* The video referred to last night by ABC7 has since been removed from Google Videos, but I should have it for you later this morning.

This summer, Rezko whispered some last minute instructions to the governor before an appearance at a family celebration being held by some of Rezko’s friends.

Video posted on a public video website shows Rezko directing Blagojevich through the crowd.

* Sun-Times: Indictment helps Topinka — but how much

It is known that the feds also are examining Blagojevich’s personal finances. Notably, Blagojevich has yet to explain the $39,000 in cash that Rezko helped funnel into the first family’s personal bank account in 2004 through real estate deals in which he partnered with first lady Patti Blagojevich.

For now, however, Blagojevich can breathe a sigh of relief. The governor was not implicated in any wrongdoing Wednesday, and the campaign fund came through unscathed. But any calm may be illusory.

“I heard it more than one time [Wednesday] that Rod got lucky, but I don’t think so,” said one veteran Chicago Democratic lawmaker, who isn’t sure the indictment is enough to swing the election away from Blagojevich. “This tightens the noose. It lays the groundwork for the feds to go after the campaign fund and him individually.”

* Tribune : “Rezko’s life a story of pizza and politics”

“The Tony Rezko I went into business with in 1989 was a humble, hardworking immigrant success story,” said Daniel Mahru, who partnered with Rezko in real estate ventures until they parted ways last year. “At 19 years old, he came off an airplane and couldn’t speak English, but over the years he must have brought a hundred Rezkos over from Syria. He worked so hard to take care of nephews, nieces and children.”

Then he added: “But the Tony Rezko I knew after the governor got elected was not the same person. He changed.”

* Sun-Times: Rezko indictment: The ABCs

[Individual] A. William Cellini: Longtime Springfield powerbroker and associate of Stuart Levine’s. Allegedly acted as a go-between in one shakedown.

B. Christopher G. Kelly: Blagojevich fund-raiser. Allegedly discussed plans to raise political donations from investment firms.

C. Sheldon Pekin: Consultant who allegedly agreed to kick back $250,000 in fees in return for getting TRS business.

D. Joseph Aramanda: Rezko associate who allegedly got $250,000 from Pekin “in substantial part for the benefit of Rezko.”

G. Michael Winter: Rezko business associate. Had allegedly agreed to funnel fees from an investment firm to Rezko but did not want his identity revealed to TRS board.

H. Myron Cherry: Attorney and political donor. Cherry’s name was listed in place of Winter’s on TRS paperwork. Cherry said this was done without his knowledge and that he is cooperating with federal authorities.

J. Thomas Rosenberg: Movie producer and former investment firm owner. Balked at Levine and Rezko’s extortion attempt and threatened to go to law enforcement.

* Sun-Times: It’s ‘pay-to-play … on steroids’

Authorities have been tracking Rezko’s movements and knew he checked out of a hotel in the Middle East last week and paid in cash.
Some investigators said they feared Rezko wouldn’t return to the country because he’s in substantial debt, sources said. The indictment was returned last week but kept under seal in anticipation of his return this weekend.

On Wednesday, Rezko’s lawyers said efforts were under way to get him back to the United States. FBI agents were still looking for him. They visited Rezko’s North Shore home Wednesday afternoon with an arrest warrant.

* Sun-Times: Governor: If he did it, ‘I feel betrayed’

The governor said he has not spoken with federal investigators since about two years ago, when the subject was different pay-to-play allegations made — and later recanted — by Blagojevich’s father-in-law, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd).

But he confirmed that he did speak Wednesday with former Gov. Jim Thompson, but insisted it was not in Thompson’s role as former head of the Winston & Strawn law firm.

“You know, it’s nice to be able to call a former governor — who’s also a former prosecutor — who can give you some insights on the interesting workings of human nature and how it operates in an environment like this,” Blagojevich said.

* Daily Herald: How prosecutors say scheme worked

If nothing else, the alleged multitasking was impressive.

Federal investigators accuse Antoin Rezko and Stuart Levine of keeping nine different extortion and bribery schemes spinning at once like circus performers with plates.

But just five days before most of these schemes were set to come to fruition at a pension board meeting May 25, 2004, FBI investigators with knowledge of just a fraction of the scams in play came knocking on Stuart Levine’s door, sending most of the plans crashing to the floor, prosecutors allege.

* Mark Brown: Rezko was the man with a plan, and now he’s got a story to tell

What did Tony Rezko want?

A seat at the big table, and Blagojevich gave it to him.

What can Rezko give the feds?

Plenty.

*** UPDATE *** Flashback: I just found this line in a column I wrote in July of 2004 about the scandal at the Hospital Board, and Tony Rezko:

The governor needs to clean up his own house, or somebody is going to the Big House.