John F. Harris (political aide): Difference between revisions
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| birth_date={{birth date and age|1962|2|17}}<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=416975| title = John Harris, Blagojevich's Chief of Staff, biography}}</ref> |
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1962|2|17}}<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=416975| title = John Harris, Blagojevich's Chief of Staff, biography}}</ref> |
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| birth_place =[[Chicago, Illinois]] |
| birth_place =[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] |
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| office= |
| office= |
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| term_start= |
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| governor= |
| governor= |
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| succeeding= |
| succeeding= |
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| office2=Chief of Staff for [[Illinois |
| office2=Chief of Staff for [[Governor of Illinois|Illinois Governor]] |
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| term_start2= 2005 |
| term_start2= 2005 |
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| term_end2= December 12, 2008 (resignation) |
| term_end2= December 12, 2008 (resignation)<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/12/blagojevich-chief-of-staf_n_150588.html| title = Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris resigns| author = The Huffington Post | date=December 12, 2008}}</ref> |
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| governor2 = Rod Blagojevich |
| governor2 = Rod Blagojevich |
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| office3= Budget Director for Mayor of |
| office3= Budget Director for [[Mayor of Chicago]] |
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| term_start3 = 1996 |
| term_start3 = 1996 |
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| term_end3 = 2005 |
| term_end3 = 2005 |
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| leader3 = |
| leader3 = Chicago Mayor [[Richard M. Daley]] |
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| office4 = [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate]] for [[U.S. Army]] |
| office4 = [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate]] for [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] |
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| term_start4 = 1984 |
| term_start4 = 1984 |
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| term_end4 = 1992 |
| term_end4 = 1992 |
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[[Northwestern University]] |
[[Northwestern University]] |
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[[Loyola University Chicago School of Law]] |
[[Loyola University Chicago School of Law]] |
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| residence= |
| residence= Chicago, Illinois |
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}} |
}} |
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'''John F. Harris''' (born 1962) is the former [[ |
'''John F. Harris''' (born 1962) is the former [[chief of staff]] to the [[Governor of Illinois]], [[Rod Blagojevich]]. He resigned in December 2008 after being charged, along with Blagojevich, with [[Mail and wire fraud|wire fraud]]. On March 28, 2012 Harris was sentenced by judge [[James Zagel|James B. Zagel]]. In contrast to the 14-year sentence Judge Zagel previously handed down to former Governor Blagojevich, Harris was sentenced to a period of 10 days' incarceration, two years' supervised release and a $1,000 fine. In imposing the unusually lenient sentence, Judge Zagel noted that the former Governor had worn down his staff and demonstrated signs of "mental instability."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/11576532-522/judge-gives-blagojevich-ex-aide-10-days-in-prison.html | title=Judge Gives Ex-Blagojevich aide 10 Days in Prison}}</ref> Judge Zagel observed that other than leaving the administration earlier if he were in Harris's shoes, he might have acted the same way.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-28/news/chi-blagojevich-exchief-of-staff-to-be-sentenced-today-20120328_1_blagojevich-trials-zagel-seat-for-campaign-cash | title=Blagojevich Ex-Chief of Staff to be Sentenced Today}}</ref> The judge also acknowledged an unusual number of character reference letters in support of Harris that had been received from prominent city and state political and business figures.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=11576532}}</ref> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Harris graduated from [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois]] in 1984. He attended [[Loyola University Chicago School of Law]] and graduated in 1987. |
Harris graduated from [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois]] in 1984. He attended [[Loyola University Chicago School of Law]] and graduated in 1987. |
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From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|judge advocate general]] in the [[United States Army]]. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of |
From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|judge advocate general]] in the [[United States Army]]. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of [[Mayor of Chicago|Chicago mayor]] [[Richard M. Daley]], where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005. Among his many accomplishments, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion-dollar [[O'Hare International Airport]] modernization program and led the city's successful transaction to sell the [[Interstate 90 in Illinois|Chicago Skyway]] for $1.8 billion to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/MacQuarie. In 2005, Harris joined the administration of the Governor of Illinois as chief of staff, [[Rod Blagojevich]].<ref>[https://archive.is/20130812073838/http://www.bnd.com/546/story/572324.html "Bloomington Pantagraph: Who is John Harris?"] December 9, 2008.</ref> |
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===Involvement with Rod Blagojevich=== |
===Involvement with Rod Blagojevich=== |
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{{main|Rod Blagojevich corruption charges}} |
{{main|Rod Blagojevich corruption charges}} |
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On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story| title = Blagojevich arrested; Fitzgerald calls it a 'political corruption crime spree'| date = December 10, 2008| author = The Chicago Tribune}}</ref> Harris resigned days later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blagojevich co-defendant resigns post|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-harris-13dec13,0,7613958.story|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=December 13, 2008}}</ref> |
On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story| title = Blagojevich arrested; Fitzgerald calls it a 'political corruption crime spree'| date = December 10, 2008| author = The Chicago Tribune}}</ref> Harris resigned days later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blagojevich co-defendant resigns post|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-harris-13dec13,0,7613958.story|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=December 13, 2008}}</ref> Harris would enter a guilty plea soon after his arrest and was granted a deal after he agreed to testify against Blagojevich.<ref>http://dig.abclocal.go.com/wpvi/flash/news/blagojevichtrial/relationshipMaping.xml</ref> |
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In a subsequent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding the convictions of former Governor Blagojevich,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-blagojevich-appeals-court-ruling-pdf-20150721-htmlstory.html | work=Chicago Tribune | title=PDF: Blagojevich decision by 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals | date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> the court reversed a conviction for the former governor based on the wire fraud count which had been the sole basis of Harris' guilty plea.The court noted that the practice of "logrolling" for political purposes, including the trading of favors like jobs, was not criminal activity. This has led legal and political commentators to speculate that Harris may have plead guilty to conduct which was not criminal at all.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/839502/blago-ruling-john-harris-still-felon | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Korecki: Could Blago ruling help John Harris clear his record?}}</ref> |
In a subsequent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding the convictions of former Governor Blagojevich,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-blagojevich-appeals-court-ruling-pdf-20150721-htmlstory.html | work=Chicago Tribune | title=PDF: Blagojevich decision by 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals | date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> the court reversed a conviction for the former governor based on the wire fraud count which had been the sole basis of Harris' guilty plea.The court noted that the practice of "[[logrolling]]" for political purposes, including the trading of favors like jobs, was not criminal activity. This has led legal and political commentators to speculate that Harris may have plead guilty to conduct which was not criminal at all.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/839502/blago-ruling-john-harris-still-felon | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Korecki: Could Blago ruling help John Harris clear his record?}}</ref> However, it is unclear if Harris is left with any legal remedy to clear himself. |
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==Notes and references== |
==Notes and references== |
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Revision as of 03:56, 7 November 2018
John F. Harris | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Staff for Illinois Governor | |
| In office 2005 – December 12, 2008 (resignation)[1] | |
| Governor | Rod Blagojevich |
| Budget Director for Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office 1996–2005 | |
| Leader | Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley |
| Judge Advocate for U.S. Army | |
| In office 1984–1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 17, 1962[2] Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University Loyola University Chicago School of Law |
John F. Harris (born 1962) is the former chief of staff to the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. He resigned in December 2008 after being charged, along with Blagojevich, with wire fraud. On March 28, 2012 Harris was sentenced by judge James B. Zagel. In contrast to the 14-year sentence Judge Zagel previously handed down to former Governor Blagojevich, Harris was sentenced to a period of 10 days' incarceration, two years' supervised release and a $1,000 fine. In imposing the unusually lenient sentence, Judge Zagel noted that the former Governor had worn down his staff and demonstrated signs of "mental instability."[3] Judge Zagel observed that other than leaving the administration earlier if he were in Harris's shoes, he might have acted the same way.[4] The judge also acknowledged an unusual number of character reference letters in support of Harris that had been received from prominent city and state political and business figures.[5]
Biography
Harris graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1984. He attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law and graduated in 1987.
From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and judge advocate general in the United States Army. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005. Among his many accomplishments, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion-dollar O'Hare International Airport modernization program and led the city's successful transaction to sell the Chicago Skyway for $1.8 billion to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/MacQuarie. In 2005, Harris joined the administration of the Governor of Illinois as chief of staff, Rod Blagojevich.[6]
Involvement with Rod Blagojevich
On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor Rod Blagojevich were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery.[7] Harris resigned days later.[8] Harris would enter a guilty plea soon after his arrest and was granted a deal after he agreed to testify against Blagojevich.[9]
In a subsequent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding the convictions of former Governor Blagojevich,[10] the court reversed a conviction for the former governor based on the wire fraud count which had been the sole basis of Harris' guilty plea.The court noted that the practice of "logrolling" for political purposes, including the trading of favors like jobs, was not criminal activity. This has led legal and political commentators to speculate that Harris may have plead guilty to conduct which was not criminal at all.[11] However, it is unclear if Harris is left with any legal remedy to clear himself.
Notes and references
- ^ The Huffington Post (December 12, 2008). "Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris resigns".
- ^ "John Harris, Blagojevich's Chief of Staff, biography".
- ^ "Judge Gives Ex-Blagojevich aide 10 Days in Prison".
- ^ "Blagojevich Ex-Chief of Staff to be Sentenced Today".
- ^ http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=11576532.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Bloomington Pantagraph: Who is John Harris?" December 9, 2008.
- ^ The Chicago Tribune (December 10, 2008). "Blagojevich arrested; Fitzgerald calls it a 'political corruption crime spree'".
- ^ "Blagojevich co-defendant resigns post". Chicago Tribune. December 13, 2008.
- ^ http://dig.abclocal.go.com/wpvi/flash/news/blagojevichtrial/relationshipMaping.xml
- ^ "PDF: Blagojevich decision by 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals". Chicago Tribune. July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Korecki: Could Blago ruling help John Harris clear his record?". Chicago Sun-Times.