Obama doesn't deny but can't recall attending Rezko party cited in trial

The question has lingered since it arose last week during the federal corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko:

Why, just weeks after winning the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in 2004, would Barack Obama attend a party for a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire whom Rezko was trying to lure into an investment?

In an interview Friday, Obama didn't deny the assertion by Stuart Levine, the government's star witness in the Rezko trial, about the party honoring Nadhmi Auchi. He's a British citizen who's appealing a fraud conviction in France. Obama said he didn't recall the event.

"I mean this has been, I guess, four years ago," the freshman senator said. "My understanding, through his lawyer, Mr. Auchi doesn't recall meeting me."

Asked if he thought Rezko may have been using him to impress potential investors, Obama replied: "I just don't have a recollection of the event. As I said, I was in the middle of running a U.S. Senate race. So, you know, I was speaking all the time, probably six, seven, eight times a day."

-- John McCormick

John McCormick writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau.

Comments

[John B Sheffield]

It is fine when people keep trying to start dissecting again something from four years ago about Barack Obama, which most voters have moved on from.

But if this is the case, then we must also look back at the "Cher Fundraising Gala" story, when Hillary also first stood as Senator, evidence seems to clearly show she was involved with the event, which is against election rules and is a serious offence, why was this story just air brushed away????

Also where did the $2 million donation to Hillary's Fundraising disappear to ???? this is perhaps just one of Hillary's skeletons????

[Fainstadt]

Senator Obama is either lying or he is lying bigtime. Who would forget attending a party with someone that gave him $250,000.00 , helped him purchase a home for over a million dollars, and that same person helped him launch his Senate careeeeeer! Give me a break. Auchi and Rezko are criminals and they are the same people the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy would have included in his efforts to stop organized crime in America. Come clean B.Obama. Oh by the way where is Jimmy Hoffa buried? Rezko might know. I am amazed that the media is asleep at the switch. Rezko tell the truth! Obama stop lying.

[mary saunders]

There is something that stinks about Obama! How can one foget someone that gave you $250,000.00?? Even 10 years ago!! never mind just 4 years ago! Obama is hidding something big here, and it's not for betterring America,I dont want another MC BUSH as president, the only thing left to do is vote for Hillary, We know all her bagage, But Obama's?? what i have read about his so call for getfullness like the RV Wright and Rezko that helped him by the home of his dream. Come on america wake up, If enything could be worse then Bush or MC Bush , It will be this unknow man Obama, He is the biddest lie!

[Core Democrat]

He also forgot that his "spititual mentor and advisor", Rev. Wright, where he attended church for 20 YEARS, teaches black theology. And all the other hateful, racist, and UNAmerican spews of hatred about America and Americans that this mentor of Obama has spewed in fire and damnation speeches. Listen to the sound bites in their entirity. They are really bad.
And Ayers, Rezko and the rest of his long time associates as well. He has a very "select" memory! But the American voters do not. He will never be elected if by some chance the Democrat Super Delegates, which not only Clinton but Obama must also have to win this nomination, still vote in favor of such a candidate. He is a disgrace to the Democrat Party. His own comments calling his own Grandmother a "typical white person" as well as his wife's comments and Obama comments in san Franscico reflect the views and influence of Wright. He is only ahead in Delegate votes because this was all so hidden when many voted. These states such as Wisconsin and Colorodo would now send him packing and quickly. And if Iowa knew his moving speeches were written for him, read on a telprompter and his actions were anything but unifying, he would have been out right then and there. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida , the crucial KEY states in the General Election, as well as others, already have sent him packing. The Democrat Party better wake up fast or this whole party will colapse like a deck of cards if he is the nominee. And there is still a lot more out there about Obama, and it is not pretty. He is UNelectable. Putting him in office is the eqivalent of putting some nut case KKK type person in office. BAD for America. very bad. Obama , not Clinton, is the most polarizing and dividing candidate in memory.

[Aneee]

What a LIAR.

The situation the dems are in is the fault of the press, they should have been asking these questions a long time ago and by now we would have dumped Obama and had a nominee.

The media darling is no longer.

[KAREE - Wyoming]

The next bomb with O-Bama is the Larry Sinclair - Donald young murder( Chior Director of Trinity Church who was murdered execution style) Also a gay along with Larry who alledeges that he had a sexual encounter and smoked crack co-caine with O-Bama in 1999 Young contacted Sinclair just a few days before his murder to set up a meeting to discuss the issue. Larrys lawsuit against O-Bamas Suppoters per death threats ihas been filed in DC - I ti all over the news in Puerto Rico and now Globe is running it - If this does not come out before OB is nominee - It certainly will be brought out by the republican 527 swift boaters. I could never vote for a man that has this kind of baggage.
D