Antoin "Tony" Rezko is an Illinois Real Estate Developer facing federal charges of extortion, money laundering and fraud to help his longtime friend and business partner Barack Obama (D-IL) With influential friends, Tony Rezko was able to help his "Business Associate" Joseph Aramanda Son, secure a position at the Senator's office.
Tony Rezko has been indicted in Federal Court for attempting to collect in excess of $6 Million Dollars in "kick-backs" from government deals and attempting to shakedown a Hollywood Producer for $1.50 Million Dollars in campaign contributions for Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL)
Barack Obama and Tony Rezko have been associates for more than 15 years since helping the Illinois Senator raise $60,000.00 in campaign contributions. (After Tony Rezko's indictment, Mr. Obama donated $11,500.00 to charity, representing some donations from Tony Rezko)
Despite Senator Obama's charitable gift of $11,500.00 subsequently in April of this year the Chicago Sun Times detailed a continuing relationship with Tony Rezko and Sen. Obama. This month the Chicago Sun Times was reporting that Sen. Obama began writing letters to both the City of Chicago and Illinois government officials on Tony Rezko's behalf, to assist the indicted Rezko in securing $14 Million Dollars in real estate financing, including $885,000 in "Development Fees" for Allison Davis who was Sen. Obama's former employer.
In the federal corruption case against Tony Rezko, Joseph Armanda allegedly received $250,000.00 in "kick-backs" to donate to Illinois Governor Blagojevich.
In October 2006 the government has alleged that Tony Rezko, staged false financial transactions in order to secure a $10 Million Dollar loan through GE Capital
On June 18, 2007 it was documented according to federal financial disclosure records that Senator Obama has received over $168,000 from Tony Rezko and his Business Associates (Chicago Sun Times)
If any Republican Member of Congress would have such close connections to organized crime, the Democratic Leadership would be holding Congressional Hearings and subpoenaing documents. The liberal media would be interrupting television coverage with "Breaking News" stories and would be covering this story round the clock as they have with every new development in the Paris Hilton saga.
