Blogjevich Calling on President Obama to Testify in Defense Trial
Lawyers for ousted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich asked a federal judge to compel President Barack Obama to give testimony in connection to charges of soliciting payments to fill Obama’s vacated senate seat.
Records concerning the case were recently released containing errors: Redacted names were left visible, shedding some light on the process the former governor took to fill Obama’s senate seat after he was elected president, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Records submitted by Blagojevich’s defense lawyers read that that Obama called a union official the day before he won the election against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to discuss the possibility of Valerie Jarrett replacing him in the U.S. Senate.
The same filing also read that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had several discussions with Blagojevich’s staff in effort to endorse potential senate replacements, according to the Sun Times.
The defense filing detailed several statements made by Service Employees International Union official Tom Balanoff to special agents within the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as part of the FBI’s investigation into alleged criminal acts committed by Blagojevich and his staff.
Both Balanoff’s statements and the record of Obama’s phone call were not intended to be made public. Blagojevich’s lawyers filed the records under a seal, according to the Sun Times.
A glitch in the court’s computer records system allowed viewers to see sections that were previously blacked out. Other details found in the filing that were not meant for public consumption included statements made by convicted political fundraiser and business man Tony Rezko, and other details from closed meetings.
One other detail found in the filing involved Emanuel calling then governor Blagojevich after Jarrett took herself out of the senate seat race to urge the former governor to not appoint U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. The filing also detailed that Emanuel did support placing Urban League President Cheryle Jackson in Obama’s former seat, according to the Sun times.
Two sources who said they are familiar with investigation into Blagojevich claimed that Obama told Balanoff on Nov. 3, 2008 that he could go ahead and talk with Blagojevich’s staff about possibly appointing Jarrett. Obama reportedly said he felt Jarrett would be a strong senator.
The court filing by Blagojevich’s lawyers do not accuse Obama of any wrongdoing.
His lawyers asked the judge recently to subpoena the president to testify, under the justification that Obama’s testimony will help corroborate evidence Blagojevich’s defense team will try to use in court, the Sun Times reported.
Both the White House and the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment.
After Blagojevich’s arrest in November 2008, the White House released a report that stated Obama’s preference that Jarrett replace him. But it also said he wouldn’t stand in her way to get the seat or actively seek her appointment.
