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Report: Rezko-Owned Firm Looking To Work In Iraq

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Aug 7, 2007 10:42 am US/Central

Report: Rezko-Owned Firm Looking To Work In Iraq

Indicted Fundraiser's Security Company Is Bidding For Lucrative Contract

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CHICAGO (AP) ― A security company owned by a now-indicted political fundraiser is trying to secure a lucrative contract in Iraq, even seeking the help of Illinois leaders including Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a published report.

Companion Security is owned by Antoin "Tony" Rezko and former Chicago police officer Daniel T. Frawley, according to a story in Tuesday's editions of the Chicago Sun-Times citing two sources. Patrick Goodale, a contractor with the company, said Rezko was one of Frawley's original partners.

Companion Security was awarded a $50 million contract by Iraq's Ministry of Electricity two years ago to train Iraqi power-plant guards, but the deal was left up in the air by a leadership change in Iraq. Now, the company is lobbying officials in Washington and Baghdad trying to revive the contract, according to documents obtained by the Sun-Times.

A message left for Rezko's attorneys before business hours Wednesday was not immediately returned. No listed number could be found for Frawley or Companion Security.

Frawley wants the Iraqi government to honor a contract signed when Aiham Alsammarae, a friend of Rezko's, ran the country's electricity agency. The current electricity minister has said the contract is too expensive, according to a U.S. Embassy official in Baghdad.

Blagojevich, a longtime friend of Rezko, has tried to help the company by offering the lease of a military facility in western Illinois. Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff told the Sun-Times that the governor's staff didn't know Rezko was involved with Companion Security until the newspaper started asking questions.

Frawley also sought help from Obama, another friend of Rezko's, but was turned down.

Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said Companion Security asked Obama to write a letter introducing the company to senior officials in the Iraqi government.

"That is not the kind of action Sen. Obama usually takes for individual companies, and our staff concluded on that basis to decline the requested assistance," LaBolt said.

Rezko, 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he shook down investment firms that wanted to do business with the state of Illinois.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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