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Tony Rezko

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (1955- )
    Born in Aleppo, Syria
    Birth name was Antoin Rezko
    Real estate developer and restaurateur
    Fundraiser for numerous Illinois politicians including Governors Rod Blagojevich, Jim Edgar and George Ryan, Chicago mayors Harold Washington and Richard M. Daley, and Senator Barack Obama
    Convicted of six counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and two counts of corrupt solicitation (June 4, 2008)

Why he might be annoying:

    He used his political connections to demand kickbacks from firms doing business with the state.
    After he raised $148,000 for Cook County Board President John Stroger, Stroger appointed Rezko's wife to the County Employee Appeals Board and gave one of Rezko's companies the contract to maintain pay phones at the Cook County Jail.
    Former business partner Jabir Muhammed sued, claiming he had been swindled out of his home and business interests (March, 2008).
    An arrest warrant was issued against him in Las Vegas for passing bad checks at two casinos (May, 2008).
    Obama admitted that a real estate deal with Rezko's wife may have created the appearance of impropriety, adding, 'I consider this a mistake on my part, and I regret it.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association (1999).
    He was a bipartisan criminal, partnering in his kickback scheme with Republican fundraiser Steven Levine.
    The Obama campaign donated funds raised by Rezko to charity.
    Shortly after Hillary Clinton tried to score points in a debate by linking Obama and Rezko, photos surfaced of Rezko posing with her and Bill Clinton.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 23 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 40 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 27 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 32 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 48 Votes: 79.17% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 92 Votes: 79.35% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 176 Votes: 68.18% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 591 Votes: 74.62% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 1055 Votes: 51.00% Annoying