Antoin "Tony" Rezko Best Friends With Obama

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Antoin "Tony" Rezko Is A Chicago Businessman With Investments In Both Real Estate And Fast Food Restaurants. (David Jackson and John Chase, "Rezko's Life A Story Of Pizza And Politics," Chicago Tribune, 10/12/06)

 

Rezko Was Convicted Of Wire And Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, And Aiding And Abetting Bribery. (Bob Secter and Jeff Coen, "Rezko Convicted," Chicago Tribune, 6/5/08)

 

"Antoin ‘Tony' Rezko And Stuart Levine Used Rezko's Influence With Public Officials To Sustain Their Scheme To Collect Kickbacks From Firms That Wanted State Business, Prosecutors Charged." (David Jackson and John Chase, "Rezko's Life A Story Of Pizza And Politics," Chicago Tribune, 10/12/06)

Eleven Low-Income Housing Buildings Located In Obama's State Senate District And Owned By Rezko's Company, Rezmar, Were "Falling Apart" And Going Into Foreclosure. (Tim Novak, "Obama And His Rezko Ties," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)

 

Rezko Courted Local Politicians Who Controlled Decisions That Affected His Business Efforts, Giving At Least $385,000 Since 1994 And Bundling "Millions Of Dollars" For Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL). (David Jackson and John Chase, "Rezko's Life A Story Of Pizza And Politics," Chicago Tribune, 10/12/06)

 

Facts About Me and Barack

 

Rezko Was Among Obama's First Political Supporters When Obama First Ran For Public Office. (Christopher Drew and Mike McIntire, "An Obama Patron And Friend Until An Indictment In Illinois," The New York Times, 6/14/07)

 

Obama Paid $300,000 Less Than The Asking Price For His Home, While Rezko's Wife Paid Full Price For A Vacant Lot Next Door On The Very Same Day. (Tim Novak, "Obama And His Rezko Ties," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)

 

The Seller Of Obama's Home "Wanted To Sell Both Properties At The Same Time." (Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, "The Rezko Connection," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, abcnews.go.com, 1/10/08)

Obama Later Purchased A Portion Of Rezko's Land For $104,500; It Was Valued At $40,500. (Peter Slevin, "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser," The Washington Post, 12/17/06)

"As A State Senator, Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony Rezko's Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens." (Tim Novak, "Obama's Letters For Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)

 

Obama Completed Legal Work On Rezko-Related Projects. (Tim Novak, "Obama And His Rezko Ties," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)

 

The Obamas And Rezkos Took A Trip Together To Rezko's Home At Lake Geneva, WI. (Sen. Barack Obama, Interview With Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, 3/15/08)

My Donations and Bundling for Barack

Obama Has Acknowledged That Rezko Has Raised About $250,000 For His Campaigns. (Tim Novak, Chris Fusco, Dave McKinney and Carol Marin, "More Rezko Dough Found," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/15/08)

 

However The Most Recently Reported Total Of Rezko Related Funds The Obama Campaign Has Donated To Charity Is $160,000. (Dan Morain, "Obama To Be In Background Of Trial," Los Angeles Times, 3/3/08)

FLASHBACK: In December 2006, Obama Said His "Best Estimate" Was That Rezko Raised Between $50,000 To $60,000. (Chris Fusco and Tim Novak, "Rezko Cash Triple What Obama Says," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/18/07)

What Barack Says About Me

Obama Has Referred To Rezko As A "Friend" Who He Called For Advice On The Purchase Of His Home. (Lynn Sweet, "Waukegan Interview Transcript. On Rezko, Mistakes And Being Held To A High Standard." Chicago Sun-Times' "Lynn Sweet" Blog, blogs.suntimes.com, 11/7/06)

 

Obama: "I've Never Done Any Favors For [Rezko]." (Rick Pearson, "Obama Believes Himself A ‘Viable Candidate' For Presidency," Chicago Tribune, 12/14/06)

 

Obama On The Rezko Verdict: "This Isn't The Tony Rezko I Knew…" ("Jury Convicts Rezko," Chicago Tribune, 6/5/08)