Potential jurors seem to know the stakes for Rezko
As jury selection continued today in another of Illinois' highly publicized corruption trials, most potential panelists seemed well aware of the legal trouble facing a man once considered to be among the state's most powerful political insiders.
U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve questioned another 16 potentials jurors this morning, in addition to the 43 she interviewed Monday after the federal trial opened in downtown Chicago. Another 17 people will be quizzed this afternoon.
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Testimony may begin Thursday after the pool is narrowed to 12 jurors and four alternates.
Federal prosecutors allege Antoin "Tony" Rezko abused the power he gleaned as Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief fundraiser to extort kickbacks and campaign contributions from companies seeking state business or regulatory approval.
Rezko, who also has ties to presidential candidate Barack Obama, denies involvement in the multi-million dollar shakedown scheme. His defense team's strategy will be to attack the credibility of the government's key witness, millionaire attorney Stuart Levine focusing on his alleged illegal drug use.
The trial progresses amid today's critical primary contests in Ohio and Texas that may decide the Democratic nomination for president. Obama has donated to charities more than $150,000 in Rezko-related donations.
Dressed in a charcoal suit, a stoic Rezko made notes and gazed intently at potential jurors but took moments to exchange glances with family members, including his wife Rita, who sat in the courtroom gallery. The 52-year-old real estate developer from Wilmette is being held in a federal jail in the Loop.
St. Eve continued questioning potential jurors Tuesday about whether they had read about the case before, their personal interests and their opinions about issues that may come out in the trial.
Those who answered questions in this morning's jury pool included a former People's Gas legal lobbyist with political ties, Illinois Department of Transportation worker, second-grade teacher, high school librarian, and administrative assistants. Most appeared interested in serving on the jury and admitted they had read or watched television coverage of the case since filling out their jury questionnaires.
A librarian at the University of Chicago's Lab School said it would be difficult but not impossible to avoid the news since "curiosity and research are essential to my profession."
The case is playing out on a wide stage. Blagojevich, already hitting a low point in his political career, has said he has no knowledge of any "pay to play" deals. But with prosecutors promising to produce state workers who will testify about Rezko's influence on employee hiring and appointments to state boards in connection with his fundraising activities, the constant references to improprieties will be a distraction at best.
Chicago Democrat Obama received significant donations from Rezko during his bid for the U.S. Senate in 2004, but he has donated much of that money to charity.
Rezko is the latest in a list of state leaders and their operatives accused of similar shakedown tactics in Illinois, the chief of whombeing former Gov. George Ryan, serving time in an Indiana federal prison after being convicted in 2006 of abusing power for personal gain.