Que RICO? - Rove's Contempt of Congress and Connell's Indicted Elite

Sometimes things just move too quickly.

Mike Connell is the IT guru who plots Internet strategy for the RNC. Within the last week credible evidence surfaced about blackmail threats against him and his family. The threats surfaced just days after Ohio election attorney Cliff Arnebeck announced plans to undertake discovery in the Ohio civil RICO claims against Karl Rove and the US Chamber of Commerce for activities related to election fraud since 2000. The possible blackmail kicked into gear Atty Arnebeck's efforts seeking legal immunity for the Connell family. Why is Mike Connell so important that Arnebeck should seek immunity? Connell tops Arnebeck's list of people likely to know about Karl Rove's suspicious election activities and how much, if any, of the involvement crossed the line. Arnebeck suspects that the blackmail threats are intended to keep Connell quiet.

Why would keeping Connell quiet be so important for Rove?

Over the last three years Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has been compiling annual 'most corrupt in Congress' listings. The elite of that august group may have at one time or another been clients of Connell's internet companies -- NewMedia Communications, GovTech Solutions, or both. Now, with reports of Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens' indictment, it's becoming clear that an elite will always distinguish itself in some way. Below, we've organized a sort of CREW's creme de la creme to consider just Who's Who of Mike Connell's Who's Who. The very rare birds distinguished by indictment or jail time are shown in bold.

• Rep. Roy Blunt
• Rep. Tom DeLay
• Rep. Doc Hastings
• Rep. Bob Ney
• Rep. Harold Rogers
• Rep. Heather A. Wilson
  
• Sen. Rick Santorum
• Sen. Ted Stevens
• Sen. David Vitter

And just today, Karl Rove himself achieved the unique distinction in being awarded 'Contempt of Congress.' CREW's Most Corrupt in Congress Awards were presented in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The emerging question seems to follow from Attorney Arnebeck's belief that Connell can provide important insight to Karl Rove's activities: How much does Connell know? Is he the key to the cipher?