Rezko And Rove - The Fix Wasn't In

The Chicago Tribune has an interesting bit on how the Chicago Machine was attempting to shut down the investigation of Rezko and friends.

Former Rezko business associate Elie Maloof is testifying about a conversation he had with Rezko in February 2005 after Maloof received a grand jury subpoena. Maloof, who was involved in a Rezko business deal involving pizza franchises that led to a separate criminal case against Rezko, said he went to Rezko's Wilmette home to tell him about the subpoena.

He said Rezko cautioned him to reveal little. The investigation would soon be going away, Maloof said Rezko told him. "The federal prosecutor will no longer be the same federal prosecutor," Maloof testified that Rezko said. Maloof said Rezko explained "that Patrick Fitzgerald will be terminated and that Dennis Hastert will name his replacement."

The effect of that, Maloof said Rezko explained, would be that a new U.S. attorney would "order the prosecutor to stop the investigation."

Last week, prosecutors said another witness, Ali Ata, is expected to testify later this week that Rezko told him in November 2004 that a plan was in the works to have Republican National Committeeman Robert Kjellander lean on his friend Karl Rove, then the White House political guru, to fire Fitzgerald and kill the Rezko investigation.

Wow. Fortunately nothing happened and here we are.

Another interesting bit is how Obama keeps leaking into the trial.

Before the trial began, prosecutors identified Maloof as one of at least two people who made straw political contributions to candidates on Rezko's behalf. One of the recipients of Maloof's money was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. Obama has donated the funds to charity. But Obama's name did not come up during Maloof's testimony.

At some point I expect the connections will get deeper and this will be another dagger in Obama's side. Not yet fatal, but it is going to hurt.

H/T TalkLeft via Insty