Illinois insiders to testify at Rezko trial

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Insiders from Gov. Blagojevich’s administration will testify in the upcoming fraud trial of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko that Rezko was “one of a handful of extremely powerful political leaders” who had “significant influence” on gubernatorial appointments, according to a new federal court filing.

The document shows in the most detail yet how deeply federal investigators are probing into the inner workings of the governor’s office.
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Gov. Blagojevich sits next to his indicted former fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko at a $350-a-plate benefit dinner on May 14, 2003. Rezko was charged in a far-reaching federal corruption case 15 months ago.

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Witnesses for the prosecution include people “who helped select and process” gubernatorial appointees to state boards and commissions, acccording to the filing.

Prosecutors for the first time also said they have “internal governor’s office documents” that show Rezko was the “political sponsor” of four people who became members of a scandal-tainted government board that was involved in kickback schemes Rezko allegedly helped orchestrate.

“Individuals who helped select and process candidates for boards and commissions will testify that Rezko had weekly meetings with the head of patronage for the [Blagojevich] administration, where Rezko provided names of individuals he wanted appointed to certain boards,” prosecutors wrote in a 31-page document filed late Wednesday.

Until now, prosecutors had not disclosed that people involved in the governor’s hiring process would be testifying against Rezko. The governor’s office had no immediate comment on the development.

The revelation marks yet another headache for Blagojevich, who already is being dogged by government accusations that Rezko tried to shake down a company seeking state business for $1.5 million in political contributions to the governor’s campaign fund.

Blagojevich has denied being part of the Rezko case, though sources familiar with the case say he is the uncharged “Public Official A” referenced in recent court filings.

The Chicago Sun-Times in Thursday’s editions identified dozens of other people who are tied to the Rezko case but have been identified by prosecutors only as letters of the alphabet. Like Blagojevich, none of those people has been charged in the case.

The filing by prosecutors was a response to Rezko’s defense attorneys attempts to keep certain evidence out of the trial, which is to start March 3.

Government by Rezko.No word yet from the Obama campaign on this one.