Rezko jury will be set today
A federal jury is expected to be seated later today in the political corruption trial of a top Gov. Rod Blagojevich fundraiser accused of a multimillion-dollar shakedown scheme.
Lawyers in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko trial this morning will whittle the remaining 44 candidates to a 12-member jury, plus at least six alternates. The candidates were taken from a pool of 75 people questioned during two days of jury selection in downtown Chicago.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said opening statements should begin Thursday morning in a trial that will stretch over three months and include more than 50 government witnesses.
As a wealthy real estate developer and fast-food tycoon who raised thousands of dollars for Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama, Rezko has been well-known in Illinois political circles. But, if jury selection is an indication, the 52-year-old Wilmette man's legal troubles have made him well-known with regular folks, as well.
Most potential jurors acknowledged Tuesday paying attention to media accounts of the case since they filled out questionnaires weeks ago.
Federal prosecutors allege Rezko abused his power as Blagojevich's chief fundraiser to extort kickbacks and campaign contributions from companies seeking state business or regulatory approval. Rezko faces charges of money laundering, attempted extortion, fraud and aiding bribery.
In addition to the indicted allegations, in a recent court filing, prosecutors accused Rezko of paying a $1.5 million bribe to land a $50 million Iraqi government contract. The Iraqi electricity ministry awarded the $50 million contract in 2005 to a startup company owned in part by Rezko called Companion Security.
Rezko admits showering Obama, Blagojevich and many other Illinois politicians with generous campaign donations, but he denies partaking in illegal activity. His defense team's strategy will be to attack the credibility of the government's key witness, attorney Stuart Levine, by arguing an illegal drug habit has clouded his memory.
The trial progresses amid Tuesday's critical Democratic presidential primary contests between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton in Ohio and Texas, as well as two other states. In response to the federal allegations, Obama has donated to charity more than $150,000 in Rezko-related donations.
As for Blagojevich, the governor has said he does not have knowledge of any "pay to play" deals.
Dressed in a blue-gray suit, a stoic Rezko took notes and exchanged occasional glances Tuesday with his family, including wife Rita, seated in the courtroom gallery. Rezko has been held in a federal lockup in the Loop since January amid flight risk concerns.