Reporting with Chris Fusco and Dave McKinney
One of Rod Blagojevich's best pals, Christopher Kelly, had plotted to get a presidential pardon from President Bush, government witness Lon Monk just testified.
Kelly wanted Bernie Kosar to approach: "(Then-Florida Governor) Jeb Bush and then go to President Bush and then pardon Chris," Monk said. "Somehow they were linked to the signing of this horse-racing bill," he said.
What was Rod Blagojevich's reaction to this plot?: "It seems kind of far-fetched," Monk said of Rod Blagojevich.
The pardon never happened and Monk didn't elaborate on whether any of the contacts even happened.
Kelly, who committed suicide last year, had been charged at that point but not with any wrongdoing involving Blagojevich.
Kosar, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback, once gave Blagojevich a gift and was listed on campaign solicitation list.
In a March, 2009 article, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote about Kosar's presence on a list as a fund-raising target:
"The list includes a broad range of fund-raising targets, from White Sox and Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to onetime Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar to promoters of mixed martial arts, which Blagojevich legalized in Illinois in 2008."
An attorney for Kosar had no comment.
