SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Blagojevich's lawyer Monday intends to submit President-elect Barack Obama's internal report to a House impeachment panel as evidence the governor wasn't trying to enrich himself while deciding who to appoint to Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat.| One self-serving report leads to another ... |
Last week, Obama's transition team released a report concluding that incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had one or two phone calls with Blagojevich regarding the Senate appointment and another four calls with the governor's former chief of staff, John Harris, who also has been charged. The Obama report noted that Emanuel was pushing Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett for the seat but concluded no wrongdoing on the part of Obama's aides or any indication that the governor was attempting to seek a cabinet appointment or ambassadorship under Obama in exchange for appointing Jarrett or anyone else.