Report: Rahm Emanuel Was the Go-Between on Senate Seat Talks

Video report.

Earlier spin had Rahm Emanuel heroically calling Patrick Fitzgerald to blow the whistle on Blago's pay-for-play grasping.

If that's so, why is Emanuel hiding behind his kids to avoid answering questions?

Gag order requested by Fitzgerald? I don't think so. If that were the case, one would imagine that Fitzgerald would have given him the go-ahead to deliver a brief statement noting that he'd cooperated with the prosecutor but was now requested to remain silent about it, this being an active investigation and all.

Instead Emanuel is dodging questions like he has something to hide. If Emanuel were really the White Knight dime-dropper the earlier spin claimed he was, why would the prosecutor continue letting him twist in the wind looking all guilty 'n shit?

A middle possibility is that Team Obama ultimately decided to drop dime or at least refuse Blago's demands, but earlier explored the notion of playing ball... and if that's the case, it would explain why they don't want to answer any questions -- answering one leads to another, and another, until finally we get to the questions that make them look very bad.

The Tribune reports that businessmen planned a big fundraiser for Blago late in the campaign.

As Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois’ next U.S. senator, businessmen with ties to both the governor and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich’s campaign as a way to encourage him to pick Jackson for the job, the Tribune has learned.

...

Two businessmen who attended the meeting and spoke to the Tribune on the condition of anonymity said that Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi privately told many of the more than two dozen attendees the fundraising effort was aimed at supporting Jackson’s bid for the Senate.

...

That meeting led to a Blagojevich fundraiser Saturday in Elmhurst, co-sponsored by Nayak and attended by Jesse Jackson Jr.’s brother, Jonathan, as well as Blagojevich, according to several people who were there. Nayak and Jonathan Jackson go back years and the two even went into business together years ago as part of a land purchase on the South Side.

The crime of conspiracy requires an agreement to participate in a crime plus an overt step in furtherance of that conspiracy -- just yapping about doing a crime isn't enough. But actually going through with the fundraiser corruptly agreed upon? Conspiracy.

Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s brother, Jonathan, attended. Are we to believe that none of this was worked out with JJJr? Or Jesse Jackson Sr. for that matter?

I'm a little baffled how it can be that this much is known about the Jackson Family's involvement in the conspiracy and yet not a one of them has apparently received a letter putting them on notice that they're targets of an investigation. Is Fitzgerald afraid of the political fall-out in going after the Jackson mob? Apparently so.

Why Is the AG Asking the Illinois Supreme Court to Strip Blago of His Powers? This was noted earlier.

But why would the AG do this? Impeachment is the job of the legislature, not the courts.

Is it a speed thing? I doubt it. An impeachment can happen quickly, if so desired.

To toss out a possibility -- the legislature would prefer having someone else do this on their behalf, because too many of them fear what secrets Blago might let leak about them in retaliation. If it's just the AG and the Supreme Court -- hey, Blago, you know we were really on your side all along... Please don't mention the thing with the guy at the place. You know what I'm talkin' about.

John Kass: Blago isn't crazy. He's just a standard machine politician. This is the Chicago Way.

Kass notes that everyone from Daley to Obama is talking quietly about Blago because they don't want to piss him off -- and get him talking about their own corruption.

Thanks to CJ for that.

posted by Ace at 04:03 PM

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