Marathon Pundit: Obama gives up donation from man with Rezko ties

Barack Obama's ties to Tony Rezko are causing him more headaches today. The Illinois senator today returned a $5,000 donatiion from Ali D. Ata, the former head of the Illinois Finance authority, was recently indicted in relation to a scam involving Rezko's purchase of some pizza restaurants.

From AP:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is donating to charity a $5,000 contribution to his 2004 Senate campaign from an indicted former Illinois official, a spokesman said Friday.

Ali Ata, the former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, was charged Thursday with trying to help entrepreneur (My note: scam artist) Antoin Rezko borrow $10 million in a fraud scheme.

Rezko has already been charged with trying to shake down investment firms that wanted to do business with the state, and his personal and financial relationship with Obama has been an issue in the Illinois senator's presidential campaign.