President Barack Obama

President-elect Barack Obama has issued a call for the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, to resign. The demand for the resignation of the governor of Obama’s home state came after his arrest on charges that he tried to sell the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama to the highest bidder. Blagojevich has the authority as governor to pick the replacement for the seat held until recently by Obama.

The FBI investigators indicated to the news media that telephone intercepts revealed that a man who was interested in taking the seat had offered Governor Blagojevich campaign cash. Federal agents have been quoted by a major media source as naming Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. as the man who offered Governor Blagojevich the money. He is the son of noted civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

Revealed in the transcripts of telephone conversations that have been released by the FBI on Tuesday are statements by Blagojevich indicating that an individual referred to by officials as Senate Candidate 5 would “raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a senator.”

Asked by the media whether he was Senate Candidate 5, Congressman Jackson said, “I don’t know”. He went on to say that he had been asked by the authorities to “share with [federal investigators] my insights and thoughts about the selection process”. However, he insisted he was not a target of the investigation.

Federal prosecutors stated that Barack Obama, who is not close to Governor Blagojevich, was not involved in the alleged illegal conduct.

Barack Obama’s official spokesman told the press that the President-elect wanted Blagojevich to resign.

“Under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois.”