Tom Balanoff, Midwest head of the Services Employees International Union, began his testimony in the trial of Rod Blagojevich yesterday. The defense contends that Balanoff acted as a go-between for the Valerie Jarrett deal for President Obama's Senate seat.
Testimony reported on in The Chicago Tribune showed that Balanoff received a voicemail the day before the 2008 Presidential election that said, "Tom, this is Barack. Give me a call."
Balanoff said that Obama did suggest Jarrett as a candidate to fill his Senate seat, but didn't advise Balanoff to go through with the deal. Balanoff was chosen as a go-between because he knew both Blagojevich and Obama through his Union work.
According to his testimony, Balanoff discussed the Senate seat with Blagojevich months before the 2008 election. They settled on Jarrett with Andy Stern, the head of Balanoff's national Union.
Balanoff said that he talked to Jarrett on the day of the Presidential election and that she said she was, in fact, interested in the Senate seat position.
Two days after the election, Balanoff met with Blagojevich and said he represented Jarrett for Obama. Blagojevich brought up Lisa Madigan as a possible candidate for the Senate seat. From earlier testimony, we know that Madigan was just being used as a bargaining chip for Blagojevich. Blagojevich went on to talk about swapping the seat for a position in Washington.
Balanoff testified, "[Blagojevich] said, 'I love being governor, but my real passion is health care and if I could be Secretary of Health & Human Services I could pursue my passion.'"
Balanoff told the former governor that wouldn't happen, to which Blagojevich replied, "Because of the investigations?"
Balanoff asked Blagojevich if he was worried about reports of FBI agents already investigating him. Blagojevich said no.
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