From the Tribune:

Judge rejects bid by Tony Rezko to delay fraud trial
By Jeff Coen | Tribune reporter
February 15, 2008
Lawyers for Antoin "Tony" Rezko lost a bid Thursday to postpone the
politically connected businessman's upcoming fraud trial because of
media reports about the case.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve denied the defense request to delay
the March 3 trial because of pretrial publicity, court records show.
Rezko's lawyers filed the request under seal, and St. Eve handled the
matter Thursday in a brief hearing that began behind closed doors in
her chambers and was not publicly announced in advance.
Rezko's attorneys had no comment following the hearing.
Also Thursday, St. Eve declined to bar the testimony of the
government's key witness, Stuart Levine, who pleaded guilty to
scheming with Rezko to extort investment firms seeking state business.
Levine has alleged that Rezko, a former adviser and fundraiser for
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, plotted with him to solicit millions of dollars
in illegal payments and campaign contributions.
Rezko's lawyers sought to bar Levine's testimony, arguing that an FBI
summary of his statements made it impossible to determine when Levine
might have been inconsistent.
The defense argued the format would make cross-examining Levine too difficult.
In another filing, the defense argued that Levine was an unreliable
witness because of alleged drug problems.
Prosecutors countered that the government had met its obligations
under the law.
Court records show St. Eve also declined to reconsider Rezko's bond
on Thursday.
He has been jailed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown
since late last month after prosecutors raised concerns that he was a
flight risk after discovering a $3.5 million overseas payment to
Rezko.
----------