Rezko lawyer: Don't trust key witness
Wilmette businessman Tony Rezko raised money for candidates in both political parties -- including Democratic Gov. Blagojevich, former GOP Gov. Jim Edgar and Illinois senator turned Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama -- but he never asked for anything in return, Rezko's lead defense counsel said this afternoon.
In his opening statement to jurors in Rezko's public corruption trial, Rezko lawyer Joseph Duffy described his client as a Syrian immigrant who lived the American dream. Blame for the criminal schemes in which Rezko stands charged should rest with Rezko's co-defendant, Stuart Levine, he said.
(Courtesy/AP)
Levine, Duffy added, has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with federal prosecutors to save himself and his reputation because of Levine's 20-year-plus drug habit.
"It was all Mr. Levine talking about Mr. Rezko," Duffy said. "Judge [Rezko] by what he said. Judge him by what he did.
"If you do, you will find Tony Rezko innocent of each of the charges in this case."
Rezko, 52, is accused of using his influence with the Blagojevich administration and conspiring with Levine to enrich himself, his associates and Blagojevich's campaign fund. Rezko's case has become an issue in the presidential race because of his ties to Obama, who is not accused of any wrongdoing and has tried to distance himself from Rezko since Rezko's October 2006 indictment.
How Obama is portrayed during Rezko's trial could fuel criticism from Obama rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, and -- should Obama win the Democratic nomination -- expected GOP presidential nominee John McCain. Clinton has raised questions about whether Obama has fully disclosed details about his relationship with Rezko, whose wife sold a strip of land to Obama adjoining Obama's Kenwood house at a time when Rezko was widely known to have been under federal investigation.
Duffy's mention of Obama today seemed to be in the context of telling Rezko's life story. Rezko's entry into politics, Duffy said, came when he raised money for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Rezko went on to meet Obama while recruiting Obama to come work for his real estate development company, Duffy told jurors.
Duffy also rattled off a list of fund-raisers and philanthropic events Rezko held or helped organize in 2003-04, when the government says the majority of Rezko's alleged wrongdoing had been taking place. Those activities included co-chairing a large fund-raiser for President Bush, a fund-raiser for Obama's U.S. Senate campaign and two fund-raisers for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
Duffy, however, noted that Rezko "asked nothing for himself" in exchange. And Rezko's political activities, he said, were secondary to his many business interests, including his development company, Rezmar, and fast-food chains.
Bill Burton, an Obama campaign spokesman, said of the mention of the senator in court today: "It is well established that the trial is not about Sen. Obama, nor was there any suggestion to the contrary today."
Duffy detailed Rezko's close relationship with Blagojevich but disputed prosecutors' assertion that it allowed Rezko to take "behind the scenes" control of two state-government boards that Rezko is alleged to have used to enrich himself and his associates. Levine, Duffy said, shouldn't be trusted when he testifies about those matters, in part because Levine's admitted drug use has clouded his memory.
All eyes will be on Rezko's ties to Blagojevich as the trial continues, but Obama remains a factor, too. Prosecutors could raise Obama's name because Rezko allegedly asked at least one person to make a "straw donation" to Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate run because Rezko had contributed the maximum amount to Obama under federal law.
Prosecutors didn't mention Obama in their opening statement. Obama has donated or plans to donate more than $150,000 in Rezko-related campaign contributions from his Senate run to charity.