 The testimony came as prosecutors laid out their case in the
week-old trial of millionaire businessman William Cellini. He is
accused of conspiring with Blagojevich insiders Tony Rezko and Chris
Kelly to shake down the Oscar-winning producer of "Million Dollar
Baby" for a $1.5 million campaign contribution to Blagojevich.
Cellini, now 76, arrived late at one meeting in Chicago in February
2004, visibly agitated as he described a recent encounter with Rezko
and Kelly, according to witness Steven Loren. Loren is a former
attorney for the $30 billion Teachers' Retirement System, which is
central to the case against Cellini.
Cellini grumbled that the Blagojevich confidants "were moving too
fast; they were going to get themselves in trouble," Loren told
jurors.
Once known as the King of Clout for the influence he wielded in
Illinois politics going back to the 1960s, Cellini said Rezko and
Kelly should follow the example he set over a 30-year span close to
top-tier Illinois decision-makers, and "stay out of the limelight"
and "above the fray," Loren testified.
Cellini, whose trial entered a second week on Tuesday, allegedly
plotted with Rezko and Kelly to squeeze Hollywood producer Thomas
Rosenberg by threatening to yank $220 million in Teachers'
Retirement System funds from Rosenberg's investment company unless
he came up with the donation.
The trial is the last in a series of trials that grew out of a
decade-long investigation of the ousted Democratic governor, who has
since been convicted on corruption charges.
Cellini, who is free on a $1 million bond, has pleaded not guilty
and denied any wrongdoing.
His attorneys have said in pretrial filings that comments Cellini
made about Rezko and Kelly were misconstrued by prosecutors as
somehow sinister, but that his comments actually demonstrated he
deeply disapproved of their actions.
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As in previous days, Cellini appeared relaxed as he listened to
testimony from the defense table, occasionally looking over during
breaks and smiling at his wife of more than 40 years, who was
sitting on a nearby spectators' bench.
Much of Loren's testimony Tuesday drew on his interactions with
Stuart Levine, a TRS board member at the time and another figure in
the alleged conspiracy who is expected to take the stand later.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Dan Webb sought to hit
at the trustworthiness of Levine, who admitted on the stand at
another trial that he abused cocaine and other drugs -- sometimes at
marathon parties.
"You do know that he had a habit of lying to you, is that
correct?" Webb asked Loren about Levine, pacing across the courtroom
floor and raising his voice slightly. The judge sustained a
prosecution objection before Loren could respond.
[Associated Press]
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