President Obama Pal, Dr. Eric Whitaker, Part of Federal Probe over "Faith-Based Initiatives" & "Health Awareness Campaigns"

One of President Barack Obama's closest friends, Dr. Eric Whitaker, is part of a federal probe. E-mails and other records have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The investigation reportedly involves "faith-based initiatives" and "health-awareness campaigns" funded by the Illinois Department of Public Healthy during his tenure as department chief. Whitaker landed the job in April 2003, on the recommendation of President Obama. He then resigned in October 2007 to join First Lady Michelle Obama, as an executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center. According to the Sun Times, he defended his work as the state's former top health official, saying he developed "new methods" to help "African-American and other minority communities" get better medical care.

Read more:  One of Obama's closest friends part of federal probe | Sun-Times