Rezko -- Guilty on 16 of 24 counts
Hate to bump down that lovely photo of Governor Sarah Palin, and my wife's wonderful post on her, but this is literally breaking right now. AP is reporting that Tony Rezko has been found guilty on 16 of 24 charges:
A prominent political fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty of fraud and money laundering.
But the jury's mixed verdict acquitted Antoin "Tony" Rezko of some of the most serious charges against him, including attempted extortion. He has been accused of scheming to get bribes from businesses seeking state contracts.
The jury found Rezko guilty of 16 of 24 counts Wednesday after a nine-week trial.
Rezko has known Obama since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with the Democratic presidential candidate, although testimony barely touched on their relationship. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors say Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Blagojevich.
Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing.
While neither were accused of wrongdoing, Blagojevich is still under investigation by the feds, and this story will still be lurking in the shadows as Obama begins his general election bid. And it should be observed that this doesn't wash Obama clean of the Rezko taint. Let's not forget the six pillars of Barack Obama; pillars that hold up his radical friends -- Rezko, Wright, Plfeger, Meeks, Dohrn/Ayers, and his wife, Michelle.
More details will be forthcoming on the Rezko decision. including specifics that news outlets in Chicago say should be forthcoming as soon as Judge Amy St. Eve convenes them in the courtroom at about 3:45 PM EST.
Publius II
UPDATE: From the WaPo:
A federal jury today convicted political fundraiser Antoin Rezko, a longtime backer of Sen. Barack Obama, of influence peddling in the high councils of Illinois state government.
The verdict comes after weeks of vivid insider accounts about attempts to sell political favors in the administration of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D).
The jury concluded that Rezko was part of a corrupt money-making scheme and found Rezko guilty of 16 of 24 felony counts, including fraud, money laundering and joining a bribery conspiracy.
Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was not connected to the case and has not been implicated in wrongdoing.
The verdict nonetheless makes it more likely that critics will continue to question his relationship with Rezko, who contributed to and raised money for earlier campaigns and bought property adjacent to Obama's Chicago home.
Indeed, within 20 minutes of the verdict's announcement, the Republican National Committee sent an e-mail to reporters under the subject line, "Rezko: Obama's Longtime Friend and Money Man."
Obama has said whenever asked -- and he has been asked often -- that Rezko asked for no favors and that he did him none.
Rezko, once the prosperous owner of restaurant chains, did not testify at the trial.
Publius II
A prominent political fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty of fraud and money laundering.
But the jury's mixed verdict acquitted Antoin "Tony" Rezko of some of the most serious charges against him, including attempted extortion. He has been accused of scheming to get bribes from businesses seeking state contracts.
The jury found Rezko guilty of 16 of 24 counts Wednesday after a nine-week trial.
Rezko has known Obama since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with the Democratic presidential candidate, although testimony barely touched on their relationship. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors say Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Blagojevich.
Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing.
While neither were accused of wrongdoing, Blagojevich is still under investigation by the feds, and this story will still be lurking in the shadows as Obama begins his general election bid. And it should be observed that this doesn't wash Obama clean of the Rezko taint. Let's not forget the six pillars of Barack Obama; pillars that hold up his radical friends -- Rezko, Wright, Plfeger, Meeks, Dohrn/Ayers, and his wife, Michelle.
More details will be forthcoming on the Rezko decision. including specifics that news outlets in Chicago say should be forthcoming as soon as Judge Amy St. Eve convenes them in the courtroom at about 3:45 PM EST.
Publius II
UPDATE: From the WaPo:
A federal jury today convicted political fundraiser Antoin Rezko, a longtime backer of Sen. Barack Obama, of influence peddling in the high councils of Illinois state government.
The verdict comes after weeks of vivid insider accounts about attempts to sell political favors in the administration of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D).
The jury concluded that Rezko was part of a corrupt money-making scheme and found Rezko guilty of 16 of 24 felony counts, including fraud, money laundering and joining a bribery conspiracy.
Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was not connected to the case and has not been implicated in wrongdoing.
The verdict nonetheless makes it more likely that critics will continue to question his relationship with Rezko, who contributed to and raised money for earlier campaigns and bought property adjacent to Obama's Chicago home.
Indeed, within 20 minutes of the verdict's announcement, the Republican National Committee sent an e-mail to reporters under the subject line, "Rezko: Obama's Longtime Friend and Money Man."
Obama has said whenever asked -- and he has been asked often -- that Rezko asked for no favors and that he did him none.
Rezko, once the prosperous owner of restaurant chains, did not testify at the trial.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 6:27 PM
1 Comments:
Imho, Raila Odinga, Obama's murdering terrorist in Kenya should be added to the influence obama list. I understand the two are close. Rawriter
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