From the Sun-Times:

Insiders to testify on Rezko's clout
FRAUD TRIAL | Gov's staffers to detail Rezko's 'significant influence,' feds say
February 8, 2008
BY CHRIS FUSCO AND STEVE WARMBIR Staff Reporters
Insiders from Gov. Blagojevich's administration will testify in the
upcoming fraud trial of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko that Rezko
was "one of a handful of extremely powerful political leaders" who had
"significant influence" on gubernatorial appointments, according to a
new federal court filing.
The document shows in the most detail yet how deeply federal
investigators are probing into the inner workings of the governor's
office.
Witnesses for the prosecution include people "who helped select and
process" gubernatorial appointees to state boards and commissions,
according to the filing.
Prosecutors for the first time also said they have "internal
governor's office documents" that show Rezko was the "political
sponsor" of four people who became members of a scandal-tainted
government board that was involved in kickback schemes Rezko allegedly
helped orchestrate.
"Individuals who helped select and process candidates for boards and
commissions will testify that Rezko had weekly meetings with the head
of patronage for the [Blagojevich] administration, where Rezko
provided names of individuals he wanted appointed to certain boards,"
prosecutors wrote in a 31-page document filed late Wednesday.
Until now, prosecutors had not disclosed that people involved in the
governor's process for vetting appointees would be testifying against
Rezko. The revelation marks yet another headache for Blagojevich, who
already is being dogged by government accusations that Rezko tried to
shake down a company seeking state business for $1.5 million in
political contributions to the governor's campaign fund.
The governor's office responded to the development with the following statement:
"The Governor has always been interested in finding well-qualified
people from diverse backgrounds to serve in state government,"
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said. "We've said before that
Mr. Rezko recommended candidates to the administration, as did many
other people including members of the United States Congress, local
elected officials, members of the Illinois General Assembly, Supreme
Court Justices, supporters and others — from both political parties."
Blagojevich has denied being part of the Rezko case, though sources
familiar with the case say he is the uncharged "Public Official A"
referenced in recent court filings.
The Chicago Sun-Times in Thursday's editions identified dozens of
other people who are tied to the Rezko case but have been identified
by prosecutors only as letters of the alphabet. Like Blagojevich, none
of those people has been charged in the case.
The filing by prosecutors was a response to Rezko's defense attorneys
attempts to keep certain evidence out of the trial, which is to start
March 3.
The case has drawn national attention because of Rezko's fund-raising
ties to Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, who was
involved in a real estate transaction with Rezko's wife at a time in
2006 when Rezko was widely known to be under federal investigation.
Besides outlining that unnamed people familiar with the governor's
hiring process will testify against Rezko, prosecutors indicated they
have several witnesses to support testimony by Stuart Levine, who has
admitted guilt in the schemes and is cooperating with the government.
Blagojevich re-appointed Levine to two state panels — the state
Teachers' Retirement System board and Illinois Health Facilities
Planning Board — that Levine and Rezko allegedly used to illegally
enrich themselves and others.
The government's other witnesses include former TRS counsel Steven
Loren, lawyer and Democratic fund-raiser Joseph Cari and construction
magnate Jacob Kiferbaum — all of whom also have pleaded guilty. Loren
and Cari are expected to testify about Rezko's role in the teachers
pension board fraud schemes, while Kiferbaum will discuss Rezko's
involvement in a kickback scheme involving construction of new
hospitals overseen by the health-facilities board.
The document also spells out alleged wrongdoing by Springfield power
broker William F. Cellini, who sources say is the "Co-Schemer A"
referenced in court filings. Rezko has argued that Cellini should not
be a part of the evidence against him because the government has not
charged Cellini with any crimes or even interviewed him.
But prosecutors said Cellini "participated in a number of corrupt
aspects of the scheme" and "there are many other explanations that can
account for the failure to charge or interview an individual other
than innocence."
Rezko, 52, of Wilmette was jailed last month after prosecutors said he
received a $3.5 million payment from an Iraqi-born billionaire and was
taking other steps that made it appear he might flee the country.
Contributing: Rummana HussainThe witness list
February 8, 2008
In their new filing, prosecutors for the first time identify several
people who will testify against Tony Rezko, the political fund-raiser
accused of illegally using two state boards to enrich himself and his
associates. Some witnesses are mentioned by name, others by letters of
the alphabet. The Sun-Times identified the unnamed people through
sources familiar with the case. A list of others tied to the case is
at suntimes.com.
Witnesses who have pleaded guilty in the schemes allegedly involving Rezko:
* Stuart Levine, Blagojevich appointee to two state boards
* Joseph Cari, former Democratic political fund-raiser
* Steven Loren, former outside counsel to the state Teachers'
Retirement System board on which Levine sat
* Jacob Kiferbaum, construction magnate involved in hospital-building projects
Witnesses who have not been charged:
* Co-Schemer C: Sheldon Pekin, businessman involved with TRS
* Co-Schemer F: Charles Hannon, businessman who was involved with TRS
and whose wife is a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities
Planning Board on which Levine sat
* Individual EE: Imad Almanaseer, former planning board member
* Individual J: Tom Rosenberg, movie producer allegedly shaken down
for campaign contributions to Blagojevich
* TRS Staffer A: Scott Parrish
* TRS Staffer B: ?
* Unnamed "individuals who helped select and process candidates for
boards and commissions" under Blagojevich
Possible witnesses:
* Individual N: Jon Bauman, Teachers' Retirement System executive director
* Individual DD: Thomas Beck, former chairman of the Illinois Health
Facilities Planning Board