President Barack Obama wants former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to stay on the Chicago mayoral ballot, a top presidential confidante said Tuesday.

“I think that [Obama] believes that [Emanuel] is eligible, and that he believes that Rahm will pursue his appeal in the courts,” said Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama and fellow Chicagoan, on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

As the president said when Emanuel left the White House last fall, Obama still “thinks Rahm will make a terrific mayor,” Jarrett said.

An appellate court ordered Monday that Emanuel’s name be removed from the ballot because he did not meet the one-year residency requirement to be eligible for the Feb. 22 general election. The debate over Emanuel’s eligibility hinges on the nearly two years Emanuel spent working in the Obama White House and the fact that he rented out his Chicago house.

“You know Rahm, he’s going to appeal vigorously,” Jarrett said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “And I’m sure that you’ll see that happen right away.”

She added, on ABC: “Rahm is a fighter.”

Late Monday, Emanuel’s attorneys filed a motion for a stay on the appellate panel’s ruling and plan to take further action this week.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune is reporting multiple conflicts of interest involving judges in the case.

The two appellate judges who ruled against Emanuel were once slated for election by a Cook County Democratic Party committee chaired by Edward Burke, who endorsed Emanuel opponent Gery Chico for mayor.

Burke is also married to Justice Anne Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court, the same court to which Emanuel is appealing Monday’s ruling.

(Source: Politico)