Aide: Blagojevich said he made deal for Obama seat

A former top aide to Rod Blagojevich testified Thursday that the then-governor said he had a deal to appoint a state legislator to Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat in exchange for letting a veto of ethics legislation stand.

Alonzo Monk testified that Blagojevich was worried the legislation would hurt his ability to raise funds because it banned people with state contracts of $50,000 or more from donating to the campaigns of politicians who administered them.

Blagojevich, who had campaigned by saying he would bring a new era of ethics in state government, had complained the bill unfairly targeted the governor’s office. It had passed both houses without a single ’no’ vote before his veto.

Monk quoted Blagojevich as saying former state Senate President Emil Jones agreed to the alleged deal. But Jones called for the vote, which passed just over a month before Obama was elected president. The override vote might not have occurred had Obama not urged Jones — his mentor — to call his chamber to action.

Jones did not immediately respond to a message Thursday at his business. His cell phone was not able to accept a message.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to profit from his power to fill the Senate seat and squeezing people for campaign contributions. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 415 years in prison, though a judge would consider many factors. Blagojevich also could face fines totaling $6 million.

The former governor’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, 54, a Nashville, Tenn., businessman, has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the plot to sell the Senate seat and to scheming to illegally pressure a racetrack owner, who wanted the governor’s signature on legislation involving the tracks, for campaign money.

Monk has pleaded guilty to scheming to pressure a racetrack owner for a contribution and is testifying in hopes of getting a lighter sentence.

He indicated in his testimony that he wasn’t in on making the alleged deal with Jones, but was told about it by Blagojevich and his successor as chief of staff, John Harris. At one point, Monk said, Harris told him that “Emil was going back on the deal.”