The cross-examination of former Chief of Staff John Harris began today in the corruption trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. questioned Harris, bouncing back and forth between the various charges facing the ex-governor.
The infamous Senate seat appointment was a hot topic as Harris and tapes played by the prosecution uncovered more names Blagojevich was considering to fill Obama’s vacated seat. In one tape, Blagojevich spoke with Harris about possibly appointing Oprah Winfrey to the Senate.
“She’s up there so high,” Blagojevich said about self-made billionaire. “Nobody can assail this chick.”
Blagojevich and Harris also discussed appointing Jesse Jackson Jr., despite the hard feelings between the two after Jackson broke an agreement to back Blagojevich in the 2002 gubernatorial election.
Also on the tape, Harris suggested naming Cheryle Jackson, president of the Chicago Urban League, to the seat, but Blagojevich disagreed in no uncertain terms.
“No f***ing way,” Blagojevich said. “She’s so f***ing incompetent.”
Harris said he searched for any war veterans as possible candidates and also said that the Blagojevich administration wanted to name an African-American to the seat. Throughout the search though, Harris said the constant criteria for the governor was how he would benefit from the appointment.
Harris testified Blagojevich had not reached a decision on the appointment before being arrested on December 9th, 2008.
Adam also questioned Harris about the alleged extortion attempts involving Illinois toll way construction and horse track owner, John Johnston. Harris testified that there was nothing holding back the governor from signing a bill that would give the horse racing industry millions in subsidies, and that he understood that Blagojevich was waiting for a campaign contribution to sign the bill into law. Harris said when he realized that was the case he backed off because.
“The reasons for the delay were beyond my control,” Harris said.
Adam argued that Blagojevich never alluded to vetoing the bill and that the bill would have become law without his signature after 60 days anyways. In the course of his questioning, Adam also offered a defense for the allegation that Blagojevich withheld state funding for toll way construction in an attempt to solicit a bribe from Illinois construction companies.
Blagojevich gave the smallest amount of money possible to the program, $1.8 billion dollars. Harris said two benefits came with the small option: the state legislature did not have to okay the deal and there would be no toll increase.
Adam also asked questions about the Blagojevich’s bout with the Chicago Tribune editorial board in connection with his plan to give a $15 million grant to renovate Wrigley Field.
In the course of his cross-examination, Adam racked up sixty-two sustained objections, a continuing trend for the defense. The objections came mainly because Adam asked questions that fell outside the subject matter the prosecution examined Harris on.