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Closing arguments underway for Rezko fraud trial
05/12/2008 13:17:21
By Nick Gale
Talk of money laundering and back-door deals were the highlights of the government's closing arguments in the Tony Rezko corruption trial. During closing arguments today, assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar talked of how Rezko had control of the Teachers Retirement System through Stewart Levine. Levine, who was a TRS board member, had testified that he pushed investments through the TRS board for Rezko.
"One in five investments gets into TRS," Schar said. "Getting in is very critical, getting to the board is essential."
Schar talked about Rezko's link to Chris Kelly, a former political fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Schar said it was crucial for Rezko to "take care of" Chris Kelly.
"Rezko had to take care of Chris Kelly," Schar said. "Ali Ata loaned $50,000 to Rezko in November 2004, and took a drive down to Chris Kelly's house. Kelly's watching college foot ball; they walk in with a bag of $50,000 and they walk out without it. That shows right there that Rezko had to take care of Chris Kelly."
Rezko is accused of being the mastermind behind several pay-to-play scams, and shaking down a Hollywood producer for political contributions for Blagojevich.
The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
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