Gutierrez: Rezko Gave Me Free Upgrades to Town House

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2010 4:47PM

Today in "Tony Rezko Did What for Whom?," we learn that he gave Congressman Luis Gutierrez free upgrades to a town home Gutierrez purchased from the convicted former Rod Blagojevich fundraiser. The revelations in a 2008 conversation Gutierrez had with the FBI, contradict what he told the Sun-Times in a 2006 interview.

The upgrades were the result of an increase in the purchase price of the town home Gutierrez purchased on the north side along the Chicago River. Gutierrez believed that, given the purchase price increased $35,000 in the two weeks since he and his wife first visited the home, he should be given some free amenities. Rezko eventually threw in a second bathroom and better carpeting gratis.

Gutierrez told the FBI he didn't know the value of the upgrades. He also said that he bought the town home as a favor to a friend, who said having a congressman as a neighbor would boost property values. The Sun-Times reported in 2006 that Gutierrez received the cheapest price out of all the town homes sold in the development. His attorney would not explain why the FBI wanted to speak tp him about the town home purchase.