Prosecutors considered Obama-Rezko link

CHICAGO, June 27 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in the corruption trial of Tony Rezko considered showing a tie between Rezko and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., court records indicate.

Recently unsealed documents show prosecutors sought to call witnesses to testify about the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee receiving "straw" campaign contributions made by others on Rezko's behalf, the Chicago Sun Times reported Friday.

The documents indicate prosecutors considered offering witnesses to explore why Rezko used others to contribute to Obama and to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the newspaper said. Obama gave the money to charities.

Although U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve ruled that prosecutors could introduce the testimony, it wasn't offered at trial.

A federal jury in Chicago convicted Rezko on 16 of 24 corruption counts in early June.

Besides being a fundraiser for Obama, Rezko also was linked to the senator in a real estate transaction.

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