Marathon Pundit: Jury will see photos of Rezko mansion at trial

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Jury will see photos of Rezko mansion at trial

The build-up to the corruption trial of alleged Democratic political fixer Tony Rezko continues. Federal judge Amy St. Eve ruled today that prosecutors will be able to show photos of Rezko's mansion in north suburban Wilmette. She cited, according to ABC News that "they are evidence of 'events that occurred' there and of his 'opulent lifestyle.'"

More from ABC News:

Rezko, charged in a scheme to bribe and corrupt Illinois officials, held numerous fundraising events at his Wilmette mansion, including one for the 2004 senate campaign of Obama that raised more than $60,000.

Obama is not considered a target of the federal corruption investigation, and his campaign staff says any contribution tied to Rezko has since been donated to charity.

In her ruling, Judge Amy St. Eve rejected Rezko's argument that showing the photos of his home "will generate additional media attention" and "add unnecessary stress and anxiety for the family during an already difficult time."

Here's some more information on that Obama fundraising event. From the Chicago Sun-Times:

The cocktail party Rezko hosted in 2003 came at a critical time for Obama. He and Rezko timed it to help Obama show he had enough money to compete in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate against millionaire Blair Hull and state Comptroller Dan Hynes.

"This was discussed a lot. They wanted to have a good showing," said a source familiar with the fund-raiser, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Tony was one of the biggest fund-raisers."

At the time of the party, the state was in the process of foreclosing on a low-income apartment building Rezko's company rehabbed in Obama's state Senate district -- a rehab project on which Obama's law firm worked. Rezko had also abandoned many other low-income apartments, leaving numerous vacant units in need of major repairs.