According to ABC [3], we now know who "candidate number 5" in the Blagojevich "Senate for sale" scandal is....
Chicago [4] Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. [5], D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich [6] reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.
According to the FBI [7] affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Rod Blagojevich" with something "tangible up front."
Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago [8] whom he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."
"Insights and thoughts"?? Beautiful.
"It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers," Jackson told ABC News. "An impossibility to an absolute certainty."
Wow. Kinda sounds like that bravado Blagojevich had in a public speech [9] less than 24hrs before he was in cuffs.
"Senate Candidate No. 5" played a key role in the governor's efforts to obtain something of value in exchange for the Senate appointment, according to the FBI affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Blagojevich threatened to appoint Senate Candidate No. 5 if President-elect Obama [10] refused to help get his wife on "paid corporate boards right now."
"If they feel like they can do this and not f-- give me anything then I'll f-- go [Senate Candidate 5]."
I guess Blago figured "The One" wouldn't cotton to being replaced in the Senate by the guy who threatened to "cut his nuts off [11]"...and might be willing to pony up if he thought that would happen.
And now, Obama's decided to finally call for Blago to resign...meaning they want the Lt. Governor to then become Governor and appoint the person Barry wanted to begin with...Valerie Jarrett [12]...and avoid the special election idea that's being kicked around, (can't risk the Republicans being able to win a special election with a "culture of corruption [13]" platform to run on). And I'm sure all the Dems in the legislature will get the message.
It looks like some of this may stick to Obama before it's over. It's now "fire" yet, but there's enough smoke to suggest that there was some contact between Blago and O's people about the seat. Such as this news story from November 5th [14] stating that they would meet...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
CHICAGO, ILL. - Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.
That's one of Obama's first priorities today.
He's meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.
Then there's a similar report here [15] on November 8th, indicating that they did meet.
The other thing that occurs to me is that maybe not getting a deal for the person he wanted Blago to appoint yet might have something to do with the fact that Obama has yet to resign. I mean, it's not like he doesn't know he's going to be President. Why not resign right away and let someone new start to get on their feet? Unless, of course, you haven't got assurances it will be who you want yet. Just thinking out loud.
As a side-note, I just want to point out for all of those Dems and/or members of the press that so gleefully reported on GOP scandals in the past few years, that here we have a guy trying to "sell" government...not selling influence. (If Blago was smart, he would have just called George Soros).
And how long before Blago starts running his mouth about everyone else connected with this scandal (and numerous others) in order to save his skin? (Note to Blago: hire a food taster).
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More: Ambinder [16] - Politico [17] - Right Wing [18] - Ace [19] - Outside the Beltway [20] - Powerline [21] - Stop the ACLU [22] - Volokh [23] - Sister Toldjah [24] - Hot Air [25]
