Blagojevich: “We've Got to Run the Clock Out”

On November 7, 2008, Rod Blagojevich made a frantic phone call to his chief of staff and deputy governor John Harris.

Go-betweens for the incoming Obama administration had responded to his job request, and Blagojevich says they "don't know what to make of it.". At most, he says they're offering to give Lisa Madigan an administration job -- to get her out of Illinois, and thus out of his hair.

Unfortunately for Blagojevich, there is speculation the administration may want to appoint Madigan deputy attorney general, which Blagojevich says would be "worse for me" because of the ongoing federal investigation.

On the tapes, Blagojevich is heard encouraging Harris to stall but worries that the legislature is about to act against him.  "Listen," he says, "we've got to run this clock a bit and make sure nobody takes this power away from me!"

He indicates that if the general assembly attempts to do so, he will appoint himself senator before they can act.

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