- While Obama is still attending Harvard Law School, Rezko offers him a job. Obama declines.
- Rezko contributes to Obama's campaign for the Illinois State Senate (Obama said it was his "best guesstimate" that Rezko raised $10,000 to $15,000 for this race); this is Rezko's first contribution to Obama. Rezko raised more than $250,000 for Obama's state and federal campaigns over the span of the following nine years ($20,000 of that was from Rezko himself). Obama estimates that Rezko raised between $50,000 and $75,000 in his run for the House against U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and approximately $160,000 in his U.S. Senate primary. The remainder was for his three state senate campaigns. Obama revised the Rezko campaign contribution figures (up from $150,000 to $250,000) on March 15, 2008 during interviews with The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times.
- Obama tours "the property with Rezko for 15 to 30 minutes at some point before the purchase. [Spokesman Bill] Burton said Obama wanted Rezko's opinion of the property because Rezko was a real-estate developer in the area. Burton said he didn't know when the pre-sale tour occurred." Obama spoke more at length about this tour in his interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Obamas submit bid for house for $1.3 million. (Obama asserts that there had been a bid on the yard before he had even bid on the home, a bid by a developer who had worked for Rezko in the past. Obama did not know how Rezko was able to take over that bid, but was clear that the purchase of the side yard had nothing to do with his purchase of the home).
- Obamas submit bid for house for $1.5 million
- Obamas submit bid for house for $1.65 million
- Rezko subpoenaed as part of investigation into whether Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly traded jobs for campaign contributions (AP, May 16, 2005).
- Chicago Tribune runs profile of Rezko and controversies he's involved in: he "has been subpoenaed to supply any records he may have as part of a criminal investigation into allegations that the administration traded plum appointments for campaign cash, several sources close to the investigation have said. He has not been accused of wrongdoing, and there is no indication that he is the target of the probe" (Chicago Tribune, May 26, 2005).
- Obama purchases home from Fredric Wondisford and Sally Radovick for $1.65 million
- The purchase is $300,000 less than the asking price
- On the same day, Rita Rezko - Antoin's wife - buys plot next door for $625,000 asking price
- The Obamas look into putting up a fence between their property and Rezko's: consult with attorney, architect, city about regulations and permits
- "On July 15, 2005, a city landmarks deputy commissioner, Brian Goeken, sent a long e-mail to Michelle Obama saying he had gone out one evening to look at the house. He listed suggestions for obtaining a permit for the fence."
- The Chicago Tribune reports that Rezko has been subpoenaed in investigation of scheme involving the state teachers' pension system (Chicago Tribune, September 1, 2005).
- The Chicago Tribune reports that federal investigators have subpoenaed "the tollway authority for information about oases contracts with links to key political insiders" - including Rezko (Chicago Tribune December 31, 2005).
- The Obamas have a portion of Rezko's yard appraised
- The appraiser "estimated the 1,500-square-foot portion at a market value of $40,500." Obama says later that he bought it for "$104,500, or a sixth of their original $625,000 purchase price, because he was acquiring a sixth of their land."
- Rita Rezko sells the Obamas one-sixth of her lot for $104,500
- Rezko obtains a fence permit to build a fence between the Obama and Rezko properties
- In a story about a bank's lawsuit against Rezko over a bank loan, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that "Rezko's name also has surfaced as federal investigators probe whether state pension contracts were steered to companies contributing to Blagojevich's campaign" but that "Rezko has not been charged in or identified as the target of any criminal investigations" (Chicago Sun-Times, May 5, 2006).
- Rezko indicted for fraud
- The Obama campaign says that it will return $11,500 in donations from Rezko (Chicago Sun-Times, Oct 13, 2006)
- The Chicago Tribune first reports on Obama home purchase: "Rezko owns vacant lot next to Obama's home"
- Obama answers questions about the home purchase in the Chicago Sun-Times
- In a Chicago Tribune article about the possibility of an Obama presidential run, Obama talks about the purchase of a portion of Rezko's yard (Chicago Tribune, December 14, 2006):
But Obama acknowledged "it was stupid" of him to get involved in the purchase almost one year ago of a strip of property adjoining his $1.65 million home from Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who owned a vacant lot next door. Rezko, a political insider and fundraiser, was indicted in October on charges of trying to extort campaign donations and kickbacks from firms seeking state business. Rezko has pleaded not guilty.
"I am the first one to acknowledge that it was a boneheaded move for me to purchase this 10-foot strip from Rezko, given that he was already under a cloud of concern," Obama said. "I will also acknowledge that from his perspective, he no doubt believed that by buying the piece of property next to me that he would, if not be doing me a favor, it would help strengthen our relationship."
- Rita Rezko sells the rest of the land to a company owned by Michael Sreenan, who is a - "former Rezko business attorney" - for $575,000
- Obama campaign says it will donate to charity $5,000 contributed to his Senate campaign by Ali Ata, former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, who was charged in connection to the Rezko case (AP, June 1, 2007)
- The Chicago Tribune reports that Obama will donate to charity $16,500 contributed to his federal campaign from "two Chicago businessmen who had financial ties to indicted dealmaker Antoin "Tony" Rezko." (Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2007)
- The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Rezko-linked contributors have given Obama $168,308 since the mid-1990s, far more than the "between $50,000 and $60,000" Obama previously told the paper
- The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Obama is giving to charity a total of $3500 in contributions from two men "referenced" in the Rezko indictments
- Obama donates $5,000 contribution from Abdelhamid "Al" Chaib, a businessman indicted that week in connection with Rezko
- Obama announces that he will donate to charity $40,350 in contributions "from seven Chicago-area individuals who appear to be linked to Rezko."
- Obama campaign announces that it will donate to charity more than $70,000 in Rezko-linked contributions
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December 14, 2006