:popcorn:
Lawyer Tied to Obama Donor Helps Clinton
By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- A Chicago lawyer linked to the public corruption scandal involving Barack Obama's controversial political patron planned to co-host a fundraiser Monday for Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Myron Cherry, a longtime Democratic fundraiser, appeared in a federal indictment against Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who faces extortion and fraud charges related to an Illinois public pension fund.
The federal indictment against Rezko alleges that in late 2003, he agreed to help get $25 million in state pension business for a firm that would pay a finder's fee to a business associate. But because of that associate's tie to Rezko, they agreed to disclose as the fee's recipient another, unidentified businessman, who allegedly did no work on the deal.
That was Cherry, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing. The deal did not go through.
Cherry is not charged with any crime and is cooperating with investigators. He has publicly denied doing anything wrong. His connection to Rezko could be problematic for Clinton, as her chief rival, Obama, has been dogged throughout his presidential campaign by questions about his relationship with Rezko.
<SNIP>
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTON_DONOR?SITE=WSPATV&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-25-15-46-30