Brizzi talks about relationship with Tim Durham

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - As more information is revealed about the federal investigation into Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham, his companies and his property, one of his closest friends has remained tight-lipped about the investigation -- until now.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi spoke exclusively to 24-Hour News 8 about his friend and former campaign finance director Tim Durham and the investigation.

Read the transcript of the entire interview

Brizzi calls the investigation a distraction and admits he feels badly for his friend, but he also admits taking money from Durham for his 2006 campaign for county prosecutor. Brizzi talked about Fair Financial, Durham's company under the fed's microscope and his involvement with that company.

Brizzi said of his decision to serve on the board of Fair Financial and subsequent reversal of that decision in the midst of the FBI investigation, "I never attended a board meeting, never received any compensation. Tim and I are friends and we made a decision that that was something that I wasn't going to be involved in."

Brizzi admits that Durham was his campaign finance director during his 2006 run for Marion County Prosecutor and that Durham helped him raise more than two million dollars for the campaign.

Brizzi also admits to having spent that money on the campaign but insisted the money didn't come from Fair Financial.

"Well, I think it's premature to judge. We didn't take any money, unlike another campaign recently where the candidate withdrew from the race, we didn't receive any money from Fair Holdings or from Fair Financial," said Brizzi.

However, federal investigators are looking into whether Durham used Fair Financial funds for personal purposes and interests.

"Well, I think that's why we have to wait until the investigation is over before we jump to any conclusions about...you know...maybe that if, if that money did in fact come from other sources." said Brizzi.

When asked if he was concerned about his political future because of his relationship with Durham, Brizzi responded, "Tim's a friend and I am sorry that this happened to him. And you know...what do you do if a friend gets in trouble? You just feel badly for them. I mean, that's kind of where I am at right now and we're going to go about the business of putting the bad guys in jail."