Oct 13, 2006 7:46 pm US/Central
Gov's Fund-Raiser Does Not Show Up For Court
Attorney: Rezko Will Return Next Week
CBS 2's Mai Martinez contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's top fund-raiser was a no-show in federal court for an arraignment Friday, but he is not yet considered a fugitive.
Antoin "Tony" Rezko, 51, of
Wilmette, is named in a 24-count federal indictment accusing him of taking part in an elaborate scheme to shake down companies doing business of the state.
Rezko's attorney, Joseph J. Duffy, told U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel in court that the defendant is traveling and plans to return to face the charges next week.
The close adviser to Gov. Blagojevich failed to appear for arraignment on charges and loan fraud. But Duffy said that the real estate and fast food entrepreneur who scattered campaign contributions across the political landscape and became an adviser to Blagojevich was still concluding business overseas. He said the business trip was scheduled before the court hearing.
As CBS 2's Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, Tony Rezko's lawyer pooh-poohed the speculation that his client may never return to America.
"I spoke with Tony this morning," said Joseph Duffy. "He understands his obligations as a citizen and he looks forward to coming back and meeting his obligations as a citizen."
Rezko had a spot in the front row at the last inauguration, when he was advising Rod Blagojevich on sensitive appointments to powerful state jobs. First Lady Patti Blagojevich was a Rezko business partner for about a decade, receiving more than $38,000 in real estate commissions from him in 2004.
A native of Syria who founded multiple companies here, Rezko has reportedly been traveling in Europe and the Middle East for several months. And more than $25,000 in property taxes on his huge North Shore mansion have not been paid. This is not the first time Rezko's been late paying his huge property tax bill. He was 16 days late last March.
CBS 2 News has learned that a potential witness at Rezko's upcoming trial said, "Rezko does not intend to return to the United States, ever."
His lawyer insisted that Rezko's looking forward to fighting the 24 counts on which he was indicted.
"Mr. Rezko feels strongly about these charges in that they're baseless and that he will be vindicated at trial," said Duffy.
The governor's Republican challenger, Judy Baar Topinka, is among those hoping Rezko does show next week and that the governor will start answering questions, too.
Rezko was to appear Friday on separate charges that he and millionaire campaign contributor
Stuart Levine plotted to shake down investment firms seeking state business for kickbacks.
Duffy said he had been representing Rezko for two years but Wednesday's indictments came without warning.
The attorney told reporters before the hearing that he did not know Rezko's exact whereabouts.
At a news conference following the unsealing of two indictments, prosecutors said if Rezko failed to show up for his arraignment, he could be considered a fugitive. A federal arrest warrant for Rezko was issued before his indictment was unsealed this week. His lawyer suggested that, if Rezko chooses to travel through London on his way back to Chicago, he might be arrested there and delayed. Judge Amy St. Eve declined to quash the arrest warrant. The judge continued the arraignment to next Thursday.
In one case, Rezko is accused of trying to squeeze a $1.5 million contribution to "a certain public official" out of a company seeking state business, according to the indictment. A person familiar with the investigation, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing, said the unnamed public official in the indictment is Blagojevich.
Rezko was charged in one of the indictments with mail fraud, wire fraud and other charges as part of the elaborate scheme to squeeze millions of dollars out of companies. A second indictment charged Rezko with swindling the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10.5 million in loans to a pizza restaurant company.
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