Illinois House Won't Subpoena Obama Staff

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Says Doing So Would Imperil His Investigation

(AP)  The Illinois House committee investigating a possible impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't subpoena two incoming White House advisers, the committee chairwoman said Saturday, shutting down a request from the governor's attorney.

In a letter received by the committee Friday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the special investigative committee specifically to not subpoena President-elect Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Nils Larsen, a Tribune Co. executive vice president.

Fitzgerald said any such subpoenas "would interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into the activities of Governor Rod Blagojevich and others."

Blagojevich's attorney Ed Genson had asked the committee earlier in the week to issue the subpoenas.

"The ball is in Mr. Genson's court," committee chairwoman state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "We're not interested in undercutting the U.S. Attorney's criminal investigation."

Genson did not immediately respond to a call requesting comment Saturday on the committee's decision.

Speaking to a WLS-TV reporter outside a Chicago law office Friday, the governor said he was hired to fight for the people of Illinois and that's what he's been doing.

The interview marked the first time Blagojevich has spoken to the media since giving a defiant three-minute speech last Friday.

The 52-year-old Democrat was arrested on Dec. 9 and charged with scheming to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder, a charge the governor denies.

"Even in this process, without saying too much, that was all about trying to end up with the right decision that could do the most things for the people of Illinois, and when the full truth is told, you will see precisely that," Blagojevich said.

"If somehow that's impeachable, then I'm on the wrong planet and I'm living in the wrong place," he said.

Blagojevich's lawyer has said testimony from Emanuel, Jarrett and Jackson would help prove the governor's claim that he didn't do anything wrong in his handling of Obama's Senate seat.

Fitzgerald, however, said any testimony by Jarrett, Emanuel, Jackson or Larsen "would overlap with the subject matter of the pending criminal investigation."

Larsen has been reported to be the Tribune financial adviser to whom Blagojevich instructed aides to talk about firing editorial writers in exchange for a grant to help sell Wrigley Field, home of the Tribune-owned Chicago Cubs.

State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the House committee's head, said Thursday that the panel received a letter from Genson asking members to subpoena Emanuel, Jarrett and more than a dozen others.

On Dec. 22, Fitzgerald had sent the committee a letter asking members not to delve into the criminal charges against Blagojevich, saying interviewing current or former members of Blagojevich's staff might jeopardize his criminal investigation.

The House panel is next set to meet Monday.

[renonv5]

Posted by RowdynTex

You never cease to amaze with your idiotic,juvenile postings.

[jmagarotz]

Gov. Rod Blagojevich CAN say whatever he wants to say, No money was ever exchange there was no crime.

Ever heard of "Conspiracy"? Look it up sometime.

[eclecticman1]

The Anti-Obamans are hard put to do anything about this scandal other than whine and snivel. Fitzgerald says that the Obama camp didn''t do anything unproper and Gov. B in a recoreded phone message swore about them not giving him anything. What other evidence do the haters want? Actually, they just want to smear with no evidence.

[wardoglrs]

Looks like Obama is off to a great start with his transparency''s. Even though Obama is a punk liar & thief he does grow on you in a "Give me your Change way"

[summarex]

endofempire:

I''m a huge Obama fan and I think the guy is honest. But I have to admit that Fitzgerald''s actions have made me uneasy. They make Fitzgerald, Obama and his whole team look suspicious. And yes, I am led to wonder if there might just be fire with the smoke. Also, I just don''t trust the Emanuel guy. His father was for all practical purposes, a terrorist and I''ll turn the tables on the chosen by saying that Emanuel has never rejected his father''s actions! Anyway I don''t trust the guy and I don''t like him.

[summarex]

Fitzgerald should not take or be seen as taking any action that interferes with Blago''s ability to defend himself from impeachment. This is tampering by the judiciary in what should be the exclusive province of the legislators. I had a great opinioon of Fiotzgerald until now. If Blago is impeached under these circumstances he should hold out, armed if necessary until his term expires.

[centerfall94]

Posted by LonCheneyJr at 12:15 AM : Dec 28, 2008

It seems clear to me that white supremacist LonCheneyJr needs to clutch his gun and/or crucifix more. Bitter much, Lon? Only a few more bitter days left til Obama''s inauguration as President of the United States. Your president. For four years. Most likely eight.

[endofempire]

Who cares? Obama''s crew is unimpeachable and will remain so until the people realize they''ve been sold a bag of ****. Then we''ll be going back on the Blago affair and getting that upstanding Jewish gentleman, firmly heading our president Hussein''s staff, to face the music. Until then, as they say in Chicago, fuhgeddaboutit...

Attempting to distract by flinging mud on everybody else when you are all muddy is a common tactic among lawyers and middle school kids.
This ain''t about a president elect, it''s about a governor.

[toolmangler-2009]

Why? Because Obama''''s chief of staff cut short an ongoing criminal investigation of Blago, by threatening to go public. Thats what I heard..
Posted by william547 at 08:54 PM : Dec 27, 2008




Show proof or I call you in error, say it again without proof and I call you a Liar!!!

[cattiej]

Gov Rod Blagojevich is a stain on the people of Illinois, an UGLY stain. He says he is fighting for the people of Illinois??? The people of Illinois are gonna toss him out of office and he can take that filthy mouth wife with him....98% of the people polled two days ago, want this guy out NOW.
Rod, your a punk, take your goon''s and resign now. Go somewhere else to live. Go to Alaska, I hear Palin is looking for a running mate. Your just a crazy as she is, you ought to make quite a pair..

[spinproof]

"U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Says Doing So Would Imperil His Investigation"

Gov. Blagojevich is facing serious jail time without any contact with Pres.-elect Obama or his Staff, so why is he trying to drag Pres.-elect Obama and his staff into his personally created mess? Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich should follow New York Governor Eliot Spitzer''s lead and admit his errors, mistakes and step aside for the good of Illinois and the Democratic Party and stop being so selfish! Contact with Pres.-elect Obama''s Staff is a smoke screen, being innocent in that contact does not translate into being innocent overall.