Barack Obama's early political pal Tony Rezko convicted

A federal jury in Chicago today convicted developer Antoin "Tony" Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Illinois 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 kitchen cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

He once counted Rezko as a close friend and early successful fundraiser, which could haunt him as the likely Democratic presidential nominee has now defeated Sen. Hillary Clinton and heads into the general election campaign against Republican Sen. 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.

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 Chicago 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 Republican predecessor, George Ryan, now in prison.

The complete story by Bob Secter and Jeff Coen is available by clicking here.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[chitown layla]

Don Fredrick is fine!!!!!

[Bigtime]

The Democrats picked another winner.!!!
ROFLMAO

[Marjie]

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/01/hillary-clinton-and-tony-rezko-photo.html. Are we talking about the same Tony Rezko who has worked with Clinton AND Bush? At least Obama gave the money to charity. The others kept their shares of it.

[Jackie]

Is Obama going to give back the property he lives on and claim he is totally innocent... like he dumped his church, when it became a political liability?

[Judy Kilgore]

Obama is deeply" saddened" by Rezko's apparent guilt, as he was by Wright and Pflegar's bigoted rants. He had no idea these men were crooks, bigots, haters, or un-American ingrates who might tarnish his Messiah crown. Rezko's conviction just underlines Obama's calls, and the public's need, "for reform." Obama is not guilty by association! His former associates and friends are being, as the current cliche goes," thrown under the bus" for good reason: Obama's public integrity and presidential ambitions. Anyone who thinks Obama was aware of the evils of these associates simply is unaware of Obama's innocence and belief that each and every individual is innocent until PROVEN guilty, and unsuspected until actually on trial, if then.. He would have negotiated with them, unconditionally, had they confessed their sins to him, but, alas, they did not, and now it is too late for them. This makes him, like his colleague-in-innocence, Governor Blaggojevich, so sad; so very, very sad.

Obama's fans feel his pain, including those in the MSM. They know that he is a used and abused black man in racist America who deserves the presidency if for no other reason than revenge against Americans who supported slavery 200+ years ago. His victimization and liberal American's guilt can at long last be appeased if only he gets to be president. That will erase history as black people know it and nurse it every day. They will no longer feel themselves to be victims, and will, instead, feel themselves to be vindicated, even if only until the next presidential election rolls around.

So, go Obama! Obama, 08! We are what we've been waiting for! Change! Hope! Yes, we can!

[ronnie]

This may drag Obama down as this guy will not go down for 20 years for something the governor and Obama was involved in. Obama should be on trial with him hopefully soon.

The guy has to have so many undified donors from th emiddle east and terrorist origanizations world wide thaT
HE CAN'T HIDE IT ALL.

[RONNIE]

The democrats are so dam comical. look at em. jimmy the dumb carter,hilery the closet dike, obama the salt and pepper lost link in the liberal closet., little sam nunn aged but still lost in the past. I personally can't think of not one single person whom obama could choole as a running mate who would aid him . he still stands a good chance of being drawn into the money laundering thing in chicago.
si there nothing this dumb bunch can't do to screw up their political scene.

[BJ]

OBAMA says of REZKO:

"He is NOT the MAN I KNEW..."

REV. WRIGHT:

"This is NOT THE MAN I KNEW 20 YEARS AGO"

OBAMA IS SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD!!!

[Mr. Unite Us]

Small potatoes compared to this

Indicted Saudi Gets $80 Million US Contract
The Financier Has Been Indicted For His Alleged Role in a Scandal Costing US Taxpayers $1.7 billion
By GRETCHEN PETERS
June 4, 2008—

The US military has awarded an $80 million contract to a prominent Saudi financier who has been indicted by the US Justice Department. The contract to supply jet fuel to American bases in Afghanistan was awarded to the Attock Refinery Ltd, a Pakistani-based refinery owned by Gaith Pharaon. Pharaon is wanted in connection with his alleged role at the failed Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), and the CenTrust savings and loan scandal, which cost US tax payers $1.7 billion.

The Saudi businessman was also named in a 2002 French parliamentary report as having links to informal money transfer networks called hawala, known to be used by traders and terrorists, including Al Qaeda.

Interestingly, Pharaon was also an investor in President George W. Bush's first business venture, Arbusto Energy.

A spokesman for the FBI said Pharaon was not wanted in connection with the French report, but confirmed he was still sought by the US Justice Department.

"Ghaith Pharaon is an FBI fugitive indicted in both the BCCI and CENTRUST case," said Richard Kolko, a spokesman for the FBI. "If anyone has information on his location, they are requested to contact the FBI or the US Embassy."

The US military purchases jet fuel from Attock through the contractor Supreme Fuels, according to a US government website. The $80 million contract for 2008 was posted this week on a US government website . Attock supplied the US military more than $40 million in jet fuel in 2007, according to another spreadsheet posted on the site.

An official at Attock, who did not wish to be named, confirmed the refinery was supplying thousands of tons of jet fuel to the US base at Bagram Air Base every month.

The US military has not responded to requests for comment.

Pharaon could not be reached for comment.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4996285&page=1

[nadoop]

Ummm, Rezko have contributed to many campaigns, including Bill Clinton's. Just because I hang out with my neighbor who committed a crime doesn't mean I'm guilty. Notice how just about everything against Obama is guilt by association? NOTHING ELSE. And Rev. Wright is a former marine who have served his country in many ways. He was simply quoting an WHITE ambassador from Iraq when he said 'God Damn America,' but it doesn't matter because we often mistake tough love for unAmerican.

[Parker]

This is the kind of change I can believe in - locking up as many of Obama's corrupt Illinois political cronies as possible.

[blondshag]

'HOPE' that American Voters finally know the truth about Barack Hussein Obama....Obama is a phony.

Barack Hussein Obama has very negative relationships and 'Anti-America' type individuals at his church and stays in a church for 20 years without see this......what very poor judgment, a complete empty suit.

Barack Hussein Obama might have to face huge questions about his dealings with Tony Rezko the indicted fund-raiser and currently convicted of 16 counts.

~~SUPERDELEGATES need to re-think their endorsement and 'SWITCH' their endorsement to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON is the right president for America.

NEVER QUIT - HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!
GO HILLARY!!!!!!!
GO HILLARY!!!!!!!

[Mr. Unite Us]

Republicans should note a Republican insider named
Stuart Levine schemed with Rezko.

"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."

[Slobodan Kvetchew]

Hey Judy Kilgore
How naive and credulous can you get ...Get ready for this
Barak O bubbleburst