Rod Blagojevich releases book blaming others for scandals

Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced former governor of Illinois, is releasing his book on the various scandals that he is implicated in, simply titled "The Governor."

Blagojevich, a Democrat, accepts very little blame for what happened leading up to his indictment and impeachment from office earlier this year. Among the people who feature prominently in his book are White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, and his own father in law, Richard Mell. The former governor said that he had conversations with Rahm Emanuel about appointing longtime Obama associate Valerie Jarrett to his vacant Senate seat, which eventually was filled by Roland Burris. When asked for comment about Blagojevich's book and Rahm Emanuel's role in the Senate seat appointment, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "I have not talked to him about that. I have not seen the book by the indicted former governor of Illinois." Blagojevich claims he was leaning towards appointing Lisa Madigan to the seat, but he was then arrested, throwing his plans out of the window. Eventually, Roland Burris got the job because of his notorious ego. "Roland had a certain sense of entitlement about it,” wrote Blagojevich about the Senate seat appointment. The book is due for release on September 8th. Once considered a rising Democratic star, Blagojevich was placed under arrest in December of last year and impeached in January. He began his career by being elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and was first elected governor in 2002. Blagojevich has not had his day in court yet, which is to happen sometime next year.