“Obama Bagman” in Jail [UPDATED]
By SusanUnPC on February 14, 2008 at 11:16 PM in Barack Obama, Chicago politics, Nadhmi Auchi, Tony Rezko
From the UK’s TimesOnline: “Obama bagman is sent to jail over $3.5m payment by British tycoon“:
An undeclared $3.5 million (£1.8 million) payment from a corrupt Iraqi-British businessman has landed Barack Obama’s former fundraiser behind bars.
The payment, disclosed in court papers, is the first time that Mr Obama’s long-serving bagman Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a Syrian immigrant to the United States, has been linked to Nadhmi Auchi, the Iraqi-born billionaire who is one of Britain’s richest men. The relationship is a potential embarrassment for Mr Obama, who has made his opposition to the Iraq war a central plank of his campaign.
Court papers describe Mr Rezko as a close friend of Mr Auchi. The two are involved in a large Chicago land development together. But it is unclear how long the two men have known each other or whether they were linked before the 2003 Iraq war. Neither side would discuss their relationship.
The Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money to Mr Obama’s fundraiser in May 2005.
As you’ll recall, Larry Johnson wrote an article — “Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?” — about another item in the same Times article today: “According to prosecution documents Mr Rezko tried to persuade unnamed Illinois officials to help Mr Auchi to get a US visa after he was convicted of fraud in France. Mr Obama’s aides deny that he was approached.” Today, Larry received a letter from Mr. Auchi’s solicitor:
The solicitor wrote to Larry in the hope of clarifying Mr. Auchi’s positions. We’ll let you be the judge of that. Here is the letter in PDF format (I cannot copy the text for reprinting here):
Larry wrote a response to the solicitor:
Dear Ms. Guiney,
For the record, can you please explain why Mr. Auchi allowed the substantial sum of money to be wired to Mr. Rezko? Also, would you please explain under what circumstances they became business partners and what the nature of that business was? It strikes me odd that someone of Mr. Auchi’s wealth would want to get in bed with someone like Mr. Rezko. Seems to defy commonsense.
Also, I have been told that your firm has had contact with a person or persons connected to Senator Barack Obama. Is that true?
Sincerely yours,
Larry Johnson
Larry awaits Ms. Guiney’s response.
UPDATE: REZKOWATCH has more.
60% Off at $84.00: 
OR buy the DVD version for 40% off at $20.99: 
DVD Version: 
- An account of the steady growth of President Clinton as a master of the game of nations.
