Is Rezko working with the feds?
SOURCES: | He's been back at courthouse numerous times
As his sentencing nears, pressure is mounting on Tony Rezko to cooperate with federal investigations into some of the highest-profile politicians in the state -- including Gov. Blagojevich.
Two more trials -- one in Chicago next spring, one in Las Vegas -- hover over the Wilmette businessman and onetime prolific political fund-raiser for the governor and Barack Obama.
(Sun-Times file)
Now, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Rezko has been seen at the federal courthouse as many as a dozen times since his June conviction. He's been held since then at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.
Rezko hasn't had to be back in court since a jury convicted him of corruption charges involving state deals. And his scheduled Sept. 3 sentencing was recently pushed back to Oct. 28.
One source says Rezko was spotted twice inside the U.S. attorney's office since his conviction -- an assertion Rekzo lawyer Joseph Duffy calls "bogus." And Rezko was inside the courthouse as recently as Aug. 14, sources say.
A possible explanation: Rezko's lawyers had permission to meet with him on occasion at the courthouse.
If Rezko's cooperating, that would be a major development in "Operation Board Games," the government's ongoing probe into state boards that's widened into a broader corruption probe.
Rezko's real estate dealings, his ties overseas -- including an Iraqi power-plant deal -- his work as a Blagojevich adviser and fund-raiser are all of interest to federal authorities.
Natasha Korecki and Bridget Kennedy