[Updated and bumped to the top.]
The press reports that Tony Rezko is expected to show up today for his arraignment. Sun-Times:
A close adviser and top fund-raiser for Gov. Blagojevich is scheduled to show up at the first of two court hearings today on fraud and corruption charges.
But whether he will remains to be seen.
A court official said Wednesday that lawyers have told U.S. District Judge James Zagel that Antoin “Tony” Rezko will be back in the country and will appear in court today.
Sneed has some more clues.
Sneed hears Rezko, who was months behind on his mortgage payments, made good on those overdue payments last week. “It’s an indication he planned on returning to this country and never expected to stay away,” said a source close to Rezko.
The arraignment is scheduled for 10:30. Check the blog for updates as we get ‘em.
*** UPDATE *** The hearing has been postponed until 3 o’clock and Rezko will supposedly be there.
*** UPDATE 2 *** He’s back and in federal custody. AP:
A fundraiser and political confidant for Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into custody without incident Thursday on charges of fraud and extortion, federal officials said.
FBI agents picked up Antoin “Tony” Rezko, 51, at O’Hare International Airport without incident, Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office told reporters.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From a reporter inside:
$1.5 million bond on the pizza case. The [other] arraignment is at 5 o’clock.
Apparently, Rezko hasn’t said anything to reporters yet.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Another dispatch from within the room from our same friend:
Friends and relatives (three rows worth) say they have 2 million to put up in property for bond.
*** UPDATE 5 *** The Tribune catches up:
An indicted fundraiser and political confidant for Gov. Rod Blagojevich entered a not-guilty plea today in federal court in Chicago.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko’s plea this afternoon related to charges he swindled investors in two pizza restaurants. Later today, he’s expected to enter a plea in another case.
In the pizza restaurants case, the federal judge set Rezko’s bond at $1.5 million; members of his family have pledged to put up their homes to cover it.