Posted on 11/22/2011 9:17:22 AM PST by STARWISE
A federal judge sentenced Tony Rezko to 10 1/2 years in prison Tuesday, describing his actions under Rod Blagojevichs tenure as selfish and corrupt.
Rezko has already served about 44 months. His daughter burst into tears at hearing the sentence.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she found it offensive that Rezko put at risk the Teachers Retirement System by scheming for kickbacks with a board member in 2004.
You put their retirements at risk for your own greed and your own thirst for power, St. Eve said.
A pale, thin Rezko gave a brief statement before he learned his sentence, saying there are no words to describe the pain and regret, he carries and the amount of suffering his family has endured. He apologized to the court and to his family.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewoehner said Rezkos conduct was severe and included scheming with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and others to control state deals so they could make money off of it.
Thats about as bad as it can get in a political corruption case, he said. Illinois was for sale at the very top levels of our government. Rezkos attorney, Joseph Duffy, said his client would never commit a crime again.
Rezko grew clearly agitated as Niewoehner said Rezko overstated poor conditions in county jail. Niewoehner said Rezko got sunlight -- through skylights.
Thanks.
How convicted felon helped Obama buy home
Tony Rezkos ties threatened to block path to the White House
Published: 04/20/2011
http://wp.wnd.com/2011/04/289529/
Excerpt:
This background article is part of a series on the Obama home at 5046 S. Greenwood establishing that three individuals other than Obama are listed in public records as owners and taxpayers on the property.
The account of Obamas purchase of the home and property at 5046 S. Greenwood Ave. is drawn from Jerome R. Corsis book The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality..
$$$
In the 2008 presidential campaign, now-convicted felon Tony Rezkos role in helping Barack and Michelle Obama purchase their dream home at 5046 S. Greenwood Ave. in Chicagos Hyde Park area created a scandal that threatened to derail Obamas presidential hopes.
As the elements of the scandal emerged, Obama went into overdrive, holding extensive interview meetings with the staffs of Chicagos two major newspapers, with his supporters rebutting and attacking critics and justifying Obamas decisions.
The deal
Here are the key points in how Obama wanted to represent the home purchase once the criticism began:
Promised possibly to keep him quiet but he won’t deliver. Zero is too much of a narcissist to think anyone would actually turn on him and rat him out.
First there will be promises of ‘good time half time’, then a few delays, then promises of an impending pardon, the ‘problems with the pardon’, then if Rezko starts actually sqawking, a prison hit.
Zero is a poor mafioso who will never deliver on what he promised his cronies.
There may have been a calculation to sentence him in order to loosen his tongue. Not sure how Rezko’s sentence could be shortened as a ‘reward’ for post sentencing cooperation...
Sadly, the conviction of Rezko doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of corruption that is inherent to Chicago/Illinois politics.
GristMill predicts.. a Pres__ential pardon is in the future.. for Rezko..
--'Political fixer' and Obama pal Tony Rezko gets 10 years in jail...
across the page this headline and picture:
WHERE'S THE CASH, CORZINE?
My gut feeling has been and still is
that it’s a massive scam and shield
operation. Just the way Blago’s trial
was handled by the judge .. and all of
it .. smells bad. Stinks to high heaven.
“Under these same guidelines, most of the Congressmen on Capital Hill could serve life sentences for what they have done to Social Security; and I wish they would”.
The results you are talking about, have taken place over a very large span of time almost from the beginning of the program. I would guess that most of the guilty have already served a life sentence if you get what I mean. I surmise it would not take too many living examples to turn things around.
So, in Vegas terms, what are the odds he’ll slip on a skiv? I mean, he didn’t give up Obama during the trial...I wonder when Big Bubba is buggering him up the keester whether he’ll try to cut a deal? Not likely....he’s dead meat IMO...
My thoughts, exactly.
Why not play "Let's make a deal"?
(Could a potential problem be Justice Dept "assistance"?)
.
He wanted some “protection” (immediate execution)....
from the Windy City Mob(s)”
~~~~~~
My take exactly. Ooh, the stress. The man’s
already lost 80 lbs. He could easily get
really physically ill from the mental agony
of his plight and miserable Catch 22.
Yeah I guess.Look at what he did to the democrats in 2010.He let them all hang with no ACORN,moveondotorg or cheating.
Barack HUSSEIN Obama is all of those you have highlighted...HUSSEIN Obama can NOT know an honest person and associate with them! It would blow his cover!
Rezko has everything to lose....If he threatens to talk, he will be suicided like so many others! If he continues to keep his mouth shut tight, he will be pardoned or at least get out in another 4 to 5+ years.. Thats a No Brainer for Rezko!
I can think of a couple Obamacides ... ;)
Would not shock me.
Lindsay Lohan finished her 20 day sentence in 4 hours, so I guess this guy will walk pretty darned soon too considering his time already served.
Or January 2013 if he loses. There are precedents here.
Shouldn't someone enact legislation (an amendment perhaps?) that presidential pardons should be arms length transactions. Presidents should not be able to pardon people with whom they have personally dealt, or who would be in a position to testify against them in a criminal matter.
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