Obama: No contact with governor

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-11 07:44

Though US President-elect Barack Obama isn't accused of anything, the charges against his home-state governor - concerning Obama's own Senate seat no less - are an unwelcome distraction. And the ultimate fallout is unclear.

As Obama works to set up his new administration and deal with a national economic crisis, suddenly he is also spending time and attention trying to distance himself from Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and charges that the governor was trying to sell the now-vacant Senate post.

The president-elect was blunt and brief in addressing the case on Tuesday: "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening" concerning any dealing about Blagojevich's appointment of a successor.

It's Obama's first big headache since his election last month, and Republicans were anything but eager to let it go away. Republican Representative Eric Cantor said: "The serious nature of the crimes listed by federal prosecutors raises questions about the interaction with Blagojevich, President-elect Obama and other high ranking officials who will be working for the future president."

Robert M. 'Mike' Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee said: "Americans expect strong leadership, but President-elect Barack Obama's comments on the matter are insufficient at best."

In Chicago, US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said prosecutors were making "no allegations" that Obama was aware of any scheming.

And Blagojevich himself, in taped conversations cited by prosecutors, suggested that Obama wouldn't be helpful to him. The two Illinois politicians have never been especially close and have largely operated in different Democratic Party camps.

In court documents, FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain detailed several phone calls between Blagojevich and his aides that were intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps. Blagojevich is accused of conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.