Blagojevich subpoenas Obama

CHICAGO, April 23 (UPI) -- Ousted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is seeking to compel President Obama to testify in his abuse-of-power case.

WBEZ-FM, Chicago, reports Blagojevich has subpoenaed Obama to clear up what his attorneys said are discrepancies between what the president has said and what other witnesses have said.

"We aren't going to comment on an ongoing criminal investigation," White House spokesman Bill Burton told

Friday's Chicago Tribune.

Blagojevich is charged with trying to use his position of power to enrich himself, including allegedly seeking compensation for appointing someone to the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois Obama relinquished when he became president.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Blagojevich's filing revealed Obama personally called a union official about the possibility that adviser Valerie Jarrett replace him in the Senate. It is the first sign Obama personally called the official with the Service Employees International Union, which had donated $1.8 million to Blagojevich.

The former governor also contends White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had repeated contacts with Blagojevich's staff pushing for some candidates and against others.

The Sun-Times said a computer glitch allowed public viewing of blacked-out portions of statements made by SEIU official Tom Balanoff, convicted businessman Tony Rezko and other witnesses to federal authorities.

The Tribune said Blagojevich's lawyers suggest the full story about the Senate pick goes beyond what federal prosecutors and the White House have acknowledged. They argue only Blagojevich and Obama know the details that could prove the former governor's innocence.

The Tribune said the defense lawyers quoted from a sealed prosecution memo that alleges Rezko told investigators he tried to buy Obama's favor with illegal campaign donations. Rezko, who raised money for Obama and Blagojevich, is cooperating in the case against the former governor.

The defense wants the president to rebut Rezko's claims, the Tribune said.

Obama has denied Rezko ever asked him to do anything improper or that he has done anything wrong.