Blagogate.

The Capitol Fax Blog:

More trouble for Blagojevich…

Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s former chief of staff has agreed to be a witness against his old boss and plans to work out a plea deal as early as next month, his lawyer said Thursday.

John Harris, arrested in December along with Blagojevich, is likely to plead guilty to one wire fraud count. He would be the first person, out of four others charged with the ex-governor, to become a government witness.

Harris was only charged with one count of wire fraud, so the feds haven’t dropped anything - although some details might possibly have been handled before the indictment. The wire fraud count carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years , so he could still be looking at some time.

Here’s the count…

[Harris and Blagojevich] did knowingly cause to be transmitted by means of wire and radio communication in interstate commerce signals and sounds, namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and HARRIS, in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor A, in Washington, D.C., in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH, HARRIS, and Advisor A discussed financial benefits which ROD BLAGOJEVICH could request in exchange for the appointment of Senate Candidate B to the United States Senate;

In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1346.

As you already know, Bill Cellini is trying hard to separate himself from the Blagojevich trial…

Prosecutors took the existing Cellini case and, on April 2, added a far-reaching 19-count indictment against Blagojevich and others. The move helped prosecutors in effect pick their judge — U.S. District Judge James Zagel — to oversee the Blagojevich matter.

[Cellini defense attorney Dan Webb] said he believed the original charges against Cellini would result in a two-week trial. “We’re now swept into a six-month case,” Webb complained to Zagel.

Zagel said he didn’t think the trial would take six months and that he’d decide later whether to allow separate trials for certain defendants.