By CHRISTOPHER WILLS Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Mar 10, 2008 (AP)
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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has been questioning her rival Sen. Barack Obama's relationship to political donor Tony Rezko, now on trial for fraud — particularly Rezko's involvement in the purchase of Obama's Chicago home. Here's a look at what's going on and what it means:
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Q: Who is Tony Rezko?
A: Antoin "Tony" Rezko is a millionaire Chicago businessman who has long helped young politicians raise money and make connections. Raised in Syria, he moved to Chicago to study engineering but wound up making money in real estate and fast food. He is now on trial in federal court on mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and attempted extortion charges.
Q: What is his relationship to Obama?
A: He's been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed. Rezko and his family donated at least $21,457 to Obama — and helped raise tens of thousands more — for his campaigns in Illinois, though not for his presidential bid. He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time.
Q: Why is Rezko on trial?
A: Prosecutors allege he tried to shake down companies seeking contracts from Illinois regulatory boards for campaign contributions and payoffs. They say he used his influence with Gov. Rod Blagojevich to get people appointed to the boards and then threatened to have them block contracts unless the companies paid millions of dollars in kickbacks.
Q: What does that have to do with Obama?
A: Nothing. No one has alleged that Obama has anything to do with the charges against Rezko, nor has Obama been charged with any wrongdoing. Obama has donated to charity the money that Rezko donated to his campaigns, as well as money from other Rezko friends and partners, a total of $150,000.
Q: Did Rezko help Obama buy his Chicago home?
An Obama-Rezko Primer
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By CHRISTOPHER WILLS Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Mar 10, 2008 (AP)
Font Size
E-mail
Print
Share
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has been questioning her rival Sen. Barack Obama's relationship to political donor Tony Rezko, now on trial for fraud — particularly Rezko's involvement in the purchase of Obama's Chicago home. Here's a look at what's going on and what it means:
Top Politics stories
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer Tells Advisers of Links to Prostitution RingObama: I'm Not Running For Vice PresidentThe Note: Dem Battle Tests Political MettleRelated Topics
Barack Obama Rod Blagojevich Republican Party
Q: Who is Tony Rezko?
A: Antoin "Tony" Rezko is a millionaire Chicago businessman who has long helped young politicians raise money and make connections. Raised in Syria, he moved to Chicago to study engineering but wound up making money in real estate and fast food. He is now on trial in federal court on mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and attempted extortion charges.
Q: What is his relationship to Obama?
A: He's been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed. Rezko and his family donated at least $21,457 to Obama — and helped raise tens of thousands more — for his campaigns in Illinois, though not for his presidential bid. He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time.
Q: Why is Rezko on trial?
A: Prosecutors allege he tried to shake down companies seeking contracts from Illinois regulatory boards for campaign contributions and payoffs. They say he used his influence with Gov. Rod Blagojevich to get people appointed to the boards and then threatened to have them block contracts unless the companies paid millions of dollars in kickbacks.
Q: What does that have to do with Obama?
A: Nothing. No one has alleged that Obama has anything to do with the charges against Rezko, nor has Obama been charged with any wrongdoing. Obama has donated to charity the money that Rezko donated to his campaigns, as well as money from other Rezko friends and partners, a total of $150,000.
Q: Did Rezko help Obama buy his Chicago home?
An Obama-Rezko Primer
123Next
| Comment on This Story