Politics

Main Gov't Witness In Rezko Trial Cross-Examined

Stuart Levine Admits He's A Liar And Thief

CHICAGO (CBS) ― After seven days of testifying about his crooked deals with the accused Antoin "Tony" Rezko, chief prosecution witness Stuart Levine was hit with a slashing cross examination.

Defense attorney Joseph Duffy went after Levine's memory and credibility, first getting Levine to talk more about his drug habit and binges at the now infamous Purple Hotel. Levine admitted he indulged in what Duffy called "a smorgasbord" of illegal drugs at the hotel for 15 years.

"I thought Joe Duffy went methodically through ways that this jury could say at the end of the day, I can't believe this guy," said CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller.

Part of the questioning went as follows:
Duffy to Levine: "If I call you a liar, is that correct?"

Levine: "Yes, sir."

Duffy: "I would be correct if I called you a thief?"

Levine: "Yes, sir."

Duffy: "Can you argue with me, you are a con man, are you not?"

Levine: "Yes, sir."

Duffy: "But you wouldn't try to con this jury would you, Mr. Levine?"

Levine: "No, sir, I would not."

Before the day ended, Levine had admitted to looting the estate of a relative who had mentored the young Levine. He admitted it was a rip-off worth millions.

"There's no question that he's dirty, he's filthy, but the issue is, does that mean he can't be telling the truth?" Miller said. "That's why the government is putting all these other witnesses on the stand, in order to corroborate what the dirty witness is saying."

At one point Duffy asked Levine, "How much money did you give to Mr. Rezko?"

The answer: "I did not give any money personally to Mr. Rezko."

Levine also said he could not estimate how many crimes he's committed, and could not estimate the number of times he's done illegal drugs.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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