Panel investigating Blagojevich won't subpoena Obama advisers

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

The Illinois House panel considering impeachment charges against Gov. Rod Blagojevich will not subpoena advisers to President-elect Barack Obama, including incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, after being told by prosecutors that their testimony could jeopardize the ongoing criminal investigation, the panel's chairwoman said Sunday.

The impeachment panel was urged to issue the subpoenas last week in a letter from Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson. Genson urged that more than a dozen witnesses including Emanuel be subpoenaed.

But U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald advised the state impeachment panel that testimony from Obama aides could jeopardize the criminal probe, Illinois Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie told CNN Radio. Fitzgerald has previously expressed concern about the impeachment panel interfering with his investigation.

Currie said she received the letter from Fitzgerald on Friday, and although her panel will meet on Monday and might hear from Blagojevich's attorney, there will be no subpoenas of Obama advisers including Emanuel, Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois or others Genson had asked to hear from....

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/28/panel-investigating-blagojevich-wont-subpoena-obama-advisers/#more-33709