Politics

Pieces Begin To Fall Into Place In Rezko Trial

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The pieces are beginning to fall into place in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko federal corruption trial.

The prosecution's case took a dramatic new turn Wednesday with a witness who appeared to do some real damage to Rezko.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports prosecutors call fundraiser and accused would-be extortionist Rezko, "the man behind the curtain," pulling the strings in a state government corruption plot. The jury got a look Wednesday behind the curtain.

Thomas P. Beck, a former chairman of the state Health Facilities Planning Board, testified that he took "marching orders" from Rezko on decisions about building new hospitals.

Beck told the jury that Rezko controlled five votes on the board, including Beck's, three doctors Rezko had clouted onto the board, and Rezko's admitted co-schemer, Stuart Levine.

Beck testified that he was introduced to Rezko more than a decade ago by 47th Ward Chicago Democratic Committeeman Ed Kelly. Years later, after appointments to the health board by governors Edgar and Ryan, Beck wanted another term from incoming Go. Rod Blagojevich.

To get it, Beck said he talked to Rezko and gave him a $1,000 check made out to "Friends of Blagojevich." He got the appointment.

Later, Beck said Levine would tell him and the other Rezko-connected board members how Rezko wanted them to vote.

But Beck and Levine were worried that they and the others might be caught, as this FBI wiretap suggests.

Levine: "So what we need to do is the board…ultimately regardless what the staff report says, we can vote on whatever we want."

Beck: "Yeah, yeah."

Levine: "But we want some cover."

Beck: "But we want to, yeah, cover ourselves."

Levine: "Mhm."

Beck: "I don't want to have you or myself or any of these others sitting out there on a limb."

At one point, to allay suspicion, Rezko reportedly told his five on the board to avoid voting as a block "now and then."

The feds say Rezko and Levine planned to use the board to get approval for a Crystal Lake hospital, then collect a $1 million kickback from the builder.

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