He was charged in just one count in a wide-reaching corruption case, but Rod Blagojevich's former chief of staff is expected to be a key government witness against his old boss -- and friend.
Lon Monk is slotted to plead guilty this morning in federal court, his lawyer said.
Monk's plea deal has been pending for months and was rescheduled at least twice.
Reached Monday, Monk's lawyer had no comment when asked if negotiations with the government were jammed up over the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to take up three cases that challenge the government's use of the honest services statute.
Monk's one charge is predicated on that statute. However, he's also mentioned elsewhere in the indictment.
Monk's cooperation is significant because he is a longtime, close friend of Blagojevich. The two were law school roommates and Monk was close to Blagojevich during both gubernatorial terms, either as a top aide or working for Blagojevich's campaign fund.
The Sun-Times first reported that the feds had tapped Monk's cell phone last year and secretly recorded numerous conversations.
That included a conversation between Monk and the ex-governor about an alleged shakedown of a horse-racing executive.
Even as a lobbyist, Monk was intensely involved in helping the ex-governor raise campaign cash up until the final months of 2008.
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