Wright. Rezko. Ayers. Pfleger. (W.A.R.P.)
Posted on 06/04/2008 1:46:32 PM PDT by SE Mom
VERDICT JURORS HAVE REACHED A VERDICT
The judge will read the verdict at 3:45 p.m.
Breakdown of Counts Guilty on 12 of 15 counts mail/wire fraud Not Guilty on 1 count attempted extortion Guilty on 2 of 6 counts corrupt solicitation Guilty on 2 counts money laundering
from ABC7Chicago.com website
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.suntimes.com ...
~snip~
Rezko trial: What we know
— Two weeks ago: jurors in Tony Rezko’s trial asked for a transcript of witness Michael Winter’s testimony. The judge said they couldn’t have it — or anyone’s transcript testimony.
— Last week, jurors indicated in a note they would stay late on two nights to help “conclude our decision.” We took that to mean a decision was imminent.
Here we are a week later.
— This week: Jurors on Monday say they cannot agree “on one count.” They’re brought in at about 2:30 p.m. and told to keep deliberating. We think a decision is imminent.
~snip~
http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/757340,CST-NWS-watchdog24.article
8 Things you need to know about Obama and Rezko
It was 3:45 five minutes ago...what happened?
Thanks for starting the thread. WLS am is covering it live. They say expect a reading is 30 minutes or less. 24 counts.
Rezko ping- jury is in.
Wrong time zone:)
Illinois is Central Time.
bump
I’m curious about the makeup of the jury. Are there any Obama supporters there to protect him?
Did the judge offer a reason as to why he would not release the court transcript of Michael Winter?
That sounds very odd...
So is Minnesota. It’s 3:55 here now.
Never mind- I was WRONG- you’re right and I’m nuts!
6 counts guilty on mail fraud so far..
And now it’s past 3:45 Central Time....
Good. Now Rezko will be motivated to talk in return for a lighter sentence.
guilty on all 6 or just one of the six so far?
Thanks for the ping.
So far- GUILTY on 16 counts (out of a possible 26)
Guilty on 16 of 24 counts.
L
Rezko found guilty on 16 charges, not guilty on 8
Thanks.
Great timing.
cut. that’s a W.R.A.P
So if Rezko takes one for the team and goes to jail will he be Obamacized (ala McDougall with the Clintons)?
Will Rez be Premier BO’s first “prez” pardon?
Thanks...so much for taking a break from politics today! ;)
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/984453,rezkoverdict060408.article
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reproter
Tony Rezko — the high-flying developer and fast-food magnate who was once a major campaign fund-raiser for Gov. Blagojevich and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama and one of the governor’s closest advisers — is now a convicted felon.
A federal jury in Chicago convicted Rezko this afternoon on 16 of 24 charges he faced in a political corruption trial that cast a harsh light on the Blagojevich administration.
The verdict, reached after deliberations that spanned 12 days, could give federal authorities new ammunition in their probe of the governor’s campaign and his administration. They already have subpoenaed Blagojevich’s campaign fund, scrutinized his donors, looked into his wife’s real estate dealings and questioned potential witnesses about whether they were promised anything in return for campaign contributions, sources told the Sun-Times.
Now, facing the prospect of prison time in the corruption case, as well as two additional criminal trials on unrelated charges, Rezko is under pressure to cooperate with the continuing investigations.
Among those in the crowded courtoom as the verdict was read were Rezko’s family, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and Robert Grant, the agent-in-charge of the Chicago FBI office.
Rezko wore a crisp, taupe-colored suit and a red tie to court. It was the same tie he wore the first day of the trial. His two sons entered the courtroom with him, sporting new crewcuts.
Rezko’s two-month trial began March 3. Rezko, 52, of Wilmette, was charged with 24 counts that included taking kickbacks tied to state business, money-laundering, attempted extortion, mail fraud and wire fraud. Prosecutors aid he schemed with co-defendant Stuart Levine to get and split kickbacks from projects tied to two boards on which Levine sat.
Levine pleaded guilty and was the prosecution’s star witness. He testified for 15 days.
The jury began its deliberations three weeks ago, but met 12 times, and broke early for half days on three of those occasions.
Rezko lawyer Joseph Duffy had urged jurors in his closing argument not to convict Rezko based on Levine’s words, portraying him as an admitted “liar and thief and a drug user and a con-man.”
Levine testified that, in one case, he and Rezko agreed to split a $1.5 million kickback from a disputed $81 million proposal for a new hospital in Crystal Lake. The project needed a nod from a state hospital planning board that numbered Levine among its members. Levine also testified that, in another case, he promised to divert $3.9 million in kickbacks from business related to the state Teachers’ Retirement System, which handles teacher pensions. Levine also was a member of that state board.
~snip~
I’m about at the end of my rope with Hillary/Obama/Willshewon’tshe/Willhepickher.......
Yep. He won’t talk unless Obama loses in November.
Hmmmm....
Guilty on 16 of 24 counts is what I just heard...the reporter said that Obama’s name wasn’t mentioned very often during the trial but I guess they are going to dig into it further...Rezko and Obama very close from what they are reporting, so now BHO can add a convicted felon to his list of buds...and this guy is his biggest supporter...now he is off to the pokey-—hope there is something he can give to screw BHO. Not sure if that will happen though.
bttt
Will Rez be Premier BO’s first “prez” pardon?
I wish someone would ask him.
So glad to see this creep get convicted...
You know - regarding Hillary - if she just stays quiet the press will go nuts. The media will be able to talk about nothing else! Obama will get more and more worried - probably to the point of getting angry and saying something stupid. It’s actually kinda brilliant on her part.
She should just keep quiet for a week or two and let the DNC, Obama, and the media go into full meltdown mode... It might actually end up being good for our country - exposing the majority of the media for what it is nowadays - nothing more than a bunch of liberal political activists with press passes.
Wow, not a single mention of Obambi in that snippet!
Now, let’s go back in time and cover the Abramofff trial...any diffferences?
Gee, do you think anyone will investigate the connection between Rezko and Obama?
No, I dont’ think so either.
If you were Patrick Fitzgerald, why would you wait until after November for indictments?
Let’s face it, if Obama wins, Fitzgerald will be the first U.S. Attorney who gets fired.
Guilty on 16 counts - ABC-7 TV news.
And too bad our media is in love with Obama so much they won't stick a camera and microphone in front of his face and ask anyway.
Political fundraiser Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko has been found guilty on some counts of corruption charges related to a kickback scheme for companies that do business with the state.
The jurors- 10 women and 2 men— reached a verdict after 13 days of deliberations. A judge read it at 3:45 p.m. in federal court.
Rezko, 52, pleaded not guilty to scheming to get kickbacks from companies wanting state contracts.
On Monday, jurors told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve they couldn’t agree on one of the 24 counts — including mail fraud, extortion and money laundering— against Rezko. At that time, they were instructed to listen to each other carefully and try again.
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