Indicted Blago aide has Daley connections

CHICAGO, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- An indicted fundraiser for ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has close ties to aides of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.

Roofing company owner Christopher Kelly was named in a 17-count federal money laundering and mail fraud indictment last week, accusing him of participating in a kickback scheme to defraud United and American Airlines for roofing work at O'Hare International Airport.

Kelly, one of Blagojevich's closest friends and top fundraisers, was also friends with John Harris, Daley's former deputy commissioner of aviation overseeing the "future of O'Hare" who also served as project manager for the airport's "design, financing and construction," the Sun-Times reported.

Harris later became Blagojevich's chief of staff and was arrested along with the Illinois governor Dec. 9 on federal political corruption charges.

Published reports have also indicated Daley's own inspector general, David Hoffman, is probing contracts and political connections at O'Hare Airport, the Sun-Times said.