Tony Rezko's long arm

It's a tragedy. Moms always tell you to be careful about the crowd you hang with... poor Barack wasn't listening. He'll pay dearly.

Sun-Times Exclusive: Obama surfaces in Rekzo's federal corruption case

Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate” referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in “sham” finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.

Rezko, who was part of Obama’s senatorial finance committee, also is accused of directing “at least one other individual” to donate money to Obama and then reimbursing that individual — in possible violation of federal election law.

Update: Rich is tracking. It was the first thing my wife told me coming home from shopping this afternoon. And she doesn't care for politics much...

Update: More today on donations to the Senater campaign Obama will return,

The money his campaign said Saturday would be given away includes three $10,000 contributions from donors the campaign identified as having connections to Rezko: Michel Malek, Craig Morgan and Elie Maloof. Malek is a neurosurgeon who Rezko recommended for appointment to a state board involved with Rezko's alleged wrongdoing.