Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Duffy: Rezko never interviewed about Obama, Blagojevich or anyone else

Posted in:

Illinois
Obama

* Thoughts on this?

In a letter to a judge publicized last week, political fund-raiser Tony Rezko said “overzealous” prosecutors pressured him to tell them “the wrong things” about presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

But that letter appears to be misleading, given that Rezko never submitted to an interview with federal prosecutors or any federal investigators, sources said.

Rezko’s lawyer, Joseph Duffy, said Rezko never sat down for an interview and was never pressured directly, or indirectly, through Duffy, to talk about Obama, Gov. Blagojevich — or anyone else. […]

“Your honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened,” Rezko said. “They are pressuring me to tell them the wrong things that I supposedly know about Gov. Blagojevich and Senator Barack Obama.”

Sources say Rezko believed he was put in jail just before his trial as a tactic to get him to flip.

…Adding… From Rezko’s letter to the judge…

Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened. They are pressuring me to tell them the “wrong” things that I supposedly know about Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama.

Rezko also claimed that the feds had “supoenaed and interviewed hundreds of people in my life.” If Rezko is telling the truth - and that may be a big “if” - then perhaps the pressure was applied to those people.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 12:07 pm

Comments

Can you be held in contempt for lying to a judge? After the trial’s over?

Comment by Spongebob Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 12:30 pm
Although he was never formally interviewed, it’s possible the feds could have directed some commentary his way when he was processed at his arrest and while in custody.

It’s also quite possible that Tony doesn’t always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Still, given her background working for Ken Starr, I wonder what Judge St. Eve would consider an overzealous federal prosecutor?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 12:32 pm
lol

Comment by Kevin Fanning Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 12:40 pm
It’s Rezko putting Obama and Blagojevich on notice. It’s negotiations assuming an Obama Presidency.

Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:04 pm
Actually, it’s more of Rezko’s delusions of grandeur. This is a man who is desperate to be a player — so desperate that he’s invented little conversations in his head to let the “big guys” know he’s a good little solider.

Rezko deserves every year he gets in prison he gets and then some. This is one fella I’d be happy to see locked away for the rest of his life.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:20 pm
Macbeth-

I don’t doubt Rezko might have “delusions of grandeur.” But apparently some of the grandeur was real. Representing state agencies, recommending people for appointments (and getting them), fund raising and hobnobbing in the highest levels of state and federal government in IL…some people wish they could be so grand.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:29 pm
Six has a good point. Still, from what I understand, Rezko thought he had even more power than he did.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:30 pm
He had as much power as the Governor was willing to give him.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:41 pm
++++
…some people wish they could be so grand
++++

Are you being sarcastic? Or serious?

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:57 pm
It’s hard to tell what the real facts are on the letter.But,Mr.Rezko is now a convicted felon with the potential of being convicted of more felonies.So,he’s got an incentive to tell his story.Fitzgerald’s office is working on the standard assumption that others possibly aided Mr.Rezko in certain business dealings.The Tony Rezko story isn’t going away.

Comment by Steve Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 1:58 pm
Besides, wouldn’t the feds be remiss if they *didn’t* exert some pressure on folks in the first place? So long as the pressure is legal — I’m not sure what the big deal is in the first place.

I assume the pressure helps with making sure the “flip” switch flips and stays flipped.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 2:23 pm
So Rezko is feigning loyalties to Blagojevich - and Obama, yet threatening them too.

Why?
Because he knows things - about both of them.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 2:51 pm
cue ominous music.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 2:54 pm
sounds like the bush justice department is leaning on rezko to talk, even if its a lie, while they promise to let him walk.

the overly politicized bush justice department is far from being above such things.

Comment by jerry 101 Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 3:01 pm
cue ominous music again.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 3:07 pm
There doesn’t seem to be any reason to doubt Duffy’s statement..

Rezko’s lawyer, Joseph Duffy, said Rezko never sat down for an interview and was never pressured directly, or indirectly, through Duffy, to talk about Obama, Gov. Blagojevich — or anyone else. […]

This seems more Rezko making a threat than Fitz leaning on him.

Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 3:42 pm
Duffy has had his 15 minutes of fame, go away already.

Comment by Carlos Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 4:11 pm
Time to flip! Now or never!

Comment by Deep Water Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 5:09 pm
My favorite part of his letter to the judge was the ” I am simply an honest, humble immigrant who believes in the American dream” statement. Shades of Hyman Roth in “The GodFather” when upon returning from Cuba, he is asked questions as he comes off the plane and he states “I’m just a retired businessman living on a pension.” Made me LOL when I read Rezko’s letter.

Comment by Disgusted Monday, Jun 16, 08 @ 5:43 pm