Union official Tom Balanoff says treasurer Alexi Giannoulious told him he hoped Blagojevich would appoint him senator. He said when he mentioned this to Blagojevich the governor became enraged.
"That motherf*****," he says Blagojevich shouted, "every chance he got he took a shot at me!"
Earlier today, Balanoff testified that Blagojevich wasn't interested in appointing Valerie Jarrett to the vacant senate seat without some sort of benefit to him.
During a meeting with Blagojevich at his office in the Thomson Center on November 6, 2008, Balanoff testified that he explained to the governor that while Obama had preferred to have Jarrett in the White House, she expressed interest in the senate seat.
Balanoff explained to Blagojevich that it was a smart political decision for him: "It would help him with African-Americans, women, businesses and labor unions."
Blagojevich demurred,
saying he was inactive discussions with the Madigans
.
