As his week-long testimony neared its end, Rod Blagojevich‘s former Chief of Staff John Harris told jurors in cross examination this morning that the ex-governor once spoke of using Sen. Dick Durbin as an intermediary in talks with Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan for a deal to appoint Madigan’s daughter to the U.S. Senate in 2008.
Durbin has previously said he spoke once with Blagojevich about the Senate seat, for 15 minutes on Nov. 24, 2008.
According to Harris, Blagojevich would appoint Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the Senate if Mike Madigan approved a legislative wishlist and a personal wishlist that included a promise from Madigan not to impeach Blagojevich as governor.
Harris said that neither he nor the governor thought Madigan would agree to the terms of the deal, and that the idea of using Durbin or another third party was more of a public demonstration of the governor’s willingness to work with Madigan. This would allow Blagojevich to appoint himself to the Senate, Harris testified, and cite Madigan’s lack of cooperation as his reason for doing so.
Upon further questioning from prosecutor Carrie Hamilton, Harris said Blagojevich never actually instructed him to coordinate a third party go-between for the talks with Madigan.
Harris also told jurors that when he met with Blagojevich and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to discuss the congressman’s desire to be appointed to the Senate, there was no talk of a campaign contribution. The government has alleged that representatives of Jackson Jr. had promised up to $1.5 million in donations if Blagojevich selected him for the seat.