Top Senate Democrat wants answers from Sestak on job offer allegation

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) should explain more about allegations the White House offered him a job in exchange for dropping out of the Pennsylvania Senate race, a top Senate Democrat said Tuesday.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the onus is on Sestak to say more about the offer he claimed to have received from the Obama administration in exchange for dropping his primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).

“At some point, I think Congressman Sestak needs to make clear what happened,” Durbin told reporters at the Capitol.

Republicans have put pressure on Sestak and the White House to explain more about their conversations, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Goverment Reform Committee, who has suggested a criminal probe in the matter.

Durbin said the responsibility falls with Sestak — not the White House — to explain, because Sestak, Durbin said, “raised the issue.”

Durbin is arguably the highest-profile Democrat to call for more information in the incident. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) urged the White House on Monday to disclose what it knows.

“The only thing I heard was Axelrod said that nothing inappropriate took place,” Durbin said, referencing White House senior advisor David Axelrod.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) addressed the matter following Democrats’ weekly luncheon, where Sestak was a guest.

“Admiral Sestak appeared before the caucus today,” Reid said. “There were no questions raised other than a lot of support.”

Updated at 2:49 p.m.