Meanwhile in Chicago Obama surfaces in Rekzo's federal corruption case

[jackson_dem]

For the first time, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has surfaced in the federal corrupton case against his longtime campaign fund-raiser, Tony Rezko, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The Illinois senator isn’t accused of any wrongdoing. And there’s no evidence Obama knew contributions to his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign came from schemes Rezko is accused of orchestrating.

The allegations against Rezko that involve Obama are contained in one paragraph of a 78-page document filed last month in which prosecutors outline their corruption and fraud case against Rezko, who was also a key money man for Gov. Blagojevich and other politicians.

-snip-

Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate” referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in “sham” finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/749138,obama20web.article

[DJ13]

1. Didnt you just post this a half hour ago?

[jackson_dem]

2. No

[bigwillq]

4. I think someone else did

I do remember another thread on this topic.

[MercerForPrez]

14. Jackson would have supported Lee Mercer, Jr.

So should you.

[durrrty libby]

3. Why...are you afraid people might see it?

[Blue-Jay]

6. You should post it too.

[Tulkas]

16. I think they are gonna start a new thread everytime someone mentions CHINA!!!

[IndianaJones]

5. so, much ado about nothing it appears. nt.

[Barack_America]

7. By all means post this, as it so obviously clears Obama of wrong-doing...thanks! n/t

[ProSense]

8. Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign responds to questions about the Rezko court filing.

From the end of the article linked to:

Sen. Obama Presidential Campaign Q&A

A Chicago Sun-Times Exclusive: Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign gave the following written responses to these questions about the Rezko court filing.

Q. What is Sen. Obama’s reaction to being referred to in the Rezko evidentiary proffer?

A. We have no way of knowing he is the politician named here but we returned this money months ago for other reasons.

Q. Was Sen. Obama aware that Rezko allegedly had directed at least one person to donate to the senator’s campaign and later reimbursed that person, possibly violating federal election law?

A. No.

Q. Has the Federal Election Commission or the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago contacted the senator or any of his representatives about these matters?

A. No.

Q. Why has the senator donated to charity campaign contributions from Rezko and Rezko-linked people?

A. In keeping with our practice of donating to charity donations from people who have been called into question through the legal process, when he was named in documents as potentially engaging in wrongdoing we thought it was appropriate to return his donation to charity.

Q. Does the senator think this development will have any impact on the presidential campaign or undercut the senator’s message that he is an agent of change?

A. No. In fact, Sen. Obama has been a champion of reforms that have made campaign finance laws more transparent so that the public can more closely follow the source of contributions to campaigns. As with any campaign, occasionally individual contributions are called into question. Sen. Obama’s policy in such instances is to donate that money to charity which is what he did in this case seven months ago when questions first surfaced.

link

[Bitwit1234]

9. Was the 10,000 given back. Hillary gave the 500.000 raised at

that fundraiser the Oriental man held for her. There was such a pish pash about that fundraiser, but no one mentioned she gave the money back.

[ProSense]

10. $850,000

Clinton to Return $850,000 Raised by Hsu

Democratic fundraiser Hsu gets 3 years in jail

[tammywammy]

11. Oriental?

[rodeodance]

12. Its a long story--I had not realized Obama and Rekzo were such close friends.

[madrchsod]

15. they soon will be cell mates with george ryan

and maybe the governor of illinois...the democrats in illinois are going down...

[madrchsod]

13. it looks like obama won`t be running for the presidency....

"But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate”

that confirms that obama will soon be charged with a state and/or federal corruption charge.

[alittlelark]

17. I am always creeped out by those w/ NO PROFILE.

it seems soooo... disingenuous.