 Alonzo "Lon" Monk, 51, Blagojevich's one-time chief of staff,
admitted that he schemed to shake down a racetrack owner for a
$100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for the governor's
signature on a bill to help subsidize tracks.He also admitted to
taking part in a wide-ranging plan to use the powers of the
governor's office to shake down state businesses for campaign
contributions and cash to be distributed once Blagojevich left
office.
Monk, who lives in Decatur, entered his plea before U.S. District
Judge James B. Zagel as part of an agreement that his lawyer and
federal prosecutors have been negotiating for months.
Monk promised to provide whatever cooperation prosecutors need,
including taking the witness stand at Blagojevich's trial if asked,
in exchange for a sentence of 24 months in federal prison. Federal
sentencing guidelines for a single count of wire fraud call for a
sentence of at least 37 months in prison.
The plea is guaranteed to be a blow to Blagojevich, who is
scheduled to stand trial starting June 3 on corruption charges that
included allegedly trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat
President Barack Obama held.
John Harris, who succeeded Monk as chief of staff, has already
made such a deal, and prosecutors have been pushing convicted
influence peddler Antoin "Tony" Rezko, one of Blagojevich's top
fundraisers, to talk as well.
Monk could be a powerful witness, especially if his testimony is
backed up by Harris and Rezko.
Whatever secrets there may be, Monk likely knows most of them.
Monk and Blagojevich met at Pepperdine University law school in
Malibu, Calif., in the early 1980s, where they were roommates and
ran marathons together. Later, Monk was a groomsman at Blagojevich's
wedding.
After law school, Monk worked in a law firm and became a sports
agent in Los Angeles. His clients included tennis star Ivan Lendl.
When Blagojevich went to Congress, he tapped his old friend to
serve as his chief counsel. And when he ran for governor he brought
Monk along as campaign manager. The chief of staff job was his
reward.
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Monk went on to become a high-powered lobbyist in the Illinois
capital, using his ties to the governor as a springboard.
The indictment accuses Monk of scheming with Blagojevich and two
top fundraisers, Rezko and Chris Kelly, to "use the offices of
governor and chief of staff for financial gain, which would be
divided among them with the understanding that the money would be
distributed after Blagojevich left office."
It says Monk was to receive a share of a fee paid to a lobbyist
for placing billions of dollars in state bonds.
According to the indictment, from spring 2004 until 2006, "Rezko
provided to Monk a number of cash gifts to pay for various items
such as a car and home improvements, totaling approximately $70,000
to $90,000."
Those are the kind of inside details that prosecutors like jurors
to hear.
Monk was charged in just one count -- helping Blagojevich squeeze
racetrack owner John Johnston for a $100,000 campaign contribution
in return for signing a bill that taxes casinos to subsidize the
tracks. It allegedly occurred after Monk left government and became
a lobbyist.
Blagojevich is not only denying the federal charges against
himself but steadfastly insisted that he didn't believe the
allegations against his old friend Monk.
"If true, I'm shocked," Blagojevich said recently.
[Associated Press;
By MIKE ROBINSON]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
