Posted on 06/25/2010 10:16:12 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
CHICAGO -- An ex-aide to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich testified this week that President Obama knew Blagojevich wanted a plum job in the administration in exchange for appointing a politically palatable person to fill Obama's vacated Senate seat.
John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified in the ex-governor's corruption trial in federal District Court here this week that Obama was aware Blagojevich was working to leverage the Senate seat into a cabinet position for himself.
He also said Blagojevich believed that if he appointed to the Senate Obama's longtime friend Valerie Jarrett, Blagojevich would get a top job. Jarrett had been working on the Obama presidential campaign before accepting her current position as a senior White House advisor.
"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for," Harris told the court Wednesday.
The White House declined to comment Thursday on testimony regarding Obama and Jarrett.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Now just think about this for a moment. We have all just witnessed Rod Blagojevich and his talents on “The Apprentice” and for the life of me I just can’t see him being effective in any “top job” of the US government. Which brings to mind a startling conclusion for the sorry state of affairs this Country finds itself in. Everyone on Obama’s staff is incompetent and are there primarily for political reasons. I’m am truly enlightened as to why things have fallen apart.
At what point did anyone think Obama knew how to tell the truth?.
ping
Of course he knew. It was obvious to anyone but a complete idiot. The partially released Blago transcripts made it very clear.
You'd think this would be BIG news, but I didn't hear a peep about it last night, or this morning on Fox, so I can imagine it wasn't covered anywhere else either.
I expect this will go away just as quickly as BO’s other legal transgressions. Either the aide will retract his statement (likely as a result of a 3 a.m. phone threat) or a new “crisis” will arise (not that this story would make headlines anyway).
“TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 1 > § 4
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§ 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.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=misprision&url=/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000004——000-.html
Sounds like an impeachable offense to me!!!!
But, is there any evidence to support this?
If there is a paper trail or documents from The Big 0 showing he knew, it would be serious.
Haven't heard of any yet. Stay tuned.
I am a little unclear on where the crime is-
Did Blago want something PERSONALLY? for his Senate seat?
Otherwise, I would expect others would want to talk to him about who they would like to see in the seat.
If Obambi said “select our person and we will give you something” then obambi is cuilty- but if Blago said “what will you give me for picking your guy’ then blago is guilty.
He’ll pardon himself. Or Biden will pardon him if he knows the writing’s on the wall.
No, but now that the aide has put it out there, he will either be forced to turn over email exchanges or risk perjuring himself.
I said he knew about this right at the start, and if the media did their job they would know too.
This is Chicago where all know what is going on in their circle.
They said Bush was corrupt , maybe he was but he and his admin are nothing to this administration.
I’m still waiting for the NY city flyover manifest to be released and who was on that plane
“that Obama was aware Blagojevich was working to leverage the Senate seat into a cabinet position for himself.”
What’s to understand? Blago was attempting to exchange a Senate seat for a plum job (a crime). If Obama knew about the attempted quid pro quo and failed to report it, that is also a crime. Proving it is another story.
DUH !
Ya think?
I knew this when it happened....
most people knew this when it happened....
..... and now we FINALLY have proof?
it’s been out there all along and (just) now we have “Proof”
It was for the children.
No. The current spin is now Fitzgerald screwed up going after Blago. He’s just a dirtbag but that’s not illegal and this is how politics are done everyday. So Obama may not be the nice guy we hoped he was but it’s just normal politics here...nothing to see.
Having said that, maybe this is what happened...
Blago is using Chicago style politics to line his pockets in the senate appointment. Obama realizes he isn’t going to get what he wants without paying big, so instead gets Blago arrested (which obviously gets him impeached). Kind of a game of hardball chicago style politics. Obama said screw you and me paying you for who I want...appoint whoever you want to appoint and we’ll see what happens to you.
Next thing you know Blago is arrested.
Is there anything involving knowledge of a crime or intent to commit? (Proof aside.)
OF COURSE, HE KNEW BUT IT HAS TO BE PROVEN THAT HE KNEW. LET US JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE REST OF THE TRIAL REVEALS AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE EVIDENCE TO THAT FACT.
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