Rezko Guilty on 16 Counts
Obama friend and fundraiser Tony Rezko has been convicted of being deeply involved in criminal activity connected to powerful politicians. Will he now make a deal with prosecutors and begin implicating others?
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, friend and fundraiser to many movers and shakers in Illinois politics, has been found guilty on 16 counts of fraud and corruption in connection with a “pay for play” bribery scheme that funneled kickbacks from campaign contributors to Rezko and his co-defendants.
The jury deliberated 13 days on the 24-count indictment that included six counts of mail fraud, nine counts of wire fraud, one count of attempted extortion, six counts of solicitation of funds, and two counts of money laundering.
Guilty verdicts were returned on the following counts:
* 12 counts of wire/mail fraud
* two counts of corrupt solicitation
* two counts of money laundering
The bribery scheme involved several corporations doing business with the state of Illinois through three major boards: a hospital construction board, the teachers pension fund, and a state employee retirement board. The companies were approached for campaign contributions and told that they could only win contracts with the state if they contributed. Rezko made sure of these boards’ compliance by stacking them with cronies he recommended to Governor Rod Blagojevich. Kickbacks on those state contracts were then funneled to Rezko and his friends.
A co-defendant with Rezko, Stuart Levine, cooperated with the prosecution in exchange for a lesser sentence. It was his shocking testimony regarding the activities of Rezko brazenly carrying out his bribery schemes that weighed heaviest with the jury.
The trial revealed a level of corruption in state government seldom seen — even in Illinois:
Former state official Ali Ata told jurors he bought his post with bribes to Rezko and campaign contributions to Blagojevich. Ata was also one of several witnesses who said Rezko talked of a plot to kill the criminal probe against him by pulling strings with the Bush White House to get U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald fired.
The trial also provided ample fodder for cynics who see Illinois politicians as members of a cozy club motivated more by greed than altruism or ideology.
Witnesses against Rezko claimed his alleged schemes involved a host of political insiders from both major parties. Among those whose names came up repeatedly during the trial were Chris Kelly, another top fundraiser for Blagojevich; William Cellini, a veteran Republican power broker; and Robert Kjellander, the longtime Republican national committeeman from Illinois.
Rezko is facing indictment in another unrelated bribery scheme as well as charges that he wrote hundreds of thousands of dollars in bad checks to casinos in Las Vegas. Because of this, and because Rezko is facing a long prison term for the 16 charges he has been convicted of to date, it is thought that the Chicago political operator will seek to cooperate with the United States attorney in his continuing investigation of corruption in state government.
If so, there are several Illinois politicians — including Governor Blagojevich — who would be in serious legal jeopardy. The governor’s name surfaced frequently during the trial, and it was clear that Blagojevich was aware of at least some of Rezko’s schemes.
Rezko is a long time friend, mentor, and fund raiser for Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. There are questions surrounding the real estate deal involving the candidate’s house that Obama concluded with Rezko’s help which some local observers believe need clarification in order to clear the Illinois senator of ethics violations. Other matters related to Rezko, including the question of favors Obama may have done for his friend while he was in the Senate, could also be investigated by the prosecutor.
In short, while the governor and other top politicians in the state almost certainly should be worried about what Rezko might tell the prosecutor, no one can say for sure if Rezko would have anything of interest to spill about Barack Obama.
Rick Moran is PJM Chicago editor; his own blog is Right Wing Nut House.
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23 Comments
1. waylay:Coincidence, that Hillary camp signals her readiness to “concede” within minutes of the Rezko verdict?
Does she have a friend in the prosecutor’s office?
Jun 4, 2008 - 4:09 pm 2. bgates:What I don’t get is how scrupulously nonpartisan guys like Ali Ata, Tony Rezko, Chris Kelly, and Rod Blagojevich would get mixed up with Republican William Cellini and Republican Robert Kjellander. Nobody is identified as a Democrat in that Tribune story except Barack Obama (immediately after the Trib reassures us that “The criminal charges against Rezko had nothing to do with his connection to Obama.”)
Jun 4, 2008 - 4:14 pm 3. Hot Air » Blog Archive » Guilty: Rezko convicted on 16 of 24 counts:[...] Rick Moran has followed this case closely and posts his assessment of the conclusion here: In short, while the governor and other top politicians in the state almost certainly should be [...]
Jun 4, 2008 - 5:11 pm 4. Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » Obama Associates Now Include Convicted Felon:[...] sentencing phase of his trial should get quite interesting. Rick Moran: In short, while the governor and other top politicians in the state almost certainly should be [...]
Jun 4, 2008 - 5:40 pm 5. mike in tennessee:does anyone believe this is only a Chicago or Illinois corruption story? The political class across this country is crooked to the bone, taking care of their family and supporters at our expense.
Jun 4, 2008 - 6:00 pm 6. jvon:What is it with Democrats and crooked real estate deals?
Hillary couldn’t say anything about it, obviously… McCain likely will not show the same restraint.
Jun 4, 2008 - 6:44 pm 7. Dan R.:Rut-roh. Now that he’s been convicted on multiple counts and is looking at SERIOUS prison time, let’s see if he might be willing to roll over on certain “associates” of his in an effort to reduce his sentence. What better way for an ambitious prosecutor to “make his bones” than to get the goodies on a high-profile political figure? The higher the better.
Stay tuned to this one, folks.
Jun 4, 2008 - 6:51 pm 8. MMover:Spare me. Democrat Patrick Fitzgerald has his eye on a future in politics. Any revelations Rezko may wish to share in order to reduce his sentence will fall on deaf ears. Fitzgerald has repeatedly displayed his willingness to play politics with his office…as long as it favors the democrats.
Jun 4, 2008 - 8:26 pm 9. John Samford:Rezeko has a pair. I think he will hang tough, hoping for a pardon from his good bud and fellow criminal Ohhhhh…..BAMA.
Jun 4, 2008 - 9:11 pm 10. Smarty:Or he could take it on the lam, do a tour of Europe or S. Africa ( remember when Kerry stashed his young blonde thing there?) and wait to see if Ohhhh….BAMA pulls off the greatest con ever. If Ohhhhh….BAMA makes it, he can get his pardon, if he doesn’t, the Law doesn’t reach where enforcement cannot go.
After seeing the utter corruption of the Sandy Berger prosecution, or the dropping of the Jim McDougal investigation, I have a hard time seeing the Bush justice department doing a good job here. I think Rezeko will be offered silver or lead, and keeping his mouth shut about Obama will be key. I think Bush et al will help bury any anti-Obama testimony, and probably discourage it so heavily that it never takes place. Too bad Bush has shown that he is willing to trade away so much for so little.
Prediction:
Jun 4, 2008 - 10:35 pm 11. The Wide Awake Cafe » An Explanation of Obama’s Victory Speech:Rezeko will give evidence against Obama the day after Berger submits to the lie detector (never +1). Or he will end up with the same prison Dr. that McDougal had if he shows an inclination to do so. OTW, if Obama gets elected, count on a pardon.
[...] no notice of my good friends, Wright, Ayers and Pfleger or Tony Rezko because that would be a racist attack and will make my friends at MSNBC very [...]
Jun 5, 2008 - 1:50 am 12. ajacksonian:The interesting thing that Rezko can do is shine a light on the activity of Nadhmi Auchi in the US, beyond Sen. Obama’s connection to him. When you have someone so well placed in one of the largest international money laundering and illicit funds transfers system stretching from terrorist organizations like al Qaeda and HAMAS to Red Mafia groups under Abramovich and Depripaska to connections with Iran via Marc Rich, you really should want to know lots more about his interests not just in Chicago. That cousin of Saddam Hussein has lots he could be interested in…
Jun 5, 2008 - 2:52 am 13. George Stege:The Rezko story is why I am lobbying for a change to the state motto, from “Land Of Lincoln” to “Land Of Corruption”. I have even made a few bribe attempts to further my cause. Will keep you updated….
George Stege
Jun 5, 2008 - 5:15 am 14. Ciscokid:Villa Park
I’ve lived in Illinois all my life. It’s terrible. If it not for my family and roots here I’d move. At least I live in a republican county. Land of Liberals best describes it. The whole political system is corrupt. Political patronage is an accepted way of doing business. No one here cares anymore. It’s normal. Obama only did what comes natural. You can’t win without it. Change? What’s that? Denial to charges of corruption are usually so bizarre they help those who’re denying them. By the time you finish putting any sense to it, you go home and throw dirt on your house. Everything’s a scam. I think we’re electing aliens who themselves can’t believe what they get away with on this planet.
Jun 5, 2008 - 5:44 am 15. Mike:Javon, I don’t think McCain will attack BO on this or any other issue. In case you don’t know, Obama is black and therefore part of a specially provided for and protected class in the US. Anyone who disagrees with the Obamanation must be politically cleansed and re educated to the glorious new socialist norm. we must all CHANGE.
Jun 5, 2008 - 6:22 am 16. tanstaafl:Barack Obama, substituting recently for Ted Kennedy at a Wesleyan commencement speech, advised the students not to seek the big house & the big car but do the “public service” thing.
Which advice begs the question…
Seeking the $1.6 million house while Tony “The Fixer” Rezko buys the lot next door is exactly what ?
Jun 5, 2008 - 6:56 am 17. NEWS ROUNDUP (5 JUNE 2008) WITH A MICHELLE OBAMA WHITEY HATER UPDATE | Democrat=Socialist:[...] The American Thinker has some thoughts. At least one of Obama’s buddies are getting what they deserve. When will the rest of the Marxist scum puddles at Obama’s feet be hosed down with [...]
Jun 5, 2008 - 7:23 am 18. Jason:It’s cool everyone, Obama apologized for his mishap with this character, that makes everything OK, right? Give me a break!
http://iheartmonkey.blogspot.com
Jun 5, 2008 - 7:40 am 19. Moultrie:If they go after Auchi…we’ll know just how far the RezKo trial will go….the interesting thing that Rezko can do is shine a light on the activity of Nadhmi Auchi in the US, beyond Sen. Obama’s connection to AUCHI.
Jun 5, 2008 - 9:28 am 20. Michael Canzano:Rezko could roll over and implicate “The Black Messiah” as his “Hit Man” and the “Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies” press and liberals would still walk around with manure in their eyes. We have a class of people living in America who are beyond logic , morality and ethics. They gather under the guise of the Democratic Party and Liberalism.
Jun 5, 2008 - 3:12 pm 21. roberta:American Christian Infidel
Obama is running out of friends to rent the Lincoln bedroom when he becomes president.
Jun 5, 2008 - 9:43 pm 22. WR Jonas:I watched a PBS Special a few years ago about an American black man ( could have been a reporter)who was making a pilgrimage to his African homeland. The story centered on the significance of his black cultural roots , his tribe and the deep affection for everyone and everything he encountered.As the story moved on the subject became how much America owed the African blacks for their contributions to the creation of American society. My P_BS alarm began to send off signals as the story became merged with the tribal philosophy of paying their leader “tribute”. A proportional part of everything in the tribal domain becomes the property of the chief. The leader expects worshipful contributions and elevation to an exalted status. This can also include the most desirable women in the tribe.
Jun 7, 2008 - 1:06 pm 23. john augustine:This soon merged with the discussion of reparations from the US as a reasonable expectation from African Nations .
I was flabbergasted by the open ,in your face presentation of such an outrageous and discriminating political issue on publicly funded television; but neverthless there it was.
I thought to myself , this ridiculous proposition will never get anywhere.
I may have been wrong.
Obama is going to take down all the art in the white house , slave owners , and replace it all with bling bling . Rap stars at the white house Oprah coming all the time Al Sharpton and his crew . Get ready FOR a new America. And get ready to leave if WE have to .
Jun 7, 2008 - 9:22 pm