Levine may testify soon at Rezko trial
FEDERAL COURT | Star witness in corruption case
He was once a political power broker, a multimillionaire and prominent GOP fund-raiser.
This week, Stuart Levine will assume a new title: star witness in Tony Rezko's corruption trial.
(AP)
Levine could take the stand this week, possibly as early as Wednesday.
Levine is expected to talk about sleazy insider deals, kickbacks, bribes, and his own excessive drug use.
Levine's testimony in Rezko's trial promises to let us peer behind the curtain and see the dirty underworld of Illinois politics, one in which deals were struck in smoke-filled backrooms and where greed ran rampant.
Levine sat on two state boards at issue in the case. Levine is expected to say he and Rezko, who was influential in Gov. Blagojevich's administration, schemed to pressure firms to pay kickbacks if they wanted state business.
But can Levine be believed?
Levine's drug use, ranging from cocaine to "Special K," to ecstasy to crystal meth, has been detailed in court filings in recent months. U.S. Judge Amy St. Eve ruled that questions over Levine's drug use are fair game.
What she hasn't allowed is talk of Levine's "social activities," which Rezko's lawyers have alluded to in court filings. That includes what the defense referred to as a "secret life," including all-night, drug-infused parties and the use a private jet to shuttle special friends to Springfield.
What's also expected to be the subject of extensive cross examination is Levine's reduced sentence of 5½ years in prison. He could have faced 30 years to life had he not cooperated.
Chicago defense lawyer Larry Beaumont said the defense will no doubt challenge Levine's credibility because of his alleged drug use.
"Presumably, he can't be believed because of the drug behavior. Second, if you believe what he says, these things might be clouded by the fact that he was influenced by some kind of drug," Beaumont said the defense will argue.
Because of Levine's reduced sentence, Beaumont said the judge will tell jurors to consider Levine's testimony "with caution and great care."
Prosecutors will point to other evidence any time they can to corroborate Levine's testimony, he said. They have plenty of recordings to work with. The FBI tapped Levine's phone before he cooperated and taped more than a thousand conversations. Levine also wore a wire for the government. However, defense lawyer Joseph Duffy has said the recordings show many other people talking but that jurors still will not hear Rezko talking criminally.
