|
 Federal marshals blocked off the courthouse sidewalk to give Blagojevich a clear path to and from his car and avoid the swirling media frenzy that swallowed him up
the last time he appeared in court, several months ago.
Curiosity about the brash former governor, who has been pleading his case on radio and television for months, is guaranteed to draw heavy press attention, and marshals have sternly pledged to maintain strict order.
Blagojevich has grabbed at almost every chance to get on the air. Many attorneys have said it is unwise to talk so freely with federal charges pending. They say the 53-year-old impeached former governor's words could be used against him at the trial, which is scheduled to begin June 3.
The arraignment Wednesday is likely to be brief.
"He's going to be there, so its going to be a big press hoopla, but legally it's going to be very routine
-- he's going to plead not guilty," Blagojevich defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky said Tuesday night.
Also due at the hearing is Blagojevich's businessman brother, Robert, who was the head of his campaign fund and was also charged in the indictment.
The new indictment alleges Blagojevich sought ways to get lucrative jobs or money in exchange for the seat left vacant by Obama's election
-- just as the previous version did -- but makes no new allegations of misconduct.
The new indictment repeats all of the charges against Blagojevich in the earlier version but adds eight new ones
-- one count of racketeering, two counts of attempted extortion, two counts of bribery, two counts of bribery conspiracy and one count of extortion conspiracy.
| 
