Democratic pressure is mounting on Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Penn.) to divulge the details of an alleged quid pro quo with the White House, in which Sestak was — potentially unlawfully — offered a federal job to drop his challenge of Arlen Specter.
Earlier this week, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D., N.Y.) called on both Sestak and the White House to give a clear account of the offer, and today Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), the Senate Democrat XO, echoed the sentiment:
“At some point, I think Congressman Sestak needs to make it clear what happened,” Durbin said.
Durbin, a close Obama ally, would not specify whether the administration should make a stronger case in denying Sestak’s charge that the White House a job in order to end his primary bid against sitting senator Arlen Specter. Sestak ended up winning the primary last week.
Durbin deferred to comments made by top Obama aide David Axelrod when asked whether the administration was guilty of any wrong doing.
“The only thing I heard Axelrod say was that nothing inappropriate took place,” Durbin added. “Congressman Sestak raised the issue. And there’s been some confusion. I hope he can make the facts as clear as possible. I’m sure they’ll react to that.”
More here.
UPDATE: The Justice Department has rejected Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R., Calif.) call for the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate the affair.