Blagojevich "Tony Rezko is a friend of mine, my heart goes out to him": Governor Brings up Obama

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to deflect questions Tuesday about talks between convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko and federal authorities probing corruption allegations involving his administration.

Out in public for the first time since news of his convicted former top fundraiser and adviser's negotiations to possibly become a prosecution witness broke, Blagojevich said Rezko's decision to seek a sentencing delay "speaks for itself."

"It is what it is, it speaks for itself," Blagojevich said. "Let me just say again what I've said before, Tony Rezko is a friend of mine, my heart goes out to him and to his family and he like everybody else should tell the truth. And I would point out he sent a letter, Tony Rezko sent a letter to a federal judge where he expressly said that neither Sen. Obama nor I did anything wrong and now we've got to respect the process as we've been consistently doing and just let it all unfold…"

Watch the video where Blagojevich talks about Tony Rezko's letter where Obama is mentioned.