Unsealed FBI records reveal Obama, Rahm Emanuel’s talks over Rod Blagojevich Senate seat deal
WASHINGTON, DC: Newly declassified FBI records have emerged with fresh details on the conversations between then-President-elect Barack Obama, his incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and the disgraced former Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich about who would replace Obama in the Senate seat he was vacating, which has long been a focal point in Blagojevich's defense that he was unfairly prosecuted.
Fox News has obtained the partially redacted FBI FD-302 interview summaries and records of Obama's and Emanuel's interviews with the FBI in December 2008, which have been kept out of both criminal trials and from the public eye until now.
What did Rahm Emanuel's interview reveal about the Madigan discussions?
Blagojevich has maintained for years that he was nearing the negotiation of a deal to appoint then Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the daughter of influential former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, to fill the seat in exchange for Mr Madigan’s support of healthcare and budget legislation.
The new Obama interview notes say that Obama "was asked whether he was aware of Emanuel having a conversation with the Blagojevich administration regarding Lisa Madigan being considered for the Senate seat in exchange for legislation being passed," and that "Emanuel would have been aware that Lisa Madigan was an acceptable candidate to Obama."
The Emanuel interview notes that, on Dec 8, 2008, "(David) Axelrod and Emanuel went to see (US Senator Dick) Durbin, D-Ill. In this meeting, they all agreed that Lisa Madigan would be a good candidate. As a result of this conversation, Emanuel contacted (Blagojevich Chief of Staff, John) Harris and told him the merits of appointing Lisa Madigan as Senator."
The next morning, Dec 9, 2009, just after 6 am, Blagojevich was arrested at his home in Chicago.
Then-US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald said, "Governor Blagojevich was arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree."
Jarrett's near-appointment and other names in contention
The interviews also discuss Obama's original pitch to have longtime confidante Valerie Jarrett succeed him in the Senate, until he decided she'd instead serve as a senior White House adviser, a move Emanuel reportedly didn't want (he wanted Jarrett to take the Senate seat instead).
According to the notes, Obama eventually informed Emanuel that his decision regarding Jarrett was final and would not be discussed further, after which other names, including Tammy Duckworth, former Rep Jan Schakowsky and Rep Jesse Jackson Jr, were put forward.
Blagojevich eventually appointed Roland Burris to the seat; Burris did not seek reelection, and it was won by Republican Mark Kirk in 2010, who lost to Duckworth in 2016.
However, "Emanuel was still interested in Jarrett taking the Senate seat rather than working in the White House."
"Rahm’s a crafty, political, crafty, cunning and very effective political operator," Blagojevich chimed in. "He was interested in being closer to the king."
Blagojevich ended up appointing Roland Burris to Obama’s vacated seat. Burris did not run for re-election. Republican Mark Kirk won the seat in 2010 and was defeated by Tammy Duckworth in 2016.
