* Closing arguments started today in the Tony Rezko trial…
[Assistant U.S Atty. Reid Schar] pointed out that in his opening statement, [Rezko’s defense attorney Joe Duffy] had mentioned that Rezko was so concerned about the appearance of impropriety that he had backed off the opportunity to get leases for his franchise restaurants at the Illinois Tollway after his friend, Rod Blagojevich was elected governor.
But in testimony, Schar pointed out, “We never heard about tollway leases and the defendant walking away.”
Instead, Schar said, witnesses testified that Rezko had inserted himself into numerous state business deals while trying to hide his involvement and the cut he expected to take.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Interesting…
Schar described Rezko as Levine’s “insurance policy.” Levine, Schar said, was intent on using his position on two state boards to extort money, but he needed Rezko, who was close to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, to make sure Levine stayed on the boards.
“On the night of April 14 [at the Standard Club] Levine invested $3.9 million of his insurance in Tony Rezko,” Schar said.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors submitted Levine’s bill from the dinner as proof that he was at the Standard Club on April 14, but there was nothing on the bill that suggested Rezko was there with him.
To underscore that notion, Schar pointed to another piece of evidence presented at the trial: phone records that showed in the middle of the time the meal was taking place, Rezko placed a cell phone call to Tom Beck, the chairman of a state hospital board on which Levine sat.
Levine said one of the key deals he and Rezko discussed at the dinner was a plan to get the hospital board to approve a new McHenry County hospital in exchange for a $1 million bribe from a corrupt contractor who was to build the facility.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The prosecution is expected to wrap up closing arguments about 3 o’clock or so…
Should Schar wrap up before 3 p.m., Rezko defense attorney Joseph Duffy told the judge his preference is to begin his closing immediately thereafter and go for about an hour. The judge had given Duffy the option of waiting until tomorrow to start his closing, but, apparently, he wants to launch right in.
LIVE session coverage...
- Tollway Dan - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:12 am:
Rezko made plenty off his Illinois Tollway Oases deals.
Ask Jack Hartman!
- I'm Hungry - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:37 am:
Can you say Papa Johns, Panda Express and Famiglia Pizza?
- Sure Lock Homes - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 12:36 pm:
Watching the Tony Rezko trial and waiting to see if Rezko will have to do some short stint of federal time is all well and good. But, what I and many others are really waiting for is when Patrick Fitzgerald puts on his “Monty Hall” hat and plays “Let’s Make A Deal” with Tony. We are all curious to see which door (#1-#2_or Door #3) Rod Blagojevich might be hiding behind. Then again, perhaps there will be a Republican political figure or even Barack’s shadow behind one of these doors? Rezko will likely sing like a canary if the federal sentence is long enough and Monty’s offer is structured properly. Unless Rezko has to do a sentence of eight years or more, he will clam up and just wait it out at Club Fed. Time will go by quickly for Tony, especially if he knows that a pardon is coming down the road in a year or two.
- Leave a light on George - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 12:38 pm:
Bye bye Tony. See you when you come back for your next trial.
Better take a deal Tony.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 12:38 pm:
===especially if he knows that a pardon is coming down the road in a year or two.===
Yeah, that’ll happen.
- Pat collins - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 12:43 pm:
if he knows that a pardon is coming down
Or,perhaps if he BELIEVES one is, regardless of the objective probability of such a thing.
He may be clever, but he may also be seeing US politics through the lens of how it works where he grew up.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 1:18 pm:
I think some need to disabuse themselves of the notion that a Pres. Obama would spend a penny of political capital on his troubled former supporters in Illinois, ie. a federal appointment for Blagojevich or a pardon for Rezko. You all must be Hillary or McCain backers.
I like a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, but that doesn’t compute. The next president is going to have a lot on his (I think the masculine form is now safe) hands. If he’s elected, Obama’s Gucci loafers will not trod even gingerly in the barnyard of Illinois politics. That goes, too, for Alexi supporters who think a Pres. Obama would put him over the hump in a gubernatorial primary. “Sorry, too much on my plate already. Thanks for your continued support.”
- Ghost - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 1:40 pm:
I doubt Rezko in any form beleives there is a pardon in his future. Nor do i think he will be content to do time to protect Blago. Blago really has nothing to offer Rezko as a benefit for keeping his mouth shut and doing the time. Rezko does have other contacts, and I doubt he will want to leave his family without income while he sits in jail to protect Blago for little to nothing in exhcnage at the end of sentence.
If he loses he will cut a deal.
- Belle - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 1:48 pm:
to wordslinger : Rod was first choice by these people for Pres, Obama second. Is there any doubt in anyone’s minds that Rod will be indicted? I thought Hillary’s ‘Oct surprise’ comment was alluding to an upcoming Obama indictment.
- Shelbyville - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 1:56 pm:
Remember how many people thought that George Ryan would get a pardon, too? Nothing doing.
Rumor is that Rezko will deal. Of course, there was the rumor that he would flee, too.
In the long run, he may not be willing to tell everything that he knows.
- Kitty - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:26 pm:
It’s golfing season and Duffy wants to put Rezko behind him.
- North of I-80 - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:35 pm:
Suspense huh? My bet is that Rezko will offer a deal before sentencing on this or next trial, promise to deliver Dick Mell’s son-in-law and then flee to Syria/Pakistan before testifying…
- One of the 35 - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:57 pm:
What if….. Rezko is convicted but then pardoned immediately by Rod. What can anyone do about it?
- Brad - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:58 pm:
Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days.
Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day.
He inquired of God. ‘Where have you been?’
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards
through the clouds, ‘Look, Michael. Look what I’ve created.’
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, ‘What is it?’
‘It’s a planet,’ replied God, ‘and I’ve put Life on it.
I’m going to call it Earth and it’s going to be a great place of balance.’
‘Balance?’ Inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth.
‘For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and
wealth but cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be
poor but sunny and pleasant . ‘I have made some lands abundant in
water and other lands parched deserts. ‘This one will be extremely
hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice.’
The Archangel , impressed by God’s work, then pointed to a land mass and
said, ‘What’s that one?’
‘Ah,’ said God. ‘That’s Illinois the most glorious place on earth.
There will be beautiful prairies, grasslands, farms, streams, abundant
wild game and birds, rolling hills and woodlands. The people from
Illinois are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and
they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be
extremely sociable, hardworking and high achieving, and they will be
known throughout the world as diplomats and ambassadors of peace.’
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, ‘What about
balance, God? You said there would be balance!!!’
God replied wisely,
‘Wait until you see the idiots I put in Springfield , Cook County and City Hall.’
- Anon - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:05 pm:
One of 35 — Well, Rod is pretty good at ignoring the Illinois constitution when it suits him, but I don’t think they’ll let him ignore the federal constitution, which (if I recall correctly) only gives the president the authority to pardon federal crimes. Or were you thinking he might forge W’s signature on the document?
- legalese - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:06 pm:
One of the 35 - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:57 pm:
What if….. Rezko is convicted but then pardoned immediately by Rod. What can anyone do about it?
This is a Federal case. The pardon could come from a President Obama but not Governopr Blago.
- North of I-80 - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:06 pm:
If Duffy closes right after prosecution from 3PM to 4PM, they can still get in 9 holes today, 18 tomorrow and get Rezko’s bill in the mail before afternoon pickup.
- Springfield Alum - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:07 pm:
One of the 35: The Governor cannot pardon Rezko. He has been brought up on federal, not state charges.
- A Citizen - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:11 pm:
- Springfield Alum -
Betcha the guv says that minor distinction does not apply in this case.
- Ryan's Pardon - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:41 pm:
I think he’ll be one of the last minute pardon’s from GW. Kinda like Mel Reynolds was for Clinton. Big Jim will make sure of it.
- ivoted4judy - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 3:47 pm:
Rezko AND Kelly will become G Rod’s Fawell and Guiliano..The G will indict Rezko again win or lose, G Rod will be in Fitz’ sights real clear by the end of July!!!!
- Little Egypt - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 4:56 pm:
GWBush will not be interested in pardoning a democratic insider. If he doesn’t pardon GRyan, then he certainly won’t touch the dems.
- quincy - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 5:36 pm:
G W Bush is a nut so he will pardon another nut. If, and I say president Obamam pardon tony hes as big a nut as Bush. Only one thing Tony going to walk like OJ.
- GofGelnview - Monday, May 12, 08 @ 5:45 pm:
According to one report Duffy claimed Rezko “backed off” the Oasis deal by not putting his Pizza chains in there.
Huh,interesting considering Hurtgen’s company Knight E/A made plenty of money off that deal too.
North of I-80: about those 18 Holes maybe they’re being played up at Glencoe Country Club. having been paid nearly $3 mill in advance of the trial Duffy probably bought himself some nice new clubs too.