Rahm Not A Target/Subject Of Blago Probe

[Me.]

WASHINGTON — People who have been briefed on the Illinois governor corruption investigation say Barack Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is not a target of the probe. Emanuel, a Chicago congressman who would have been a likely contact between the Obama transition office and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has been a focus of media attention since Obama said Thursday he has asked for an internal review of contacts between his staff and Blagojevich.

Emanuel has been refusing to answer questions about whether he's the "president-elect adviser" referred to in the criminal complaint that accuses Blagojevich of putting Obama's Senate seat up for sale. The complaint does not say that Blagojevich ever spoke to the unidentified Obama adviser about the Senate seat.

The two people who said Emanuel is not a target of the probe spoke on a condition of anonymity because the investigation is still under way. One is a person close to Emanuel, who said he has been told by investigators that he's not a subject of their investigation.>”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/12/rahm-emanuel-not-target-o_n_150680.html

[annabanana]

1. Those two female bobbleheads on MSNBC daytime were

double-teaming that slant.

The actual question is if Rahm tipped off the FBI that they had been subject to a shakedown by that greedy idiot..

[marylanddem]

2. Though not a "target" he could still be a "subject" of the probe, however.

according to Jeffrey Toobin on TV

[mucifer]

3. what kinda bullcrap is that?

Obama suggested a name to blago. That's what blago said. blago was mad no money would change hands. So he might have had a discussion with Rham. It's not illegal for Obama via Rham to make a suggestion about the senate seat. It is illegal to solicit a bribe. Rham and Obama didn't fall for it. Maybe Jackson did.

[pnwmom]

8. "Target" and "subject" are specific terms involved in legal cases.

Someone could be a "subject" at an earlier stage of an investigation and then may or may not progress to being a "target."

Obama said he didn't speak to Blago, so if anyone "suggested a name to Blago," it wasn't Obama.

You're right that it wouldn't be illegal for a Senator to suggest a name for his replacement. But that wouldn't prevent Rahm from being a subject in an investigation, if he was the one involved in a conversation with Blago. Being a subject isn't the same as being a target, and it doesn't mean you're being accused of illegal behavior.

[H2O Man]

5. While he could be,

there is no reason to think he is. In fact, there is actually reason to think quite the opposite.

[Me.]

7. Precisely

All this talk has been a lot of trying to make something out of nothing. And tracking him down at an event for his kids was outrageous.

[gristy]

4. Ah, yes. I learned that on CNN too.

They covered this little tidbit. Rahm is not a target. Not a subject. Then this anchorlady asked the reporter something like "what if he was a subject?". Sadly funny.

[Me.]

6. They're Not Going To Be Able To Let Go Of This

I'm waiting for them to spin themselves into the ground.