Iraqi escapee back in town - "Escaped" from Green Zone prison last month

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/500180,cst-nws-rezko17.article

Iraqi escapee back in town

Ex-electricity minister fled prison last month

January 17, 2007

BY CHRIS FUSCO, LORI RACKL AND NATASHA KORECKI Staff Reporters

Despite his apparent status as a fugitive of Iraq's justice system, Aiham Alsammarae was back at work Tuesday at his engineering firm in west suburban Downers Grove.

"I was always under the impression I would never leave that place alive," he told NBC-Channel 5, a Sun-Times news partner, about his time in Iraqi custody on corruption charges.

Alsammarae, a dual Iraqi-U.S. citizen who served as Iraq's electricity minister after Saddam Hussein's fall, escaped Dec. 17. He said he walked out of a Baghdad police station, got in a waiting car, then switched cars and was driven to a private jet that whisked him to Jordan.

At the time, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad condemned Alsammarae's escape, said it played no role in it and supported Iraq's efforts to find him. Alsammarae fled a day before he was to face new charges related to missing Iraqi electricity funds -- charges Alsammarae maintains are baseless.

When Alsammarae arrived at O'Hare Airport on Monday night, he was not treated like a fugitive. Federal authorities questioned him but did not detain him, Alsammarae said.

"We permitted him into the country because we deemed him admissible," said Kelly Klundt, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman.

[Ian David]

1. Escaped. Right.... just like THESE guys...

Masterminds of USS Cole and Limburg bombings escape from Yemeni prison
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Masterminds_of_USS_Cole_and_Limburg_bombings_escape_from_Yemeni_prison

[Ian David]

2. "You would think this would be a major international incident"

<snip>

"You would think this would be a major international incident," said University of Illinois at Chicago Professor Matthew Lippman. "It's all very shadowy. I believe the U.S. government . . . helped get him over here. And everyone's agreed to let this thing slide."

Whether Alsammarae will face questions on another front remains to be seen. The feds have expressed interest in Alsammarae's friendship with recently indicted businessman Tony Rezko, the Sun-Times reported last month. Rezko won an Iraqi power plant deal while Alsammarae was electricity minister.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/500180,cst-nws-rezko17.article

[Ian David]

3. Tony Rezko

From the State Journal Register
April 4, 2004


Tony Rezko a frequent big contributor to governor
It has become clear that ANTOIN "TONY" REZKO plays a big role in the
political life of Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

That was emphasized in campaign finance reports filed in the days leading up
to the recent primary election. (While Blagojevich isn't on the ballot this
year, his campaign fund is still active.)

Among the items noted: During a January fund-raising trip to California,
Rezko, who listed a Wilmette address, provided $44,982 to the Blagojevich
campaign. This included $14,000 for lodging and meals for political
supporters, contributors and campaign staff members at the Beverly Wilshire
Hotel in Beverly Hills; $28,000 to a Chicago-area charter flight company for
the same people; and smaller amounts to Universal Pictures for entertainment
and to a Los Angeles company for transportation.

KELLY GLYNN, finance director of Friends of Blagojevich, said the governor
and his family were among those on the trip, which included two fund-raising
events and a meeting.

More:
http://www.ilcampaign.org/press/news/illinois/articles/2004/2004-4-4TonyRezkoContr.html



Obama on Rezko deal: It was a mistake

November 5, 2006
BY DAVE MCKINNEY AND CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters Contributing: Mark Brown

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama expressed regret late Friday for his 2005 land purchase from now-indicted political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko in a deal that enlarged the senator's yard.

"I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it," Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times in an exclusive and revealing question-and-answer exchange about the transaction.

In June 2005, Obama and Rezko purchased adjoining parcels in Kenwood. The state's junior senator paid $1.65 million for a Georgian revival mansion, while Rezko paid $625,000 for the adjacent, undeveloped lot. Both closed on their properties on the same day.

<snip>

he transaction occurred at a time when it was widely known Tony Rezko was under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and as other Illinois politicians befriended by Rezko distanced themselves from him.

<snip>

Last month, Rezko was indicted for his role in an alleged pay-to-play scheme designed to fatten Gov. Blagojevich's political fund. Rezko also was accused of bilking a creditor.

More:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article



Broken promises, broken homes
DAY TWO OF TWO

April 24, 2007
BY TIM NOVAK Staff Reporter/[e-mail]
Two decades ago, Antoin "Tony'' Rezko was running a food company that peddled hot dogs on Chicago's beaches. Daniel S. Mahru supplied the ice.

These businessmen had a brainstorm for a new venture -- rehabbing rundown buildings for poor black families.

Rezko and Mahru had no construction experience. Yet City Hall gave their new company, Rezmar Corp., a $629,000 loan to help fix up an abandoned apartment building at 46th and Drexel.

They had applied for the loan just six days after Richard M. Daley won his first term as mayor in 1989, having campaigned on a promise to build more housing for the poor.

More:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/355099,cst-nws-rez24a.article



Results:
43 records found in 0.0938 seconds.
Total for this search: $67,315
Search Criteria:
Donor name: Rezko, ANTOIN
Donor State: IL
Cycle(s) selected: All
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=WAWRZ&txtName=Rezko,%20ANTOIN&txtState=IL&txtAll=Y&Order=N

[NNN0LHI]

4. I know these connections don't get the headlines but they are just as pertinent as the 3 you listed

http://www.ilcampaign.org/press/news/illinois/articles/2004/2004-4-4TonyRezkoContr.html

<snip>Rezko also has done business with BOB KJELLANDER of Springfield, who is on
the Republican National Committee and head of the Bush/Cheney campaign in
Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Kjellander said his Springfield Consulting Group did some work for Rezmar
more than 10 years ago. He later had a client with "some issues up in
Chicago," and "I asked Tony if he could be helpful."

Rezko was helpful and shared in a fee from the client, so Kjellander listed
Rezko as a subcontractor on the state lobbyist list. Rezko remained on the
list for about four years. When "Tony and I both became aware he was still
on my list," Kjellander said, Rezko was removed early this year.

His business contact with Rezko was long before Blagojevich was governor,
Kjellander said.

[Ian David]

5. Thanks! I KNEW that if you shook this story, some Republickers would fall out. n/t