Unsealed FBI Interviews Reveal Obama, Emanuel Discussions on Blagojevich Senate Seat Deal

Unsealed FBI interview notes reveal that both then-President-elect Barack Obama and his incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, spoke with federal agents about discussions concerning the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Obama in 2008. The interviews, conducted shortly after the December 2008 arrest of then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, were previously kept out of public view and criminal trials.

According to the FBI's FD-302 interview reports obtained by Fox News, Obama was questioned about whether he was aware of Emanuel discussing the possibility of appointing Lisa Madigan, then Illinois Attorney General and daughter of powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, to the Senate seat in exchange for legislative support. The notes indicate that Obama stated Emanuel would have been aware that Madigan was an acceptable candidate and that Emanuel maintained an "open line of conversation with the Blagojevich administration."

Emanuel's interview notes detail a December 8, 2008, meeting with David Axelrod and then-U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., where they agreed Lisa Madigan would be a suitable candidate. Following this discussion, Emanuel reportedly contacted Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris, to convey the merits of appointing Madigan. Blagojevich has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting he was close to appointing Madigan in exchange for support on his healthcare package and budget. He claims the FBI interviews, unsealed now, prove his point that the Madigan deal was central to the case.

Blagojevich was arrested the following morning, December 9, 2009, an event then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald described as stopping a "political corruption crime spree."

The interviews also touched on other potential appointees. Initially, Obama favored Valerie Jarrett for the Senate seat, but he later decided she would join him at the White House as a senior advisor. Emanuel, however, reportedly still considered Jarrett a viable Senate candidate, suggesting her appointment to the White House staff would be "awkward" given her close relationship with Obama. Ultimately, Obama was resolute, informing Emanuel that Jarrett was headed to the White House and that decision would not be reconsidered.

Other names that emerged as considerations for the Senate seat included Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson Jr. Obama, focused on establishing his new administration, told Emanuel he did not want to "put his thumb on the scale" but did dispatch Emanuel to communicate that Obama sought a candidate who would be a good senator for Illinois and could hold the seat in the 2010 election.

Blagojevich ultimately appointed Roland Burris to the vacated Senate seat. Burris did not seek re-election, and Republican Mark Kirk won the seat in 2010. Blagojevich served nearly eight years in federal prison before his sentence was commuted by President Trump in 2020 and he received a full pardon in 2025.

Neither former President Obama nor Rahm Emanuel responded to requests for comment from Fox News.