The trial of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich resumes Monday in downtown Chicago. A lawyer for Blagojevich will continue to question a former state agency director who says he got the job by making big campaign donations.

Ali Ata has testified that if he didn’t donate money to Blagojevich’s campaign, he felt “chances are” he wouldn’t get a job in the administration. Ata had been a longtime supporter of Blagojevich’s and continued to give, including two checks totaling $50,000 in 2002 and 2003.

At a fundraising event at Navy Pier in 2003, Ata says, the ex-governor thanked him for his support, said he understood Ata was considering a state job and told him “it better be a job where you make some money.” A few months later, Ata became executive director of the newly-created Illinois Finance Authority, taking his orders, he says, from now-convicted Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko.

Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam, Jr., got Ata to acknowledge the governor never told him he’d have to donate in order to get a job.

The cross-examination continues Monday morning. Ata is testifying for the prosecution as part of a plea agreement.