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Rezko convicted of corruption
A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin "Tony" Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad
repercussions for Blagojevich, who made Rezko a central player in his
cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack
Obama, who once counted Rezko as a friend and fundraiser, as the likely
Democratic presidential nominee heads into the general election
campaign against Republican John McCain.
The 10-woman, two-man jury deliberated for parts of 13 days before
convicting Rezko of scheming with Stuart Levine, a longtime Republican
insider, to extort millions of dollars from firms seeking state
business or regulatory approval.
The jury convicted Rezko of 12 counts of wire and mail fraud, two
counts of money laundering and two counts of aiding and abetting bribery
Clad in a light olive suit and red tie, Rezko showed little emotion as
the verdicts were read. He could face $4 million in fines and 300 years
in prison.
The jury convicted Rezko of wire and mail fraud, money laundering and
aiding and abetting bribery. He was acquitted of attempted extortion.
Levine, who pleaded guilty in 2006, became the government's star
witness. He testified that in return for kickbacks, Rezko rigged
decisions of two state boards on which Levine sat.
But the defense attacked Levine as a drug-addled con man who dodged a
life sentence by inventing tales of illegal activity involving Rezko.
His lawyers also questioned Levine's memory after decades of abusing
cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
In their closing arguments, prosecutors urged jurors not to disregard
Levine's testimony just because they found him offensive. Government
wiretaps and other witnesses backed up Levine's account of conspiring
with Rezko, prosecutors contended.
Testimony at the trial produced a series of stunning allegations of
misconduct that went well beyond the scope of the criminal charges
against Rezko.
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 befriended many Illinois politicians and was a major fundraiser
for some, most prominently Blagojevich and Obama. The criminal charges
against Rezko had nothing to do with his connection to Obama. But that
link still proved a nagging headache for Obama during his Democratic
presidential run, especially in the wake of Tribune revelations that
tied Rezko to a 2005 real estate deal involving Obama's South Side home.
The verdict poses problems that are far more acute for Blagojevich, who
swept to victory in 2002 with claims that he would clean up Illinois
government after the scandal-plagued years of his predecessor, George Ryan, who is now in prison.
Several trial witnesses placed Blagojevich in conversations in which he
appeared to give a thumbs-up to the notion of steering lucrative state
business to campaign donors.
Blagojevich's administration has come under broad scrutiny from federal
agents, but the governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing and
steadfastly maintains his commitment to reform.
bsecter@tribune.com
jcoen@tribune.com
