MADISON, Wis. -- The prosecution's star witness testified against his former colleague in state Rep. Scott Jensen's misconduct trial on Friday.

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Former Assembly leader Steve Foti was charged along with Jensen, R-Waukesha, in the state Capitol corruption investigation

Foti was convicted in the case after he made a plea deal with prosecutors that required him to testify against Jensen, the former Assembly speaker. Foti's felony charge was reduced to misdemeanor corruption.

Jensen is accused of directing caucus workers and other state employees to run Republican political campaigns while on the state's payroll. Jensen's co-defendant, former state employee Sherry Schultz, is accused of doing campaign work while being paid by taxpayers.

Foti said that he considers both Jensen and Schultz "good friends," WISC-TV reported.

He backed up prosecutors' claims that Schultz did fundraising while being paid by taxpayers, and revealed Jensen would ask Schultz to do campaign-related projects even though she was supposed to be Foti's employee.

This blows a hole in defense claims that Jensen didn't know any campaign work was going on.

Foti said that he almost never gave Schultz any state work. Other witnesses said that it's because she was so busy with fundraising work, WISC-TV reported.

Foti testified about meetings that Republican Assembly leaders held to discuss candidates' fundraising. He said that Jensen knew Schultz was hired to work as a full-time fundraiser for vulnerable Republican candidates.

Foti appeared to be a difficult witness for prosecutors -- even bordering on evasive -- when prosecutors had to remind him of previous statements that he's made after he said he couldn't remember, WISC-TV reported.

Besides Foti, former state detective David Collins took the stand and testifed that Jensen denied knowing about any illegal campaigning.

Collins told jurors that he interviewed Jensen after allegations surfaced in 2001, and that Jensen flat-out denied any knowledge of it.

The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case on Friday.

Jensen and Schultz's attorneys expect to present their case on Monday. Jensen is expected to take the stand in his own defense, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen is the last of five lawmakers who were charged in 2002 after media reports detailed similar allegations.

The other four legislators -- Foti and fellow ex-Republican Rep. Bonnie Ladwig and former Democratic Sens. Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala -- all struck plea agreements with prosecutors to avoid trials.

Burke and Chvala were sentenced to jail time. Former Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Ladwig is expected to pay $4,500 in fines and restitution, WISC-TV reported.

Foti's deal with prosecutors entailed his pleading to a misdemeanor and the state recommending just 30 days in jail. He has already started a successful career as a lobbyist, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen stepped down as Assembly speaker after he was charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor.

NOTE: WISC-TV's Colin Benedict provides behind-the-scenes coverage of the Jensen trial in his new blog.