Real estate developer Sean Conlon proved to be a particularly entertaining witness during Sam Adam Jr.’s cross-examination Wednesday.
As Adam Jr. pressed Conlon about why Patti Blagojevich’s name had been handwritten into a contract for the sale of two properties in a development at 1101 W. Lake that Conlon sold to lawyer and lobbyist Brian Hynes, Conlon was flip. Blagojevich was included at Hynes’ request, Conlon said, and the purchase price of the sales had been increased in each case to provide for a broker’s fee. Later, Conlon told the jury, Hynes requested that Tony Rezko‘s company Rezmar be listed as the brokerage firm. Conlon’s testimony adds to the prosecution’s case that Patti Blagojevich was paid for real estate transactions that she had no part in.
Up next on the stand is former Blagojevich fundraiser and state appointee Rajinder Bedi, who is expected testify about allegations that associates of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. were going to give Blagojevich $1 million in exchange for naming Jackson to the U.S. Senate.