The Chicago Sun Times published an article this morning with the headline blaring "A new headache for Giannoulias? Another Rezko loan."
It is neither.
It is not a headache for Alexi Giannoulias or that it is another loan for Rezko.
And where is the evidence that it is neither a headache for Giannoulias. In the article itself.
Giannoulias, the Democrat now running for U.S. Senate, had left his post as a senior loan officer at the Chicago bank in late 2005 to mount a successful campaign for Illinois state treasurer, though he still held an ownership stake in the bank.
Giannoulias campaign spokesman Kathleen Strand summed it up very well.
"Alexi left daily operations of the bank in September of 2005, months before this loan was made," says Kathleen Strand of his campaign staff. "He had no knowledge of it, and his name is not on any documents related to the loan.
"This guilt-by-association story is an unfortunate and failed attempt to link Alexi to Mr. Rezko.''
And this alleged loan by Rezko. Where is the evidence?
According to the article there is no public record of Rezko's ownership, except from Rezko. So they say he said. And the article goes on to admit this.
Auchi's lawyer, Alasdair Pepper, says Rezko no longer has a stake in the 62-acre site, which remains vacant.
And at what point did Rezko relinquish his ownership in Riverside District Development. The article is mute on this subject, because I suspect, they do not know.
So why leap to this conclusion? Because there is an attempt once again to link Rezko to Giannoulias where there is no link. If the Sun Times team had dug further, maybe they would have found Rezko was no longer a part of this company. But they chose to look the other way.
And the most outrageous part of the story. The loan was repaid in full.
But Giannoulias' campaign office says the loan was paid off early. Auchi's lawyer provided documentation to support that, showing the loan was repaid in July 2006.
So I ask, what is the issue here. Why place a story on a prominent page with a blaring headline? I do not have a problem with good solid journalism. I do have a problem with this article. It is factually accurate, but it implies something underhanded and that a relationship in 2006 between Giannoulias and Rezko where it did not exist then. I call on all fair-minded people: don't buy it.
Writer's note: Alexi Giannoulias needs your help in fighting back on stories like this.. So I am placing a donation button below. Please help me raise some serious money for our friend, Alexi Giannoulias. The deadline is near to send a message to Mark Kirk. Donate today to my personal fundraising page for Alexi titled, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots for Alexi Giannoulias. Or if you feel more comfortable, donate today directly to the campaign here, or donate on Act Blue here.
Please give and give generously (and often). Thanks.
Again, to donate. Click here at Act Blue, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots for Alexi Giannoulias. Help Alexi fight so he can fight for you.
Chicago City Hall Examiner and The Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner. John is the author of a book published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books.