Blagojevich's Former Chief Of Staff Gets 10-Day Prison Sentence

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Mar 28, 2012 10:20PM

Rod Blagojevich's former chief of staff received a 10-day prison sentence for helping the governor sell off the Senate seat. John Harris received a lighter sentence for testifying against Blagojevich to help put him away for 14 years. Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and could've faced five years in prison.

We took a closer look at Harris' record after he and Blagojevich were arrested in December 2008. Harris spent five days on the stand testifying against Blago. U.S. District Judge James Zagel thanked him for cooperating, and Harris wasn't expected to get jailtime.

"The offense is so serious and so crucial that I cannot impose upon you a sentence that does not involve custody," Zagel said. He also said he sympathized with him having to deal with Blago as a boss and that he may have dealt with it similarly. "But I would have left sooner, much sooner," Zagel said.