Emanuel tenders resignation

CHICAGO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Monday officially notified his state's governor he is resigning to become President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff.

In his letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Emanuel made no mention of federal charges saying the governor allegedly tried to profit from the power Blagojevich holds to appoint a successor for Obama's Senate seat in Illinois.

In the letter, and in an automated phone call to his constituents in the 5th Congressional District, Emanuel said he would officially resign his seat Jan. 2.

Emanuel, in his letter to Blagojevich, called Obama's election a "clarion call for a change in direction, so we can recapture the values that have made our nation a beacon of hope and opportunity."

Emanuel's office publicly released the contents of the letter and the text of the phone call to constituents.