Fox News' Doocy failed to challenge Romney's false claim that Rezko “financed [Obama's] house”

Written by Jeremy Holden

Published

On Fox & Friends, Mitt Romney falsely asserted that Antoin Rezko “financed [Sen. Barack Obama's] house,” a claim that Steve Doocy did not challenge. In fact, the Obamas established a land trust to purchase the property and took out a $1.32 million mortgage on the home, financed through the Northern Trust Co.

During the June 5 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney falsely asserted that convicted Chicago businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko “financed [Sen. Barack Obama's] house,” referring to the Obamas' June 2005 purchase of a Chicago home. Co-host Steve Doocy did not challenge the assertion, which is refuted by documents available on the Obama campaign website.

The legal records show that the Obamas established a land trust to purchase the property and took out a $1.32 million mortgage on the home, financed through the Northern Trust Co., not Rezko. The Chicago Tribune reported, “The home and lot sales closed on June 15, 2005. A land trust controlled by the Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million, and the Obamas secured a $1.32 million mortgage from Northern Trust to complete that purchase.”

Rather than correcting Romney's assertion, Doocy responded, “Before you go, do you think John McCain -- from what you've heard inside the campaign -- is he any closer to picking a number two guy? Because we know that -- we've heard you're on the short list.”

From the June 5 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

DOOCY: Also yesterday, in local Chicago news, Tony Rezko was convicted. Of course, he is a guy who has been a longtime associate and friend of Barack Obama's, helped him buy a big house out there in Chicago. He was convicted of, I don't know, about a dozen different crimes out there -- money laundering and stuff like that. Interestingly enough, Governor, mainstream media has not reported much on this. What do you make of that?

ROMNEY: Well, you know, I do think that many in the mainstream media -- not all -- but many have just fallen in love with Barack Obama, and they want a Camelot kind of president. They want somebody who's inexperienced, who really hasn't demonstrated the ability to lead, but they like what he says, and he's a charming guy. But they're not willing to look at the full picture, and obviously having somebody like Tony Rezko as a close associate, fundraiser, and the guy who financed your house, that's a real problem when the person is a -- now apparently a convicted felon.

DOOCY: Before you go, do you think John McCain -- from what you've heard inside the campaign -- is he any closer to picking a number two guy? Because we know that -- we've heard you're on the short list.