President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff says Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich did not ask for anything improper in their discussions about Obama's Senate successor.
Rahm Emanuel, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" says he talked with Blagojevich and the governor's ex-chief of staff about the type of person who should replace Obama. But Emanuel says he never got the impression that Blagojevich wanted anything improper in return for naming a replacement.
The Illinois House impeached Blagojevich last week. Federal authorities have accused Blagojevich of scheming to benefit by selling Obama's old Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Blagojevich did appoint former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, who was sworn as a senator last week. Burris had no connection to the scandal.
The governor's Senate impeachment trial begins January 26. His attorney, Ed Genson, quit in protest Friday, calling the process a "lynching."
