Obama/Blago investigation report about Emanuel contacts a big fat nothing burger

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from The Swamp: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/obama_blago_report_to_clear_ra.html


December 21, 2008 2:10 PM

George Stephanopoulos broke some news today when he reported that his former fellow Clinton White House colleague Rahm Emanuel was cleared by an investigation by Greg Craig, the former Clinton White House lawyer, into contacts the Obama transition team had with Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office (so far as we know Blago had no role in the Clinton Administration even though the former president and Blago both have a thing for Elvis, thank you very much.)

As Stephanopoulos reports in his blog (he also said this on "This Week" this morning: http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2008/12/exclusive-obama.html?xid=rss-page


Sources tell me that the Obama team's review of contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will show that Rahm Emanuel had only one phone conversation with Blagojevich.

The contact, described as a "pro-forma" courtesy call, came as Emanuel was named Chief of Staff for Obama. Most of the discussion concerned Emanuel's Congressional seat (which had previously been held by Blagojevich), with only a "passing reference" to the Senate vacancy, according to these sources. No deal for the Senate vacancy was discussed.

Speculation in Washington and Chicago has been swirling for a week now over what the Obama team's report would find. Until now, the contents of that report have been kept sealed, at the request of the U.S. Attorney's office. Last Wednesday, Obama said he found it "a little bit frustrating" that the report had not yet been released.

The sources add that the report will show Emanuel also had four phone calls with Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris. During those conversations, the Senate seat was discussed. The pros and cons of various candidates were reviewed, and the sources say that Emanuel repeatedly reminded Harris that Blagojevich should focus on the message the pick would send about the governor and his administration.

Sources also confirm that Emanuel made the case for picking Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett during at least one of the conversations. In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, "all we get is appreciation, right?" "Right," Emanuel responded.


It struck me from the beginning of this that there probably was no 'there' there since USA Fitzgerald signaled very strongly that he wasn't going after anyone on Obama's team. It seemed like an attempt by us media types to raise questions to keep the pot stirring more than anything else.

You would have expected someone in the Obama transition to talk with Blago or his people to express a preference for certain Senate candidates over others.

But Fitzpatrick made sure the criminal complaint contained exculpatory information about the Obama team, that all it was going to give Blago was "appreciation" which caused Blago to describe Obama with an expletive.

So the report pretty much confirmed what Fitzpatrick said. Sounds like it's going to be a big fat nothing burger, which is no surprise.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Omigosh! He offered "appreciation"? Wait until the wingnuts get a hold of that!

See how corrupt he is? He tried to trade "appreciation" for a senate seat!

The horror! The horror!

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. This is indeed good news. Thanks for posting. (nt)

[geckosfeet]

3. It's going to be hard enough to convict Blago of anything besides

shooting his mouth off on a tapped line. Implicating any of his buds is going to take 4 years and several independent counsels appointed by republican RW pos's.