Barack Obama has called on Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to resign following his arrest on charges that he tried to sell Mr Obama's Senate seat. Mr Blagojevich, as governor, has the sole authority to pick Mr Obama's successor as senator for Illinois. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr has been revealed as the man who Mr Blagojevich claimed sent an emissary to him, offering campaign cash for the seat. Mr Jackson denied any wrongdoing in a statement to reporters. In transcripts of intercepted conversations released by the FBI on Tuesday, Mr Blagojevich is quoted saying that a man referred to by officials as Senate Candidate Five would raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a senator.

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Obama Calls for Blagojevich to Resign