Politics

Wiretap Recording Of Rezko, Levine Played In Trial

Friday Marks First Time Jury Has Heard Defendent's Voice

CHICAGO (CBS) ― For the first time, the jury heard the voice of indicted political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko on audio tapes during his federal trial. The tapes were recorded by FBI wiretaps and played in court Friday.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports jurors first heard Rezko's voice during a secretly taped call from Rezko's alleged co-schemer, Stuart Levine, who's the prosecution's key witness.

Levine, in the recording, has a plan to use his connections to wrench big profits from a Children's Memorial Hospital construction project. He hints at it in this call to Rezko.

Levine: "Listen, would it be a chance for, uh over the weekend to have a cup of coffee?"

Rezko: "Yeah."

Levine: "Anytime that's good for you. I'm not doing a God---- thing."

Rezko: "OK, let me call you back this afternoon."

Levine: "I'm going to be home all, all weekend and I wanted to uh, to uh, to talk a little bit about, about uh, some stuff that happened that I think needs to be done and maybe a giant opportunity also."

Rezko: "Very good."

On the stand Friday, Levine – who has already admitted to decades of drug abuse involving LSD, cocaine, Ecstasy and hallucinogens – made another startling admission. He said he and a business partner once ripped millions of dollars from a charity that he helped run as a member of the board of directors. The victim -- a group of non-profit drug rehab centers called "Interventions."

The trial is on hiatus until March 31. Shortly after it resumes, defense attorneys will get their chance to cross examine Levine, Rezko's chief accuser.

Those lawyers are expected to use Levine's admitted drug habits to attack his memory and his credibility.

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