CHICAGO — Ousted Gov. Rod Blagoje- vich pleaded not guilty to racketeering and fraud charges Tuesday, defiantly embarking on a long journey to clear his name.
“I’m glad this process has finally begun,” the impeached former governor told the media throng that spilled into the street in front of the courthouse after he and his brother, Robert, were arraigned on corruption charges. “That is the beginning of me being able to prove and clear my name and be vindicated of what are inaccurate allegations.”
Blagojevich, 52, is charged with scheming to sell President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat, attempting to extort campaign money from companies seeking state business and plotting to use the financial muscle of the governor’s office to pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers calling for his impeachment. The accusations led to his ouster as governor, but he repeated Tuesday what he has been saying for months — that he is not guilty.
An attorney close to his legal defense said Blagojevich even wants U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel’s permission to leave the country to appear on a reality TV show in the Costa Rican jungle that could be taped in June. NBC said Tuesday it wants the former governor to appear on a show called “I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!” pending court approval. Ten celebrities will be dropped into the Costa Rican jungle “to face challenges designed to test their skills in adapting to the wilderness,” the network said.
Prosecutors must give the defense team mounds of documents and recordings made over years of investigation. Defense attorneys can then be expected to ask Zagel to throw out much of it.
Defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky also told Zagel he is seeking prosecutors’ permission to tap Blagojevich’s $2 million campaign fund to pay additional attorneys.
