Another mention of Obama in the Tony rezko trial. Another mention of Obama in the midst of corruption in Chicago. Former Rezko business associate Elie Maloof made a straw political contribution to Obama on Rezko’s behalf. Here are some exerpts from the trial on April 28, 2008:

“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.””

“Maloof said Rezko told him to keep his name out of any grand jury testimony because prosecutors were “going to tie it back to [Illinois Gov. Rod] Blagojevich.””

“According to Maloof, Rezko said the three phones were “just in case somebody’s listening,” a remark Maloof took to mean that Rezko was worried about wiretaps.”

“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.”