CHICAGO -- A former top aide to ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pleaded guilty to taking part in a plan to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for the governor or his wife.
John Harris was the last chief of staff in the impeached governor's administration. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating corruption in Illinois government.
Harris could take the witness stand if Blagojevich goes to trial on racketeering conspiracy charges next June as scheduled.
Harris says he had several conversations last November in which he and Blagojevich discussed installing various candidates in Obama's seat as part of a deal to get a high paying job for Blagojevich.
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