Drudge Retort: Red Meat for Yellow Dogs

Testimony comes to quick conclusion at Rezko trial

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corky

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Background here

fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com

"Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was again drawn into Tony Rezko's corruption trial on Monday, when the prosecution's star witness placed Obama at a party for an Iraqi-born billionaire who was later barred entry to the United States.

Stuart Levine testified under cross-examination that Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the April 3, 2004, reception for Nadhmi Auchi.

News reports and now court testimony have linked presidential hopeful Barack Obama with Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi through Tony Rezko.

Here's a rundown:

March 11, 2004 -- Obama met Middle Eastern bankers at the Four Seasons hotel in Chicago at a reception hosted by Rezko, who was courting potential investors for a 62-acre South Loop development. Auchi later took control of that project but did not attend, sources say.

April 1, 2004 -- Auchi flew in to Midway Airport on a private plane and attended a Four Seasons reception hosted by Gov. Blagojevich. Rezko planned the event and was there. Obama was not.

April 3, 2004 -- Auchi attended a dinner party at Rezko's Wilmette mansion. Obama and his wife, Michelle, also were there, according to testimony Monday at Rezko's corruption trial. The Obama campaign's response: "Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."

Oct. 11, 2006 -- Charges against Rezko announced.

Jan. 28, 2008 -- Rezko was jailed for withholding details of his finances -- including a $3.5 million payment from an Auchi company in April 2007.

Auchi -- who lives in London -- had been convicted of fraud in France in 2003. After visiting Chicago and Detroit in 2004, he wasn't allowed back into this country in 2005, according to a prosecution filing in the Rezko case.

The April 3, 2004, gathering for Auchi took place at Rezko's mansion in Wilmette, with about 100 people attending, Levine testified.

"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there, were they not?" Rezko's lawyer, Joseph Duffy, asked.

"Yes, sir," Levine said.

Later Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said: "As he has said previously, Senator Obama does not recall meeting Nadhmi Auchi at any time or on any occasion, and this includes any event that may have been held for Mr. Auchi. Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."

But according to two sources familiar with the gathering, the Obamas attended the Wilmette reception, which came less than a month after Obama's Democratic primary win for his U.S. Senate seat. Rezko had been a key fund-raiser for Obama, who has since given to charity nearly $160,000 in Rezko-linked contributions."

www.suntimes.com

ugh.


So it appears that Tony "The Other Shoe" Rezko is willing to take the hit on these charges to keep Auchi (and Obama?) out of a full-blown defence presentation in this case.

Between the Rev Wrong and Mr Rezko, one has to believe that Barrack Obama is in both personality and policy the polar opposite of both of these long-time close associates and friends.

Maybe he is, but stretching credulity is becoming a habit with him.

With friends like these, who needs enemas?


-ugh

Auchi is known as a collector of politicians, owning more than a few in Britain and more in Europe and the Middle East.

I really want to believe Obama when I hear him speak, but WTF?

Were Edwards and Kucinich really such unacceptable choices in the face of this?

WTF?


Same here. He IS my VP choice, after all. ;^D

Policy-wise, Dennis the K and Elizabeth the Red Giant were my first choices. Go single-payer!

I had a scary thought about character...
Do you think that either he or Clinton will put all those tasty new expanded executive powers that Bush has unleashed on the world back in the box?

My god, who TF are these madmen?

Notice nobody is taking the bait on this story? LOL


LOL

As far as Obama goes, this is the popular posture.

thethreemonkeys.com

I think Clinton mentioned early on something about having her VP report what needed to be done to scale back the powers recently afforded to that position.


Yes, where are all the usual suspects today?

Voting for Obama.


That's a relief.

At least they aren't here 'splaining how Obama is the polar opposite of Rezko on politics and Wright on race.

Corky - don't know what you do for a living, but my living is the law. There is only one reason that a defense team rests without putting on a case, its cause the prosecution has not proved theirs. That their star witness is a convicted liar doesn't help.

I am sorry that this trial which had you salivating for the "smoking gun" which was going to sink Obama turned out to be such a damp squib for you. Hillary must be crying in her boilermakers.

Go ahead, type some inane response that begins "ah Litl Britney" because you don't have the guts to admit that your "smoking gun" was firing blanks.

you don't have the guts to admit that your "smoking gun" was firing blanks.

Posted by Litlebritdifrnt


Corky's "gun" has been firing blanks since his Domme cut off his balls.

But right on. You don't expose your defense if the burden of the prosecution is not met. Apparently it failed, and a guy like Rez has the bucks to hire the best, and that includes a specialist who does nothing but analyze the jury.

Pretty much takes the teeth out of the Hound...I mean...Hillary.

Corky, the only thing I think of when you type "LOL" is Lost Obama's Luggage.

you failed Corky admit it

-but my living is the law. There is only one reason that a defense team rests without putting on a case, its cause the prosecution has not proved theirs.


"Before jurors left, St. Eve cautioned them to not read anything into the decision by Rezko's defense team not to put on a case. It is not unusual for criminal defendants to refrain from testifying or for their lawyers to call no witnesses.

St. Eve took under advisement a motion from Rezko's lawyers asking her to dismiss the charges against their client, arguing that the government's case had not met an even minimal burden of proof to find him guilty. Such motions also are routine at this phase of criminal trials and rarely are granted."

Remind me never to waste a retainer on you, Lil' Britney.

BWHAHAHAHA Too fucking funny.

Larry

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