CHICAGO — A prominent fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama was convicted of fraud, money laundering and bribery Wednesday after a trial that exposed a corrupt culture of payoffs and campaign-finance abuses plaguing Illinois politics.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, 52, faces a stiff prison sentence and was immediately taken into custody after the verdict.
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald told reporters the verdict represented “an antidote to the poison of corruption” that testimony alleged included the fixing of state boards that controlled a $40 billion pension fund and made major decisions about hospital construction.
Rezko’s conviction intensifies the spotlight on his relationship with Obama. Rezko has known Obama since he entered politics, has raised money for his Illinois campaigns and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with him. Obama has donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity.
Obama is accused of no wrongdoing, but Republicans are unlikely to let voters forget about his ties to Rezko.
Obama issued a statement saying he was “saddened,” adding, “This isn’t the Tony Rezko I knew, but now he has been convicted by a jury on multiple charges that once again shine a spotlight on the need for reform.”
