This is better than pennies from heaven. Tony Rezko is trying to get a better deal. So Tony's sentencing has been delayed by the judge in the case.
A federal judge has indefinitely postponed the Jan. 6 sentencing for Tony Rezko, the prominent political fund-raiser and former adviser to Gov. Blagojevich.
The move this morning came after Rezko lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve last week to throw out the sentencing date.
Rezko's request comes as he restarts talks with federal prosecutors. Those talks hit a stumbling block as Rezko asked to be let out of solitary confinement at the downtown federal lockup. He asked for a rushed sentencing in January.
But last week's revelation that the government has recordings in the governor's case, appeared to change Rezko's mind about cooperating.
That can only mean one thing. Tony is dropping dimes like he had broken a five dollar roll of them.
And what would Rezko be singing about? Backyard Conservative quotes this from the Washington Post
The ongoing investigation is sure to present political complications for the Obama Justice Department, because advisers close to the president-elect are referenced in the criminal complaint and will be interviewed by federal prosecutors, legal analysts said. A lawyer for the Obama transition team did not return calls or e-mails yesterday. [snip]
Over Obama's political career, Rezko raised contributions for him and introduced him to powerful aldermen. Rezko even offered real estate advice when Obama bought an expensive house on Chicago's South Side.
So how about that house.
After he joined the U.S. Senate in 2005, Obama took Rezko on a tour of a six-bedroom house in an upscale Chicago neighborhood. Rezko recommended that Obama buy the home and, on the day Obama closed the deal, Rezko's wife closed on an adjoining lot. The Rezkos resold a portion of their lot to Obama to expand his yard.
Lawyers in the Blagojevich case said information provided by Rezko and others who testified at Rezko's trial could form the backbone of several additional charges against the governor. Blagojevich's wife, Patricia, had worked on real estate deals with Rezko.
I sure hope Blago's wife wasn't involved with that real estate deal on Obama's house. That could be a big embarrassment for the Smartest President Elect Ever™.
Since arresting Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has renewed interest in convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko's part in the purchase of Barack Obama's Chicago mansion, according to a former real estate analyst who says he was interviewed by the federal prosecutor in the past 10 days.
Kenneth J. Conner told WND he was interviewed by investigators from Fitzgerald's office regarding the purchase of the Obama mansion and the adjacent vacant lot that Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased simultaneously. As WND reported last week, Conner filed a civil complaint in October with the Illinois Circuit Court in Cook County alleging he was fired by Mutual Bank of Harvey, Ill., because he objected to land appraisals submitted on behalf of the Rezkos and the Obamas, with the complicity of the bank.
Conner previously confirmed to WND that he told the FBI, months ago, when he initially was fired, that the bank and the Rezkos were engaged in "fraud, bribes or kickbacks, use whatever term you want," to benefit the Obamas.
There are more details on the scheme at the link.
This is the first time in my lifetime I can recall a President elect being under this kind of investigation. You know what? Maybe Obama isn't the Smartest President Elect Ever™. Maybe he is the Most Corrupt President Elect Ever™. And you know what else? A kid like that could go far in Chicago politics.
Wonder how much the lefties like Fitzgerald now? They'll turn on him faster than they did on Kenneth Starr. Remember how much they respected him as a nonpartisan professional until he started digging up dirt?
Well, just as Clinton had people willing to take a bullet for him (such as Susan MacDougall), Obama has plenty of supporters that will throw themsleves under the bus to shield him. So this might be embarrassing for him (I'm sure it already is) but not damaging.
Save to his ego - and I suspect for Obama that might be the worst wound of all.
Steve Skubinna · December 18, 2008 11:42 AM
Hi. New here, but I've been lurking off and on. While I certainly don't speak for all, I have to say that this leftie loves Patrick Fitzgerald and is cheering him on. Corruption and crime is not good for the American way - no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on.
cmugirl · December 18, 2008 02:13 PM
This isn't about Obama. Sorry to spoil your Fitzmas, gang. This is about all those other pols in IL, especially Cook County and Chicago. Rezko was a fixer and a money pusher, and in a sense so is Blago.
Fitzgerald will go where the rollovers take him, and is going to catch a lot of fish in his tightly woven net.
Cris · December 18, 2008 08:25 PM
Yeah Cris. That Obama knew nothing. The fact that Rezko was his good buddy for 20 years is just an unfortunate fact of politics. And Obama working on Blago's campaign? Well he was just a figure head. It was pro forma. Don't mean nutin.
Fitz has nothing on him. Joe Biden knows the score. Obama is clean. As clean as Spiro Agnew.
I'm looking forward to his "I'm not a crook" speech. It should be one for the ages.
I'm looking forward to his "I'm not a crook" speech. It should be one for the ages.
Just out of curiosity, Simon, if Fitzgerald's investigation clears Obama of any wrongdoing, what will your reaction be?
Wonder how much the lefties like Fitzgerald now?
While I can't speak for all the "lefties" out there, Steve, every one I know deeply respects Mr. Fitzgerald because there is every indication that he deeply respects the rule of law and conducts himself accordingly. Personally, I consider him to be the antithesis of what Bush was attempting to transform the DoJ into during the last eight years.
If Fitzgerald's investigation reveals serious wrongdoing by Obama, I will be very disappointed in Obama. However, if I were a betting man, I would wager that Obama is going to come out of this smelling like a rose. Time will tell.
Dr. Nobel Dynamite · December 19, 2008 09:54 AM
Nobel,
I think Fitz is just in it for headlines. He is looking for scalps. He knew Armitage was the leaker and yet kept at it until he could pin a process crime on a Bush guy.
We will see if he goes after the Rezko/Obama house deal. I might get some respect for him if he does. However, if he just goes after underlings and does the process crime thing again I think that my opinion of him will not change.
And what are the odds that a guy who was fast tracked by one of the crookedest big city machines in the nation was clean? It is possible. What are the odds?
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Don?t bang your head!
It's a real Fitzmas miracle.