Blagojevich Sought Cabinet Post for Obama's Senate Seat

FBI tapes reveal wish for health secretary post
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 9, 2008 11:53 AM CST
Blagojevich Sought Cabinet Post for Obama's Senate Seat
In July 2007, Blagojevich, right, shakes hands with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madiganas Blagojevich's Chief of Staff John Harris, lower right, who was also arrested, looks on.    (AP Photo/Jonathan Kirshner)

Rod Blagojevich had said he wanted “something real good” in exchange for his choice of a replacement for the president-elect in the Senate, Politico reports. Otherwise, he said in FBI tapes the day before the election, “I’ll just send myself.” A Senate seat is a "f---ing valuable thing," the Illinois governor said. "You just don’t give it away for nothing.”

As a trade-off for nominating Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the Senate, Blagojevich wanted the post of health secretary, according to conversations with his chief of staff, John Harris, who was arrested today along with the governor. He also tried for a union payoff to nominate the group’s preferred candidate, prosecutors said.
(More Rod Blagojevich stories.)

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