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[Updated and bumped to the top.]

The press reports that Tony Rezko is expected to show up today for his arraignment. Sun-Times:

A close adviser and top fund-raiser for Gov. Blagojevich is scheduled to show up at the first of two court hearings today on fraud and corruption charges.

But whether he will remains to be seen.

A court official said Wednesday that lawyers have told U.S. District Judge James Zagel that Antoin “Tony” Rezko will be back in the country and will appear in court today.

Sneed has some more clues.

Sneed hears Rezko, who was months behind on his mortgage payments, made good on those overdue payments last week. “It’s an indication he planned on returning to this country and never expected to stay away,” said a source close to Rezko.

The arraignment is scheduled for 10:30. Check the blog for updates as we get ‘em.

*** UPDATE *** The hearing has been postponed until 3 o’clock and Rezko will supposedly be there.

*** UPDATE 2 *** He’s back and in federal custody. AP:

A fundraiser and political confidant for Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into custody without incident Thursday on charges of fraud and extortion, federal officials said.

FBI agents picked up Antoin “Tony” Rezko, 51, at O’Hare International Airport without incident, Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office told reporters.

*** UPDATE 3 *** From a reporter inside:

$1.5 million bond on the pizza case. The [other] arraignment is at 5 o’clock.

Apparently, Rezko hasn’t said anything to reporters yet.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Another dispatch from within the room from our same friend:

Friends and relatives (three rows worth) say they have 2 million to put up in property for bond.

*** UPDATE 5 *** The Tribune catches up:

An indicted fundraiser and political confidant for Gov. Rod Blagojevich entered a not-guilty plea today in federal court in Chicago.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko’s plea this afternoon related to charges he swindled investors in two pizza restaurants. Later today, he’s expected to enter a plea in another case.

In the pizza restaurants case, the federal judge set Rezko’s bond at $1.5 million; members of his family have pledged to put up their homes to cover it.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 2:41 pm

Comments

perp walk please

Comment by chinman Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 8:44 am
I believe I made this statement last week. I can’t remember if you posted it.
Tony will be back. If he doesn’t come back he will be a fugitive and if caught will send the next few years in jail waiting for trial.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 8:57 am
If he does show up, I presume the court will demand that he surrender his passport as a condition of bail. Also, does he still hold Syrian citizenship?

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:02 am
Hope Big Tony doesn’t try to land at Meigs Field today, that way Mayor Daley could get drawn into the fray.

Comment by Guy Fawkes Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:06 am
Does Mr. Rezko have any diplomatic status?

Comment by The Townhall Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:13 am
Will he have his Hamas Bodygaurds with him or did Blago order him to come alone.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:33 am
Wonder if our Lord Emperor Blagojevich is pacing in his kitchen this morning?

Comment by Illinois Tollway's 2 cents worth Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:45 am
I never wondered if any of the characters in the Ryan drama might be a target for a hit to silence them. While pathetic, it really was confined to a bunch a government and political hang around bums.

Given the wide range of big money power brokers that might be involved in this Blago drama, I have been wondering about Rezko. Seems to me he might implicate a lot of big names in a lot of big schemes, and not just in Illinois. I hope he has really good body guards watching the body guards who are watching his body guards.

Comment by BigBob Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:22 am
per WBBM780: No Show at 10:30

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:32 am
I wonder if he’ll be offered any kind of deal to tell everything he knows. This could be fun. And good. And I’d love a ringside seat.

Comment by Tessa Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 11:16 am
SWEET!

Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 11:18 am
Shame on you Rod Blagojevich!
Shame on us for trusting you!

Comment by Stranger than fiction Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 11:21 am
What IS Mr. Rezko’s immigration status? Does he hold dual citizenship? Or is he a US citizen?
Since when? Who sponsored him for citizenship.

The press has largely ignored these questions, presenting Mr. Rezko an immigrant success story who made friends with the guv. Political correctness, I guess. And it may be true.

But given that he is from a country which the US says is a state sponsor of terror, and given the havoc he has allegedly created on the state political scene, not to mention the Chicago-area business scene, I think it’s fair to ask if he’s a citizen, who sponsored him for same, and if
he holds dual citizenship.

An American creating similar havoc in Syria would certainly be scrutinized in that country.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 11:56 am
Cassandra - what is the point of who sponsored him? Is that person to be held accountable? If so, how?

Comment by paddyrollingstone Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:10 pm
I don’t know what all the drama is over Tony and what he supposedly did.

C’mon folks…the indictment is for a lot of technical violations of feel-good laws.

The most important thing to remember is that Tony did what he did to help elect, and help ensure re-election of the most caring governor this state has ever had.

Comment by FrostyDaSnowman Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:10 pm
I thought it was extremely insensitive of the U.S. Attorney’s office to schedule an arraignment last week without first checking Mr. Rezko’s calendar. It shows how gracious Mr. Rezko must be to grant an appearance on such short notice.

Comment by Budget Watcher Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:11 pm
FrostyDaSnowman,

I’m not sure Mr. Resco feels the same way as you do about all these minor technical charges that are about to bankrupt him, destroy his reputation and put him in jail for years all because he wanted to help such a warm and caring governor.

I have a feeling he might want to spread the “feel good law” violations around so that all his comrads might share in the acclaim of getting the best governor ever elected.

Comment by Garp Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:28 pm
Paddy….

I’m not saying anything other than….let’s get the information out there. This isn’t an anonymous Syrian shopkeeper who has been quietly making a better life for his family. This is a man who has been charged with significant financial depredations as well as with meddling in state government at the highest levels. It’s fair to ask a lot of questions, including questions about citizenship and immigrations status.

The press isn’t asking them.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:35 pm
Does anybody know what bank Tony stiffed on the $10,000,000 loan? Just wondering.

It sure would get a few Fed’s mighty pizzed-off if Rezko came back from Syria with diplomatic status.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:37 pm
Acording to an independent poll, conducted by Glengariff Group on October 13-15:

51% of Illinois voters believe that Blago knew about the alleged corruption that was occuring in his office.

Blago has already lost in the court of opinion.

Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:48 pm
I gotta think the feds have been working on Rezko and kelly since at least when Pappa Mel popped-off, so when Rezko rolls on Rod, the wait for results should be shorter. Short enough to matter to the election, hard to say. If Rezko pleads guilty, I’d say the day or reckoning is closer.

Much depends on how much information gets released this afternoon, and does it get covered in the press. Also, Madigan and Jones will have to come out of hiding to react to this.

Comment by The worst guy int he world, and the sky is falling Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:52 pm
Buck - It was Broadway Bank. The same one Rod’s friend Alex owns. There are a lot of strange coincidence’s here.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 12:56 pm
-Buck Flagojevich,
Um, missed your Wheaties this morning? Lose some brain cells? He can’t return with diplomatic status, it’s not like getting a Blockbuster card. Why don’t you stick to subjects you actually know something about… I know, I know, then we won’t hear from you anymore…

Comment by Juice Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 1:04 pm
WBBM radio reports Rezko will show at 3 at the Federal Bldg. as he was arrrested at O’Hare by federal agents at noonish.

Comment by Bacchus Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 1:45 pm
in Fed custody as he arrived at O’Hare. What good sports. Now Tony won’t have to go out of pocket for a cab or wait in line.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 2:07 pm
Cassandra - If an American went to Syria and tried to put the financial pinch on political types AND then swindled a bunch of resaurant owners, he would be more than “scrutinized,” he be a goner.

Comment by Marvelous Wonderful Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 2:27 pm
Welcome to the US!
Hope you had your Wheaties this morning!
Hope you didn’t lose any brain cells!
But then if you did, I’m sure there is a blogger here that will CYA like an old nylon thong!

BTW if you are guilty sir, you will have to forfeit your Blockbuster card.

Spread ‘em sir!
No, not you Governor, at least, not yet.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 2:51 pm
Buck-the $10m loan was from GE Capital, not Broadway Bank. Anon. is wrong, but his/her story is a bit “juicier.”

Tony owes Broadway $2m for another deal.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 2:57 pm
He came back!!! I am quite suprised. I thought he wouldn’t show. Either way, the headlines are going to be a thorn in Blago’s side until the election….

Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:02 pm
The Feds are going to teach this group a lesson. Tony will stay in jail until he talks. He is now a flight risk. I guess he thought he’d show these guys and come back in his own sweet time. Maybe they’ll let him order delivery. Chinese or pizza ?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:04 pm
Squid says, “51% of Illinois voters believe that Blago knew about the alleged corruption that was occuring in his office.”

So why the heck are his #’s up?

This reminds me of an old film, although I cannot recall the name, where some bumbling criminal holds up a bank, takes hostages, but as the film progresses, he’s got the hostages cheering him on. What was the name of that flick? Dog Day Afternoon perchance?

Thank you, Rod and Ryan, for totally embarrassing all of Illinois on the national stage. We’re all forever grateful (pardon the snark).

Comment by Angie Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:05 pm
T0 Cassandra,

Tony Rezko has been in this country for 32 years. What possible difference could it make WHO sponsored him?

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:06 pm
Rich - Video clips of the court proceedinfs, pleeease ! As a public service, of course.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:11 pm
I didn’t think that he would come back, either. There must be a lot more to this story.

I didn’t think that Levine’s court date would stand, either. I am backing off of that now.

Comment by Shelbyville Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:22 pm
I hope Judy’s people were at the airport with camera’s rolling. This will make a great ad if Tony was in handcuffs.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:28 pm
I can’t remember: what’s the difference between being “taken into custody” and being “arrested”?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:33 pm
CBS2.com has the headline that he was arrested…wouldn’t that be a benefit to team Topinka to say Rod’s fundraiser was “arrested”? Wouldn’t that get voters attention in an ad, more so than indicted? Just wondering.

Comment by TonyO Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:37 pm
1.5 Million bond and surrender your passport.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:46 pm
In that most of Rezko’s charges are federal, Blago cannot pardon him, right???

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:50 pm
So he came back. Smells like a good immunity deal. FrostyDuhSnowman, you aren’t living in the state of Illinois you’re living in the state of Denial. Blago only cares for himself. He proved that by getting the kickbacks up front of awarding all those contracts. Voter backlash from the last Govenor’s indictment came back and bit the voters. They actually managed to elect a bigger crook!

Comment by Belle Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 3:53 pm
Actually, if he were to be given an appropriate job by the SYrian gov’t, which I hugely doubt, he could indeed come back with diplomatic status. Not happening but theoretically possible.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 4:07 pm
Juice - @ 1:04 pm:

-Buck Flagojevich,
Um, missed your Wheaties this morning? Lose some brain cells? He canâ€™t return with diplomatic status, itâ€™s not like getting a Blockbuster card. Why donâ€™t you stick to subjects you actually know something aboutâ€¦ I know, I know, then we wonâ€™t hear from you anymoreâ€¦
——

Juice, better check UN Protocol before you flame. OK? You might learn something.

As for losing brain cells, I believe I have. I have read some of your posts. I believe we all become more stupid by just reading them.

Now, back to the trough Intern!

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 4:23 pm
Rezko isn’t sticking to Blago because he isn’t a paid staffer. If the Stu Levine plea actually names Blago, he will tank, even more.

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 4:31 pm
Wow. One more plea to go. Wonder what the bond will be on the next one. Can they make him where an ankle monitor while he’s out on bond? Nah, but I’d wouldn’t want to be the family member in charge of watching over him…wearing a bullet proof vest. Got to protect the investment somehow.

Wonder if he’ll spill on what he knows to save himself. He has everything to lose. Blago sure wouldn’t save him if it were the other way around.

Comment by Tessa Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 4:57 pm
Cassandra, the citizenship question might have to go back a long way. For 20 years I’ve read Rezko’s name in the real estate pages and he has been long active on the political radar in Chicago. he’s not a creation of the Governor.

Comment by anne Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 5:08 pm
Seems the other way around - Blago is a creation of Rezko and Dick Mell. And Pattie riding in the rumble seat . . along for the ride.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 5:10 pm
Could well be like the relationship that Vic De Grazia had w/ Dan Walker - I remember it reported that when DeGrazia had his heart attack Walker commented that their lies my brain - God knows Blago is not nearly as bright as Rezko et al, just they all have being on the make in common.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 5:14 pm
- Ashur Odishoo - Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 4:31 pm:

Rezko isnâ€™t sticking to Blago because he isnâ€™t a paid staffer. If the Stu Levine plea actually names Blago, he will tank, even more.

Will tank even more??? Did you see the Zogby poll today..Blago 47% Judy 33%

Go figure???

Comment by Really? Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 5:31 pm
I would be worried if I was Blago. With Rezko back and with the problems he is facing, the only way he may be able to get out of jail, before he is a fossil, to see his grandchildren is to squeal like a piggy.

Lots of people will be sporting sweat stained arm pits from here on out.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 5:44 pm
Marvelous:
Here is an answer to your question.
If an American went Syria and swindled the locals and developed a relationship with government officials they would be called —- Halliburton !
Anyone checking to see if JBT/JB, Cross and IL GOP have given back their Levine Loot yet?

Comment by DuPage Dandy Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:01 pm
Really didn’t think he’d come back. Bad news for Blago.

Comment by Chicago guy Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:02 pm
Loot ? I think the real concern at this point isn’t Topinka’s so called “loot”, I think it is the governor’s criminal enterprise campaign war chest of more than $50,000. That’s real LOOT ! Not to worry though, Fitz well soon be managing that. I would think Rezko, Blago, Levine etc. appear much more to be crooks than our future governor Judy Baar Topinka. Governor Topinka is smart enough and ethical enough not to cross that line as her predecessors have.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:07 pm
If JBT wasn’t as smart and ethical as she is I would imagine she would have quite a war chest, rivalling Rezko’s er Blago’s. Smart money should be contributing to her campaign with no strings attached. She will lead this state out of the hogwallow of corruption that Blago, Rezko, Levine et al and the G Ryan gang have us in. She brings optimism to our sorry state.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:25 pm
Looks Like Levine’s Loot Looms Large for JBT/JB Too (little Fruedian Slip on Headline Too)
QC Times tell us:
Topinka says Birkett should return Levine indictment
By DEANNA BELLANDI | Thursday, October 19, 2006
CHICAGO - Republican gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka said Wednesday it’s “a good idea” for her running mate to return donations he has received from a man indicted in the federal investigation of corruption in state government.

A spokesman for DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett said the lieutenant governor candidate is going to give the money he got more than four years ago from millionaire campaign contributor Stuart Levine to charity. The donations would be reflected in upcoming campaign disclosure forms, Dan Curry said.

Birkett, who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2002, got $10,000 from Levine in December 2001 and $1,000 from him in June 2002. Records show he received another $15,000 from a business connected to Levine in March 2002, but Curry said he was unaware of that and would have to look into it.

Levine, who first was charged last year, faces two indictments in the federal corruption investigation for influence-peddling on two state boards.

Comment by DuPage Dandy Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:35 pm
DuPage Dandy ? And the other side of the story ? WHAT did he “Give” Blago and the other dems ? Please try to keep a little perspective here. Corruption on Blagos Gangs’ part cannot be justified by your Levine source donations of years ago. Give it up buddy the crooks are goin down! It’s a wrap! Levine, state’s witness, guilty plea - Rezko indicted, arraigned, out on a HUGE bond and probably stripped of his Pasport. Cari ? Need I go on ? Oh yes, the Topinka side, uh uh uh -gee no one. Wonder why?

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:45 pm
DuPage Dandy, has Blago finally decided to give back the $10k from the Arab Amer. Dems? It was raised by a state worker who:
A. had a job miles away that was moved closer to home to skirt veterans preference
B. Did campaign work on state time.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 6:58 pm
He came back because there’s a deal in the works to be sure…why else would he come back & risk years of court not to mention jail time. Nothing to gain really. He’s back & it will get interesting !! As someone pointed out he’s Blago’s , Fawell.

Comment by annon. Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 7:34 pm
Does anyone know what transpired at Rezko’s 5pm arraignment? Or is it still going on. Reading a 65 page detailed indictment could take a while!

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 7:45 pm
Presumably, a non-citizen could live here for decades and not be required to apply for citizenship. I don’t know if he holds Syrian citizenship, US citizenship, or both. US law doesn’t specifically prohibt dual citizenship,
even if the other country is a country like Syria.

I do think there are some restrictions on US companies doing business with Syria, regardless
of owners’ citizenship, because the US has designated Syria as a state terror sponsor. Very few countries fall into this category, by the way.

My point again is that press has not addressed this at all. Is he a US citizen? A Syrian citizen? If a US citizen, did he retain Syrian citizenship? When did he become a citizen and
what was his path to citizenship. If he retains Syrian citizenship and is doing business with the Middle East, is he doing business with Syria and, if so, has he obtained the legally required authorization to do business with a state which sponsors terror.

These are fair questions given the indictments and given his extraordinary access to Blago, a governor not known for his brains or judgment.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 8:29 pm
What was it Bill Clinton said? Something like, the worse I do the better they like me.

Comment by Shelbyville Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 8:45 pm
Gosh, is it really time already to invoke the ghost of Clinton ? Have you no decency sir ? I think we’re talking has been here. Been ther done that NOT going back - nor for “Elvis” either !

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 8:51 pm
Does anyone have the name of the governor’s new criminal defense attorney and any info on his background and previous clients ???

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:25 pm
To Cassandra,

I would presume that the “press has not addressed” how long Tony Rezko has been a citizen, etc., blah, blah, blah . . . because it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PRESENT SITUATION.

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:39 pm
“…it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PRESENT SITUATION… ” What, pray tell, do you think does have to do with the present situation ? Indictments perhaps ? That’d be my guess - til the convictions come along, anyway.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 9:45 pm
yes he is a u.s. citizen. and they took his passport today.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:12 pm
The reason I think Blago is in deep trouble, aside from the fact that the feds are crawling all over his administration, is because Mr. Mell was in the paper recently over some type of burying the hatchet thing with Blago. Bury the hatchet? Oh Lord. You KNOW they know this guy is going down when they’re ready to kiss and make nicey nice according to the press.

And on whoever wrote, “Really didnâ€™t think heâ€™d come back. Bad news for Blago.”

Why? His poll #’s are up!

Comment by Angie Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:25 pm
Re: “He came back because thereâ€™s a deal in the works to be sureâ€¦why else would he come back & risk years of court not to mention jail time.”

Any chance that he’ll be wearing a wire, too? Gotta wonder.

Comment by Angie Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:28 pm
Angie, rest assured that Mell is not trying to make peace with the Governor.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:35 pm
I don’t think Rezko would get a Fed wire.

The only person the “G” would be trying to use him to get is Blagojevich, and he wouldn’t be stupid enough to talk to Tony…..ah, never mind.

.

Comment by Eliot Ness Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:43 pm
Cardinals WIN 3 to 1. World Series, here we COME!!!!!!!

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 19, 06 @ 10:46 pm
So what happened on the SECOND indictment, the one that involves the campaign fundraising and TRS and what-not? Did they not get to it Thursday, and if not, when? That one is the more important of the two. I’m running out of fingernails in antici-
…….

Comment by Gregor Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 1:26 am
Bonded out with an ankle bracelot to two weeks home confinement pending provision of financial info.

Comment by Citizen A Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 4:57 am
Blago didn’t steal a page out of Ryan’s playbook, he lifted the whole book. I hear he’s changing his “ISaveRx” program to “I SaveMyself.”

Comment by ...walks like a duck Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 6:25 am
Anon @ 7:34,
I think the more accurate comparison would be Blago’s “Larry Warner”, a kitchen cabinet member. The real fun will be when the true Fawell equivalent surfaces–this admin could have about 5 of them…

Angie,
I’m sure Mell would like to bury the hatchet with Blago–right in the middle of his back. Rod is making his family, and his grandkids future, look like one of potential shame. Imagine that thought coming from someone with the history of Dick Mell…

Comment by Animous Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 7:55 am
so the judge ordered home confinement and electronic monitoring for Tony. Good.

Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 8:26 am
I agree. I was so happy to read about the ankle monitor and house arrest. Apparently there’s little trust there. Duh. The ankle monitor will let him go about 100 yards.

Comment by Tessa Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 8:32 am
What’s Fitzgerald thinking. This is Chicago. We don’t want no stinkin reform. If you don’t believe me just read the SunTimes endorsement today. Leave these poor guys alone Fitz.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 8:50 am
Let’s move the discussion to Friday’s post, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 20, 06 @ 9:21 am