Interesting speculation from Politico\’s Ben Smith:
The [Obama-Biden] transition hasn\’t yet responded to questions about [Illinois Governor] Rod Blagojevich\’s indictment, but the key question is whether the transition was talking to prosecutors, whether Obama and Valerie Jarrett knew that Blagojevich had offered her the Senate seat in exchange for a labor job, and how she, the transition, or SEIU handled the solicitation of a bribe. (The existence of a transcript suggests that the SEIU official — Andy Stern, the president, had met with Blagojevich just before the election on the subject, though nobody is identified in the complaint — was wearing a wire.)
Smith also notes Obama did not play ball:
One piece of speculation: Jarrett\’s abrupt withdrawal from consideration for the Senate seat suggests Obama\’s circle aware of the investigation.
It is clear from the complaint that Obama refused to offer Blagojevich anything for appointing Jarrett.
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