Rahm Emanuel: Deep in replacement negotiations

While Barack Obama continues to drag his feet in putting forth event the most basic comments about the contacts between his staff and Rod Blagojevich over the president--elects replacement in the Senate, the media continues to show a deep role between Rahm Emanuel and the disgraced governor.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

President-elect Barack Obama's incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had a deeper involvement in pressing for a U.S. Senate seat appointment than previously reported, the Sun-Times has learned. Emanuel had direct discussions about the seat with Gov. Blagojevich, who is is accused of trying to auction it to the highest bidder.

Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-Times. There was no indication from sources that Emanuel brokered a deal, however.

A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the governor directly about the seat, saying Emanuel only spoke with Blagojevich once recently to say he was taking the chief of staff post.

But sources with knowledge of the investigation said Blagojevich told his aides about the calls with Emanuel and sometimes gave them directions afterward. Sources said that early on, Emanuel pushed for the appointment of Jarrett to the governor and his staff and asked that it be done by a certain date.

Worse for Emanuel--and Obama--some of the conversations between Blago and Emanuel were caught on tape. Emanuel, like Blagojevich, has a fondness creatively using cuss words, which could cause embarrassment for the incoming image-conscious administration.

Related posts:

Report: Rahm Emanuel (D-Tomczak) approached by Obama to be his chief of staff

Former Rahm Emanuel campaign treasurer linked to corrupt real estate deal

Emanuel was Freddie Mac director as scandal brewed

Obama picks partisan Emanuel to be his chief-of-staff

Technorati tags: illinois Rahm Emanuel democrats Election politics Obama Barack Obama Illinois Politics corruption Blagojevich