By Michael Isikoff,NEWSWEEK
Gov Blagojevich Sneaks Out His Back Door
Invoking his wartime commander-in-chief authority,NEWSWEEK Editor Jon Meacham has granted yours truly,a lowly investigative correspondent,sweeping subpoena power to demand that President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team answer all my questions about their dealings with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich,who stands accused of putting Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate up for sale to the highest bidder. (He vowed on Dec. 19 to fight the charges “until I take my last breath.”) It remains unclear whether Obama’s assorted spinmeisters and lawyers will honor these subpoenas—or even return my phone calls. But in the meantime,the public at least deserves to know the most crucial questions. Exercising my newly acquired powers,here are the first five:
1. Define “inappropriate”,make good on your pledge of transparency and show us the internal report. All of it.
Mr. President-elect,you have said that nobody on your staff was “involved in inappropriate discussions”with the governor or his aides about his apparent plans for your Senate seat. Please define “inappropriate.”And,in light of your pledge for greater transparency in government,will you also turn over a full,unedited copy of the internal report conducted by transition lawyers into this matter,including the notes of all interviews they conducted with your staff members,as well as all phone records and e-mails documenting the contacts between your staff,Blagojevich and his team?