White House Asked Bill Clinton to Talk to Sestak

Bill Clinton has emerged in the middle of the Joe Sestak controversy. He's the man the White House asked to talk to Sestak about dropping out of the Pennsylvania Senate race to clear the way for Arlen Specter, reports the Washington Post. Clinton offered Sestak a "prominent, but unpaid, advisory position," reports the New York Times, and the White House counsel has concluded that the "unpaid" part means no laws were broken.

The White House is expected to issue a formal explanation with details later today, to back up President Obama's assertion yesterday that nothing "improper" occurred. Rahm Emanuel reportedly asked Clinton to intervene, and sources characterize the talks as informal, writes Greg Sargent.