Emanuel Talked Senate Seat With Blago Aide

Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s pick for White House chief of staff, had multiple conversations with Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff about Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. There’s no evidence that Emanuel engaged in any dealmaking for the seat, or that he knew of Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scheme. But before the election, Emanuel made a call to Blagojevich’s chief of staff to deliver a list of successors Obama would smile on.

Emanuel talked to the governor's aide at least once more after the election, adding state AG Lisa Madigan to the list. In taking the White House job, Emanuel will vacate an Illinois House seat, and one of Blagojevich’s alleged schemes revolved around the special election to fill that seat. According to the federal affidavit, Blagojevich was recorded discussing an unnamed “president-elect adviser” concerned about that election, who might help Blagojevich land a job at a non-profit. (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)