Photo Surfaces Showing Sen. Clinton Posing With Chicago Landlord Rezko
A photograph has surfaced that purports to show Hillary Clinton posing with Bill Clinton and Chicago landlord Tony Rezko.
The unsourced photo appeared Friday morning on DrudgeReport.com.
In a televised debate earlier this week, Hillary Clinton attacked Barack Obama in a heated exchange for engaging in a land deal with Rezko while Obama was in the Illinois legislature. Obama has severed ties with the businessman, who supported Obama’s campaigns earlier in his career.
Rezko is awaiting trial next month on federal corruption charges. He was indicted on fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering counts for allegedly plotting to get campaign money and payoffs from firms seeking to do business before two state boards.
Once that trial is behind him, the 53-year-old Rezko faces a separate federal charge of swindling the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in connection with the sale of pizza restaurants.
Clinton was confronted with the photo of her with Rezko during an interview on NBC News Friday.
She said she didn’t know the man, adding, “I probably have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. … I wouldn’t know him if he walked in the door. I don’t have a 17-year-relationship with him,” alluding to Obama’s ties to Rezko.
Clinton — who was forced to sever ties with major Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu after it became known that Hsu was evading fraud charges — was asked if it was fair to attack Obama, knowing that Rezko had previously contributed to the Democratic party, and it’s impossible to completely vet all political contacts.
“There’s a big difference between standing somewhere taking a picture with someone you don’t know and haven’t seen since and having a relationship that, you know, the newspapers in Chicago have been exploring,” Clinton said.
Obama’s campaign reacted by claiming the photo proves Rezko’s prominent fundraising role for politicians across the board.
“The photo reflects the fact that Mr. Rezko was clearly involved in a wide range of fund raising for both Democrats and Republicans,” the campaign said in an initial statement.
Obama adviser David Axelrod chimed in, “If they are standing there beaming with Tony Rezko it means they knew who Tony Rezko was. He was a player, a prominent figure raising money and about town.”
Clinton’s campaign issued a statement via e-mail later Friday, with a number of links to Internet media sources that document Obama’s ties to Rezko.
“Tony Rezko has never contributed a dime to Hilary or Bill Clinton. They have no relationship with Tony Rezko,” Clinton spokesman Phil singer said. He also included a link to the political money-tracking site OpenSecrets.org, which indicates Rezko has not directly contributed to Clinton, at least as far back as 1990.
Singer then pointed to a number of stories describing Obama’s financial and political relationship with Rezko.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anyone else think that looks photoshopped? And I’m completely impartial because I”m not voting for either of them.
WHAT A BUNCH OF GARBAGE! Oh so she is “counter-punching” now? So that’s why she was forced to take down that incredibly misleading S.C. ad, and fire one of her top advisors, and have Johnson backpeddle from his outright lie.
Plus, she has even taken a picture with Tony Rezko, but denies knowing him! See MSNBC post! The gall of these people has exceeded my most wild expectations.
I’m sorry but its true, - HC will say anything, but will change nothing!!
How about a freedom of information act request to check White House records for any and all visits by Rezko during the Clinton Presidency?
To think that I was beginning to believe the lies coming from this woman who will really say anything just to get elected. A pot calling the kettle black.
I think we really need a President in the White House that doesnt have alot of baggage. It is so sad that this election has went in the gutters. This should be an election of celebration but instead it has reverted to mudslinging. Race, Gender wasnt an issue and Bill made a comment and the media took it out of context. Maybe even someone from Obama’s camp did as well. But after that incident it seems as though the gloves came off. What I am most dissapointed about is the fact that people are making an effort to distort the truth and that really scares me. If they will do it in the primaries what do you think they will do in the White House? No American should just accept that people are dishonest and look over it. It shouldnt be assumed that every Polition is that way and that is the norm. We should hold them to a higher standard and hold them accountable ACROSS THE BOARD. Dems and Rep. When American’s step up and say we will not tolerate dishonesty, tricker, slander then I think they will get the message. The Clinton and Obama fight isnt helping anyone but it is doing the opposite. Hurting the Obama camp, Clinton camp and the American People who just want to hear how we can solve our problems .
The clintons are such liars. They really need to give it up. We all know they lie. We know they always have and always will. They are power hungry. Unfortunatly for us, Americans are so misunderstanding to who and what candidates really are and do. 4 more years of this political snafu in washington will surely bring this country down even more. Its americas choice. Women-get over the fact that she is a women.
She is not being truthful about this. If he was a significant contributor, which he obviously was or the photo would not have been taken. she would not have forgotten .
Hillary Hillary Hillary…..be careful who you throw stones at….now go to the bathroom and wash your hands thoroughly cause they are DIRTY.
And I am sure you expect us to think you just take pictures with any RANDOM people right, with NO benefits to your or your Hubby…..PALEEZE.
Daggers were pouring out of Hill’s eyes when Matt Lauer asked her about the Rezko photo opp!!
Isn’t this typical of the Clintons. Deny is their middle names. I bet if you really dig, you’ll find they also accepted money from this guy.