PRESIDENT OBAMA’s B-day golf pal admits he’s under investigation by feds probing a $433,000 kickback scheme.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Dr. Eric Whitaker, a close friend of Barack Obama, admitted cooperating with federal authorities who are sifting through a $433,000 kickback scheme at the state public health agency Whitaker once led in Illinois.
But Whittaker claims non-involvement in the alleged crimes
Following the indictment of Quinshaunta R. Golden, his chief of staff at Department of Public Health, who is accused of conspiring to divert federal money into her own pocket and then cover it up, Whitaker released a statement.
"I had no firsthand knowledge of the activities outlined in this indictment and was not involved in any way," Whitaker said. "As requested by the U.S. attorney, I have been fully cooperating with the investigation into these matters."
James Lewis, U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois, told the Windy City tab, "At this point, the evidence has taken us to Quin Golden, and the evidence has not taken us farther."
When asked if Obama is linked to the case, given that he is a Whitaker friend who recommended him for the public health job, U.S. attorney Lewis replied “No.”
Yet Whitaker, who golfed with Obama during Bam’s 52nd birthday celebration last weekend, left the state public health department in September 2007 to work with Michelle Obama at University of Chicago Medicine before departing that position.
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