CHICAGO -- A man who raised money for Gov. Rod Blagojevich'scampaign told Antoin "Tony" Rezko's trial Thursday the governordiscussed giving him a state job after he contributed $25,000 outof his own pocket.

Ali Ata testified that the conversation between himself,Blagojevich and Rezko occurred in Rezko's office after Atadelivered the $25,000 check.

"Mr. Rezko said I had expressed an interest in serving in theadministration," Ata testified. He said the three men were sittingin a conference room with his $25,000 check to the campaign lyingon the table.

"Mr. Blagojevich stated again I had been a supporter and afriend and asked Mr. Rezko if I'd identified job opportunities andMr. Rezko said 'yes,"' testified Ata, one of the final prosecutionwitnesses at the trial.

Ata, 56, eventually became the executive director of theIllinois Finance Authority under Blagojevich, got entangled incorruption and pleaded guilty to tax fraud and lying to the FBIabout his ties to Rezko.

Ata said he was appointed to be the head of the Illinois Finance Authority after he gave Blagojevich two $25,000 checks, with one of them delivered directly to Blagojevich in Rezko's office, NBC5's Phil Rogers reported. Ata also testified, however, that he gave Rezko himself cash, the first time being in 2004.

Ata testified that Rezko told him creditors were barking at the governor's door, demanding money for renovations performed on the Blagojevich's Ravenswood Manor home. Ata testified that Rezko said he wanted $25,000, adding that Rezko told him that there were contractors who needed to get paid.

"If they didn't get paid, they would file a lien, and it would be embarrassing for everybody," Ata testified.

In all, Ata testified, he ended up giving Rezko $125,000 in cash, with the last $50,000 delivered at the home of Blagojevich fundraiser Chris Kelly, Rogers reported. Ata did not elaborate on a reason.

"The details are very difficult over a period of time," said William Healy, a jury expert with the consulting firm DecisionQuest. "In fact, after three days, they'll only remember about 65 percent of what they've heard. So, if they can remember the overarching story, they use a little shortcut, and they fit the evidence into that story. If there is something that doesn't fit with their story, they use cognitive dissonance, and just reject it -- or they tailor it to somehow fit into the story that they've already formed."

Blagojevich's office insisted the Blagojevich's paid for their house renovations themselves. There was no response to an interview request to talk to Blagojevich.

Rezko, 52, is charged with scheming to use political clout toget a $1.5 million bribe from a contractor who wanted statepermission to build a hospital in the McHenry County suburb ofCrystal Lake.

Rezko also is charged with scheming to pressure kickbacks out ofmoney management companies wanting to do business with the $40billion fund that pays the pensions of retired downstate andsuburban school teachers.

Prosecutors say Rezko developed enormous clout in theBlagojevich administration by raising campaign funds and parlayedhis power into control of state boards that make hospitalconstruction and pension fund decisions.

Rezko denies he took part in any such scheme.

Last week when federal prosecutors first described the allegedconversation about a job for Ata, Blagojevich spokeswoman AbbyOttenhoff issued a statement denying that the governor had madesuch remarks. She said Thursday that "as we've said many timesbefore, we don't endorse or allow the decisions of state governmentto be based on campaign contributions."

Blagojevich has been charged with no wrongdoing in the case.

Ata, a native of Jordan, testified he came to the United Statesseeking an education and after graduation from college worked for awater treatment company for 25 years. He said after the Sept. 11,2001 attacks in New York and Washington, two FBI agents came to hiscompany to question him.

Two weeks later the company offered him an early retirementpackage and he took it. While he wasn't asked for details, thegovernment has said nothing tying him to Sept. 11 and earlyretirement was not what he wanted.

"It was devastating to myself and my family," Ata testified.

He said that within months he was raising funds and talkingabout a job on the state payroll if Blagojevich was elected. Hesaid he held two fundraisers for Blagojevich before delivering the$25,000 check.

When he arrived at Rezko's Chicago office with the check,Blagojevich, campaign manager Lon Monk, fundraiser ChristopherKelly and state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, were in a rearconference room, Ata testified.

Eventually, Blagojevich, Rezko and Ata were alone at theconference table, Ata testified. He said that with the check lyingon the table the talk turned to a possible state job for him.