Barack Obama's name pops up unexpectedly in Rezko trial

[papau]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/barack-obama-s.html

Top of the Ticket

Barack Obama's name pops up unexpectedly in Rezko trial

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's name came up unexpectedly again at the Antoin "Tony" Rezko corruption trial today in Chicago and Tony Rezko an early political patron of Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held a lobbying party that Rezko's federal trial testimony court testimony discloses Sen Obama attended in a way that earlier filings in the case did not telegraph.

Stuart Levine, the prosecution's star witness, said he and Obama were at a party Rezko threw at his suburban Chicago Wilmette mansion on April 3, 2004, for Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire whom Rezko was trying to get to invest in a South Loop real estate development.

Auchi, now a citizen of the United Kingdom, has faced criminal charges in Europe. He also figured in the revocation of Rezko's bond early this year after attempting to wire him more than $3 million. Upon learning of that attempt, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve declared Rezko a flight risk and ordered him held in a federal jail in the Loop.

The Rezko party in 2004 was designed to induce Auchi to pour money into the South Loop investment. Obama's presence at the party of one of his major early fundraisers and political supporters was not previously known.

At the time, Obama was fresh off a surprise win in the Illinois Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate and was riding a crest of national publicity. The freshman Illinois senator is not accused of any wrongdoing, but this is yet another unknown aspect of his relationship with Rezko, which Obama has said he now regrets.

(From the linked blog of the trial: - April 2004 when Obama attended the Rezko party at Rezko's home was the month that the prosecution has tapes of Levine's story of meeting a few days after that party at the Standard Club, where he and Rezko agreed to split up to $7.8 million from corrupt deals involving the state pension board on which Levine then sat).

[anonymous171]

1. lol

:rofl:

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Sorry, the media is too busy showing clips of Hillary Oakley and her six shooters downing whiskey

[Condem]

3. Unexpectantly, Papau?

More absolute shit. Bitter, Papau?

[papau]

10. Unexpectedly" is the term used by the Chicago Tribune - Did you expect this?

[Lucinda]

12. I did.

:hi:
And there will be more before the trial is over.

[Condem]

16. Papau

Why are you rooting for this slime. The Clinton's don't have enough? Get out of the gutter.

[tekisui]

4. Take a shot and relax.

[Yael]

5. Yay!! A Rezko thread!

:rofl:

[xchrom]

6. recommend

[tridim]

7. panic panic panic!!11!!! Series!

[depakid]

8. tick toc.

Won't surprise me in the slightest if something nasty comes out of the trial....

[F.Gordon]

9. Didn't Obama claim he never met Nadhmi Auchi?

:shrug:

I suppose Levine could be lying. Yea. That's it. Levine is a liar. :P

[papau]

13. Any negative about Obama is a lie - On DU that's a "God's law" if you're a weak bitter religious

religion turning to person

[F.Gordon]

21. "Amen"

:thumbsup:

[bowens43]

11. OMG he went to a party!!!!!! The bastard!!!!

ROFLMAO!!

You people are ridiculous.

[EFerrari]

14. He went to a party? What's next he looked at a picture of Tony Soprano?

:rofl:

[ampad]

15. lol

oohhhh wee, a party!!!! oh nooooesss :rofl: and all you people that are rec this think it's gonna make a bit of difference to Obama's campaign? Geesh talk about desperate. :rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

17. Be sure to light a candle to the Sky Fairy and say some Hello Dollys.

[rzemanfl]

18. Give it up. n/t

[Hepburn]

19. Bitter? Having a bad day?

Resorting to Rezko posts is such a tell. :evilgrin:

[Justice Is Comin]

20. Let it roll papau.

Drip, drip, drip.....perfect.

I'm waiting for when Fizgerald gives Rezko transactional immunity and he brings down this phony.

Just the day I'll relish.

[my3boyz]

22. Wow! nt