Governor's Pal Indicted

Sun Times:

Businessman Antoin Rezko, a member of Gov. Blagojevich’s inner circle, and GOP insider Stuart Levine shook down investment firms for millions of dollars in kickbacks looking to do business with a state teachers pension fund, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.

While Levine had been charged in the case before and is cooperating with the feds, the indictment marks the first time Rezko has been charged and represents the closest federal investigators have come to Blagojevich’s inner circle.

Rezko, 51, of Wilmette, is implicated in crooked deals with more than half a dozen investment firms.

Also Tribune:

Rezko and Blagojevich met in the early 1990s when Blagojevich was a state representative from the Northwest Side, Rezko said last year in an interview with the Tribune. The two families also became close personally, with Rezko and Blagojevich's wife, Patti, a real estate broker, working on several deals together and earning Patti Blagojevich at least $38,000 in fees.

Another close, personal friendship.

Previous related post here. Also this on Rezko, "Follow the Money".

No wonder the governor is ducking debates.