Ex-aide to Blago: I tried to stop him
GUILTY PLEA | Says he refused to follow several orders from governor that he deemed illegal
In his 47 years, one of John Harris' biggest regrets, his lawyer said Wednesday, is what he did in 2005.
He took a job with one Rod R. Blagojevich.
(AP)
"Working for Gov. Blagojevich was an extraordinarily difficult thing to do for the most honest of public servants, which John Harris is," said Harris' attorney, Terry Ekl.
"In many situations, John tried to prevent the governor from doing things that were illegal. Sometimes the governor would listen to him. Sometimes he wouldn't."
Eventually, Harris, who was Blagojevich's chief of staff at the time they both were arrested Dec. 9, became entangled in his own wrongdoing.
He pleaded guilty Wednesday to one wire fraud count and agreed to testify against his old boss in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The law school grad now works manual labor to support his wife and three children, Ekl said. Prosecutors will recommend 35 months in prison for Harris. Ekl said he'll ask for no prison time.
Blagojevich faces wide-ranging corruption charges, from trying to sell President Obama's Senate seat to extorting the CEO of a children's hospital for campaign cash.
Throughout Harris' 26-page plea deal, prosecutors repeatedly say Harris warned his ex-boss against wrongdoing or simply refused to carry out Blagojevich's orders because Harris believed they were illegal.
"[Harris] and others told Blagojevich that he could not receive money . . . in exchange for naming someone to the Senate seat. Blagojevich ignored [Harris'] statements," the plea agreement says.
Harris, according to the deal, warned Blagojevich not to consider appointing U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in exchange for $1.5 million in campaign cash, allegedly promised to Blagojevich by a Jackson representative. Jackson has denied making any such offer.
In one case, Blagojevich allegedly told Harris to deliver an extortionate demand to a Tribune Co. financial adviser at a time the company sought state help in structuring a sale of Wrigley Field and the Cubs. Harris lied to Blagojevich and told him he delivered the message. But he didn't, according to the plea deal.
In another, Harris says Blagojevich sent him to deliver a quid pro quo request to now-retired Illinois Senate President Emil Jones. Jones is identified only as "Senate Candidate D" in the plea deal, but three sources close to the probe said it was Jones. Harris said he was to tell Jones to relinquish his campaign war chest to Blagojevich in exchange for a U.S. Senate seat appointment.
According to his plea agreement, Harris didn't make the demand.
Reached Wednesday, Jones flatly denied having any knowledge of a quid pro quo. Jones would not answer whether federal investigators had questioned him.
"You talk to them," he said. "I don't know what they want to do."
In another case, Blagojevich allegedly told Harris to cut off a financial institution from future state business because it didn't give Blagojevich's wife, Patti, a job.
Harris didn't listen and instead didn't tell Blagojevich when the firm was up for a contract, the plea indicates.
Still, Harris admitted he crossed the line while allegedly scheming to win financial benefits for Blagojevich and his wife in exchange for Blagojevich appointing Valerie Jarrett to Obama's Senate seat.
Harris took part in a phone discussion with Washington D.C. advisers regarding how to leverage Jarrett's appointment into a lucrative private-sector job for Blagojevich.
Jarrett pulled out of contention and is not accused of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors are expected to use recorded phone calls to corroborate Harris. Harris' own personal cell phone was tapped in the probe.
Also Wednesday, Ekl indicated that Harris, who was Mayor Daley's former budget director as well as deputy aviation commissioner, has talked to authorities about matters not related to Blagojevich.
"When John Harris began to cooperate with the government, he did not pick and choose the subject matters," Ekl said without elaborating. "He has been questioned on a variety of subjects."
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers could not be reached for comment.