Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Sun-Times Calls Out Obama On Meeting With Auchi

Sen. Barack Obama has consistently denied to Sun-Times reporters that he had no recollection of ever meeting an Iraqi-born billionaire who has been denied access to the U.S. because of a fraud conviction in France. As I noted yesterday, a government witness in the corruption trial of close pal of Obama's, Tony Rezko, testified that Obama and his wife were present at a reception at Rezko's home in 2004 honoring Auchi. The Sun-Times writes:

The April 3, 2004, gathering for Auchi took place at Rezko's mansion in Wilmette, with about 100 people attending, Levine testified.

"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there, were they not?" Rezko's lawyer, Joseph Duffy, asked. "Yes, sir," Levine said.

Later Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said: "As he has said previously, Senator Obama does not recall meeting Nadhmi Auchi at any time or on any occasion, and this includes any event that may have been held for Mr. Auchi. Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."

But according to two sources familiar with the gathering, the Obamas attended the Wilmette reception, which came less than a month after Obama's Democratic primary win for his U.S. Senate seat. Rezko had been a key fund-raiser for Obama, who has since given to charity nearly $160,000 in Rezko-linked contributions.

If Obama has nothing to hide about his relationship with Rezko and Auchi, why would he deny ever meeting Auchi when the Sun-Times was so easily able to find two others persons who could corroborate government witness Stuart Levine's account which placed him at the event with Auchi? What I find interesting is that every time Obama's name has been brought up during this trial it has been done so by Rezko's attorney and not the government attorneys. Why? Could Rezko's attorney be doing that as part of an effort at jury nullification? Does he believe some jurors would acquit Rezko if they thought convicting him might spell trouble for Obama on down the road. It's an interesting question to ponder.

3 comments:

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Chris Worden said...

Respectfully, if saying "I don't recall" was the same as saying, "I know for a fact it didn't happen," then half the Bush Administration would be in prison for perjury. I honestly think that we ask too much of people to recall every event or details of every place they've been at and every person they've ever met in their lives. Can you imagine how many different meetings and topics of discussion any president sits in on? I don't imagine Senators are far off from that number.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Auchi isn't an average guy you would run into at a party. This is a billionaire who was the guest of honor at a party where one of Obama's closest friends was hosting. Illinois' Lt. Governor Pat Quinn has confirmed he attended the party and that he recalls Obama being there.