Court case makes life difficult for Barack Obama

The London Times reminds readers about the sleazy nature of Illinois politics:

The Rezko trial threatens to engulf Illinois in a new political scandal only months after George Ryan, the previous Illinois governor, was sent to jail for 6½ years for corruption while in office. In all, four former Illinois governors have been indicted for whitecollar crime since 1960 and three of them — Otto Kerner, Dan Walker and Ryan — were convicted. Mr Rezko is one of at least 11 people linked to the current governor, Rod Blagojevic, who have been charged with crimes.

Mr Blagojevic himself has been identified by the judge as the unnamed “Public Official A” in the indictment whose campaign fund stood to gain a $1.5 million donation that Mr Rezko allegedly tried to extort from an investment firm.

For a more disturbing look at Illinois style politics click on this.