Day 15 of the Blagojevich Trial picked right back up without missing a beat in the direct testimony of former chief-of-staff John Harris. And it stepped straight into the surreal even as it focused on something we already knew: Rod considered Oprah for the U.S. Senate seat left vacated by Barack Obama. From Sarah Ostman's report for the Sun-Times on Blago suggesting Oprah, a tape played featured this exchange: more ›

Testimony from John Harris continued for a fourth day yesterday as talk continued about then-governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election. According to what was caught on tape, Blago didn't think too highly of Jesse Jackson, Jr., especially in terms of the Senate seat. Jurors heard a tape during which Harris and Blago discussed a call Harris got from John Wyma, a mutual lobbyist pal between Blago and Rahm Emanuel, in which Wyma again outlined Obama's preference that Valerie Jarrett get the seat. During the call, an irritated Blago is heard saying, "They're not willing to give me anything but appreciation, fuck them." There was also a tape in which Rod discussed the idea of appointing aide Louanner Peters because if it looked like Blago was going to be impeached - it was seemingly on his mind - he could depend on Peters to step down and Blago could appoint himself to the seat. Brother Rob didn't like this idea at all. more ›

Wednesday was yet another day on the stand for Rod Blagojevich's former Chief-of-Staff John Harris, who referred to himself as Blago's "Prince of Darkness," and while Tuesday's talk centered around then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, yesterday's chat continued that but took aim at Obama himself, including accusations that Obama knew Blago was trying to leverage the seat for a cabinet post. The day started off with more of the Blago Tapes, including one from the day after the election in which Blago was hoping to be appointed to the head of a charitable agency a la Elizabeth Dole (though Rod himself seemed to know little about the varying agencies). There was also more talk of Blago's pressure on the Tribune's editorial board as well as prep for a meeting with union leader Tom Balanoff; Blago believed Balanoff was a messenger that would relay Obama's preference for his replacement (Valerie Jarrett) and vice-versa. more ›

It was day two of former Blago top aide John Harris' turn on the witness stand and there was lots to sort through: a deal with Emil Jones, that "golden" senate seat, some of the Blago Tapes, and even Rod's hope to be a diplomat (you know, in case those aspirations to be President or a professor didn't pan out). The day began with talk of Blago's legal fees and how much he owed, even as far back as 2007. Talk then turned to the coveted U.S. Senate seat belonging to then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama beginning with a deal, Harris said, Blago thought he had with then-state senate president Emil Jones. Blago had amended the passed ethics bill and hoped Jones would hold up an override vote that would pass the original version of the bill because the original version would otherwise hinder. Blago's fundraising efforts. According to Harris, Blago intended to offer the seat to Jones if the bill was held up. But after some persuasion from Obama, Jones let the ethics bill vote go through, upsetting Blago who then allegedly said, "No way he's getting the seat now." more ›

Another week of testimony kicked off in the corruption trial of the Brothers Blagojevich yesterday with talk about Patti's hair (no, really), saw several people take the stand, had plenty of talk of Rahm Emanuel, and wrapped with a big witness just starting what is expected to be several days of testimony. Just another day in Blago Court. Cross-examination of Ali Ata, which was the focus at the end of last week, concluded quickly and then the prosecution called Michael Horst who they allege was nominated for the same job as Ata - head the Illinois Finance Authority - as a cover and that the job was going to Ata all along. After Horst was horsetrack owner John Johnston who was an alleged extortion victim of Blago's. In 2008, a 2006 law requiring casinos to share a piece of their profits to subsidize the tracks was up for renewal. Once the state legislator passed the law, however, then-governor Blagojevich let the bill sit, meaning Johnston missed out on as much as $9,000 per day. Johnston, who had previously contributed to Blago but had no plans to do so in late 2008, alleged that Lon Monk pressured him at a December 2008 meeting to make a contribution to Blago, alluding to the unsigned bill. During cross-examination, Team Blago attorney Sam Adam, Sr. tried to put the onus of the pressure on Monk, separating the ex-gov from the alleged shakedown on Johnston. more ›

• The above is a piece of graffiti that some think is yet another example of Banksy's work. It was photographed in Pilsen earlier this week by Molly Kolecki and like that earlier work, appears on his own website in the "outdoors" section. For an interesting counter-point to the Banksy craze, check out what TOC's Laura Weinberg had to say.
• Former Blago Chief-of-Staff John Harris pleaded guilty to fraud charges for a second time.
• Add Midwest Bank to the list of failed banks taken over by the feds.

Lon Monk, former chief of staff for ex-governor Rod Blagojevich, reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors which saw him plead guilty today and promise to testify against Blago at the ex-gov's trial next year. Monk pleaded guilty to just one charge involving a shake down of race track owner Johnny Johnston for a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for favorable horse racing legislation. As part of the agreement, Monk would face up to two years in prison. more ›

As our pal Steve Rhodes reminds us over at NBC, former Blago Chief-of-Staff John Harris served under Mayor Daley as his budget director and deputy aviation commissioner. Could the feds have an even wider net? Will Harris divulge things about Daley as well as Blago? Rhodes points out: more ›

John Harris, Blago's former Chief of Staff who was arrested along with the ex-governor back in December, is expected to plead guilty to fraud charges at a noon hearing today. Indications are that Harris has been cooperating with prosecutors and plans to testify against Blago at his trial next summer. [WBEZ] more ›

• Members of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid team were to hold a secret meeting this afternoon with aldermen to allay their fears about putting taxpayers on the hook for the cost.
• The amazing story of Ald. Don Parrillo.
• State lawmakers are taking a break from working on the budget and will reconvene Monday to pick the problem back up.

Yesterday evening, the other shoe dropped and Rod Blagojevich and five others were indicted on a wide range of fraud and corruption charges. The indictment contains 19 charges in all against Blagojevich, his brother Robert, former Chief-of-Staff John Harris, former adviser Lon Monk, former fundraiser Christopher Kelly, and power broker William Cellini. Here are some of the highlights from the news surrounding the indictments. more ›

Remember John Harris? He was Governor Blagojevich's Chief of Staff who was arrested alongside the Governor on that cold December morning. Following the arrest, Harris resigned his position and now it looks like he's joining the Feds' fight against Blago by cooperating with prosecutors. While an official deal has not been hammered out nor has Harris even begun officially giving feds info, sources tell the Trib talks are well underway. One of Harris's phones was tapped by the feds in their investigation of Gov. Blagojevich. Harris is no stranger to scandals, having previously resigned as City Hall's budget director following the Hired Trucks affair. more ›

Sure, everyone knows who Gov. Rod Blagojevich is, but who’s this John Harris guy? Well, Harris was apart of Mayor Daley’s administration from 1996 to 2005. more ›