From the Sun-Times

Jury may see details of Rezko's finances
FEDERAL COURT | Defense trying to block info
February 13, 2008
BY STEVE WARMBIR Staff Reporter
Jurors may see a detailed picture of the financial wheeling and
dealing of indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko as part of his
criminal fraud trial, in which he is accused of shaking down companies
wanting state business.
The new information comes in documents filed by the defense in an
attempt to fight the admission of that evidence, arguing it would
double the trial length.
Rezko's defense on Tuesday also filed a motion with the appellate
court to get Rezko out of jail, where he is effectively being held "in
solitary confinement" because his case is high-profile. Rezko, a
fund-raiser for presidential candidate Barack Obama and Gov.
Blagojevich, won't get a fair trial because he can't help prepare his
defense, his lawyers argue. His trial starts March 3.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve revoked Rezko's bond Jan. 28, saying
he failed to tell her about a $3.5 million loan from a billionaire
friend.
Rezko's lawyers argued to the appellate court Tuesday that Rezko was
under no obligation to tell St. Eve about the loan, and that most of
the money went to his attorneys.
Rezko is charged with scheming to shake down companies that wanted
state pension business. Prosecutors want to introduce other alleged
Rezko misdeeds, even ones he's not charged with, to provide a more
complete picture of the case against him -- something the defense
opposes.