Blago Complaint: Senate Candidate 1

Blagovjech's complaint alleges no wrongdoing by Obama transition team officials. It's important to write this at the top.

That said, it seems clear that Blagojevich had several conversations about the seat, and about his future, with members of that team.

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew
that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them."

How did Blago know this? Did he ask for something aside from "appreciation?" To whom did he talk?

On November 12, Blagojevich spoke with SEIU Official who was in Washington. This conversation occurred about a week after Blagojevich had met with SEIU Official to discuss the 9 Senate seat, with the understanding that the union official was an emissary to discuss Senate Candidate 1's interest in the Senate seat. During the November 12 conversation, Blagojevich allegedly explained the non-profit organization idea to SEIU Official and said that it could help Senate Candidate 1. The union official agreed to "put that flag up and see where it goes," although the official also had said he wasn't certain if Senate Candidate 1 wanted the official to keep pushing her candidacy. Senate Candidate 1 eventually removed herself from consideration for the open seat.

Senate Candidate 1 -- again, who is not alleged to have done anything wrong -- is probably senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, the only woman candidate who has taken herself out of consideration.