Marathon Pundit: This morning at the Rezko trial: Dem big shot Singer not caught on tape

Monday, April 07, 2008

This morning at the Rezko trial: Dem big shot Singer not caught on tape

Friday afternoon the corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko abruptly ended for the weekend with a teaser ending: Did the prosecution's star witness, Stuart Levine, catch former Chicago Alderman William Singer, now a big deal lobbyist and Democratic fundraiser, on tape talking about the purchase of the former Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine building? The Scholl sale got another former alderman, Edward Vrdolyak, indicted on fraud and bribery charges.

Singer, who was a consultant for a developer who wished to buy the property, has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Well, the teaser is solved, and it's a big letdown. Technical difficulties, or perhaps wearing the wrong coat, doomed Levine's attempt.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Levine said he had made several clandestine recordings for prosecutors before that date. Agents typically sewed a recording device into his clothing connected to a "strap-on" battery placed on his back. He was also equipped with a backup recording device in his pocket.

Levine said he was accompanied by a government agent when he approached Singer, though he did not explain how the agent was described during the encounter or what participation he or she may have had in the conversation.

Somehow, it was later discovered, both recording devices failed.

Levine testified that he later suggested to government agents that a button in the pocket of the Armani jacket he was wearing may have rubbed against the switch of the main recorder and turned it off. He did not explain what he told agents about why the backup device also failed.