Oct 12, 2006 6:59 pm US/Central
Feds Believe Blago Fundraiser Out Of Country
Rezko Likely Will Not Appear At Arraignment Friday
by Mike Flannery
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
CBS 2 News has learned that federal agents now believe
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's top fundraiser is out of the country and will not show up in court tomorrow for his scheduled arraignment on corruption charges.
That would make
Tony Rezko a fugitive.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, Rezko has also stopped paying taxes on his
North Shore mansion.
The house is one of the largest homes in one of the most desirable sections of Wilmette -- not the sort of place to have more than $25,000 in unpaid property taxes. But the Cook County Treasurer's Web site shows it's nearly six weeks overdue.
Some insiders see it as one more sign that Antoin "Tony" Rezko may not be planning a quick return to the United States. A native of
Syria, Rezko has reportedly been on a lengthy visit to the
Middle East.
At Blagojevich's last inauguration, Rezko was in the front row, a VIP as a friend and top fundraiser for the governor, and as a long-time business partner who sent as much as $38,000 a year in real estate commissions to first lady Patti Blagojevich.
The governor won't give details, but said there were other gifts, as well.
Now that Rezko has been indicted on 24 criminal counts, Republicans say it's time for the governor to provide more details.
This is not the first time Rezko's been late paying his huge property tax bill. He was 16 days late last March.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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