Blagojevich Arrest: Rahm Emanuel Tip Off? (VIDEO)

Republicans are already attempting to tie the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to President-elect Barack Obama. But local reports suggest that it was Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel who tipped feds off to Blagojevich's corrupt dealings:

CONATY: We did receive a tip this morning that perhaps all of this came together so quickly because the Governor may have reached out to Rahm Emanuel, the president-elect's chief of staff, in attempting to leverage filling the Senate seat. And it may have been Rahm Emanuel who tipped the scale and made this move as quickly as it did.

Watch:

However, a source close to Rahm Emanuel tells Talking Points Memo that the story is false.

Read more about Rod Blagojevich.

Comments

[denicci1977]

The media is really starting to get on my nerves with this. They seem hell bent on trying to tie Obama and his staff to this mess. If Rahm told the Feds what was going on then that is a good thing. That means they are not willing to be apart of the lying politics that have gone on for so long. I'm also sick of Republicans crying out for a statement from Obama. Who really cares right now ? Obama is not a target nor is his staff. I'm more interested on hearing from Obama on the bailout with the auto companies, what is going on with Healthcare and the economy then this mess. Let's focus on getting these grocery prices down, making more jobs and stop trying to point the finger at Obama please.

[Madampotential]

I am proud of Rahnm Emmanuel. He is a whistleblower and all govt employees should be like him. He didn't try to make a dealm he went to the FBI. he is a hero in my eyes. Good deal.

[bayside]

To republicans...We will clean up our party if you clean up your party. Country before party..Deal.?

[GrumpyMorningBoy]

Did any of you actually read the transcripts? They were already wiretapping the Blagojevich' *before* the election had even happened, and well before Rahm Emanuel was named the Chief of Staff. They may have gotten *additional* information from Mr. Emanuel that helped implicate him, but it certainly wasn't Rahm who brought this to the Feds' attention.

[Tom Joad]

exactly. they were already listening. no one needed to tip them off.

[lm945]

Obama and Emanuel wouldn't have known about the wire taps. If Emanuel did inform the FBI after being approached by Blagojevich for a pay-to-play deal, he did the right thing.

Just because the Feds already knew about it is immaterial.

[mdlw]

I watched the press conference where the Attorney General stated Obama was not involved. So, that's good enough for me. Remove the governor from office.

This nation is facing an economic crisis while unemployment is escalating at an alarming rate. If an elected official or appointee is not conducting the people's business while on the people's time and dime, remove and replace.

[rockyersocksoff]

Clear this effing S**t up RIGHT now!

[FormerReaganite]

I do hope that Obama doesn't get bogged down by this Gov. Bog-down-e-vich

[ploopy]

let's get this. gov of ill was "scheming" to get trib (trying not to bankruptize) editorial staff fired? meanwhile we got cheney and rove commiting treason in the outing of valerie, and the gonzales actully axing the judges. who's the king?!? BOY DUBYA!

[strength]

Wouldnt that be a stick in the face to the repugs that are trying to slander the PRESIDENT about this, i hope its freakin true! You break the law! you go down sucka!

[shirleyfeeney]

Good job, Rahm...always heard you were a force to be reckoned with...

[JD2774]

Ok, let's look at this. I think Valerie Jarrett was contacted about the seat by the gov's office and knew that this was wrong. She contacted Rahm and it was relayed to the U.S. Attorney. At least I'm hoping that it went that way. It would show that the same old politics will not be tolerated in the Obama Whitehouse. Meanwhile, the Illinois Gov is an idiot.

[cjk002]

I think the fact that Jarret withdrew her name from consideration so soon after Obama was elected points to something like this happening.

[gmlaster]

I think so too.

[rob2007]

A.G. Lisa Madigan is going to catapult nicely into the national political scene.

[gmlaster]

Lisa Madigan has actually been a really good Attorney General for the State of Illinois. She was the one who brought suit against Countrywide for maliciously targeting poor blacks with their bogus sub-prime loans. The Madigans are an old-fashioned Irish political family and Lisa grew up on Illinois politics, but she is very much her own woman and she takes her job as A.G. very seriously. Given her record, I think she'd fit in well with Obama's reform agenda extremely well.

Her father, however, is a piece of work. As Speaker of the House, Mike Madigan is strictly an old-school, bare knuckles politician, and he HATES Blagojevich with an ungodly passion. He's his No.1 enemy in Springfield and does everything he can to stonewall anything (and I mean ANYTHING) that Blagojevich wants to do. I credit him with keeping Blagojevich from doing even more damage than he has. Unfortunately, his efforts have also helped to create massive gridlock in Springfield to the point that no real work is getting done.

[joethegorilla]

Rahm is the enforcer like Karl Rove. He took him down and Kept O out of the fray, Nice work Rahm!

[sparkal]

December 15 cannot get here soon enough!

[rhettisha]

Since we've all read about Blagojevich's negotiation style in detail, it makes one wonder what Emanuel had to promise Blagojevich in order to take over his seat in the House of Representatives. There is almost no doubt Blagojevich blatantly asked for a favor or favors from Emanuel. I wonder what Emanuel gave him?

[luvangelHussein330]

Did you not read the article? Or any of the other ones? Blago was pissed at the Obama Admin for not willing to pay to play and here are reports that someone if not Emanual tipped of investigators. Why would Emanual promise Blago anything and then incriminate himself by tipping off the Feds...

[rhettisha]

Yes I did read the articles and, yes, I know Emanuel gave him up; however, that doesn't prove that back in 2002 Blagojevich did not ask for a favor in order to back Emanuel for his vacant seat. Did you read my entire comment?

[LaurenMarie984]

EMANUEL GAVE HIM UP TO THE FEDS

Oh how I love when people make public commentaries on issues they obviously have no clue about.

[rhettisha]

I KNOW EMANUEL GAVE HIM UP. That does not mean Emanuel did haven't to give something up to Blagojevich to get his HofRep seat, MAMMA CAPS!