CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday he didn't discuss his vacant Senate seat with disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and said he's confident nobody on his staff did either.
Calling bluntly for the Illinois Democrat to resign, Obama told a news conference: "I was as appalled and disappointed as anyone."
Blagojevich was arrested this week in connection with an alleged corruption scheme, dealing in large part with dealmaking schemes regarding the Senate vacancy.
"I have never spoken to the governor on this subject," Obama told reporters at a news conference called to announce new appointments for his coming administration.
He also said that he was "confident that no representative of mine" would have taken part in any such discussions.
Obama said he thought the "public trust has been violated" and also said he didn't think that Blagojevich "at this point can effectively serve" the state.
He also said he wants to make sure the process for choosing his successor isn't tainted.
Obama said that neither he nor his staff has been contacted by federal officials in connection with the probe.
He said he worries about the public perception of political leaders as a result of scandals such as the one now surrounding Blagojevich.
He said scandals like the one in his state does a disservice to "many of us on both sides of the aisle who have upheld the highest standards."
Asked if he or anyone on his transition staff has been contacted by federal authorities in connection with the case, Obama replied: "I have not been contacted by any federal officials and we have not been interviewed by them, as is reflected in the U.S. attorneys report."
He said the public deserves to know that "any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way."
0 comments:
Posting Komentar