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Feds explain Rezko’s claims that Blagojevich was innocent

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Illinois
Obama
Blagojevich Trial

* Phil Rogers tells us how the feds plan to use Tony Rezko against Rod Blagojevich, despite Rezko’s now infamous letter to his judge proclaiming his innocence and accusing prosecutors of forcing him to tell lies about his dear friend…

In a filing Thursday, federal prosecutors said longtime fundraiser Tony Rezko came to them in July of 2008, offering to cooperate in their investigation of former governor Rod Blagojevich. […]

Rezko had previously written a letter to his own trial judge, Amy St. Eve, accusing the government of pressuring him to lie about Blagojevich and others. But in Thursday’s filing, prosecutors state that Rezko had in fact recanted that letter, “and admitted it was false when written in an attempt to secure bond during his trial.”

The motion filed by prosecutors goes on to say that Rezko offered damning evidence against his longtime friend. Prosecutor Reid Schar declared that “on the very first day Rezko began being interviewed by the government, Rezko incriminated the defendant and himself in far reaching corruption schemes.”

The problem, of course, is that even if Rezko really did tell the truth to the government after lying to the judge, he’s still an admitted liar. And a felon. And probably looking to cut himself a deal. Not the most sterling witness.

You can read Rezko’s letter to his judge by clicking here. And here’s an excerpt…

“They are pressuring me to tell them the ‘wrong’ things that I supposedly know about Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama,” Rezko wrote St. Eve in an April bid to be released on bail during his trial. “I have never been party to any wrongdoing that involved the Governor or the Senator,” Rezko continued. “I will never fabricate lies about anyone else for selfish purposes. I will take what comes my way, but I will never hurt innocent people.”

More…

“I am not Levine, Loren, Mahru or Winter. I am simply an honest, humble immigrant who believes in the American dream,” Rezko wrote as he was kept in solitary confinement in a downtown lockup earlier this year. He was speaking of numerous people who testified at his trial or talked to prosecutors. […]

In his letter, Rezko states that he’s been under pressure by federal prosecutors to give information on Obama and Blagojevich. However, Rezko has never submitted to an interview by the feds nor has he proffered a statement to them.

* Prosecutors also tore into Blagojevich’s defense attorneys yesterday…

In a 34-page filing Thursday, prosecutors said Sam Adam Jr. and Sam Adam Sr. made statements to the media that included made-up numbers and outright lies, all in an effort to speak to the next jury. Blagojevich was convicted of just one count — lying to the FBI. He faces retrial on 23 other counts next year.

The filing takes the Adams to task, saying they made up numbers, telling TV crews a retrial would cost the government up to $30 million.

Prosecutors say that sum nearly equals the annual budget of the U.S. attorney’s office, including rent, civil cases and salaries and expenses of more than 150 non-Blagojevich prosecutors.

* And the feds also defended themselves against claims of misconduct on their part…

“The defendant’s allegations of misconduct are just broad statements or rhetorical questions that make for nice quotes in newspaper articles, but are completely unfounded,” prosecutors wrote. The accusations are just a shield to distract the public from Blagojevich’s own misstatements, prosecutors said.

As an example, prosecutors pointed to Blagojevich’s repeated accusation that the government lied about what was on its secretly made recordings.

“The trial made clear, however, that the government accurately quoted transcripts in context and it was the defendant who was convicted of lying,” the government said.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:00 pm

Comments

“The defendant’s allegations of misconduct are just broad statements or rhetorical questions that make for nice quotes in newspaper articles, but are completely unfounded,” prosecutors wrote.

You could say the same thing about “Lincoln spinning in his grave.” Whole lot of whining going on here.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:21 pm
Rezco’s lack of character my actually play into the feds hands. One of the problems with the 1st trial is the government kept presenting witnesses that seemed like decent enough Joes.

If you are going to convict someone for being a scumbag snake it helps to show him hanging out with other scumbag snakes. They ought to throw the kitchen sink of discredited characters at the jury and let them chew on the facts.

I guarantee they will be left with a really bad taste in their mouth

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:36 pm
It’s disappointing that the prosecution has to explain and almost apologize for its professional work in the case. To me it’s scary that the public and jury responded more to the flamboyant defense than factual information from the prosecutors. Not surprising though, since the same ‘public’ elected Blago not once, but twice.

Comment by State Mope Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:53 pm
Putting up the truthfulness of the ex-Governor and Tony Rezko against the minions of the pursuer of Scooter Libby might be about a 50-50 roll of the dice, and I would give all ties to Rod and Tony, who start off presumed innocent

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 1:01 pm
So, Rezko recants that he was not a party to any wrong doing with Blago and Barack — so does that now mean he was a party to wrong doing with Blago AND the President?

Comment by justsickofit Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 1:04 pm
Great point Phineas. Rod can’t deny how close he was with Rezko. Even if they use this letter to try to debunk Rezko’s testimony, the testimony and their close association will be in the trial.

Sure Rod can say “he was either lying then or he’s lying now,” but the jury will make up their minds about that.

Comment by Siriusly Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 1:20 pm
Schnorf you don’t have much faith in the jury system do you?

Comment by Leave a Light on George Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:18 pm
It’s good to know that Obama and Blago hung out with Tony Rezko but did nothing illegal because they say so. It’s nice having Eric Holder as AG. Eric Holder is the kind of guy that Blago liked to work with on the Rosemont Casino deal!

Comment by Eugene Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:39 pm
I don’t have much faith in the Chicago US Attorney’s office

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 8:20 pm
Schnorf, not sure i understand your analogy about Scooter Libby but if those minions don’t go after Blago again, it’s sending the wrong message to the public on what a corrupt politician like Blago can get away with in IL.

Comment by State Mope Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 10:28 pm
Illinois needs to take it’s collective head out of it’s Chiakulas, but quickly.

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Oct 16, 10 @ 2:34 am