http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1337789,CST-NWS-
rahm18good.article

Emanuel talked directly to gov: source 
DEEPER ROLE? | Pushed Jarrett for Senate seat 
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December 18, 2008

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter nkorecki{at}suntimes.com 
President-elect Barack Obama's incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had 
a deeper involvement in pressing for a U.S. Senate seat appointment than 
previously reported, the Sun-Times has learned. Emanuel had direct 
discussions about the seat with Gov. Blagojevich, who is is accused of 
trying to auction it to the highest bidder. 

Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 
election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to 
the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-
Times. There was no indication from sources that Emanuel brokered a 
deal, however.

A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the 
governor directly about the seat, saying Emanuel only spoke with 
Blagojevich once recently to say he was taking the chief of staff post. 

But sources with knowledge of the investigation said Blagojevich told 
his aides about the calls with Emanuel and sometimes gave them 
directions afterward. Sources said that early on, Emanuel pushed for the 
appointment of Jarrett to the governor and his staff and asked that it 
be done by a certain date.

At least some of the conversations between Emanuel and Blagojevich were 
likely caught on tape, sources said.

After Jarrett took herself out of the running in mid-November, Emanuel 
submitted a list of suitable names to the governor's camp that didn't 
include her name.

Emanuel, who has refused to comment on the issue, is not accused of 
wrongdoing.

In portions of conversations released in a criminal complaint against 
Blagojevich, he can be heard complaining that Obama wouldn't give 
anything in return for a Jarrett appointment.

CMPQwk 1.42-21 9999 
Democrats --  The party responsible for the housing meltdown ....


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