Obama Denies Involvement In Senate Seat Scandal

December 11. 2008

President-elect Barack Obama today denied in stronger terms, that he had anything to do with disgraced Illinois governor  Rod Blagojevich's attempts at selling his vacated Senate seat.

Rahm Emanuel and president-elect Barack Obama

Obama’s chief-of-staff, Rahm Emanuel, avoided reporters questions today, regarding being a target of the investigation into corruption, as he appeared on the FBI wiretaps speaking to Blagojevich about procuring high paying jobs for the governor’s wife.

Obama speaking to Rod Blagojevich a week after the election

Another prominent figure swept up in the scandal is Jesse Jackson jr. Blagojevich stated on the wiretaps that a representative for Jackson approached him regarding purchasing Obama’s Senate seat for the plum sum of $500,000 - $1,000,000. Jesse Jackson jr. was also seen entering and existing Blagojevich’s office the day before the governor was arrested. Jackson, however, denies any wrongdoing.

Jesse Jackson jr

Political scandals are sometimes described as juicy, but I think this is sad. It’s a terrible reminder of what truly goes on in politics at times.

O'REILLY: But Rahm Emanuel, too, the chief of staff, knew Blagojevich very, very well. And I think, you know, look, the tapes are interesting because they exonerate Barack Obama 100 percent. But Emanuel now — you know how Blagojevich, if he flips, you know what he's going to do. He's going to just lay it right out there because, you know, he knows everything.

MILLER: Listen, if Blagojevich, Rezko, Wright, or Ayers flip on Rahm Emanuel, they're going to end up in a parking garage facing into a wall and they're going to have a remake of the St. Valentine's Day massacre because he plays rough.

http://www.foxnews.com

Obama says he has not been contacted by FBI

President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday morning he has not been contacted by federal authorities in the investigation of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and said nobody in his transition was involved in deal-making with the governor.

He said his office is gathering details of any staff contacts with the governor and will detail those in a few days.

"I had no contact with the governor's office. I did not speak to the governor about these issues. That I know for certain," the president-elect said at a Chicago press conference called to announce former Sen. Tom Daschle as his pick for secretary of health and human services.

"Our office had no involvement in any deal-making around my Senate seat. That I'm absolutely certain of. That would be a violation of everything this campaign is about," Mr. Obama said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com

Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel ducks reporters' questions

President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, refused to take questions from reporters this morning about whether he was the Obama “advisor” named in the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The complaint states Blagojevich wanted a promise of a high-level appointment or some other reward for Blagojevich in exchange for Blagojevich naming Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the U.S. Senate.

Emanuel was uncharacteristically absent from Obama’s news conference this morning. He was spotted two hours later in the lobby of Chicago’s City Hall. He was there to listen to his two children performing in a concert with their school, Anshe Emet.

A Sun-Times reporter pressed him to comment about whether he was the emissary named in the criminal complaint.

“You’re wasting your time,” Emanuel said. “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Dont do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.”

Asked, “Can’t you do both?” Emanuel replied, “I’m not as capable as you. I’m going to be a father. I’m allowed to be a father,” and he pushed the reporter’s digital recorder away.

http://www.suntimes.com