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Witness: Blagojevich wanted big job

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks to reporters in federal court after a hearing in his corruption trial in Chicago on April 21, 2010. Blagojevich and his attorneys are fighting for all 500 hours of FBI wire tap evidence to be shown to the jury while prosecuters seek to limit the evidence shown to jury members. UPI/Brian Kersey
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks to reporters in federal court after a hearing in his corruption trial in Chicago on April 21, 2010. Blagojevich and his attorneys are fighting for all 500 hours of FBI wire tap evidence to be shown to the jury while prosecuters seek to limit the evidence shown to jury members. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

CHICAGO, June 23 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich hoped to trade a U.S. Senate seat for an important government position, his ex-aide said.

John Harris, who was Blagojevich's chief of staff, testified as jurors listened to tapes of his telephone conversations with the governor, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday. Harris has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to solicit a bribe for the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.

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The tapes suggest that Blagojevich, his political career stalled, wanted to leave Illinois: "I'd like to get the ---- out of here," Blagojevich, 53, is heard saying on the tapes.

Blagojevich, according to the conversations caught on federal wiretaps, wanted a major cabinet position or an important diplomatic post, mentioning head of the U.S. mission to the United Nations and ambassador to India.

Harris said that as the presidential election approached in late October 2008 Blagojevich began to discuss receiving a large donation for the Senate seat Obama would vacate if he won the presidency. Harris said the governor's counsel, William Quinlan, gave Blagojevich a warning: "Don't even joke about things like that."

At one point, Blagojevich tells Harris to act like a sports agent in negotiations with Obama, who apparently wanted Valerie Jarrett, now a top White House staffer. to succeed him in the Senate.

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