The Chicago Tribune is reporting today that soon-to-be Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel WAS on the tapes of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat. NOT that this is a surprise. Rahmbo most likely was the “White House Advisor” referenced in the prosecutor’s 76-page affadavit against Blago.

Rahm has refused to respond to questions about any involvement he may have had with the Blagojevich camp over the Senate pick, and has lashed out against reporters trying to ask questions regarding his involvement in the scandal. If Rahm did hear of illegal plots by Blago, and did nothing, how would THIS federal regulation affect him?

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 1 > § 4 § 4. Misprision Of Felony
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

Rahmbo would probably skate due to the fact that the incident was so recent, and he could always argue that he was going to blow the whistle. Still, it makes Obama’s assertions that “I am confident that none of my staff were involved” look pretty lame. The Tribune quotes a source as saying:

…Contact between the Obama camp and the governor’s administration regarding the Senate seat began the Saturday before the Nov. 4 election, when Emanuel made a call to the cell phone of (Blago’s former chief of staff) Harris. The conversation took place around the same time press reports surfaced about Emanuel being approached about taking the high-level White House post should Obama win.

Emanuel delivered a list of candidates who would be “acceptable” to Obama, the source said. On the list were Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, Illinois Veterans Affairs director Tammy Duckworth, state Comptroller Dan Hynes and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Chicago, the source said. All are Democrats. Sometime after the election, Emanuel called Harris back to add the name of Democratic Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan to the approved list, the source said.

Emanuel hasn’t resigned his congressional seat yet. I think he’s hanging on to it, in case the calls for him to resign grow louder. When and if Emanuel resigns, a special election will be held for his replacement.

One of Blago’s schemes detailed in the affidavit involves the special election for Emanuel’s seat. It says Hot Rod and others were recorded talking about an unnamed “president-elect adviser” concerned about the election for Emanuel’s congressional seat who might help the governor land a new job at a non-profit organization. Wonder who that was?

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