Rezko sentencing delayed

Chicago Tribune ^ | January, 6, 2011 | Annie Sweeney

[opentalk]

Sentencing was postponed today for a tired and gaunt-looking Antoin "Tony" Rezko in case he still testifies at the retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, scheduled to begin in April.

However his attorney made it clear that he is not willing to wait beyond September.

Now housed in a county facility, Rezko is not able to go outside or have contact with his family beyond seeing them briefly from behind a glass façade.

"I have not had fresh air since my conviction,'' Rezko told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. "I have no contact visit with my family.''

Rezko was convicted in 2008 of trading on his clout as a top advisor and fundraiser to Blagojevich.

Rezko's attorney, Joseph Duffy, said the lack of extended visits with his family has also weighed on Rezko.

"He's a very close family man ... it creates hardships and difficulties,'' he said. "September is it. The hardship is too severe.''

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewoehner told the court that the government prefers that the sentencing not go forward.

[CIDKauf]

Oh I think I’m gonna cry.

[milwguy]

Not at all suspicious that ol Tony has been kept under wraps for so long. Barry wants Tony kept out of circulation as long as possible. Rezko will never testify in the retrial of Blago, he is just being kept this way as a warning to keep his mouth shut about Barry and the deal for his house.

[haroldeveryman]

“I have not had fresh air since my conviction,’’ Rezko told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.”

Oh Oh! Here comes an executive order instituting a carbon tax.

[sunmars]

hardship my ass, that guy wouldnt know hardship...hardship for him is not finding anyone able to break his 100 dollar bill that he’s bribing people with.

[Gator113]

If Rezko is looking for sympathy, it can be found between sh!t and syphilis in the dictionary.