Tapper: “Disgraced” Blagojevich of “disputable credibility” and “alleges no criminal wrongdoing”

Tapper: “Disgraced” “Blagojevich is of, shall we say, disputable credibility and is, of course a defendant in a criminal case.” In an April 23 post on ABC's Political Punch blog, Jake Tapper discussed Blagojevich's speculative allegations and stated, “Disgraced Democratic former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich filed a legal motion Thursday asking for President Obama to testify at the former governor's corruption trial.” Tapper further stated, “One should of course keep in mind that Blagojevich is of, shall we say, disputable credibility and of course is a defendant in a criminal case, having been indicted last year on 16 felony counts, including racketeering and extortion conspiracy.

Tapper: Blagojevich ”alleges no criminal wrongdoing by the president or his team." Tapper further stated, “Blagojevich alleges no criminal wrongdoing by the president or his team, though he does raise questions about what he says are conflicting stories.

Drudge, NBC Chicago push speculative allegations against Obama based on discredited Blagojevich

NBC Chicago hypes Blagojevich allegations: ”Six Secrets You Need to Know." An April 23 article posted on NBCChicago.com, headlined “Redactions Revealed: The Six Secrets You Need to Know From the Obama Subpoena Request,” reported on portions of a subpoena request issued by Blagojevich. Blagojevich, who is facing charges that he attempted to profit off the Senate seat vacated by Obama, asked that Obama testify in his trial. Citing Blagojevich's claims and speculation, the article then listed a number of things it said Obama “may have” done.

Drudge Report pushes NBC Chicago's “secrets.” On the morning of April 23, the Drudge Report linked to the NBCChicago.com article:

Stirewalt: “There is nothing wrong with the president” stating a preference, “but, if the governor was trying to sell the seat, if there was a transaction going on, then the president can't be involved.” Appearing on the April 23 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, The Washington Examiner's Chris Stirewalt hyped Blagojevich's allegations and stated that “there's nothing wrong with the president” stating a preference as to who would replace him in the Senate. Stirewalt then engaged in complete conjecture, stating that “if the governor was trying to sell the seat, if there was a transaction going on, then the president can't be involved.” Stirewalt offered absolutely no evidence to suggest that Obama in any way was “involved” in a “transaction” to “sell the seat.”