The arrest of Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich for corruption. Jake Tapper at ABC News writes:

“Obviously like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney’s office today,” said President-elect Obama this afternoon in Chicago, speaking of the criminal complaint against Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich for corruption. “But as this is a ongoing investigation involving the governor I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.”

Asked what contact he’d had with the governor’s office about his replacement in the Senate, President-elect Obama today said “I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening.”

But on November 23, 2008, his senior adviser David Axelrod appeared on Fox News Chicago and said something quite different.

While insisting that the President-elect had not expressed a favorite to replace him, and his inclination was to avoid being a “kingmaker,” Axelrod said, “I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them.”

Here’s the video:

After Tapper’s first report he updated to reflect the usual denials from the Obama camp, “Axelrod misspoke”, yada, yada. But the video is very clear and Axelrod was very definite. So either Axlerod lied – not misspoke or there is a coverup underway.

Ben Smith of the Politico asks:

“The statement (of Axelrod) doesn’t answer a question that I’ve asked, so far fruitlessly, of the transition, which is when Obama and Blagojevich last spoke on any subject, and what about.”

One thing is for sure. Fitizgerald isn’t stopping with just Blagojevich’s trying to sell a Senate seat, otherwise there would be no need for the Grand Jury in the case to seek records on the Rezko/Obama real estate deal.

I think Mike’s America at Flopping Aces has it right that a Special Prosecutor should be appointed at this point.