Barack Obama and campaign contributor Antoin "Tony" Rezko



Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a shady Chicago, Illinois, political fund-raiser, have been "friends" for 17 years. As a lawyer at the small Chicago law firm Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland, Obama "worked on low-income housing deals involving Rezko's company" Rezmar Corp. Rezko "has been Obama's political patron since he ran for the Illinois Senate a dozen years ago. Obama has apologized for buying a piece of property from Rezko's wife [in 2006] to expand his yard," the Chicago-Sun Times reported April 23, 2007.

"Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko's low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems -- including squalid living conditions, vacant apartments, lack of heat, squatters and drug dealers," Novak wrote.

"Rezmar kept getting city and state funding, even as earlier projects fell into disrepair and financial troubles. But their company, Rezmar Corp., did come up with $1,000 to give to the political campaign fund of Barack Obama, the newly elected state senator whose district included the unheated building," Novak wrote.

Iraqi power plant contract and Rezko

 * Chris Fusco, "Iraqi with ties to Rezko escapes Baghdad jail," Chicago Sun-Times, December 20, 2006.
 * B Merry, "Rezko's power plant in Iraq," RezkoWatch, February 5, 2008.

United States of America v. Stuart Levine and Antoin Rezko, also known as "Tony Rezko"
Indictment: United States of America v. Stuart Levein and Antoin Rezko, also known as "Tony Rezko," 2005-2 Grand Jury, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Indictment includes 24 counts, including counts for mail fraud, wire fraud, attempted extortion, solicitation of funds, and money laundering.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported January 19, 2008, that Sen. Obama has been confirmed to be the "unnamed 'political candidate' referred to" in the above cited indictment.


 * Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate” referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in “sham” finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.


 * Rezko, who was part of Obama’s senatorial finance committee, also is accused of directing “at least one other individual” to donate money to Obama and then reimbursing that individual — in possible violation of federal election law.

2006

 * David Jackson and John Chase, "Rezko's life a story of pizza and politics," Chicago Tribune, October 12, 2006.
 * "Obama says arrangements with Rezko proper: paper," Associated Press (Crain's Chicago Business), November 1, 2006.
 * John Kass, "Obama fuzzy on fence that Tony built," Chicago Tribune, November 2, 2006.
 * "Obama, Rezko ...," Chicago Tribune, November 3, 2006.
 * "Obama Regrets Arrangements With Rezko. Senator Acknowledged That The Dealings Could Appear Inappropriate," Associated Press (CBS2Chicago), November 4, 2006.
 * Dave McKinney and Chris Fusco, "Obama on Rezko deal: It was a mistake," Chicago Sun-Times, November 5, 2006.
 * Lynn Sweet, "Sweet column: Obama, what was he thinking" and "The Obama Chronicles: Waukegan interview transcript. On Rezko, mistakes and being held to a high standard," Chicago Sun-Times, November 7, 2006.
 * Ian Bishop, "Barackground Info: Ultra-Lib Record & Land-Buy Flap," New York Post, December 12, 2006.
 * Peter Slevin, "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser. Senator Bought a Parcel From His Neighbor, a Now-Indicted Political Operative," Washington Post, December 17, 2006.
 * Conor Clarke, "Barack Obama's non-scandal. Show Trial," The New Republic Online, December 20, 2006.
 * "The first major non-scandal of the 2008 campaign," The Carpetbagger Report, December 21, 2006.
 * "The Trib Plays Gotcha With Obama," The RealClearPolitics Blog/TIME Magazine, December 23, 2006.
 * Frank Main, "Obama's Rezko ties deeper than land deal," Chicago Sun-Times, December 23, 2006.
 * Frank Main, "Internship also links Obama, Rezko. Fund-raiser asked senator to hire contributor's son," Chicago Sun-Times, December 24, 2006.
 * "More Obama Problems," Second City Cop Blogspot, December 26, 2006.
 * "Intern For Barack Obama Linked To Fundraiser," Associated Press (CBS2Chicago.com), December 26, 2006.
 * Irene, "Obama Close With Indicted Fundraiser," Corruption Chronicles, December 27, 2006.
 * "Obama Scandal," The Sunday Times in The Australian (The Conservative Resistance Blog), December 29, 2006.

2007

 * Andy Martin, "Obama for President? Be serious," Political Gateway, January 17, 2007.
 * Chris Fusco and Dave McKinney, "Obama's new neighbor causing fuss," Chicago Sun-Times, February 23, 2007.
 * Tim Novak, Chicago Sun-Times, April 23, 2007:
 * "Sun-Times' questions, and Obama campaign's answers"
 * "Rezmar deals involving Davis Miner law firm"


 * Tim Novak, Chicago Sun-Times, April 24, 2007:
 * "Broken promises, broken homes"
 * "Obama: I didn't know about Rezko problems"


 * "The Pit and the Pendulum," HillaryIs44.org, April 28, 2007.
 * "Will Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald Destroy the Obama Campaign?" HillaryIs44.org, April 30, 2007. See Rezko indictment.
 * "Obama's Log Cabin," HillaryIs44.org, May 1, 2007.
 * Lynn Sweet, "Sweet column: FTR/A look at Obama's Rezko explanation; Springfield lobbyists; Sudan divestment and citizen reporters putting Michelle on radar," Chicago Sun-Times, May 17, 2007.
 * "Obama - Turning Pages, Part II," HillaryIs44.org, June 10, 2007.
 * David Jackson and John McCormick, "Critics: Obama endorsements counter calls for clean government," Chicago Tribune, June 12, 2007.
 * Tim Novak, "Obama's letters for Rezko. As a state senator, he went to bat for now-indicted developer's deal," Chicago Sun-Times, June 13, 2007.
 * Christopher Drew and Mike McIntire, "An Obama Patron and Friend Until an Indictment," New York Times, June 14, 2007.
 * "Old Chicago Politics - Obama Style," HillaryIs44.org, June 14, 2007.
 * "The Senator from Rezko, Part I," HillaryIs44.org, June 18, 2007.
 * "The Senator From Rezko, Part II," HillaryIs44.org, June 21, 2007.
 * James L. Merriner, "Mr. Inside Out," Chicago Magazine, November 2007. re relationship with Obama; see page 3.
 * Tim Novak, "Lot next to Obama can be yours for $1.5M. Senator drew flak for land's ties to Tony Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, October 10, 2007.
 * Kristen McQueary, "State officials' Web sites dig up fundraising stink," Daily Southtown (Chicago), October 25, 2007.
 * James L. Merriner, "Mr. Inside Out," Chicago Magazine, November 2007.
 * Ben Smith, "Obama reformer," The Politico, December 28, 2007.

2008

 * olemole, "Obama Purchased $1.6 Million Mansion After 2004 Election," BostonNOW, January 7, 2008.
 * Domenico Montanaro, "Rezko Trial Won't Be Delayed," First Read/MSNBC, January 8, 2008.
 * Tom Fitten, "Barack Obama's Whitewater?" The Conservative Voice, January 9, 2008.
 * Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, "The Rezko Connection: Obama's Achilles Heel? Obama's Connection With an Accused Political Fixer Raises Questions," ABC News, January 10, 2008.
 * B Merry, "Obama fairy tale has Chicago size hole," TaylorMarsh.com, January 10, 2008.
 * Jeff Dinelli, "Obama Can't Shake Connections To Chicago Insider In Trouble With FBI," The Left Coaster, January 10, 2008.
 * admin, "REZKO for Dummies," HillaryIs44.org, Janaury 11, 2008.
 * admin, "Bribes, Kickbacks, Extortion, OH MY!" HillaryIs44.org, January 12, 2008.
 * admin, "REZKO for Dummies, Part II," HillaryIs44.org, January 13, 2008.
 * DemAC, "So what if Barack Obama knows Tony Rezko. Why should we care?" Daily Kos, January 13, 2008.
 * Dan Morain, "Obama passes on donations. He'll give $40,350 in campaign contributions to charity after filings for a patron's kickback trial suggest the money is tainted," Los Angeles Times, January 20, 2008.
 * Andy Martin, "Crime-fighting U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will disclose new pieces of the Obama-Rezko puzzle at a Sunday news conference," PR-Inside.com, January 20, 2008.
 * David Jackson, "Obama to return Rezko-linked donations. $40,000 more will be donated to charities," Chicago Tribune, January 20, 2008.
 * Transcript: Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate in South Carolina, CNN, January 21, 2008.
 * Larry Johnson, "Didn’t Obama Watch the Firm?" TPMCafe, January 21, 2008.
 * truthteller2007, "FACT CHECK: Obama, His Contributor Rezko, the Slum Landlord Business," MyDD, January 22, 2008.
 * Martin Lewis, "Obama & The 'Slum-Lord': Smear Or Time-Bomb Scandal?" The Huffington Post, January 22, 2008.
 * Mike Robinson, "Obama's Relationship With Alleged Fixer," Associated Press, January 22, 2008.
 * Taylor Marsh, "Obama's Faustian Bargain with Antoin 'Tony' Rezko," TaylorMarsh.com, January 22, 2008.
 * "Fact Check: Sen. Obama Claims 'Nobody Had An Inkling' About Rezko," The Fact Hub/Hillary Hub, January 23, 2008.
 * "Undue Diligence Toward Obama," Washington Post, January 23, 2008.
 * Mike Robinson, "Obama ties to embattled donor go back over 15 years," Associated Press (Boston Globe), January 23, 2008.
 * Lynn Sweet, "Rumbles over Rezko. Clinton insists Obama hasn't returned all donations tied to fund-raiser," Chicago Sun-Times, January 23, 2008.
 * Dan Morain and Tom Hamburger, "Longtime patron may be a problem for Obama. Alleged slumlord and indicted businessman Antoin 'Tony' Rezko has long supported the Democratic presidential hopeful, who has returned related donations," Los Angeles Times, January 23, 2008.
 * Bob Secter, David Jackson and Ray Gibson, "Obama-Rezko ties again at issue," Chicago Tribune, January 23, 2008.
 * Joseph Ryan, "Clinton plays up Obama's ties to Rezko," Chicago Daily Herald, January 23, 2008.
 * "Clinton Scoffs at Obama's 'No Inkling' of Rezko Woes. Clinton Launches Toughest Attack Yet on Rival Over Ties to Indicted Realtor," ABC News, January 23, 2008.
 * Taylor Marsh, "Obama's Bernie Kerik," TaylorMarsh.com, January 23, 2008.
 * Martin Lewis, "Obama Clears It Up: 'I Did Not Have Fiscal Relations With That Individual, Mr Rezko...'," The Huffington Post, January 23, 2008.
 * "Tie to indicted developer tests Obama's image," Chicago Tribune'/Los Angeles Times (Seattle Times''), January 24, 2008.
 * "Barack Obama mired in claims over link to 'crooked slum landlord'," Times Online (UK), January 24, 2008.
 * "8 things you need to know about Obama and Rezko. Tale in national spotlight, thanks to Clinton," Chicago Sun-Times, January 24, 2008.
 * David Ingram, "Rezko Connection: Telling truth, finding the facts," Charlotte Observer, January 24, 2008.
 * Dan Payne, "Worrying About Obama," Boston Globe, January 24, 2008.
 * Mark Brown, "Time for Obama to come clean. To dismiss Rezko as 'somebody who I knew' just isn't going to cut it," Chicago Sun-Times, January 24, 2008.
 * Jake Tapper, "Rezko-a-rama," Political Punch Blog/ABC News, January 24, 2008.
 * "'Rezko-gate' details emerge," UPI, January 24, 2008.
 * susanhu, "Obama/Rezko: It Comes Down to Judgment" (with updates), MyDD, January 24, 2008.
 * susanhu, "CNN on Rezko and Obama: This Is Obama's Slumwater," MyDD, January 25, 2008.
 * Avni Patel and Rehab El-Buri, "How Much Did an Accused Political Fixer Raise for Obama? ABCNews.com Review Shows an Additional $100,000 in Rezko-Linked Contributions Not Returned by the Campaign," ABC News, January 25, 2008.
 * susanhu, "BREAKING: ABC News Reports $100,000 From Rezko That Obama Hasn't Returned/Given Away," MyDD, January 25, 2008.
 * Philip Sherwell, "Barack Obama challenged over 'slumlord' ties," Telegraph (UK), January 27, 2008.
 * susanhu, "Look Before You Leap: Obama's Mobbed-Up Allies," MyDD, January 27, 2008.

RezkoWatch articles
The following articles and more are posted at RezkoWatch.


 * John Batchelor, "Rezko Connections: More Questions for Obama," March 3, 2008.
 * John Batchelor, "Rezko Connections: More Reasons Obama Should Worry," March 6, 2008.
 * "Obama's personal real estate fairy," March 6, 2008.
 * "More on Rezko's slum housing, Obama's district," March 12, 2008.
 * "Obama "dropped in" to do Rezko favors," March 13, 2008.
 * "More Rezko dough found," March 16, 2008.
 * "New list of Rezko-related donors," March 16, 2008.
 * "Rezko and the Emir of Qatar," March 17, 2008.

External resources

 * "Fact Sheet: Tony Rezko," The Fact Hub/HillaryClinton.com, January 25, 2008.
 * "Obama Watch," Chicago Tribune.
 * Rezko's campaign contributions: See NewsMeat; FEC 1; and FEC 2.