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.
I just wanted to say with all the smart, intelligent people in America and MSNBC it surprises me that anyone would fall for such a planted photo. Matt Lauer at MSNBC, are these the same fools who the Virginia Tech killer used to spread his message of hate. They never learn. Okay, let me state the obvious and remind everyone to use their common sense. Most of us have taken photos with celebrities or vips where ever it may be. Who is the photo most important to? You or the party “you eagerly” wanted to take the photo with? Tell the truth now ….this isn’t an Obama or Hillary question. So you would be the only person that would find value in such a photo. So put yourself in the place of Rezko in this Clinton photo, why would the Clintons care they are the celebrities in this photo? Conclusion, the photo belongs to Rezko or one of his family members or one of his “buddies” who conveniently planted the photo a day before the South Carolina primary. MSNBC you sure do enjoy being used don’t you???
Obama the Oreo 08
I’m a senior citizen and I’m also still a trusting person but after reading all of the replies I feel very very depressed. I’m hoping whatever time I have left here it can be good and we all elect the right person for the job. I love my Country and do remember the time growing up when things were so much more simple. Hope I didn’t bore everyone.
I agree with Nancy. This looks Photoshopped to me.
So what is the big deal about Obamas funding. Bill took contributions from the Chinese Comunist Army during his campaigns and Hillary is laundering funds thru Bills library from the same guys and other unsavory guys. And somebody makes a stink about Obamas funding! this whole senario is a crooked as can be and where is the media investigation???? Fat Chance.
These Clinton supporters are so lame and so blind. Don’t you people remember all the criminal activity that the Clintons did while in office? What about giving North Korea the 2 nucelar reactors and giving the Chinese National security intelligence? Thats just the tip of the ice berg.
All the people that say “we made a good living whie bubba was in office” obviously don’t give a hoot about anything but yourselves. What about America? What about your children? Thats why we are in this mess we’re in because of people with no morals voting for people with no morals, The Clintons!
Yeah BUSH is a crook and so are the Clintons, the only difference is, there will be 2 crooks in the white house this time! How can Bill even get a security clearance? He is a traitor and a crook and so is the whole political system, the DNC and Republican Party and the main stream Media and anybody else that does not do its best to remind Americans of the damage that the Clintons did to this country. So far it looks like everyone except 70% of the American people are downright traitors and just plain stupid!
Everything the Clints accuse the opposition or Republicans of either doing or suggesting, you can bet that this in fact is what the Clintons, under cover with no press publicity, either have done or are now in the process of doing. Just their little ploy game even if it involves lying,thievery,or the intentional destruction or
whoever is their opposition. Anf they get away with it
Isn’t it HILLARIOUS!!!!!! Icant do anything but laugh shame shame shame!!!!!!!!
It’s interesting how Bill Clinton set up this LIE for Senator Clinton, knowing full well he was being a hypocrite in doing so.
Sadly, for the GOP, they have no decent candidates to speak of - so this won’t be useful to them.
This is the typical photo that is taken of “Joe Shmoe” at any number of political events. I, myself, have photos with Hillary and with the Gores; I helped seat people at two events held by the DNC at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral gables, Florida. I guarantee none of them even knew my name. I was one of a hundred or so people who had photos taken that night. BIG DEAL!!!!!
I posed for a picture with Angelina Jolie one time at a benefit. I have picture with Colin Powell too.
Even though I have a picture with her and him, I am not delusional enought to event hink that either one remembers me. Celebrities pose for pictures all the time. I’m sure if this one is not photoshopped, it probably happened at a DNC event or some charity event.
Shame on Matt Lauer for implying otherwise. He is a celebrity. Does he remember everyone eho took his picture?