Ex-aide will testify against Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich's former chief of staff will testify against him in a plea deal that a defense attorney says will tie together the former governor's alleged wrongdoings.
John Harris pleaded guilty Wednesday to helping scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Specifically, Harris pleaded guilty to wire fraud for a November 2008 phone call about appointing Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the seat being vacated by Obama's election as president.
Prosecutors outlined a scheme under which Blagojevich would get a job as head of a union-sponsored organization, Change to Win, in exchange for giving Jarrett the Senate seat.
Officials of the Service Employees International Union offered to broker the scheme to act as a buffer between the president and the governor, but Jarrett became a White House adviser and the deal never went through, prosecutors said.
Jarrett was not named in court but has been identified as "Senate Candidate B" in an indictment describing the charges. Jarrett and SEIU officials have not been charged.
After Jarrett was no longer a candidate, prosecutors said Blagojevich discussed two other possible candidates for the Senate seat.
He allegedly told Harris he wanted proceeds from the campaign fund of "Senate candidate D" - identified by a source as then-State Senate President Emil Jones - in exchange for the Senate appointment.
There was also a discussion through intermediaries that "Senate candidate A" - identified by sources as Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. - would raise $1.5 million in campaign funds for Blagojevich in order to get the seat. Jackson has not been charged.
Harris, 47, of Chicago, said that he gave Blagojevich advice and carried out some of the former governor's instructions.
But he said he also advised Blagojevich against some illegal actions and didn't carry out some of the governor's orders, such as seeking to get a Chicago Tribune employee fired in exchange for favorable treatment.
Under the plea deal, prosecutors would recommend a sentence of 35 months, about half the maximum Harris would likely face, federal Judge James Zagel said.
Defense attorney Terry Ekl said Harris accepts responsibility for his "minor role," and added "I have never met a person who is going to be a better witness" against Blagojevich, which could help Harris avoid incarceration.
According to prosecutors, Blagojevich sought an ambassadorship, a job as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a union coordinator position for himself or his wife Patti.
Harris is now working a manual labor job to support his wife and three kids.
- Associated Press contributed to this report.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/harrisplea.pdf">Details of John Harris plea</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>