Lon Monk pleads not guilty to corruption charge

The former chief of staff to ex-Gov. Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge this morning. But Lon Monk, 50, is expected to plead guilty in the future as a result of his cooperation with the government, prosecutors said.

Monk is appearing in court today to face a corruption charge. Monk, a lobbyist who was highly active in fund-raising with Blagojevich in the months before the ex-governor's arrest last year, is cooperating with authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar revealed Tuesday that Monk is expected to plead guilty and cooperate against the governor. Monk was recorded talking to the ex-governor about an alleged shakedown of a horse-racing executive. 

The Sun-Times first reported that the feds had tapped Monk's cell phone last year and secretly recorded numerous conversations. 

Monk is expected to plead not guilty today at his arraignment but will likely change that plea at a future date. Monk was Blagojevich's first-term chief of staff. His more recent chief of staff, John Harris, is also cooperating and expected to plead guilty.