Blagojevich Book Says Emanuel Sought Deal

By Kenneth R. Bazinet
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Officially, the White House didn't want to discuss the book yesterday, but sources who know Emanuel dismissed it as another rant from the indicted Blagojevich, who sources say needs the book to help pay his mounting bills.

"Rahm understandably wanted to keep his options open," Blagojevich, wrote in his upcoming book, "The Governor." "That's what all good politicians do."

Blagojevich said Emanuel made the inquiry Nov. 8, two days after President Obama named him chief of staff.

The problem with Blagojevich's claims is that the governor does not appoint a replacement for a vacant House seat.

Unlike Obama's Senate seat, which Blagojevich named Roland Burris to fill the balance of the term, House seats are filled by special election.

Yet the book says Emanuel told Blagojevich that "his lawyers thought there was a way."

"It's nutty," said a source who has known Emanuel for years.

Emanuel has told associates he loved serving in Congress and has lamented that he may never get another chance, the source said.

In addition, Emanuel, who has said more than once out loud that he enjoyed his family life back in Chicago more than in Washington, moved his kin from Illinois back to the nation's capital after he was named top White House aide.

"Why would he do that if he wanted to take his [congressional] seat back a year from now?" said another knowledgeable source.

White House aides refused to comment on the book - which will be published Sept. 8 - but some couldn't hide their smirks and giggles over the claims made in Blagojevich's account about how things went down before, during and after his arrest on corruption charges in December.

"As we have done for many months, we will continue to decline comment," said Emanuel personal spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg.

Blagojevich also admits that he wanted a quid pro quo for naming the replacement for Obama's Senate seat. He writes that he wanted to appoint Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, not Burris.

Blagojevich hoped to curry favor with her father, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, and then cash in on the goodwill.

But the scheme to appoint Madigan fell apart when he was arrested the day after he hatched the idea.

—with Michael Saul