Politics

Obama: "Frustrating" Not To Release Blagojevich Report

By Kevin Hechtkopf

December 17, 2008 / 11:55 AM EST / CBS News

(AP)

President-elect Barack Obama had another news conference this morning, this time to announce Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as his choice for Interior secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his choice to lead the Department of Agriculture. But as has become his tradition, Mr. Obama also took a few questions, and he was forced again to talk about the scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers asked Mr. Obama about his pledge for transparency in light of not being able to release his internal report on his staff's contacts with Blagojevich's staff. Mr. Obama said it was "frustrating" not to release it yet because there are things in the media he said he would like to "correct."

But he added: "By next week, you guys will have answers to all your questions."

Update 4:55 p.m. ET: Cynthia Bowers later wrote us with this tidbit on what she noticed about the body language during today's press conference of Chief of Staff designee Rahm Emanuel and Obama senior adviser David Axelrod:

"Interestingly during today's announcement and question and answer Rahm Emanuel stood stiffly staring straight at the podium, unwilling it seemed to even glance at reporters trying to get a read on whether he's worried about the investigation or not. David Axelrod seemed more relaxed."