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This just in… Rezko given another week to appear * Updated x2 *

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I was working on my syndicated column and the subscriber-only post and missed this a few minutes ago.

Antoin “Tony'’ Rezko, a key adviser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich who was scheduled to appear in court this morning on federal charges, missed his arraignment because he is traveling outside the country, his attorney said.

When asked when Rezko would return to the United States, lawyer Joseph J. Duffy said “soon.”

At the 10 a.m. hearing, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel gave Rezko until next Thursday, Oct. 19, to show up in court.

Duffy assured Zagel that Rezko is not on the run and will appear in court next week. “There’s nothing unusual about this trip, judge. He travels frequently for business,” Duffy said.

*** UPDATE *** From CBS2:

Rezko has also stopped paying taxes on his North Shore mansion.

The house is one of the largest homes in one of the most desirable sections of Wilmette — not the sort of place to have more than $25,000 in unpaid property taxes. But the Cook County Treasurer’s Web site shows it’s nearly six weeks overdue.

On Thursday, some insiders saw the tax issue as a sign that Rezko may not be planning a quick return to the United States. A native of Syria, Rezko has reportedly been on a lengthy visit to the Middle East.

This is not the first time Rezko’s been late paying his huge property tax bill. He was 16 days late last March

*** UPDATE 2 *** Rezko’s attorney talks about the charges against his client.

“Obviously Mr. Rezko feels strongly about these charges in that they’re baseless, and that he will be vindicated at trial. I will tell you, you really need to study these indictments.

The second indictment (alleging Rezko obtained $10.5 million in fraudulent loans for a pizza business) is really nothing more than the result of some civil litigation that’s been going on for years against GE.

And the other indictment (alleging Rezko tried to shake down firms seeking state business), I think, is predicated upon the alleged production of an individual who’s trying to curry favor with the government.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:08 am

Comments

Can this get anymore bizarre? From the AP….

Authorities have said if he was not present and his lawyer had no reasonable explanation for his absence, they would begin an “active hunt” for Rezko, who is believed to have been in the Middle East for several weeks.

Comment by JEESH Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:19 am
And now WBBM TV out of Chicago is reporting he has not paid his recent property tax bill leading some insiders to speculate he may have plans to not return.

Comment by JEESH Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:20 am
Wake up Judge he will return on Nov.8th.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:22 am
This just makes news worse for Gov and keeps prolonging this story. I know it wouldnt have ended today or soon, but speculation is running wild.

Comment by Wumpus DBA Charity Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:24 am
Just like folks. Imagine Joe citizen missing his/her arraignment -’You’ll swing for this, Sir!’

Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:27 am
Blagojevich’s preferred scenario is to have Rezko arraigned and to keep his mouth shut (or make a full admission that exonerates Blagojevich).

Having Rezko on the lam is not good news for Blagojevich politically. But legally, it presumably will make it more difficult for the U.S. Attorney to make the case against Blagojevich.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:30 am
Carl what about Levine and the other indictments that are going to be rolling out.They probably are close to his indictment plus these indictments also serve as fishing trips and these feds are good fishermen.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:42 am
An old LED ZEPPELIN song comes mind.

Gallows Pole
By Jimmy Page

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
Think I see my friends coming, Riding a many mile.
Friends, did you get some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my dear friends, To keep me from the Gallows Pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole?

I couldn’t get no silver, I couldn’t get no gold,
You know that we’re too damn poor to keep you from the Gallows Pole.
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
I think I see my brother coming, riding a many mile.
Brother, did you get me some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my brother, to keep me from the Gallows Pole?

Brother, I brought you some silver,
I brought a little gold, I brought a little of everything
To keep you from the Gallows Pole.
Yes, I brought you to keep you from the Gallows Pole.

Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile,
I think I see my sister coming, riding a many mile, mile, mile.
Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand,
Take him to some shady bower, save me from the wrath of this man,
Please take him, save me from the wrath of this man, man.

Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile,
Pray tell me that I’m free to ride,
Ride for many mile, mile, mile.

Oh, yes, you got a fine sister, She warmed my blood from cold,
Brought my blood to boiling hot To keep you from the Gallows Pole,
Your brother brought me silver, Your sister warmed my soul,
But now I laugh and pull so hard And see you swinging on the Gallows Pole

Swingin’ on the gallows pole!

Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:47 am
Better pull the passports of all involved.

Comment by Here it is Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:47 am
From the Trib’s website at 1130CST…

Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the key adviser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich indicted on influence-peddling charges, failed to appear at his arraignment today, but his attorney was given another six days to get his client in court.

Comment by JEESH Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:52 am
As a number of Pro-Blago posters have suggested, if Rezko was being set up by “triple hearsay” Levine, why doesn’t Tony just show up and set the record straight??

If Rezko has nothing to hide and he’s making his good friend the governor look bad, you would think he would have cut his “business trip” short and got back here ASAP.

No,…This makes Rezko look guilty, and by inference, Blago…

You can delay history, but you can’t change it…Tick, Tick, Tick…

Comment by Animous Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:53 am
Carol Marin talked to him. Read her most recent columns.

Comment by Angie Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:13 pm
If I were Rezko, I wouldn’t come back. Also, If I were Rezko, I’d have an awful lot of money hidden overseas. What do you think the chances are of the U.S. getting Rezko out of Syria by force? Slim to none. A European country might be a bit easier. We may need Dog the bounty Hunter.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:15 pm
Rezko is hiding in a cave in Kabul? lol

Comment by Maybe... Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:16 pm
Let the dominos begin to fall! So, Rezko is a native of Syria–How interesting!! The Feds are just beginning, but seem to be proceeding at a very slow pace. I wonder if there is a good reason for this?

Comment by WARDOG Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:17 pm
I’m waiting to see the liberals running through the streets yelling “Go, Tony, go!” like when people were cheering on OJ and AC Cowlings. Anything to help get their man, Rod, elected, right?

Comment by Angie Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:21 pm
According to Wikipedia, the United States does not maintains diplomatic relations, but does not have an extradition treaty, with Syria; so it may be difficult to bring Rezko back.

From what I understand, Rezko is also good friends with the Emir of Qatar, and that’s one reason that Sheikh Hamad gave a million dolalrs to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

The feds should find out how much of Blago’s campaign warchest is a product of Rezko’s illegal kickbacks and seize those funds right out of Blago’s campaign fund!

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:30 pm
That first sentence should read DOES maintain diplomatic relations but does NOT have an extradition treaty with Syria.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:30 pm
Maybe he’s starting a 16″ softball team in Syria

Damascusers from Fitz’s Office

Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:35 pm
Kass had a good column about Marco Morales, the fugitive bribe-paying City Hall contractor. Could Rezko become the Morales of the Blagojevich administration?

Comment by Tom Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:38 pm
The Sun-Times article quotes Rezko’s attorney as setting up for Rezko to be a no-show next Thursday too.

“Rezko is tentatively scheduled to show up by next Thursday, but Duffy said it was more likely for his client to return by the day after that. Duffy intends to make a similar request this afternoon of U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve, who is handling separate criminal charges Rezko faces.”

Delay, delay, delay - loved the Led Z. song from IDOT Bleachers!

Comment by Cat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:08 pm
Sounds like Tony and Rod both know how to work the property tax system

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:10 pm
Why on earth would he come back? You already know how the story is going to end. Also, there is no way that any country that he would be smart enough to go to would ever send him back. What he is accused of is not illegal in many of these places. Just like Mexico would never send Morales back to face “political” charges and just like if I were a judge I would never send an American citizen to a foreign country to face charges such as these.

Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:36 pm
Let’s say Rezco has no plans to return.

You have to assume that he wants to maintain a similar lifestyle in Damascus as he had here.

That takes money. How’d he get it to Damascus? If he wired it, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network should have been all over it. Anyone of Syrian birth that wires transfers huge some of money into a terrorist state that is training terrorists and sending them to kill our soldiers in Iraq should have been on some Fed’s list of folks to watch.

Comment by Where's FinCen? Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:40 pm
In most of the third world nothing happens without bribing politicians. Also, most people accept the fact that politicians will live immoral lives. After all that’s what they’d do.
That is why Clinton is so popular and a guy like Bush isn’t.
The interesting thing is the intersection of the third world and New Jersey and Illinois politics. The people from the third world kind believe their good luck.
The local pols are pikers compared to them.

Comment by True Observer Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:45 pm
Hang it all, IDOT Bleacher! There’s gold and silver aplenty to swing the Gallup Poll…and the exit polls and the real one in between. The man on the lam is gone many a mile to cheat the posse commentariat.

Comment by Punley Deiter Finn Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:54 pm
TO: I.D.O.T. Bleachers

Appropriate and great song!
Wouldn’t doubt if there were plans in the works to sell the Illinois Tollway and the Illinois Lottery to Syria.

Comment by Illinois Tollway Grunts Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:23 pm
Why does it take a week to fly back Chicago, IL? You can be on the other side of the globe and be back here in less than 24 hrs.
Tony, how do say “toast” in Syrian?

Comment by Guy Fawkes Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:41 pm
I am not going to speculate whether or not he will return, but I do hope Mr. Duffy received a health retainer up front in cash.

Comment by Jaded Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 3:02 pm
Sorry, I meant “healthy” not “health”.

Comment by Jaded Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 3:04 pm
To the tune of Rocky Raccoon

Now somewhere in the back wards of seamy old Chicago
There lived a young boy named Rodney Blagojevich
And one day his cronies hooked up with a federal guy
Thought young Rodney gonna cry
Rodney didnt like that said Im gonna hide from that boy
So on a night dark as pitch
He dug himself a hole and crawled in the ditch.

Rod and his goons laid down in the gloom
Only to find Rezkos checkbook
Rodney jumped out and gave quite a shout
Said this will show all that Im not a bad crook

but the feds it would seem were after his dreams
By indicting his friends and his confidants
The Feds name was Pat, in a court room he sat
And everyone new he gets what he wants

Now the federal guy who no one could buy
Was in the next room at the court house
When Rodney burst in all hair and chin
And said Patty boy i’ll sing like a churh mouse
But Patrick was right and he was ready to indict
And Rodney collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da

Now the public was hot cause they sowed what they got
And proceeded to yell Rod is Lible
They said Rodney boy should be convicted
But Rod said wait till after Im elected
And I’ll be better
I’ll be better folks as soon as I am able
Da, da, da, da

Now Rod Blagoavich fell back in his ditch
only to find Rezkos Passport
Tony checked out and he left it no doubt
To help when poor Rodney is in court.
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da

Comment by PlayK8 Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 3:11 pm
Dear Blago, open mouth, insert foot:

“You know, we heard all these rumors about him and heard these rumors swirling around for the last couple years…” -Rod Blagojevich

ALL these rumors, huh? The last couple YEARS!? Boy, either Rod is in on this, or he was so seriously asleep at the switch that he’s not competent to hold this office. That’s my opinion.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 3:31 pm
Squid - again you have hit the ball out of the park.

Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 4:05 pm
Where’s Waldo?

Comment by Lincoln Lounger Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 4:24 pm
But for the Grace of (insert deity) go you all: Listen, make up your mind after you hear both sides. The indictment is inflamatory, something Rich knows well enough about. Why bring this now? Because its political. Fitz doesn’t have a 100% success rate — he’s too much of a zealot. I’m not a big fan of Blago or Rezko, but I’m surprised the political timing doesn’t get more publicity. How come Fitgerald gets a free pass? Someone should investigate his shop….

Comment by ComeOnNow Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 4:52 pm
Bill is back with a new handle. Good to hear from you.

BTW, has “Bring it on” been replaced with “Come On Now ?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 5:03 pm
The quote “How come Fitgerald gets a free pass? Someone should investigate his shopâ€¦.” is a dead giveaway as to who this is. Didn’t Rezko’s cronies at CMS use this exact quote against Bill Holland when he said their savings plan was a sham?

Comment by Go Feds! Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 5:44 pm
True Observer: It’s not only in 3rd world countries that if you want something, you bribe politicians! Ask Tom Delay and Milarod.

Comment by Martha Mitchell Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 5:54 pm
Doesn’t it disturb enough Illinoisans that Rezko was so cozy with Ali (the boxer), who converted to Islam and was tied to Nation of Islam? I’m not 100% certain, but it seems I’ve heard/read that before, that Ali has such ties to the radical NOI sect.

So, Rod’s pal was pals with a former (current? not sure on that) Nation of Islam follower, and on top of it, he also appointed top aide to Farrakhan, Sister Claudette Muhammed to a post on his hate crimes panel.

Dear God. Does this not disturb anyone? Where’s the press on that angle? Rich? There’s an idea for a story. I’m serious. That’s an interesting angle for sure. Who ELSE will Rod appoint to boards and panels if elected again? And more importantly, why is anyone still planning to vote for this guy? If not crooked beyond belief, he certainly appears to be a clueless idiot dujour, at the very very least!

Comment by Angie Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 7:03 pm
If the rumors are true that Rezko is bust here, it means he’s used his network of family and friends to wire his money out of the country to Syria, there to wait out the election while maybe negotiating a better plea bargain. Or he could just say fuggeddaboudit, and never come back, retiring to live in Syria with perhaps millions.

Comment by It is written Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:26 pm
Thank you Go Feds. Old AA couldn’t remember the first user of that precious line. That was Ed “outta here” Wynn, General Counsel Emeritus of CMS, now GC of Rezko Worldwide.

We’ve probably heard the last of Wynn, but the General’s next audit of CMS could probably take a whack out of Rod’s deficit if Holland could sell copies of it.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:42 pm
oops. posted this at the wrong place.

With Apologies to you Manilow fans

Sang to the tune â€œCopacabana (at the Copa)â€

His name was Tony, he was a bigshot
With a big Bimmer in the drive always talking lots of jive
He would go flying, and ring the E-Mir
And while he tried to be a star
Kelly reached out wide and far
For their man Rod the Gov
They were young almost in love
Who could ask for more?

[Chorus:]
At the Dirksen
The hottest spot north of Sy-ri-a
At the Dirksen. Dirksen Fe-de-ral
Crookinâ€™ and Cashinâ€™ were always in fashion
At the Dirk-senâ€¦. they took a fall

His name was Stuie
He wore a wire
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Tony standing there
And when he finished,he called him over
But Stuie went a bit to far
Tony sailed across the pond
And then the charges flew- campaigns were smashed in two
There was press and more charges
But just who got Rod?

[Chorus]

At the Dirksen… he lost his love

Her name is Roddy, he was a Governor,
But that was 20 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now heâ€™s in prison, but not with Tony,
Still in the suit he used to wear,
Nothing left of the pretty hair
He sits there so refined and makes licenses for the blind
He lost his youth and he lost his Tony
Never had a mind

[Chorus]

At the Dirksen… don’t tell a lieâ€¦
Don’t tell a lieâ€¦.

Comment by Barry Manilow Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:17 pm
New poll just released by WGN shows the Governor up by 14% and also 11% believe he is more likely to clean up coruption.

Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:20 pm
2005 federal income tax return (article in today’s Tribune)for the Gov’s family shows a significant drop-off in income to only about $290,000. No wonder he needed that check for $1500.
Also, there was that huge, unbelieveably generous amount for charitable donations: $2900. That is 1% of total income - what a paltry amount for the first family of Illinois, a terrible example for the rest of the state. Guess he makes his charitable contributions through state funds, provided by the youi and me, the taxpayers.

Comment by In the Sticks Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:06 pm
I thought I read that Rezko had contracts for hundreds of millions in the middle east with something to do with the war effort.

Comment by Charlie Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:29 pm
Everything that is going on right now is so frustrating to see. Well really I am glad Blagojevichs Findraiser was exposed. Anyway so if ya’ll know who you are going to vote for then either go to jakeschicagopolitics.blogspot.com and vote in the new Illinois Governor’s Race Poll that will end on October 21 or click on my name at the top and it will take you to my website. When you get there you have to click poll questions and then you can vote in the poll. I hope ya’ll have a good weekend.

Comment by JakeCP Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:10 pm
After reading the WGN poll I am convinced that if Blago decides to become a pedophile his poll numbers would soar and;

If a rich guy decided to give Whitney a lot of money he could win.

Comment by Garp Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 9:36 am
The GOP could have won this thing so easily if they had nominated a decent candidate. Too bad they didn’t.

Comment by RealClear Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 10:43 am
RealClear, the Illinois GOP needs to seriously rebuild itself. Running Alan Keyes was an absolute joke, and Topinka is about the only one left standing after the Ryan fiasco who has a shot at getting votes from Dems who can actually see that this state is in bad shape. If the social conservs matter so much to Judy’s efforts at getting elected, then why did Illinois Republicans not back Alan Keyes, a serious social conserv? I mean, aside from the fact that he was a complete fruitcake upstairs, if you ask me.

Clean house. Book the crooks. Rebuild. It is time to do that, so Dems, get your heads on straight and push Rod out of the way so someone can concentrate on the business of the people instead of huddling with his lawyers.

Rod is going to need a football stadium to fit all of his lawyers during the huddle when the rest of these “high-profile” indictments hit.

Comment by Angie Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 3:30 pm