dirty as papers can be in reporting bias BS and trying to make up stuff.

Good call on the parked squad. Why did he need it? Now it makes me wonder...... WHy didn't the Bird Cage Liner report it rather than attacking Koziol?