Stuart Levine, the prosecution's star witness, once again testified in the corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko.While flying back from New York on a plane he chartered so Governor Blagojevich could meet with some potential campaign donors, a conversation began.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Levine told jurors this morning at the corruption trial of indicted Blagojevich fund-raiser Tony Rezko that Blagojevich responded: "Never discuss any state board with me. You discuss them with Tony Rezko or Chris Kelly, but you stick with us, and you’ll do very well for yourself."
Levine told the jury how he interpreted that statement: "I took it to mean I would have an opportunity to make a lot of money."
Blagovevich, identified as "Public Official A" in court documents is not accused of wrongdoing, and denies Levine's claim. Kelly was indicted late last year on tax fraud charges.
More from the Sun-Times:
Besides talking about the conversation with the governor, Levine also said he and Rezko discussed the prospect of collaborating on illegal deals involving Blagojevich's administration during meetings at Rezko’s offices in 2003. He said Rezko told him he "spoke very often and, in fact, went over decisions that Lon Monk” — then the governor’s chief of staff — "would put into place."
According to Levine, "Mr. Rezko told me that all major decisions that were made in the governor's office were cleared by Mr. Monk through Mr. Rezko."
And that's not all. Levine discussed the controversial Nadhmi Auchi.
From AP:
And he said he once ferried Rezko's family and a Rezko family friend back from a vacation in Mexico aboard a plane he partially owned. He said Rezko left Mexico early to prepare for a dinner he was hosting for Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi.
At the time, Rezko, a real estate developer, was hoping that Auchi would invest in the development of a 62-acre site near downtown Chicago.
Auchi is the head of the giant, Luxembourg-based General Mediterranean Holdings and is appealing a fraud conviction in France.
The dinner, after which Auchi did invest in the 62-acre site, has attracted considerable interest and Levine's testimony focused a splinter of additional light on details of the event.
The site mentioned is located just south of Chicago's Loop. The land was seemed destined to be Rezko's crowning achievement as a developer. Now Auchi hopes to build on it.
When Auchi's $3.5 million loan to Rezko--after the latter's indictment--was discovered, Rezko's bond was revoked.
Auchi has not been accused of wrongdoing in regards to this case.
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