Photo/Tony DejakPosted on 11/04/2006 11:20:54 PM PST by xtinct
CHICAGO --Responding to a newspaper report, Sen. Barack Obama said Saturday that arrangements he had with a political fundraiser accused of shaking down companies might have raised the appearance of impropriety.
Antoin "Tony" Rezko, whom Gov. Rod Blagojevich has described as a friend and a fundraiser, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to squeeze millions of dollars in kickbacks out of investment firms seeking state business. He also has pleaded not guilty to obtaining a $10.5 million loan from General Electric Capital Corp. through fraud and swindling a group of investors.
Photo/Tony Dejak
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
WOW! This has legs!
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Obama: Rezko dealings 'a mistake'
"It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor," Obama said in a written statement Saturday. "For that reason, I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it."
fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a political confidant and friend of Blagojevich
Gov's Fund-Raiser Does Not Show Up For Court
CHICAGO Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s top fund-raiser was a no-show in federal court for an arraignment Friday, but he is not yet considered a fugitive.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, 51, of Wilmette, is named in a 24-count federal indictment accusing him of taking part in an elaborate scheme to shake down companies doing business of the state.
Rezko’s attorney, Joseph J. Duffy, told U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel in court that the defendant is traveling and plans to return to face the charges next week.
The close adviser to Gov. Blagojevich failed to appear for arraignment on charges and loan fraud.
snip
First Lady Patti Blagojevich was a Rezko business partner for about a decade, receiving more than $38,000 in real estate commissions from him in 2004.
A native of Syria who founded multiple companies here, Rezko has reportedly been traveling in Europe and the Middle East for several months. And more than $25,000 in property taxes on his huge North Shore mansion have not been paid. This is not the first time Rezko's been late paying his huge property tax bill. He was 16 days late last March.
CBS 2 News has learned that a potential witness at Rezko's upcoming trial said, "Rezko does not intend to return to the United States, ever."
Rezko is accused of trying to squeeze a $1.5 million contribution to "a certain public official" out of a company seeking state business, according to the indictment. A person familiar with the investigation, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing, said the unnamed public official in the indictment is Blagojevich.
Rezko was charged in one of the indictments with mail fraud, wire fraud and other charges as part of the elaborate scheme to squeeze millions of dollars out of companies. A second indictment charged Rezko with swindling the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10.5 million in loans to a pizza restaurant company.
Heck no. After two years, they're already calling him the New Jack Kennedy.
He's going to be the media darling for the next two years so I guess I better keep my opinions to myself or be considered a racist. Frankly, I think that the only thing he will do for the Dems is dilute black support of Hillary and when that happens, the press will turn on him like a lazy-susan. In the long run, I just can't see a guy whose name Ted Kennedy can't even say winning a national election.
When a Dem does this, he's "smart", "savvy", a "winner". He a Republican does it, he's "corrupt", "disgraced", and kicked out of Congress. What crime is ever extreme enough for a Democrat to have to pay the price?
Unfortunately (because of the liberal media system) I seem it comes out too late to help Republicans for these elections.
Very very suspicious.
Part of the requirement to be a DUmocrat in Illinois!
From Sat. Sun Times....Antoin "Tony" Rezko is "wildly in debt" -- owing more than $50 million -- prosectors said Friday
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/123678,CST-NWS-rezko04.articleAntoin
Ahh.. It's now on record. So in one week, Hillary got rid of two challengers and she didn't have to lift a finger.
Clinton/Lieberman? I don't think the DUmmies would go for that.
What did Professor Higgins say about the flower girl in "My Fair Lady"... "So delightfully dirty..."
Good one ... even more so when you remember that Slick was considered to be
the first 'black' president.
he must really be worrying the clintons for them (clintons) to be feeding more and more out to discredit him
Hillary likes you or she doesn't.
"Miss Oprah, I don't know nothing about no land deals!"
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