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Blagojevich Sought Cabinet Post for Obama's Senate Seat
FBI tapes reveal wish for health secretary post
By Matt Cantor
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Posted Dec 9, 08 11:53 AM CST
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(Newser)
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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 "fucking 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.