Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety

The Barack Obama presidential transition office today finally released its own report on its own internal investigation of its own contacts with legally challenged Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. And you'll be comforted to know the Obama folks found no impropriety whatsoever by Obama folks.

So go back to wrapping holiday presents or pretending you're working at your desk and checking out Obama's important abs. All is well with the coming World of Change.

Speaking of tidy packages, the five-page report was not released in the morning as things are when public attention is desired.

It was released at 4:30 Eastern time to provide minimal exam time before the network news. But that's probably a coincidence. (A complete text of the memo is available on the jump, along with a news video; just click the "Read more" line below.)

According to the report by Greg Craig, an incoming White House attorney, Obama personnel had numerous contacts with the governor's office but no one ever suspected that Blagojevich, who's been under federal investigation for three years now, was doing anything wrong.

Craig said the feds have interviewed Obama's new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who inherited Blagojevich's 5th District House seat, and Valerie Jarrett, a newly named White House aide, as part of the governor's investigation. Emanuel did suggest some names but there was never any bargaining.

None of these Obama-Blagojevich contacts is a shock. It would be surprising if an exiting senator's office was not in touch with a nominating governor's office of the same party on his/her successor, although Obama promised immediately after Nov. 4 he would not be involved.

But given the *&#$%# excerpts read aloud two weeks ago by Chicago U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald apparently showing the governor demanding money for state business, aid and the "golden" revenue opportunity of peddling a Senate nomination, the media world was curious to know what did Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, a longtime political pal of Blagojevich, say on those wiretaps.

Fitzgerald has said Obama is not involved in the investigation.

Pulling together all of the Obama contacts apparently took longer than expected because days passed. Then out of the blue Obama's team said that Fitzgerald's team had provided perfect cover by asking them to hold off a week so as not to threaten interviews in the the federal investigation of the governor. Why? Because Blagojevich still didn't know he was bugged?

On Friday, Fitzgerald's office reportedly asked Obama's team to push the report release day back to Tuesday from Monday.

At the time we suggested politicians prefer to release not positive news when people aren't paying attention, like John Edwards doing his TV affair confession on a summer Friday night when 14 people are watching the tube.

Oh, look, here we are 24 hours from Christmas Eve. Few are paying attention. The world has moved on. Looks like Mark Teixeira has been bought by the Yankees for $180 million.

Obama is in Hawaii working out in a Secret Service bubble, so he certainly won't be talking. He'll leave the political world to watch wannabe senator Caroline Kennedy pull a Sarah Palin with the media.

Emanuel, the transition team told Huffington Post today, has just a little bit ago -- in fact, we just missed him -- left for a long-planned family vacation in that place that every North Side Chicago family dreams of visiting for the year-end holidays, somewhere in Africa. We're not told the area code. Likely on a safari. With no cell coverage, of course. So he's not around to talk.

So, amazingly, there won't be any Obama person on news video to run in endless tube loops over the slow holiday. Just the five report pages, which makes for poor TV video.

There may, however, be some future amendments. The Obama team did not keep phone logs, so their contact list was developed from memory, which may or may not match the federal wiretap chronology if it's ever released.

Fitzgerald, who so helpfully asked Obama to hush up his internal report when people were most interested, is busy doing his job as the only really investigative arm perusing Illinois politics. Now that his hand was forced by the alleged impending sale of Obama's vacant Senate seat, the clock is running on an indictment of Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris.

Oh, and did we mention, four weeks from today a little before noon Eastern time, Obama becomes boss of Fitzgerald and all the other U.S. attorneys? What do you want to bet that despite the Democratic Cook County clamoring Fitzgerald stays on a while? See video below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credits: Associated Press (Blagojevich, Obama and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, top); Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press (Emanuel and Obama, bottom).

Here's the text of the internal review memo prepared for President-elect Obama by attorney Gregory Craig:

At your direction, I arranged for transition staff to provide accounts of any contacts that you or they may have had with Governor Blagojevich or his office in which the subject of your successor came up.

The accounts support your statement on December 11, 2008 that you “have never spoken to the Governor on this subject [or] about these issues,” and that you “had no contact with the Governor’s office.” In addition, the accounts contain no indication of inappropriate discussions with the Governor or anyone from his office about a “deal” or a quid pro quo arrangement in which he would receive a personal benefit in return for any specific appointment to fill the vacancy.

One member of the transition staff, Rahm Emanuel, did have contacts of the type covered by your request. I discuss the nature of those contacts in the attached report. David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, two other individuals on the transition staff, did not have any contacts with the Governor or his office but are included in the report to address questions raised by the press.

These accounts were communicated to the Office of the United States Attorney in interviews that were conducted last week. At the request of the Office, we delayed the release of this report until such time as the interviews could be completed. The interviews took place over a period of three days: Thursday, December 18, 2008 (the President-Elect); December 19, 2008 (Valerie Jarrett); and December 20, 2008 (Rahm Emanuel).

One other individual, Dr. Eric Whitaker, a family friend, was approached and asked for information by a member of the Governor’s circle. I have included an account of this contact even though Dr. Whitaker is not a member of the transition staff.

Report to the President-Elect

On December 11, 2008, the President-Elect asked the White House Counsel-designate to determine whether there had been any staff contacts or communications – and the nature of any such contacts of communications – between the transition and Governor Blagojevich and his office relating to the selection of the President-Elect’s successor in the United States Senate. The results of that review are as follows:

The President-elect

The President-elect had no contact or communication with Governor Blagojevich or members of his staff about the Senate seat. In various conversations with transition staff and others, the President-elect expressed his preference that Valerie Jarrett work with him in the White House.

He also stated that he would neither stand in her way if she wanted to pursue the Senate seat nor actively seek to have her or any other particular candidate appointed to the vacancy.

After Ms. Jarrett decided on November 9, 2008 to withdraw her name from consideration as a possible replacement for him in the Senate and to accept the White House job, the President-elect discussed other qualified candidates with David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel. Those candidates included Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson, Jr., Dan Hynes and Tammy Duckworth.

The President-elect understood that Rahm Emanuel would relay these names to the Governor’s office as additions to the pool of qualified candidates who might already be under consideration. Mr. Emanuel subsequently confirmed to the President that he had in fact relayed these names. At no time in the discussion of the Senate seat or of possible replacements did the President-Elect hear of a suggestion that the Governor expected a personalbenefit in return for making this appointment to the Senate.

Rahm Emanuel

Mr. Emanuel had one or two telephone calls with Governor Blagojevich. Those conversations occurred between November 6 and November 8, 2008. Soon after he decided to accept the President-elect’s offer to serve as Chief of Staff in the White House, Mr. Emanuel placed a call to the Governor to give him a heads up that he was taking the Chief of Staff’s position in the White House, and to advise him that he would be resigning his seat in the House of Representatives.

They spoke about Mr. Emanuel’s House seat, when he would be resigning and potential candidates to replace him. He also had a brief discussion with the Governor about the Senate seat and the merits of various people whom the Governor might consider. Mr. Emanuel and the Governor did not discuss a cabinet position, 501c(4), a private sector position for the Governor or any other personal benefit for the Governor.

In those early conversations with the Governor, Mr. Emanuel recommended Valarie Jarrett because he knew she was interested in the seat. He did so before learning -- in further conversations with the President-Elect -- that the President-elect had ruled out communicating a preference for any one candidate.

As noted above, the President-elect believed it appropriate to provide the names of multiple candidates to be considered, along with others, who were qualified to hold the seat and able to retain it in a future election. The following week, Mr. Emanuel learned that the President-elect and Ms. Jarrett with the President’s strong encouragement had decided that she would take a position in the White House.

Between the time that Mr. Emanuel decided to accept the position of Chief of Staff in the White House and December 8, 2008, Mr. Emanuel had about four telephone conversations with John Harris, Chief of Staff to the Governor, on the subject of the Senate seat. In these conversations, Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Harris discussed the merits of potential candidates and the strategic benefit that each candidate would bring to the Senate seat.

After Ms. Jarrett removed herself from consideration, Mr. Emanuel –- with the authorization of the President-elect –- gave Mr. Harris the names of four individuals whom the President-elect considered to be highly qualified: Dan Hynes, Tammy Duckworth, Congresswoman Schakowsky and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. In later telephone conversations, Mr. Emanuel –- also with the President-elect’s approval –- presented other names of qualified candidates to Mr. Harris including Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Ms. Cheryle Jackson. Mr. Harris did not make any effort to extract a personal benefit for the Governor in any of these conversations.

There was no discussion of a cabinet position, of 501c(4), of a private sector position or of any other personal benefit to the Governor in exchange for the Senate appointment.

Although Mr. Emanuel recalls having conversations with the President-elect, with David Axelrod and with Valerie Jarrett about who might possibly succeed the President-elect in the Senate, there was no mention of efforts by the Governor or his staff to extract a personal benefit in return for filling the Senate vacancy.

Valerie Jarrett

Ms. Jarrett had no contact or communication with Governor Blagojevich , with his Chief of Staff, John Harris or with any other people from the Governor’s office about a successor to replace the President-elect in the United States Senate or how the decision should be made. Nor did she understand at any time prior to his arrest that the Governor was looking to receive some form of payment or personal benefit for the appointment.

Her only contact with the Governor was at the Governor’s Conference in Philadelphia on December 2, 2008, over three weeks after she had decided not to pursue the Senate seat and had accepted the President-elect’s offer to work in the White House. She had a brief conversation with him on that occasion. He wished her well.

On November 7, 2008 -- at a time when she was still a potential candidate for the Senate seat -- Ms. Jarrett spoke with Mr. Tom Balanoff, the head of the Illinois chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Mr. Balanoff is not a member of the Governor’s staff and did not purport to speak for the Governor on that occasion.

But because the subject of the Governor’s interest in a cabinet appointment came up in that conversation, I am including a description of that meeting.

Mr. Balanoff told Ms. Jarrett that he had spoken to the Governor about the possibility of selecting Valerie Jarrett to replace the President-elect. He told her that Lisa Madigan’s name also came up.

Ms. Jarrett recalls that Mr. Balanoff also told her that the Governor had raised with him the question of whether the Governor might be considered as a possible candidate to head up the Department of Health and Human Services in the new administration. Mr. Balanoff told Ms. Jarrett that he told the Governor that it would never happen. Jarrett concurred.

Mr. Balanoff did not suggest that the Governor, in talking about HHS, was linking a position for himself in the Obama cabinet to the selection of the President-elect’s successor in the Senate, and Ms. Jarrett did not understand the conversation to suggest that the Governor wanted the cabinet seat as a quid pro quo for selecting any specific candidate to be the President-elect’s replacement. At no time did Balanoff say anything to her about offering Blagojevich a union position.

David Axelrod

Mr. Axelrod had no conversations with anyone outside the President-elect’s immediate circle about who should replace the President-elect in the United States Senate. No one ever came to Mr. Axelrod to propose a deal involving the selection of a replacement, and nothing came up in any of his conversations with the President-elect or the members of the President-elect’s immediate circle that suggested that the Governor was seeking some kind of quid pro quo for the appointment.

Mr. Axelrod recalls that, after the election, the President-elect discussed –- with Mr. Axelrod and Mr. Emanuel –- a number of individuals who were highly qualified to take his place in the Senate.

Mr. Axelrod was under the impression that the President-elect would convey this information to the Governor or to someone from the Governor’s office, which explains why Mr. Axelrod gave an inaccurate answer on this subject to questions from the press. He later learned that it was Mr. Emanuel who conveyed those names to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, John Harris.

Dr. Eric Whitaker

Dr. Whitaker had no contacts or communications with either the Governor or his Chief of Staff, John Harris. He did have contact and communication with one individual purporting to act on behalf of the Governor.

In the period immediately following the election on November 4, 2008 – on either November 6, 7 or 8 – Deputy Governor Louanner Peters called him at his office and left a message. When he returned the call, Ms. Peters asked who spoke for the President-elect with respect to the Senate appointment. She explained that the Governor’s office had heard from others with recommendations about the vacant seat. She stated that the Governor’s office wanted to know who, if anyone, had the authority to speak for the President-Elect. Dr. Whitaker said he would find out.

The President-elect told Dr. Whitaker that no one was authorized to speak for him on the matter.

The President-elect said that he had no interest in dictating the result of the selection process, and he would not do so, either directly or indirectly through staff or others. Dr. Whitaker relayed that information to Deputy Governor Peters.

Dr. Whitaker had no other contacts with anyone from the Governor’s office.  ###

Comments

[David Frost]

Well, perhaps they're innocent, and perhaps they're not. Clearly, they're not interested in inspiring any confidence in anyone but the most die-hard Obamatrons.

Had the transition team wished to display a bit of integrity, they'd have retained an independent outsider. I guess they're still counting on the media's whole-hearted collaboration in this business. And why not? It's worked so far...

[Andrew Walker]

I think it's fantastic that Obama's team has finally cleared itself in this investigation.

If there's one thing that we've learned from the Bush and Clinton Administrations, it's that the White House can be absolutely trusted to regulate itself and keep itself honest.

I think we all know that Rahm Emanuel is a straight up guy who's never crossed any lines or stepped outside the boundaries.

I also can't wait for Carolyn Kennedy to be appointed Senator despite never holding public office, because she helped Obama's fundraising. That's the way Democracy should work!

This is going to be the best Democracy ever!

[Will]

Is Obama the only product of the Chicago machine who is not corrupt? If so, then maybe he truly is The One.

[El_Raton]

Whew. What a relief. However, they failed to link the story titled, "Blagojevich team probe of Blagojevich team finds no Blagojevich team impropriety." Again, what a relief.

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

Rahm emanuel who was once thrown out of a used car
salesman association for not beeing pushy enough is on
a visit to Africa where he will be trained by Robert Mugabe and Idi Amin Dada, two old Obama confidants.,
who will teach him hard ball and one way diplomacyRahm is taking his kids with him in the hope of preparing them to compete with other dynasties such as
the Kennedys and Clintons.Bon voyage rahm.

[ben]

Best headline, EVER! Hilarious

[mrccity]

I"m not sure if the Governor is innocent or guilty, however I will say this; Everyone in the country should be watching this story. It is a good example of how our legal system opperates. "Guilty before proven innocent" of course thats just the way I see it.

[Herman]

Are you KIDDING? This administration will be the most corupt in history....even more that the ClintonS!!!!

[Baracks' shirt]

Priase be!! the prophet Obama investigated himself and - are you sitting down- cleared himself!!!

Does Obama really think we are so stupid as to believe that Obama was the only virgin in the whorehouse?

[Ricardo]

Holy Moly, Andrew. You must be the only employee of the LA Times who has managed to keep your nose away from the Messiah's posterior. Watch your back.

[vorbis speex]

Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety

Thank you! Now where do I go sign up to pay for this service?

[mrunpc]

Emanuel only had a couple of "brief" conversations with Blago. OK. You can say an AWFUL lot in 30 seconds...for instance:

The little Jewish boy said to the corrupt Pole POL, "Hey, Blago, unless ya want 2 in dat pretty little coiffe of yawz, ya'd betta take wunna da illegal Kenyan Muslim's cesspool rats to replace him."

End of conversation.

Check out the REAL Barack Hussein Obama:
www.wnd.com
www.obamacrimes.com

[JB]

Change!

[OSweet]

Wow. A politically incorrect, iconoclastic headline.

Should I consider subscribing again...?

[TIKASH]

All ya disappointed Republicans, I got one advise for ya; Carry your weeping and whinning to the wilderness, your time is up. Go sleep for a very very long time and stop this campaign of hate. Down with y'all Republicans and long Live the USA.

[R]

Okay. Barry O investigating Barry O? That's a joke right?

It's like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank.

[Kevin]

I am relieved. I was so worried that the man who's going to pay my mortgage and buy all my gasoline and send my kids to college, did something wrong. I consider this clearing of himself an early Christmas gift to me and my family. I thought I may have to get a job for a few weeks there. Now I know that he's going to be able to take office and "share the wealth" with people like me. Thank you Lord. Merry Christmas!

[ronnor]

Very surprising headline from the LA Times, maybe they feel safe now that their savior is in with the help of their bamboozlement of the electorate. Now that Mr. Obama has been elected could we now hear and see that infamous meeting with all of the terrorists there in Los Angeles which he attended? Its to late to do anything about the election now so it should be safe.

[Dan Abbett]

Stop the presses! The FOX All-stars panel on Special Report with Brit Hume has ruled in favor of the Obama self-exam. According to Charles Krauthammer, its dead, this is the shortest scandal ever, it is clear that Obama was not involved.

I suspect that we cannot site precedent here the next time we are cited for a traffic infraction, but what the heck. "Honest officer, I personally verified they your radar gun is fast by 20 miles an hour."

[John London]

How about this headline:

Obama opposition probes Obama's report and finds something bad to say about it.

I'm so surprised about blah blah blah. A God-sent reporter knows the truth and writes about it.

[Kay]

Of course Obama claims he had "no knowledge". Read the transcript again. "After Ms. Jarrett decided on November 9, 2008 to withdraw her name from consideration as a possible replacement for him in the Senate and to accept the White House job, the President-elect discussed other qualified candidates with David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel. Those candidates included Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson, Jr., Dan Hynes and Tammy Duckworth.

The President-elect understood that Rahm Emanuel would relay these names to the Governor’s office as additions to the pool of qualified candidates who might already be under consideration. Mr. Emanuel subsequently confirmed to the President that he had in fact relayed these names."

And look at the picture of Blagjevich, Obama and Mayor Daley.....do they look like they aren't the "best of buds?"
After all Valerie Jarrett worked for Mayor Daley and brought Michelle Obama into the Mayor Daley office......
ALL THE SAME PEAS IN THE "CORRUPTION" POD!

[Justin EVC OK Dist 4 ILA]

I am glad to see people actualy speaking out against this blatent slap in the face to the American people. I am sure it will just die down and be another I can't believe he was able to get away with that scheme. It is time to stand up for what is right. If this type of thing is permited then our nation has failed itself and is headed in a direction of state and federaly ran everything. Sounds kind of like a county called Cuba. I commend you for writing this article. Merry Christmas and God Bless Us. We will need it.

[Will]

I don't get it. The MSM and conservative media blasted Obama for weeks on not releasing full details of whatever conversations the incoming staff may have had with Blago. This criticism continued despite Patrick Fitzgerald explaining the delay was a result of his own wishes Finally, once the Obama team released the full contacts, the report is ridiculed as a "farce" by the media.

If the Washington press corps wants to know why administrations end up stonewalling the press so often, they would do well to study this latest episode in their refusal to take yes for an answer.

[Michael Pelletier]

MrCity wrote:
--
"Guilty before proven innocent" of course thats just the way I see it.
--

So, are you saying that the wiretap transcript provided by the US Attorney's office is fraudulent? That Blago was framed? Do you hear the thundering hoofbeats of a herd of unicorns in the distance?

Blago might still be found "not guilty" in a court of law, but that doesn't mean he's not a foul-mouthed crook who tried to sell a Senate seat on tape.

[bfwebster]

OK, that headline ("Obama team probe...") was the funniest thing I've read all morning. Keep their feet to the fire. ..bruce..

[SeeTheLight]

WOW!! read all of the HATERS comments, must be sorelooser pepublicans. Can't get over it huh? Well concentrate on helping solve the worldwide problems that was caused and overlooked in the last ten years. You'll feel much better about yourself.

[JT]

How nice that the politician who wants to bring change to Washington and create a transparent administration is able to look at himself and his staff and find nothing wrong.

And I suppose we are to also believe the Emperor has new clothes?

The only transparency we are getting is the knowledge that in a month Washington-style politics will be changed - to Chicago-style politics.

[Tim]

Is the honeymoon over already? Obama hasn't even been sworn in and already the knives are out. Bush at least got to be sworn in befor the media started hateing him. But then again Bush was never as controversial as the messiah, err I meen Obama.
I can't wait to see what Obama does when he is sworn in. Oh how the mighty will fall.

[james]

ah yes!!!.....this is the "Change" we were all longing for!!! Holy are thou Obama!!!

[david]

Onbama is still counting on they will believe ANYTHING, problem is, half of the do

[Scot Stelter]

Newsflash: Newpaper Contrives Controversial Issue to Sell Newspapers!

What did you expect? The Obamas are being accused by innuendo and they haven't even taken office yet. Karl Rove must be giddy.

Please do your job, LA Times, and find some real news to report. This flogging of this whole news story is becoming a parody of itself.

(Well, Scotty, since this isn't a newspaper and you got in for free, you can't be talking about this online blog.)

[jikababy]

Let me get this straight. There was no al qaeda in iraq but they were in San Dego and Florida HMMMMM? Also, Illinois politics is the most corrupt and this two-bit salesman was elected President, who has had dealings with Rezko and is part of the Chicago Machine, is a clean as a baby's bottom? Wake up !!!!

[valwayne]

Wow! Obama's team issues their own report, following their own investigation, and find that they are pure as the driven snow! And Gov Blagojevich gave a press conference in which he declared that he was completely innocent of any wrong doing. So may boy scouts from Chicago and Illinois and all so innocent. Blagojevich, Obama, Rezco, Rahm Emanuel...all good buddies and all innocent?...oops! Rezco..good buddy #1 was convicted of a felony....so ok he's not technically innocent...but if you ask him I'll be he tell you he is...just like Blagojevich and just like Obama. Shades of Richard Nixon......the press won't investigate Obama or Rahm Emanuel since he's Obama's man....so if we ever want to know the truth we'd need a Special Prosecuter. I agree not likely.....Welcome to the Banana Republic of the U.S. of A., and in the starring role....His Corruption President Obama!

[Jeremy Grant]

THE REASON OBAMA INVESTIGATED OBAMA

It is indeed frustrating for me to be stuck in a country so completely full of idiots; to be right about everything and always have to explain everything to everyone. But, I'll do you all a favor and take the time to explain THE REASON Obama investigated Obama, nonetheless. And, you're welcome.

Just like a bunch of sheep, many people on this blog -- including Mr. Malcolm -- actually believe that the reason Obama investigated Obama was TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT NO INAPPROPRIATE OR ILLEGAL CONTACTS TOOK PLACE BETWEEN OBAMAS PEOPLE AND BLAGOJEVICH'S PEOPLE.

That's not the reason. Duh. Did you people all just crawl out from under rocks? What a simple minded bunch of rubes. In fact, Malcom and many of the rest of you have already pointed out why that OBVIOUSLY can't be the reason -- namely because nobody could be expected to believe an investigation SOMEONE DID ON THEMSELVES!

Do you people actually believe you're saying something insightful when you say it’s ridiculous for Obama to investigate himself. Do you people have pudding between your ears?

So, Obama trying to convince the public of his innocence is obviously not the reason.

THE REASON Obama investigated Obama was to establish in the public's eyes that he is honest and straightforward -- and also to provide an example of how thorough Obama's people are. This is/was all a public relations move.

Ya' see, when the federal investigation into the Obama contacts with Blagojevech and his people comes out, and it is EXACTLY THE SAME as Obama's investigation into himself -- down to every intricate detail -- then the honesty and thoroughness of Obama and his people will be established for the public.

THAT'S THE REASON.

So, for you people who actually believe that the reason Obama investigated Obama was an attempt to CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE WAS NO UNETHICAL OR ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF OBAMA AND HIS STAFF, please refrain from ever again writing anything on a blog or in any other way expressing your opinion -- because you’re an idiot and are muddying up the waters for those brilliant few of us.

[Kevan Corkill]

Prayers, praying that the TRUTH will come into the light for all to see...Amen. :) This article is very good because the story is told very simply and very clearly...not confusion here...the straight TRUTH...complete and pure. :)

[Mac O]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

CHICAGO? CORRUPTION?

Just imagine the field day that the press would have if a conservative were linked to to or involved in such blatant corruption.

Mac O