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Prodigy, 21, about to become doctor
CHICAGO, May 15 (UPI) -- The former chief of staff to impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty to charges he helped try to sell President Obama's U.S. Senate seat.
The plea entered Friday marked the second time John Harris, 48, has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bribery, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Blagojevich, 53, a Democrat, was impeached and removed from office in January 2009 and is scheduled to begin trial June 3. Harris was arrested at the same time FBI agents arrested Blagojevich at his Chicago home in December 2008, charging the then-governor had attempted to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama to the highest bidder.
Initially, both Harris and Blagojevich were charged with theft of honest services, but prosecutors later charged them with bribery and conspiracy because the Supreme Court might throw out honest services fraud this summer.
Harris, who is expected to testify at Blagojevich's trial as part of a plea bargain agreement, could be sentenced to nearly three years in prison.
"John Harris will be an extraordinarily effective witness for the government," said his attorney, Terry Ekl.
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday he supports Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's call to limit the number of people arrested for small amounts of marijuana.
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Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Grace Jones and Tom Jones performed at Monday night's Diamond Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace.
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