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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Blagojevich aide pleads guilty to wire fraud

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] John Harris, former chief of staff to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The guilty plea is the first in the high-profile case concerning the suspected efforts of Blagojevich to sell President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. As part of the agreement, Harris will testify against the five remaining defendants, including Blagojevich, whose trial will begin in June 2010. In exchange for his plea and testimony, Harris will face no more than 35 months in prison. In April, Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including wire fraud, attempted extortion, racketeering conspiracy, extortion conspiracy, and making false statements. In January, the Illinois State Senate voted unanimously to convict Blagojevich of abuse of power and remove him from office. Blagojevich is the first Illinois governor to be impeached and removed from office. Blagojevich and Harris were initially arrested in December.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 09, 2009 (boomark / email).