President-elect Obama said that he hasn’t had any contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) about the Senate seat he vacated.
“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening,” Obama told reporters.
Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on corruption charges. Prosecutors said that the governor tried to sell or trade the appointment of Illinois’s next U.S. senator in exchange for personal benefits or money for his campaign fund.
Obama said the arrest “saddened and sobered” him, but he refrained from further comment.
“Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S.. Attorneys office today,” he said. “But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don?t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.”