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As the corruption controversy regarding the filling of President elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat continues, an attempt is being made to strip Governor Rod Blagojevich of his seat. The governor was arrested by FBI agents last week on the basis of taped conversations that revealed Blagojevich being willing to use his position to offer Obama’s seat to whoever offered him the best political and/or financial favors. As governor, Blagojevich has the power to name Obama’s successor. Just a day before his arrest, he met with Jesse Jackson Jr., a strong contender for the post. But so far, there has been no evidence incriminating Jackson of any wrong doing. Obama’s named Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel revealed over the weekend that he met with the governor’s aides to offer up a list of candidates preferred by Obama to fill his Senate seat, but that no favors of any kind were offered in exchange. Since the arrest, Obama has joined a growing chorus of voices asking the governor to resign. Now, Republican lawmakers are calling for a special election to fill the vacant seat. But an election would mean the Democrats would risk losing a seat aligned with their party thus weakening their Senate majority.

GUEST: Elizabeth de la Vega, former federal prosecutor and author of the book “U.S. v. George W. Bush et al.” She was a member of the Organized Crime Strike Force and Chief of the San Jose Branch of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Her writings have appeared in The Nation, the Los Angeles Times and Salon.

Read de la Vega’s article about Blagojevich here: http://www.truthout.org/121108J