Apr 14, 2008 11:55 am US/Central
Witness Claims Obama Attended Rezko Party
CHICAGO (AP) ―
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Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a political fundraiser accused of fraud.
CBS
The government's star witness at the fraud trial of political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko testified Monday that he attended a party for a British billionaire at Rezko's home, where Sen. Barack Obama and his wife also were among the guests.
Attorney Stuart Levine testified that the party took place in April 2004 and was held to honor Iraqi-born, London-based billionaire Nadhmi Auchi, who was visiting the United States at the time.
Rezko, 52, was a major fundraiser for Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and the trial has been closely watched because of Obama's presidential campaign. But very little has been said about the senator thus far.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton did not comment immediately.
Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing.
Rezko is charged with scheming with Levine to squeeze money management firms wanting state business for kickbacks and split a bribe. Rezko has denied that he took part in such a scheme.
But his bond was revoked and he was jailed by the trial judge after federal prosecutors discovered a wire transfer of $3.5 million in 2007 to his attorneys from Auchi by way of a bank in Lebanon. Rezko had told Judge Amy J. St. Eve that he had no money, no way of getting money and was living off the charity of friends and relatives.
Levine has pleaded guilty to the charges and taken the stand as the government's star witness in hopes of getting a lenient sentence.
Levine said very little about the party at Rezko's home or Obama's presence there.
He said he had flown Rezko's family back from Mexico the same day so that they would be in Chicago in time for the party.
"Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was there?" Rezko attorney Joseph J. Duffy asked.
"Yes, Sir," Levine answered.
"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there?" Duffy asked.
Levine testified, however, that "the governor was a no-show."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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