The 2014 video above was happier times for Illinois Democrats. He used to be Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois House, then he became a lobbyist. He's Jimmy DeLeo. He's come a long way since hanging out at Counsellors Row restaurant. Jimmy even got indicted in Operation Greylord. In 2011 , CBS Chicago reported:
Chicago’s most famous mob informant is accusing some Illinois politicians of helping the mob thrive in Chicago and get protection from the police.Jimmy DeLeo seems to know a lot of retiring politicians very well. Like Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton, Marty Sandoval, and Luis Arroyo. It appears Jimmy DeLeo feels he needs to "contribute" to make society a better place. In the last year, there's been no talk about FBI raids on Jimmy DeLeo. But, you can't say Jimmy doesn't know Illinois State Senator Terry Link. Jimmy has also contributed money to former Chicago Alderman Proco Joe Moreno of zoning fame.
Frank Calabrese Jr. told CBS 2’s John “Bulldog” Drummond that the mob gets help from some local public officials.
Asked if the Chicago Outfit was getting a pass from some local politicians or protection from police officers, Calabrese said, “Yeah. The outfit couldn’t survive without politicians.”
He admitted that his father, convicted mob hitman Frank Calabrese Sr., used to make payoffs to several politicians.
“There was a lot of politicians. There was a lot of deals done,” Calabrese Jr. said. “One politician that I’ve talked about before was (former state Sen.) Jimmy DeLeo. The reason I talked about him is because I was directly involved with that.”
Calabrese also claimed that former Illinois Department of Transportation worker Ralph Peluso was “our go-to guy with Jimmy DeLeo.”
Calabrese also said he was friends socially with DeLeo and once took a trip to Florida with DeLeo.
