President-elect Barack Obama said today he was "as appalled and disappointed as anybody" by corruption charges this week against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and called on him to resign.
In a news conference in Chicago to introduce his choice as secretary of health and human services in the new administration, Obama reiterated that he has never spoken to Blagojevich about the appointment of a replacement to serve out the remainder of Obama's Senate term, and he said he has not been contacted by any federal investigators regarding the case.
Obama said he has asked his team to "gather all the facts about any staff contacts" that might have taken place between his office and Blagojevich or his advisers. But he said he was "absolutely certain" that his office was not involved in "any deal-making" with Blagojevich on the Senate seat.
Questions about the case overshadowed the formal nomination of Thomas A. Daschle to become next secretary of health and human services, a post that Blagojevich had coveted in one of several scenarios involving what federal prosecutors said was the governor's plan to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.
"This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade," Obama said in opening remarks before introducing Daschle. "It belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation."
In response to questions about Blagojevich, Obama said: "I think the public trust has been violated. . . . I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois. . . . I hope that the governor himself comes to the conclusion that he can no longer effectively serve and that he does resign."
Today's announcement placed Obama in front of reporters for the first time since he issued a statement yesterday calling for Blagojevich to step down after being charged with a number of corrupt practices, including trying to trade Obama's recently vacated Senate seat for personal gain.
A complaint filed in federal court to support Blagojevich's arrest quotes lengthy, expletive-filled conversations between the governor and his chief of staff about which potential Senate candidates might bring them the biggest personal windfall, and whether Obama's election might open the door for Blagojevich to be named to a Cabinet position.
Prosecutors have stressed that Obama is not implicated in the corruption case.
The complaint, based in large part conversations secretly recorded by the FBI, also accuses Blagojevich, among other alleged offenses, of trying to shake down a children's hospital for a political contribution and pressuring the Tribune Co. to fire critical editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune in return for state financial aid to help the company sell its Wrigley Field baseball stadium.
FBI agents arrested Blagojevich at his home early Tuesday and took him away in handcuffs. He was subsequently released on bond and has been resisting calls to step down as governor.
In a separate development today, the attorney general of Illinois, Lisa Madigan, threatened to petition the state Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unfit to hold office if he does not resign soon or is not quickly impeached by the Illinois General Assembly.
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