How Luis Gutierrez Got Tied Up With Tony Rezko

The political fixer whose name is firmly affixed to disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich is now tied to another Illinois politician. 

Antonin "Tony" Rezko, the convicted real estate developer who had his hands in numerous political offices, has been linked to U.S. Rep. Luis Guitierrez over some real estate freebies, the Chicago Sun-Times reported

The paper, citing FBI records from a 2008 interview, said that Gutierrez asked Rezko for free upgrades on a riverfront town house that Rezko was working on for him.  Gutierrez apparently thought he was entitled to the free upgrades because the price of his town home jumped $35,000 within a two week time period.

The Sun-Times reported that the upgrades included an additional bathroom and higher-quality carpeting.

The comments reportedly contradict those that  Gutierrez made to the Sun-Times in 2006, when he said he received no free upgrades on the townhouse.

If true, Gutierrez's admission would put him in a class with a host of other Rezko-involved politicians, including former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Gutierrez denies the report.

"The Chicago Sun-Times ran with a story that is false.  As we made clear to the Sun-Times, Congressman Gutierrez never asked for nor received any free upgrades to his home, and certainly never told anyone he did," said spokesman Douglas Rivlin.

Rezko served as a top adviser and contributor to Blagojevich. He also agreed to cooperate in the first Blagojevich trial, though prosecutors did not call him to testify.

Rezko awaits sentencing in January of 2011 for his role in a scheme to solicit kickbacks from companies seeking state contracts.

Read the full report in the Sun-Times.

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