Fitzgerald Asks Blago Impeachment Panel Not To Subpoena Obama Aides

CHICAGO -- The Illinois House committee investigating a possible impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't subpoena two incoming White House advisers, a spokesman said Saturday, shutting down a request from the embattled governor's attorney.

In a letter received by the committee Friday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said any such subpoenas "would interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into the activities of Governor Rod Blagojevich and others."

Fitzgerald asked the special investigative committee specifically to not subpoena President-elect Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, Obama incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Nils Larsen, a Tribune Co. executive vice president.

"The committee unanimously decided from the beginning that they wouldn't do anything to impede the investigation," committee spokesman Steve Brown said Saturday. "We'll follow that practice."

Blagojevich's defense attorney Ed Genson did not immediately respond to a phone message left Saturday requesting comment on the committee's decision.

Genson has said 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.

Fitzgerald said any testimony from Jarrett, Emanuel, Jackson or Larsen "would overlap with the subject matter of the pending criminal investigation."

Larsen has been reported to be the Tribune financial adviser to whom Blagojevich instructed aides to talk about firing editorial writers in exchange for a grant to help sell Wrigley Field, home of the Tribune-owned Chicago Cubs.

Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing. He has vowed to fight federal corruption charges, including allegations that he schemed to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the House committee's head, said Thursday that the panel received a letter from Genson asking members to subpoena Emanuel, Jarrett and more than a dozen others.

On Dec. 22, Fitzgerald had sent the committee a letter asking members not to delve into the criminal charges against Blagojevich, saying interviewing current or former members of Blagojevich's staff might jeopardize his criminal investigation.

The House panel is next set to meet Monday.

Comments

[bygollymissmolly]

So HP, why didn't you use this headline on your other story on this matter. Your other story said that Obama gets to avoid talking to Blago's lawyers like it was Obama's choice.

Thanks for the truthful headline this time. Shame on you for the other misleading headline.

[MESGAIN26]

poor media what ever will they do now , oh i know make up another conspiracy to prolong the witch hunt to connect obama , instead focusing on the walls tumbeling allround them when it does i hope they are to late to notice

[Elphnessa]

What everyone seems to be forgetting is that Blogo has been indicted for more than just the abuse of power when it comes to Obama's seat in the Senate - this is just the most newsworthy.

I am sure they are talking about more of the other abuse in Illinois than they are in the national press (i.e., holding back funds from children's hospitals, etc.).

[Bocado]

This is the extra spicy side of the story, the REAL MEAT is the other stuff.

If Blago is heard on tape referring to Obama as a mother-f----r and curse words, whose credibility is really at risk here and who was on the power trip?

[feyangel]

The request by Blago to have Jarrett, Emanuel, Jackson and Larsen subpoenaed says to me that in all likelyhood these people are completely CLEAN and not involved in any way in Blago's corruption-- and that his sleezy attorney hopes to twist their testimony to make it sound like Blago is as innocent and "clean" as they are.

[Luvial]

There is definitely something fishy about Fitzgerald's actions. I think he pulled the plug on the investigation (by leaking to the Tribune) because Obama's team was negociating with Blogo and Fitz did not want the Blogo corruption case morphing into a presidential impeachment trial. We need a tranparent investigation. We are getting what appears to be a coverup of Obama's and Fitz's behavior. Blogo never committed the crime so why bust him now except to protect the other half of the deal.

[bygollymissmolly]

And how was the Obama team "negotiating" with Blago? Because he expressed his choice for who he would like to see in the seat? That is pretty much what happens whenever a senate seat is open and a governor can appoint to it. Tell us what is suspect or nefarious about that please?

Your statement that Blago never committed a crime is laughable. Soliciting a bribe is a crime whether you like it or not.

You whiny righties will never give up will you? I feel very sorry for you. The next 8 years are going to be really hard on you.

[bluemike]

They should testify. if these people are already playing games, they need to be outed and replaced.

[MESGAIN26]

playing games ??? whaat part of the tape you didn't get fck.em they not going to give me any thing except apprecaition

[ElkoJohn]

it's an inconvenience, right ??
and the truth of the matter ??
''What is truth'' (per a politician named Pilate)

[NWBrunette]

Gee I wonder why? Same old version of transparency. The pretty opaque version.

[smag]

Screw Fitz. Lets have transparency. If there is nothing to hide then BO will have broken his string of things he wouldn't do but did.

[lisakaz2]

You act as if this is O'bama's fault. It isn't.

[smag]

Never said it was. But there is so much talk about his associations and contacts if he lets his aids testify then there can not be any one to authoritatively say different.

[uglyhumanbeing]

States should be able to prosecute crimes within their States independently of the federal government when the crime concerns State affairs most intimately. in the impeachment proceedings of Illinois Governor Blagojevich, no deference should be given to the United States of America Indictment when the Indictment primarily concerns the Great State of Illinois' constituency concerning their United States Senate representation within the United States of America. Illinois State impeachment proceedings should be unimpeded from federal interference because US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald only prosecutes minor participants while pursuing political crimes: See United States of America v I Lewis Libby at http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/osc/documents/libby_indictment_28102005.pdf

don't censor me because i have a big mouth.

[NotMcCain]

Now Obama's stuck keeping Fitzgerald who, far from a hero, seems borderline incompetent.

Plus, I will never forget how he let Rove go, on the eve of his indictment, after their 11th hour meeting. Did Rove invoke some phony "national security" issue in his defense?

And Fitzgerald didn't follow up with the direct trail to Cheney's office, either. Libby got to be the fall guy--on "obstruction", while saving Bush & Co from anything more serious.

No surprise there, except Fitzgerald's obvious complicity­..

Now he's got job security. Maybe that was the intent of the premature whistle blowing all along.....

[GrainOSand]

Rod Blagojevich, not peculiar to Illinois, not the majority, not relevant, but mostly a sorry distraction. Rod Blagojevich, the face of what is wrong with politics and business as usual concepts of governance and the conducting of private and public business. Blagojevich, a man presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A man accused, a man who ran on reform but could not reform himself...­so say the charges. Rod Blagojevich, is not Barack Obama or Barney Fife (Andy Griffith fame). Mr. Blagojevich, is his own comic book character who comes with his own comic book narrative about pursuit of that deemed worthy in life through the cataracts of greed and hubris. If there were a smoking gun on Obama it would have been produced by now. Fitzgerald said the urgency in bringing the charges was pending decision making by the governor. There is nothing pending on the immediate calendar that looms larger than the inauguration of the next President of the United States of America. Therefore, if President-elect Obama were implicated in the wiretapped conversations, would Fitzgerald allow more movement towards President Obama?

There is the question of longstanding cronyism in Illinois politics as there is in national politics. Mr. Obama did not create it in Illinois nor did he create in Washington. Any claim that he benefited by it needs to accompany damning evidence, otherwise -- Next -- otherwise, Mr. Blagojevich needs to find a new distraction from the public airing of his legal troubles.

[tbirdalum]

Grain, I agree with you.

[concern4civility]

Thoughtful commentary. Blogo is entitled to his day in court, yet a distraction to allow him to disrupt Obama at this mindboggling difficult time in U.S. history.

[dandan1]

Look, this guy broke no laws. All he did was shoot his mouth off on the phone. This lynch mob has to cool it.

[Omidal]

Blago dik and his lawyer are PWned.