Blagojevich Scandal: Governor's Lawyer Wants Obama Staff Subpoenaed

CHICAGO — In a move intended to force public testimony from President-elect Barack Obama's inner circle, a lawyer for Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked the legislative panel considering impeachment of the governor to subpoena more than a dozen witnesses, including Obama's incoming chief of staff.

State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie told The Associated Press on Thursday that the House committee received a letter from Blagojevich attorney Ed Genson asking it to subpoena Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett and more than a dozen others, including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Currie, the head of the committee, said she didn't yet know what the committee's response to Genson's request would be.

However, she noted that the U.S. Attorney's office has already denied the panel's request to interview a list of people named in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said earlier this week that lawmakers' interviews of current or former members of Blagojevich's staff might jeopardize his criminal investigation.

Currie said the House panel's next meeting is set for Monday.

U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randall Samborn declined to comment Thursday.

Messages left Thursday for Genson, Jackson and attorneys for Jarrett and Emanuel were not immediately returned Thursday. The Obama transition team declined to comment.

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Members of Obama's transition team declined to comment.

Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on charges alleging he tried to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. He has denied any wrongdoing and is ignoring scores of calls to step down, including one from Obama.

None of the possible candidates for Obama's Senate seat _ said to include Jarrett and Jackson _ are identified by name in the complaint, but Jackson has said he is the individual dubbed "Senate Candidate 5." The congressman has said federal prosecutors told him he is not a target of their investigation.

Genson told the Chicago Sun-Times that testimony from Emanuel, Jarrett and Jackson would help prove the governor's claim that he didn't do anything wrong in his handling of Obama's Senate seat, the newspaper said Thursday.

On Tuesday, Obama revealed that he, Emanuel and Jarrett had met with federal investigators about Blagojevich. He also released an internal review that found no inappropriate contact with the governor's office by him or his staff.

Emanuel was the only Obama transition team member who discussed the Senate appointment with Blagojevich, and those conversations were "totally appropriate and acceptable," according to incoming White House attorney Greg Craig.

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Associated Press Writer Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.

Comments

[CrabbyGolightly]

As local pundits report breathlessly on the indictment of Governor Rod Blagojevich and his alleged "political corruption crime spree, what's missing from the debate is the timing of his arrest.
Here's why I'm siding with Jim Lehrer, who asks, ''what's the big deal here?" Pay-to-play goes together like bread-and-butter in politics. So Blagojevich's searching for a handout isn't different.
We need look no further than to the new appointees of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet to find examples of this quid-pro-quo schema, one example being Caroline Kennedy looking to extend her family's dynasty. In a city run off the stench of clout and political I.O.U.S, why did U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald only now catch Chicago pols on tape making deals? Maybe Fitzgerald doesn't even realize that when his office talked to a higher-up in the President-elect's office, he was really just the proverbial horse being led to polluted waters.
CrabbyGoli­ghtly.com!

[tjirish44]

Why is this Blago still in office?? WTF they have tapes of the guy trying to sell Obama's Senate seat. Blago says he is innocent? Leagal smeagle. The citizens of Illinois should just march down to Gov mansion in the hundreds of thousands and ddrag his ass out into the street!! Geez Illionois residents march down to gov home and demand his ouster. Illinoian's are a buncha chumps.

[Danigirl65]

I've read this post several times and have yet to find where Blagojevich wants Obama to testify. This headline on the main page is wrong.

[sparkandy]

welcome to HuffPo, the leader of misleading headlines.

[Lakrosse]

Probably cuz Obama threw him under the bus as he did to Wright.

[Pdubya]

I'm sure Bank of America will be happy if he's impeached on talking about committing a crime.

[edwarvir]

I want a ticket to the swearing in of our new
President.

[harborfish]

Is the GOP paying Blago?

[catgirl666]

Blago just go away!

[Anonani]

He wants Mr. Obama to testify and I want to be a millionaire. We both have equivalent chances of accomplishing the feat.

[nikz]

No one cares! He needs to go away.......jail would be good!

[lunchlady]

So what? Let them be subpoenaed, I doubt it will help Blago any. I just hope he and his lawyer don't waste a lot more of Obama and team's valuable time. This guy is a tar baby.

[truthfulb]

That term tar baby is a strong one but in this case I agree with you they are throwing whatever they can at Obama and hope something sticks. The amusing part he has not taken over the office of President yet so imagine how it will be once he does? I am just hoping he do the best job he can and do not get caught up in too much mess because they may pin something on him that may stick?

[frappe]

Hey, Blago, the Obama administration, if you haven't noticed, has some significant national challenges on its menu and I don't think your particular problems qualify. You are just an annoying, regrettable distraction. Your problems are of your own making. Deal with it.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

If obamma and Rham have nothing to hide or fear, why not testify? People that have things to fear an cover up are the ones that refuse. Go for it, make them both testify and then let's move on. Blago is right, this is America, and if he did anything wrong, its not worth jail time, perhpas a fine, but other than that? Um, No.

[dlvme2]

Obama and his staff were not connected to this in a negative way. Blago trashed Obama and his entire team. Even the FBI cleared them of any wrongdoing. All of this trying to find a connection is ridiculous and it does waste Obama's time as the country is in a lot of trouble "IF" you have not noticed. I am sure that there was some NORMAL conversation about the seat, but nothing suspicious otherwise the tapes and investigating agents would have said something in the beginning or hinted at it and that never occurred. I do feel that if there were tapes seriously linking Obama and his team then yes have this, but there was not. Blago is an idiot and belongs in jail - he is arrogant and thinks he is above the law.

[JenniferEccles]

This is a well thought out post, dlvme2, and I agree with your observations.

I would like to see Illinois move a bit more quickly on this and remove Captain Queeg from office.

[MESGAIN26]

FOR WHAT THE CHARGES ARE NOT OBAMA PROBLEM FITZGELRLD CONFIRM THAT , SO BLAGO SHOULD JUST F' 'EM SELF LIKE HE TOLD OBAMA TO DO

[lm945]

If Rove and Miers have nothing to hide or fear, why didn't they testify?

Or does that argument only apply to Democrats?

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

WHY WOULD YOU WANT THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION 2 TAKE THE STAND? WE DIDNT SEE ANYTHING...NO WHAT I MEAN :)

[Pdubya]

blago is an 8 of clubs in a house of cards. sit down with the house to play cards? fool! you know the house always wins.

sing canary sing. perhaps a duet with spitzer?

[Pennsanic]

"To All the Girls I've Loved Before"?