John Harris, Top Aide to Former Ill Gov. Blagojevich, Says He Believes President Obama Knew of Plot to Win Cabinet Post

John Harris, top aide to former Ill. governor Rod Blagojevich says he believes President Barack Obama knew of the governor's plot to win presidential Cabinet post.

I have been pretty quiet on the hot mess that is brewing in the trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich mainly because I wanted to see where this was going. Well, I can now fully understand why Blago has been smiling so broadly. You see, President Obama, Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett are central players in the plot over what should have been done with Obama's senate seat. Today, a top aide for the former governor, John Harris, testified that he believed the president knew of Blago's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate. Er, Valerie Jarrett isn't qualified to serve as a senator in any shape or form.

John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor's corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.

"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he's asked for," Harris said, explaining a recorded call.

Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama's Senate seat. Source: Chicago Sun Times

Now if the defense is able to get its hands on the transcripts of Obama's interview with federal agents in December 2008, we would really know the extent of what he knows in this mess. Chances are the president isn't as squeaky clean as we think or as he would have us believe. There is no way he came out of Chicago and its cut-throat political environment not knowing how the play the political game. Pull up a chair and take as seat, this is going to get crazier.