* As you already know, Gov. Blagojevich repeatedly referenced a letter that Tony Rezko sent to his presiding judge. This is a representative quote…
“Tony Rezko sent a letter to a judge. In that letter, he expressly states neither Sen. Obama nor I did anything wrong.”
* That letter will make it impossible to rely solely on Rezko’s word, but it may not rule out Rezko as a witness against the governor. From the Sun-Times’ Eye on Rezko blog…
If Rezko does cut a deal with the feds, that letter — sent to a federal judge — will no doubt haunt him as a witness.
As we reported in an earlier story, it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.
Former prosecutor Zachary Fardon noted in a June 16th story Scott Fawell, former chief of staff to Gov. George Ryan, wrote a similar letter, saying he wouldn’t make up lies about Ryan.
Fawell was the star witness in Ryan’s trial.
“Do I think he could effectively be crossed on this letter? Yes,” Fardon said. “Does that mean they can’t call him or use him [as a witness]? No.”
* Here’s another exchange from yesterday’s not so friendly media availability…
REPORTER: Will you resign if you’re indicted?
BLAGOJEVICH: I’m not going to answer dumb questions like that.
REPORTER: Are you worried about your future?
BLAGOJEVICH: Next Question.
REPORTER: Governor. are you worried about your future?
* The AP has a snippet of what prosecutors are asking witnesses about…
One of the matters that prosecutors have been interested in learning is who paid for the renovation of Blagojevich’s Chicago home. Rezko’s now defunct Chicago Construction Services was the contractor on the project. One person familiar with the renovation contacted Monday afternoon, speaking only on condition of anonymity because of grand jury secrecy, said he was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors and asked about the project.
“They were looking for basic business dealings, who paid, how much, that sort of thing,” he said. He said the governor’s wife, Patti, paid the bill.
* The reason Gov. Blagojevich ventured forth yesterday was to honor retiring Senate President Emil Jones at Chicago State University…
The retiring Jones (D-Chicago) was hailed as nothing short of a hero by those in attendance, from Gov. Rod Blagojevich to interim university president Frank Pogue, who praised Jones for always fighting for South Side interests.
Jones said he was inspired to use his influence to benefit the university by observing how legislators in Springfield banded together to pass projects for other state schools. He blasted news accounts that questioned his motives and said his actions were an attempt at “parity” and “fairness.”
“We learned a lot in Springfield, when they slice the pie,” Jones said of the budget process. “It’s nice to be in the room when you slice the pie. And [sometimes] I get criticized for making sure that a piece of that pie comes back home here, but that’s your job as a lawmaker. To look out for your district, to look out for the young people that attend these institutions.”
CSU isn’t in Jones’ district, but whatever. They named a building after him, so I guess that sorta counts.
*** UPDATE *** No suprise. From the AP…
Convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko’s sentencing is officially on hold.
U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve on Wednesday granted prosecutors’ request to strike Rezko’s scheduled October 28th sentencing date.
St. Eve set a status hearing for December.
* Related…
* Blagojevich to Rezko: Tell the truth
* Blagojevich Talks About New Rezko Developments
* Illinois governor calls on convicted fundraiser to ‘tell the truth’
* Governor not worried about Rezko
* Rezko should tell prosecutors the truth, Blagojevich says
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:09 am:
The Rezko letter isn’t that big of a deal. Criminal trials routinely feature chronic liars. The trick for the prosecution is to find corroborating evidence to persuade a jury that he’s telling the truth on the stand.
I would love to hear Tony’s explanation of his motive for writing the letter. What was he expecting to receive for it?
- Anon - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:11 am:
Is the response from the Gov realistic that the indictment question was “dumb”. It seems his repeated canned response came from his lawyers who are most likely a bit more worried then they were a few months ago..
- The Doc - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:16 am:
Blagojevich resorts to referencing a letter, penned by a imprisoned felon convicted of betraying the public trust, as an offer of proof that the governor wasn’t involved in any wrongdoing.
What more needs to be said?
- Let's see the "Get Outta Jail Letter" - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:16 am:
Isn’t the “LETTER” moot, if Rezko talking?
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:22 am:
I wonder if the Governor’s comment is a veiled reminder for Rezko to mind his ps and qs.
If this was the old days when the mob was more public, it could classify as a threat to the potential stoolie.
- Mr. Cub - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:23 am:
Dat was den, dis is now.
Is there any doubt Rezko has changed his tune? Only Blago might believe he hasn’t. The rest of us live in reality, and Mr. Rezko would no doubt like to see his wife and kids again before he’s an old man. The truth will set him free (in a few years).
- Plain & Simple - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:27 am:
“Rezko should tell prosecutors the truth, Blagojevich says”
Is code for keep your mouth shut.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:29 am:
When you entrust your political life to guys like Rezko and Kelly, it is difficult to break from that habit when they do down. Blagojevich feels he knows these two better than the rest of us, and trusts them more. They helped make him governor. So naturally he sides with them as reality takes it’s toll on all three of them.
- Knee deep - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:37 am:
Sounds like it’s time for a bus tour of the big state of Illinois, we could dub it “I’m not going to answer dumb questions like that tour”.
Or it’s time for a trip/vacation to CUBA.
- BandCamp - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:44 am:
Right now, all the letter is getting Tony is love from the Governor: “Tony is a good friend and my heart goes out to his family” etc.
I agree about the letter being nothing short of a fruit fly (although, they can be annoying). Trying to compare Tony as a witness with Stu Levine is like trying to compare Mike Tyson with Mother Teresa. Rezko, criminal that is is, was a smart guy and can certainly be looked at as credible in certain situations. Like was mentioned, just a little cross-collaboration with others (in clear black and white) will make any testimony Rezko might give wheels.
I will tell you this, to me it appears that this Governor knows there is going to be trouble down the road, otherwise the constant referral to the letter wouldn’t be so blantant.
He’s pretty transparent right now.
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 12:50 pm:
No matter what Rod says, he always gets blasted here and by the so-called reporters that rudely shout out questions to try to put him on the spot. Now, we get comments about how much more credibility Dirty Tony has compared with Stuie the rat.
If all the feds have is Tony’s word, it won’t be enough. Rezko is just trying to cut down his time. He’ll say anything to try to save his own skin.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 12:54 pm:
Hey Bill, who put Tony and Stu in positions of power? And why?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 12:57 pm:
LOL ! Bill goes from Rodomize to idolize.
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:05 pm:
Word,
I think it was Cellini and KJ who put Stu in a position of power. As for Rezko, that was probably George W. Bush.
- BandCamp - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:16 pm:
Bill, I’m no insider, but it doesn’t take a tinfoil hat to see and hear the muck the Governor has gotten himself into.
=== Now, we get comments about how much more credibility Dirty Tony has compared with Stuie the rat.===
You define yourself by the company you keep.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:23 pm:
Bill, you’re incorrigible. Like Baghdad Bob, I give you points for sticking with your guy.
For those who might think Bill is serious, Blago appointed Levine to both TRS and the Health Facilities Board. And as the governor said just yesterday, Tony Rezko is a dear, dear friend of his who should always tell the truth.
The other part of my question, Bill, was why did he put those two in power?
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:55 pm:
Word,
Edgar appointed Levine. Blago re-appointed him because he needed a Republican on the Board. As for why, who knows maybe he liked to party.
- Been There - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:11 pm:
====CSU isn’t in Jones’ district, but whatever=== Well, it is just directly across the expressway where Jones’ district line is. And I would venture to guess that a large number of students are his constituents. But more importantly, the CSU president gets a nice big mansion to live in courtesy of and owned by the university and that is in Jones district.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:13 pm:
Bill, Blago reappointed him to Health Facilities. He must have liked something about him, because he then put him at TRS.
- Been There - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:15 pm:
Correction. The CSU president mansion is not in Jones’ district like I said above. Close, but not quite in the district.
- Anon - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:29 pm:
How come no one in the press corp ever asks why the patronage team had to meet with Rezko once a week?
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:34 pm:
If you plan on stealing from the treasury, it takes a thief to do it which is why “Stuie the rat” got to keep his job. If it is not broken- why fix it and Blago and his cronies were salivating to wet their beaks in the millions they new were being doled out.
Who better than an already proven pilferer. Why take chances? To Blago’s credit, he was completely non-partisan when it came to who would drive the money truck to his home. It didn’t matter whether he was a drug addled, pill popping, base philandering, compulsive lying Republican. He was good at what he did, which was stealing, which made up for his flaws.
Good morals was not part of the job description for these appointments.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:42 pm:
==How come no one in the press corp ever asks why the patronage team had to meet with Rezko once a week?===
The question has been asked. It hasn’t been answered, but it’s been asked.
- Bill Baar - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:47 pm:
Well, so what’s the Gov supposed to say?
- Been There - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:59 pm:
===The question has been asked. It hasn’t been answered, but it’s been asked.===
I always thought that was a rhetorical question.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 3:07 pm:
Bill Baar, he should take his own advice and tell the truth, of course.
That’s really not too much to ask, is it?
- Bill Baar - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 3:11 pm:
….tell the truth, of course.
…that option didn’t cross my minds.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 3:22 pm:
The real question is Does guv know the difference between right and wrong and by extension Truth and Falsehood? He may simply be incapable of truthiness!
- Anon - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 4:16 pm:
I went to Rod and Patti’s bank and said the Gov said you could provide copies of their check payments for their construction….They said it is in the mail.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 4:52 pm:
word, Uncle George actually first appointed Levine to TRS. Blago reappointed him in May 2004, during the peak of his attempted crime spree.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 4:53 pm:
to be precise, make that “during Levine’s attempted crime spree.”
- Smitty Irving - Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:39 pm:
Rich / Kevin - If Rezko is “backstopping” things said by Levine with no other evidence, my memory of the trial is much of that testimony was not about the Governor, but Cellini and Kjellander. Am I remembering correctly? Any other names come up in Levine’s uncorroborated testimony?