Rezko found guilty in corruption case

Chicago Tribune:

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 kitchen 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 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.

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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.

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The testimony concerning Blagojevich was so pervasive at the trial that it is curious that he has not been indicted. As for as the attacks on Levine's character, what does it say about Rezko that he chose him as a business associate. If it was not important when they were doing deals why does it become important when he is testifying against him?

Some have suggested that Rezko might try to make a deal. It could still happen, but I think it is much more unlikely at this point. I don't think they need him to make a case against Blagojevich, and he apparently has nothing of value to offer the prosecution on Obama. In fact I have seen nothing to indicate the prosecutors have any interest in Obama.

However voters may want to question his judgment on who he associates with. That has already come up in the case of William Ayers, and Rev. Wright as well as Pfather Pfleger. With this track record would you trust Obama to negotiate with Ahmadinejad? That is a question people will be asking over the next few months. Just as Rezko has little credibility complaining about a Levine's character, Obama is going to have trouble about the characters he hangs out with.

Local reaction to the verdict is here. The Chicago Sun-Times indicates there is already a pretty active investigation of Gov. Blagojevich.