Rahm Emanuel Gave Blagojevich List Of 'Acceptable' Senate Candidates: Report

President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had direct conversations with Gov. Rod Blagojevich about Obama's replacement in the US Senate, FOX News Chicago reports.

Citing "a source familiar with the investigation," Fox says that Emanuel had "multiple conversations" with Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris, who was also arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, about the seat and that they we're "likely recorded and in FBI possession."

Fox's source said that Emanuel gave the governor's office a list of "candidates that would be acceptable to President-elect Barack Obama" but no "quid pro quo" or "dealmaking" is suspected.

Meanwhile, an angry Emanuel says he won't go to work because of the media stakeout. He told an ABC News cameraman that has received death threats:

The President-elect's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said today he won't go to the Chicago Presidential transition offices in order to avoid reporters seeking to ask him whether he had contact with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election.

Emanuel appeared "beet-red," according to an ABC News cameraman who was invited inside by Emmanuel to use his bathroom this morning.

"I'm getting regular death threats. You've put my home address on national television. I'm pissed at the networks. You've intruded too much, " Emanuel said, according to the cameraman.

Emanuel has refused to comment as to whether he is the un-named Presidential advisor cited in the FBI affidavit filed in the Blagojevich case. "You're wasting your time," Emanuel told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter yesterday. "I'm not going to say a word to you. I'm going to do this with my children. Don't do that. I'm a father. I have two kids. I'm not going to do it."

Comments

[chf2go]

There is nothing wrong with stating a preference for who fills the seat. What will be in question if there were any talks of money changing hands or support of a financial kind going to the Governor of IL. That would be the only problem.

[lisa12345]

When he tried to solicit money or perks for the seat, why did they not just tell him that he had to do what they wanted, because it is in the best interest of the party? I do not see that as wrong. After all, if they were trying to put Jackson in the seat, then that means they at least were trying to oblige the will of the people. We wanted him, he was our first pick. I know I wanted them to ask for Jessie to have the seat.

[huffnpuff147]

Someone once said, "Politics is a blood sport." This kind of stuff is the reason Obama needs a Rahm Emanuel. He knows how to play the game. Fortunately, they've already played the Monica Lewinsky card on Bill Clinton.

[AdamAnt12]

And what game is that?

The "b l o o d sport of politics? All I see is a soon-to-be-chief of staff getting himself AND his boss (Obama) in hot water over taking bribes....­You may call it a b l o o d sport . I see it as business-as-usual for the Democrats,

[rcpmac]

Hey Huffpo,
Get back to us when and if you uncover that Rahm Emanuel Gave Blagojevich money of promises of political spoils.
Until then there is nothing here folks - move along.

[AdamAnt12]

Oh, sure there is. There is PLENTY here. And MORE to come, I am sure. Once Rezco and Blago start singing...­.who KNOWS how far this will go!!

[mec57]

I hear Rezco already is singing non-stop.

[Bobleblah1]

are you knew to this site or something?
Huffpo spends all their time trying to cover for this guy and every other democrat stooge.
Thats how you know this is a shakedown of Rod B. It was extortion gone bad.
Blagojevich refused to be dictated to by weasels like Emanuel and instead reserved his executive right to make the appointment. Then poof! miraculously these FBI tapes come out?
(Funny how the FBI works huh?) Something tells me that if the Governor submitted to the strong arming and accepted the criminal names on Rahms list that those FBI tapes would still be under lock and Key. The dubious nature of it all as well as the people and groups involved is very telling.
All parties are crooked self aggrandizing pawns, but it should make for great theater.
Emanuel has been corrupt for YEARS and as long as he's around, there will be no-end to the scandals.

[lisa12345]

But what if we, the people of the party, wanted Jackson to have the seat? Wasn't it then appropriate for Rahm to say that the seat should go to Jesse?

Blago refused to be dictated to, but what about us, the people? Why did Blago not care what the people wanted? Another pol who does not give a thought to us.

Nice.

[mec57]

I agree...Em­anuel is a slimey piece of work...I have been telling friends and saying it here from when he was first announced as part of the Obama team...I like many of the ex-Clintonistas, but I have nothing but contempt for Emanuel and have felt that way since the Clinton year...Ema­nuel is no innocent, but a ruthless deal maker and poltiical flimflam artist. Obama would be best to boot his sorry behind and throw him under the bus.

[NotMcCain]

"Any of these people would be a good choice as far as Obama is concerned.­" There is NOTHING wrong with that.

Why? Because it's CLEAR from the 700+ pages that Obama wasn't BARGAINING for it, wasn't offeriing Blogojevich anything in return.

If YOU were President (and head of the Democratic party who needs EVERY senate supporter for your new agenda, wouldn't YOU want the Democratic governor of your state to know who YOU thought would be good replacement?

Wouldn't you want him to know a list of people you thought would be good to work with and who could do a good job?

Of course you would (even more so if you thought the Governor wasn't too bright).

[AdamAnt12]

Wow, you sure are having a hard time even rationalizing this to yourself, little loan someone else. Give up, it's not working!!

[bluemamie]

LET ALONE LET ALONE LET ALONE.

Come on man, 'little loan' doesn't even make sense!

[FriedrichPaulBerg]

If Obama wants to remain squeaky clean, he had better get rid of Rahm Emanuel fast. If Emanuel remains, it will be the same old politics and NOT the "change" that Obama had promised again and again.

Emanuel did NOT make (or so it seems) any actual deals with Blagojevich but he almost certainly was offered a deal, probably many times and in various forms, by Blagojevich. Did Emanuel blow the whistle and report the nature of such possible deals to the FBI, or Obama, or anyone? Apparently, not. The only reason we know about those conversations (more than one) is that the FBI just happened to be monitoring events--and now Emanuel and the democrats have to do damage control. Isn't the nature of those "conversations" between Emanuel and Blagojevich disgraceful enough to justify Emanuel's removal even if there was no actual crime? If there is NO change then there is no change!

[NotMcCain]

Fortunately, Emmanuel still holds his congressional seat. But I hope it doesn't come to this.

It's stupid to blame him for deal-making when CLEARLY ...no deal was made.

[Senske]

Really? You've done the investigation and you know there was no deal?

[geaaronson]

Why in the world would Blag shake Emmanuel down for any money.?Emm­anuel doesn`t want to become Illinois`Senator. And why in the world would Blag even tell Emmanuel that the position is for sale? But then again, considering how stupid the man is........

[pmag88]

"likely recorded and in FBI possession­." No doubt people inside had their preferences and obviously they had to speak with Blogojivich because there was no one else. Now, thanks to the investigation, there will be options.

[rockne]

Some 30 Obama operatives were sent to Alaska during the campaign to seek whatever "dirt" they could on Palin. They delved into the backgrounds of her husband and even her minor children. They made a HUGE issue of a 20-year old DUI charge. The least Obama can do now is send one operative to ascertain what, if any, involvement any members of his team had in this sordid mess that involves federal felonies. Right now, the candidate who promised change is acting more and more like Bill Clinton and this is very disturbing.

[FredBrighton]

Not to flog a dead horse, but "HUGE issue"? So not just "huge", but "HUGE"? Wow. I was paying pretty close attention to the election and I heard about the DUI but nobody on the radio, television or newspapers seemed to think it was a big deal. After all the dude wasn't running for public office and besides which we already have an alcoholic coke head running the White House so there'd be precedence. Maybe somebody thought the DUI was a big deal where you hang out but in Upstate New York they were more concerned with Sarah pulling demons out of born again Republicans. That and making no verbal sense whatsoever. Really, I think a doddering, sick old man picking a snake handler for our next President was far more alarming than the fact that her main squeeze liked getting tipsy 20 years ago.

[LWM]

Wrong, some National Enquirer reporters and other 'journalists' ascended to Alaska, and Palin's loving family enjoyed the attention - anonymously.

Then some 20-30 Republican operatives ran around Alaska trying to shut everyone up including legislators.

Get your facts straight.

[AdamAnt12]

You are wrong....o­ver 30 attorneys and Obama advisors went to Alaska to flush out anything they could find on Palin.

I agree. I think that Obama needs to send at least 10 people to find out what this mess is all about.

[mec57]

WRONG...Ad­amAnt12 nails it below.

[batmanindy]

I believe Rahm is in this thing deeper than he wants to be but not so deep as to amount to criminal behavior. One can only assume that the outgoing senator (incoming potus) and his staff discussed a replacement for his vacant seat (why not, he is about to lead the country, shouldn't he have a nonbinding say in who follows him into his seat?

BUT Rahm, well, he seems sneaky enough to be just a little too involved here and I believe this will scar him. We will see.

[No Man]

"seems sneaky enough"? What in the world are you talking about? Geese! the kind of inane comments you read here. Why post when you have nothing to say?

[mec57]

Evidently you have no idea who Emanuel is...

[AdamAnt12]

Doesn't matter. This will follow Obama throughout his 4 years in office.

[demrepub]

"One alleged scheme outlined in the charges against Blagojevich involves the special election for Emanuel's seat. The government affidavit said Blagojevich and others were recorded talking about an unnamed "president-elect adviser" concerned about the election for Emanuel's congressional seat who might help the governor land a new job at a non-profit organizati­on."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rahm-obama13dec13,0,3359611.story

This slow drip is going to kill him. Rahm should have a press conference immediately and disclose the full details of each and every contract with Blago's office for the past 6 months. Get this over with now.

[LWM]

You seem not to have noticed that Fitzgerald is on the case and likely has already told witnesses to not talk in public.

Folks like you dying to see Rahm and Obama dragged down by this will be disappointed - it just ain;t hapening - reread the quotes from the tapes released by Fitzgerald already.

There's nothing there except Blago digging his own political grave.

[mec57]

Oh really? And you think that complaint is ALL Fitz has?

[demrepub]

No, I want them to act the way they said they would act. Be open and transparent.

[LeoMarvin]

Come on.... Obama may not have done anything wrong this time, but we all know sooner or later he's gonna send his crew (Michelle, Rahm, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers and a few random Kennedys) on a shooting spree at the local Kindergarten.

... after he imposes Sharia Law and sells suitcase nukes to bin Laden.

... and makes us all get gay abortions.

... and admits he NEVER REALLY INTENDED TO STOP SMOKING! That's right, he's THAT evil!

Unfortunately, we all know people who believe stuff too close to that for it to be funny.

[nuQlerOstrich]

And we know how much Blago loves the O-man.

They're bestest buddies.

Why else would Blago use such a term of endearment like "MotherF***er" when referring to the Pres-Elect? And "F**k them!" regarding Rahm et.al?

[mec57]

Means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...­the media lovers of Obama would tell you it is nothing, but their credibility, as is that of his fans here, is zero.

[NevaforLeadership]

LeoMarvin,

Democracy is a devilish thing, a balancing act.

There is no test for threshold intelligence and knowledge before being allowed to vote.

After reading posts such as yours, one wishes for a restricted type of democracy; a democracy that leaves out people with the intelligence that you have demonstrated in your post.

[homefair]

LeoMarvin was spouting what he believed the right wing will be saying. Read his last sentence. You're mistaken as to his intent.

[Halsey]

Neva..Leo'­s a nutjob...j­ust ignore...

But..that Rahm...wah wah wah...won'­t go to work because it got hot in the kitchen..i­n a nation of unemployed­...what a big baby...I never, ever liked this choice...l­ess so now....get rid of Rahm...and get someone who is a big boy (woman)...­.wah wah wah...how embarrassi­ng...

[perk]

It is all speculative rush to judgment until we hear for ourselves what is on that tape.

[mec57]

True...tha­t is why saying Emanuel is clean as a whistle, when his history shows he is a wheeler and dealer from way back, is sheer bulls--t.

[talkabout1]

From The Lipman Times (the new 24/7 Obama news site--so cool!):

Colbert Report Video of the Night

Rod Blagojevich's Birthday:

http://www.lipmantimes.com/?p=877

[Granmapat]

Since this comes from Fox news can we really believe it?

[Peter007]

Yes, we have to shot the messenger.

[Giada]

"Citing a source, and Fox News," ... I need read no further.

[45245]

here comes bo's first scandal and he is not even in yet

[Bocado]

I'll take this non-scandal scandal over anything Bush has done in the past 8 years, ANYTHING.

[Tim303]

Copy that. Torture, invasion, bombing...­it's enough to make you want to throw a shoe.