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Rezko lawyer plans brief defense

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Illinois

* The testimony phase of the Rezko trial may wrap up early next week…

Tony Rezko’s lawyers originally said they would take weeks to present their defense case. Then they said it could take days.

Today, his lawyers said the whole thing could be done in an afternoon, or possibly a day and a half.

The prosecution said they will likely rest Monday. Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said the defense could be done by late Monday, maybe Tuesday.

* However…

The shortened time frame apparently will not change St. Eve’s plan to start closing arguments on May 12. Before that, the lawyers still have to hash out jury instructions.

* More…

One of [the defense witnesses] is a forensic accountant who is expected to testify that Ata could not have taken the kind of cash from his family business that he has claimed.

* Ata took an early retirement “offer” from his employer after the FBI questioned him shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He was worth $12 million in 2004. So, he apparently didn’t need the money a state job would bring. Why did he want the job? Redemption for being pressured out of his old job…

You didn’t need your state job to pay the bills?” Duffy had asked Ata earlier. “I did not.”

“Your state job had nothing to do with money, did it sir?” Duffy asked

Ata: “No it did not.”

Duffy tried to portray Ata as having a sense of pride to be the highest-ranking Muslim in the Blagojevich administration when he acted as the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority from 2004-2005.

“One of the ways to get redemption was through a state position, is that fair? ” Duffy asked.

“That’s fair,” Ata said.

* More…

But Ata did agree that he sought a state post because, “I felt I needed to prove myself again through a position.” Duffy asked whether Ata wanted to have the highest position in the Blagojevich administration of anyone in the Muslim community.

“It was important to you?” Duffy asked.

“Yes,” said Ata, who was appointed executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 2, 08 @ 1:24 pm

Comments

Oh, I get it. It’s not “pay to play” really. Blago doles out important government positions to millionaires to help them with their self-esteem. The Governor is just channeling Dr. Phil. Ok…nothing to see here.

Comment by phocion Friday, May 2, 08 @ 1:27 pm
What are they going to do? Not make much of an attempt to refute most of the testimony?

Comment by Crimefighter Friday, May 2, 08 @ 1:45 pm
This Ata guy sounds about as credible as the repub drug addict that the case has been built on.

Comment by Selene Friday, May 2, 08 @ 1:46 pm
The story says the defense is going to call witnesses to impeach Ata. Nothing about anyone to impeach Levine, who they must think did a pretty good job on his own.

At first blush, the defense seems confident. As in many cases, it’s all riding on the instructions.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 2, 08 @ 1:54 pm
The question is whether the guy was paying money over under pressure for a wuid pro quo of a job. What he wanted the job for is not relevant to the question of Rezko squeezing him for cash in order for him to get what he wanted.

Comment by Ghost Friday, May 2, 08 @ 2:08 pm
I should add, they still have these other witnesses from the various boards who also testified about Rezko’s control and influence, even without AtA and Levine. I would not pat the defense on the back just yet.

Comment by Ghost Friday, May 2, 08 @ 2:09 pm
Would very much like to be a fly on the wall during jury deliberations.

Comment by The Doc Friday, May 2, 08 @ 2:10 pm
Yep…rich business guy getting involved in politics later in life via campaign contributions…thats never happened before.

Comment by Red Ranger Friday, May 2, 08 @ 2:28 pm
Ata should have went to a shrink to deal with his self esteem issues Blogo’s boys sure knew how to spot a pigeon. Public service at its finest.

Comment by Garp Friday, May 2, 08 @ 2:30 pm
I remember watching the George Ryan trial (as a spectator - not a defender of him) thinking, I can’t wait for that high powered defense team to pick the prosecution apart. Boy they are going to put on some show. And their defense got shorter and shorter. Almost reminded me of Albert Brooks’ substitute defense attorney in Defending Your Life who didn’t say anything in his defense. Everyone else was like “oh yeah, he’s good” and Brooks was indignant “that’s it? aren’t you going to say something?” LOL

I have the same sinking feeling about Rezko’s defense. (Wonder if Rod does too). A lot of chest pounding, but in the end there isn’t much they can say and I think their guy is going to be convicted. Ali Ata was a big box of nails in that coffin.

Comment by Governor for life! (life sentence that is) Friday, May 2, 08 @ 3:13 pm
I don’t see any hard evidence other than the word of a couple of rats who were given deals not only for themselves but for a family member as well.
They only need one juror.

Comment by Bill Friday, May 2, 08 @ 4:51 pm
Bill,

The hard evidence was the cash and contemporaneous tapes. I agree the cases wasn’t very strong prior to Ata, but there was enough to put Rezko away.

Governor for Life is right. The Ryan lawyers put on a great show of bravado and a very short defense. The results can now be visited for the next five+ years in a Federal Pen. Personally I can’t see how the bluff could work.

The best hope for the defense (other than jury instructions) is if jurors think the government put the wrong guy on trial (i.e. should have been Levine on trial) and take out their anger on the prosecutors. Short of that, Rezko’s days of freedom are probably numbered.

Oh, and remember, none of this involves the Sorich type hiring allegations that could also implicate Rezko. That chapter hasn’t even been written.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, May 2, 08 @ 5:18 pm
Bill, I was watching a rerun of “The Sopranos” recently when Bobby Bacala told Uncle Junior “We only need one juror” for his trial.

I hope you’re not suggesting what he was talking about.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 2, 08 @ 5:20 pm