It wasn't Rahm

Contrary to earlier rumors, Rahm Emanuel apparently didn't make any moves leading to Rod Blagojevich's fall.

Published December 10, 2008 3:09PM (EST)

As I noted in a post on Tuesday, one rumor floating around was that future White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had something to do with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's sudden arrest, perhaps placing a fateful call to federal investigators tipping them off about Blagojevich's alleged efforts to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat.

That rumor appears to be untrue, however, as multiple outlets have sources denying it. The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, for instance, writes, "It's just not true. Didn't happen."

Separately, in an interview he gave to Tribune reporters, Obama was asked about any discussions between his team and Blagojevich:

Q: Are you aware of any conversations between Blagojevich or [chief of staff] John Harris and any of your top aides, including Rahm [Emanuel]?

O: Let me stop you there because . . . it's an ongoing....

...investigation. I think it would be inappropriate for me to, you know, remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know. And that's the fact that I didn't discuss this issue with the governor at all.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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Rahm Emanuel Rod Blagojevich War Room