WherGov's indicted fund-raiser abroad -- maybe
October 13, 2006
BY NATASHA KORECKI AND DAVE MCKINNEY Staff Reporters
Will a top fund-raiser for the governor show up in court to face federal charges today?
The answer remained a mystery Thursday, even as Antoin "Tony" Rezko was scheduled to appear before two judges on separate charges.
At the same time, political upheaval over allegations against Rezko began, with politicians dumping campaign cash tied to him.
Rezko, 51, a Syrian-born resident of Wilmette, is accused of shaking down firms doing state business for millions of dollars; he's also charged with a $10 million loan fraud tied to his pizza businesses.
On Wednesday, Rezko's son told the feds he thought his dad was in the country. Hours later, Rezko's lawyer issued a release saying he wasn't. Rezko was last known to be traveling on business in the Mideast.
A Rezko spokesman said Thursday he didn't know his whereabouts.
Prosecutors said they kept Rezko's indictment -- returned last week -- a secret for a week because they thought he was due to return.
"That information has proved not accurate, and the government has no current information as to whether or when Rezko intends to return to the United States," prosecutors wrote in court papers.
Late last month, Rezko told Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin he was traveling between London and the Middle East but said he has done so for business for over 25 years.
If Rezko doesn't show today, he could be deemed a fugitive.
But Rezko's lawyer could ask judges to give his client an extension, authorities said.
Windfall for charities
On the political front, Rezko's indictment yielded a red-letter day Thursday for some Illinois charities as Blagojevich, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and others emptied campaign funds of money linked to the discredited Chicago businessman.
Blagojevich moved to give $65,000 tied to Rezko to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, campaign spokeswoman Sheila Nix said.
Obama is divesting his federal campaign fund of $11,500 in donations from Rezko, who hosted a 2003 fund-raiser for the senator, campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she planned to channel $40,500 in Rezko money to charity, and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a recipient of $25,000 in Rezko-related cash, also is giving the money to charity, as is Todd Stroger, the Democratic Cook County Board president candidate who got $3,500 from Rezko, aides said.
nkorecki@suntimes.com
dmckinney@suntimes.com
Contributing: Chris Fusco
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