Fox News obtained partially redacted FBI interview summaries (FD‑302s) that document conversations between President‑elect Barack Obama, his incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and the administration of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The documents, recorded in December 2008 and released this week, show that Obama and Emanuel were aware of a proposed deal to name Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the Senate seat vacated by Obama in 2008.
Details of the interviews
According to the interview notes, Obama was asked on December 18, 2008 whether he knew that Emanuel had spoken with the Blagojevich team about considering Madigan for the Senate seat in exchange for legislative support. The notes record that Obama replied that Emanuel would have known Madigan was an acceptable candidate to him.
Emanuel’s interview, taken on December 20, 2008, states that on December 8 he and senior adviser David Axelrod met with Senator Dick Durbin (D‑Ill.) and agreed that Madigan would be a good candidate. The notes further indicate that Emanuel later contacted Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris to discuss the merits of appointing Madigan.
Other candidates and the final appointment
The summaries also reveal that Obama initially considered Valerie Jarrett for the seat, but later decided to keep her in the White House as a senior advisor. Emanuel reportedly remained interested in Jarrett, noting that her close personal relationship with the President‑elect could make a White House role awkward.
Other names mentioned as possible appointees included Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson Jr. (the latter later faced his own corruption conviction). Ultimately, Blagojevich appointed former Senator Roland Burris, who did not seek election in 2010. Republican Mark Kirk won the seat in 2010, and Democrat Tammy Duckworth succeeded him in 2016.
Legal aftermath and Trump’s involvement
Blagojevich was arrested on December 9, 2009, and later sentenced to nearly eight years in federal prison. President Donald J. Trump commuted his sentence in 2020 and granted a full pardon in 2025, reflecting the administration’s belief that the former governor’s punishment had become excessive.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald described the arrest as part of a “political corruption crime spree,” a characterization Blagojevich disputed, claiming the arrest was unjustified.
Response from the parties
Fox News reached out to former President Obama and former chief of staff Emanuel for comment; neither responded.
The release of these interview notes adds new detail to a long‑standing controversy over the 2008 Senate vacancy and underscores the complex political maneuvering that surrounded the appointment process.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
