Witness says Blagojevich considered different ways to leverage value of Obama’s Senate seat

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Witness: Blagojevich mulled value of Senate seat

CHICAGO — Rod Blagojevich was excited about what he might get in exchange for Barack Obama’s Senate seat — from campaign donations to a post in the new administration or just sending himself to Washington — according to the ousted governor’s former top aide and wiretap recordings played in court Tuesday.

Blagojevich talked about his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appoint a new senator, considering several alternatives in an effort to get the best possible deal for himself — including feeding misinformation to the Obama camp and others, according to testimony by former chief of staff John Harris.

“There’s a carrot and stick thing going on right now,” Blagojevich says to Harris in one recording, referring to efforts to mislead Obama and his advisers as a way to gain leverage. As governor, Blagojevich was responsible for appointing someone to fill the empty Senate seat.

Harris told jurors that Blagojevich suggested leaking false reports that he was thinking about appointing state officials, including Attorney General Lisa Madigan, to convince Obama to appoint him as Secretary of Health and Human Services or maybe U.N. ambassador in exchange for appointing Obama’s choice for the seat, Valerie Jarrett.

Harris said he and Blagojevich also talked about getting then-state Senate President Emil Jones to hand over his entire campaign war chest in exchange for appointing Jones to the post, while also wondering how much money prominent businessmen might contribute to his campaign fund if he were to hand them the job.

According to the testimony and the tapes, throughout the conversations — which began even before Obama was elected — Blagojevich makes it clear that he expects someone to pay him for the appointment, whether in cash or a new job.

On one tape, Blagojevich sounds annoyed at the notion that he should be grateful to Obama for the good publicity that appointing Jarrett, a friend of Obama’s, might generate.

“Do they think that I would just appoint Valerie Jarrett for nothin’? Just to make him (Obama) happy?” Blagojevich tells Harris on the tape.

Blagojevich, 53, has pleaded not guilty to scheming to sell or trade the appointment to Obama’s seat. He has also pleaded not guilty to plotting to launch a racketeering scheme using the powers of the governor’s office. If convicted, he could face up to $6 million in fines and a sentence of 415 years in prison, although he is certain to get much less under federal guidelines.

His brother, Nashville, Tenn., businessman Robert Blagojevich, 54, has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the alleged scheme to sell the Senate seat and to plotting to illegally pressure a racetrack owner for a $100,000 campaign contribution.

In one of the few times since his trial began three weeks ago, some strain appeared to show on the former governor’s face. While the recordings were played,as he rubbed his lip and chin, then hurriedly jotted down notes on a yellow legal pad.

Harris, who is testifying in return for leniency after pleading guilty to wire fraud in the case, said that he suggested to the governor that perhaps the Obama administration would help Blagojevich with his state legislative efforts. But he said Blagojevich was not interested in anything from the administration other than a better job.

Shortly before the election, Harris said, Blagojevich came right out and asked point blank how much money someone would be willing to pay for the job. Harris testified that both he and Bill Quinlan, Blagojevich’s general counsel, warned the governor that he should not talk about that at all.

Quinlan, Harris said, told the governor: “You can’t even joke about things like that.”

Blagojevich and Harris could be heard on a recording the day before the 2008 election devising strategies to get something out of the Senate seat.

At one point, Blagojevich can be heard saying, “How about U.N. ambassador?”

Harris says skeptically, “I don’t think so.”

On the tape, Blagojevich laughs, then adds wistfully — “Sure, that’d be cool.”

Blagojevich also asks if they should leak Lisa Madigan’s name to the media. Madigan, the Illinois attorney general, is the daughter of Michael Madigan, the powerful House speaker. Blagojevich has said that he was considering appointing Lisa Madigan to get her father to push through tax cuts, a health care package and a jobs bill.

Harris testified that Blagojevich didn’t consider Lisa Madigan a serious candidate, but wanted her name floated to leverage their bargaining power since Obama preferred Jarrett.

During the conversation, Blagojevich sounds excited about the opportunities afforded by the appointment.

“This is good,” he tells Harris at one point. Another time, he says, “I could get something for that couldn’t I?”