* 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.

But CBS2 reported yesterday that the trial would, indeed last six months. Not sure if that’s a mistake or what.

* The SJ-R reports that Cellini is still active…

Cellini remains executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association, the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, the Illinois Concrete Pipe Association and PCI (Precast Concrete Institute) of Illinois and Wisconsin.

“The board of directors of each of the associations have known Bill for a long time,” said Marvin Traylor, who works with Cellini in Springfield and is director of engineering and research of all four associations. “They recognize that the allegations have nothing to do with association business and have taken the position that they will believe he’s innocent until he has his day in court.”

The story also detailed Cellini’s former lobbying client list, which included Chicago HMO - Stu Levine’s outfit.

Cellini withdrew his name from the lobbyist list in late 2003…

…new ethics legislation barred lobbyists or their spouses from serving on state boards or commissions. He said he stepped out of the way to allow his wife, Julie Cellini, to remain chair of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency board of trustees.

But was he still lobbying?

Leone questions whether it was appropriate for Cellini not to be registered in recent years, given federal allegations that suggest Cellini attempted to influence the Teachers’ Retirement System.

Cellini wasn’t the only one who decided to simply stop being a “registered” lobbyist after that “reform” law passed. There should’ve been an investigation of this mass exodus, but nobody ever did it. Paging Attorney General Lisa Madigan: Where were you on this?

* Related…

* Rod Blagojevich case: 3 co-defendants enter not-guilty pleas

* Three more not guilty pleas in Blagojevich case

* Harris, Kelly, Cellini plead not guilty

* He pleaded guilty in Blago-related scheme. Now he blogs…