Blagojevich investigators won't subpoena Obama aides

Chicago, Dec 28 (ANI): Illinois House committee has declined to call on members of president-elect's team, including Rahm Emanuel and Valeria Jarrett, to avoid meddling with federal criminal investigation

The Illinois House committee investigating a possible impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich won't subpoena two incoming White House advisers, the committee chairwoman said, shutting down a request from the Governor's attorney.

In a letter received by the committee Friday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the special investigative committee specifically to not subpoena President-elect Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Nils Larsen, a Tribune Co. executive vice president.

Fitzgerald said any such subpoenas "would interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into the activities of Governor Rod Blagojevich and others," FOX News reported

Blagojevich's attorney Ed Genson had asked the committee earlier in the week to issue the subpoenas.

"The ball is in Genson's court," committee chairwoman state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "We're not interested in undercutting the U.S. Attorney's criminal investigation."

Genson did not immediately respond to a call requesting comment Saturday on the committee's decision.

Speaking to a WLS-TV reporter outside a Chicago law office Friday, the governor said he was hired to fight for the people of Illinois and that's what he's been doing.

The interview marked the first time Blagojevich has spoken to the media since giving a defiant three-minute speech last Friday.

The 52-year-old Democrat was arrested on Dec. 9 and charged with scheming to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder, a charge the governor denies. (ANI)