Defense tries to steer allegations from Rezko

The Land of Lincoln may be for sale, but Antoin "Tony" Rezko isn't the vendor, defense lawyers argued Friday during the waning days of the corruption trial of the star political fundraiser.

Attorney Joseph Duffy spent several hours trying to undo the damage government witness Ali Ata did Thursday in testifying how he channeled tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to Gov. Rod Blagojevich through Rezko and subsequently was hired as Illinois Finance Authority director.

Ata, a Lemont engineer, has struck a plea deal with authorities admitting to tax fraud and lying to the FBI.

"Is it fair to say you wanted the best deal you could from the government?" Duffy asked him.

"I wanted a fair deal," Ata said.

"Do you want to go to jail?" Duffy inquired.

"Nobody wants to go to jail," Ata said.

Rezko is accused of extorting money from individuals and companies in exchange for jobs and contracts.

It's likely federal prosecutors will wrap up their case by Monday or Tuesday ,and discussions of jury instructions could start by the end of the week.

It will mark the end of a case that's been political dynamite for Blagojevich, whose name surfaced repeatedly Friday.

The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the case.

Ata has said he took orders from Rezko, who orchestrated his new state career.

But Duffy plugged away at Ata's connections with Blagojevich, trying to establish that Rezko was a marginal figure.

Ata confirmed he had known Blagojevich's father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Richard Mell and his daughter, Patty, for years and had met the governor at family functions.

"You were around the ward organization and you came to know (Mel's) family?" Duffy asked.

"Yes," Ata said.

"You're not trying to tell the jury Mr. Rezko introduced you to the governor in 2002?" Duffy inquired.

"No," Ata said.

After establishing Ata had a net worth of about $12 million in 2004, Duffy suggested he sought a high-profile job with the state not for financial gain but after life-changing events following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Ata was interviewed by FBI agents after Sept. 11 and subsequently offered an early retirement package by his employer.

The FBI questioned Ata because his name resembled one of the main hijackers in the Sept. 11 plot Duffy noted, adding, "of course you had nothing to do with it."

Ata, who had remained stoic under cross-examination shot back, "Come on, Mr. Duffy."

Duffy pressed Ata to explain whether his desire for a state job such as director of the finance authority was a result of the Sept. 11 upheaval in his life.

"Is it true you were looking for redemption and one way to get redemption was to get a state position?" Duffy asked.

"Yes," Ata said.

"On a personal level, was it a goal of yours to have the highest position in the Blagojevich administration of anyone in the Muslim community?" Duffy asked. "Was that why you worked so hard?"

"That was one of the reasons," Ata replied.

Among the more damaging statements Ata made Thursday were descriptions of how he gave $125,000 in cash to Blagojevich at Rezko's behest in order to pay for renovations at the governor's Chicago bungalow and avoid a lien on the property.

A spokeswoman said the Blagojeviches personally paid for the renovations to their family room out of their checking account.

Ata also described writing two $25,000 checks to the Blagojevich campaign in 2002 and 2003 that resulted in face-to-face meetings and discussions of employment. At one gathering, Ata testified, Blagojevich told him the position "had better be" a job where he could "make some money."

Duffy pointed out Ata talked about state jobs with others close to the governor including then-Budget Director John Filan, who is now chief operating officer.

"You just want to attribute everything to Mr. Rezko," Duffy suggested.

"That's not true," Ata retorted.

Following Blagojevich's election, Rezko told Ata he would become executive director of the Capital Development Board but had to rescind that after being dressed down by state Rep. and Blagojevich ally Jay Hoffman. The Collinsville Democrat had shouted at Rezko and said the job needed to go to a downstate person, Ata said.

"You're telling the jury how powerful and influential Mr. Rezko is?" Duffy said. "You want the jury to believe he's so important someone would ream him out on the phone?"

Duffy also tweaked Ata over his statements that Rezko said not to worry about FBI investigators because Republican lobbyist Robert Kjellander was working with President Bush's former top adviser Karl Rove to oust U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Such assurances led Ata to lie to the FBI when they interviewed him, he said. In a scoffing tone, Duffy asked Ata if he thought Rezko's influence extended to President Bush.

"Mr. Rezko informed me Kjellander was working with Karl Rove to change the U.S. attorney in Chicago," Ata insisted.

Ata had previously testified how Rezko sought backing from the authority to refinance his Papa John's pizza outlets. He said Rezko strong-armed him into writing a letter on state letterhead confirming the agency was on-board. Rezko later faxed that letter to a loan company, the jury learned Thursday.

"Did he say, 'I order you to give me the letter?" Duffy asked.

"He said, 'I need a letter from you today and proceeded to dictate it," Ata said.

Earlier Friday, Duffy focused on false statements Ata made on economic interest statements concerning property he owned that was leased by the state. Ata conceded that at one point he had a financial interest in property valued at more than $40 million.

Ata is expected to return to the stand Monday.