The $64MM question: To what extent, if at all, was President-Elect Obama connected to or aware of IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s corrupt activities? Obama is seeking to distance himself from the Governor, but ABC Correspondent Jack Tapper recalls a November 23 appearance on Fox News Chicago in which Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod was asked whether Obama had any preferences for his Senate replacement, a decision that lies solely with the Governor of IL. Axelrod’s answer: “I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them.”
Axelrod issued a statement this evening: “I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.” Hmm. Sounds a little odd that a senior advisor would be mistaken about something he said he “knew.”
The indications that Obama refused to participate in a pay-to-play scheme are in Obama’s favor: On an intercepted phone call, Gov. Blagojevich mused with chagrin that he was only being offered “gratitude” were he to appoint Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett to the vacated Senate seat. Still, it makes you wonder: How did Blagojevich know that he was only being offered gratitude?
AP reporters observe that “both Obama and Blagojevich got extensive money and support from Chicago businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who is now under federal indictment. And Obama is close to Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, who has been the governor’s staunchest legislative ally.”
Bear in mind that Blagojevich has been under investigation since before Obama endorsed his Gubernatorial reelection campaign in 2006. Jack Tapper gives some background on Obama’s history with Blagojevich:
Mr. Obama has a relationship with Mr. Blagojevich, having not only endorsed Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006, but having served as a top adviser to the Illinois governor in his first 2002 run for the state house.
In the Democratic gubernatorial primary that year, then-state sen. Obama endorsed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris. But after Blagojevich won, Obama came around enthusiastically. At the same time, meanwhile, Axelrod had such serious concerns about whether Blagojevich was ready for governing he refused to work for his one-time client.
According to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mr. Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff, Emanuel, then-state senator Obama, a third Blagojevich aide, and Blagojevich’s campaign co-chair, David Wilhelm, were the top strategists of Blagojevich’s 2002 gubernatorial victory.
Update: Hats-off to President-Elect Obama for calling upon Gov. Blagojevich to resign immediately.
Update #2: Massimo Calabresi of Time Magazine has a helpful article with potentially troubling details about interactions between Blagojevich and the Obama Transition Team.