Chicago Campaign Donor Pleads Guilty

Paperclips meant for women and minorities

Prosecutors claimed he swindled the city out of $100 million, but Duff contended that the city lost no money because all the janitorial work promised under the contracts was performed.

"As a matter of fact, it was performed in exemplary fashion," said his lawyer Terrence H. Campbell as he left the courthouse.

In court papers, though, prosecutors likened Duff's argument to allowing someone accused of defrauding a bank "to admit that while in the bank he defrauded a teller of paperclips."

The two sides plan to resolve that dispute at his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Duff's mother and five others are due to start trial Jan. 20. They are accused of getting city contracts reserved for businesses run by women and minorities.