 As Blagojevich looked on, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said
staying in Chicago to help attorneys plan his defense will give the
indicted former governor a better sense of the serious legal
problems he faces -- including allegations he tried to auction off
President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat."I don't think
this defendant fully understands and I don't think he could
understand ... the position he finds himself in," Zagel told the
hearing.
On his way out of the courthouse, Blagojevich told the usual
swarm of media and onlookers that he's "going to play a very big
role, a significant role" in his defense.
"I'm fully aware of what the allegations are and I know what the
truth is concerning me and I know that I've done absolutely nothing
wrong," Blagojevich said.
Zagel held off ruling on whether Blagojevich may tap his $2
million campaign fund to pay lawyers but indicated he may be leaning
toward giving approval. Zagel scheduled a May 1 hearing on the
issue.
Blagojevich, 52, is charged with scheming to sell or trade the
Senate seat and using the muscle of the governor's office to
pressure companies for sizable campaign contributions.
Making sure he doesn't flee
Federal prosecutors opposed allowing him to go to Central America
to star on the NBC reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of
Here!" -- a program similar to "Survivor" in which contestants will
be plopped down in the Costa Rican jungle to perform sweaty physical
tasks and scheme to avoid elimination.
Blagojevich's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, told Zagel the program
would pay for retired marshals or FBI agents to make sure he didn't
flee. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said there was no way
to predict whether Blagojevich would seek to stay in Costa Rica or
make a break for a neighboring country that has no extradition
treaty with the United States.
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Schar said Blagojevich may be facing 25 to 30 years behind bars if
convicted, a strong incentive to run. And he said two of
Blagojevich's former chiefs of staff, John Harris and Alonzo Monk,
are expected to make deals to plead guilty and testify against the
impeached governor.
Blagojevich said nothing during the hearing except to whisper to
Sorosky.
Zagel said he had experience with extradition issues and didn't
see that as a problem but was concerned Blagojevich needs to work on
his defense and wouldn't be able to do so if he were in Costa Rica.
Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 after authorities said he was
heard on FBI wiretaps discussing swapping the Obama seat for a
Cabinet post, a new job or campaign money. Illinois lawmakers
impeached him and booted him from office in January.
A federal grand jury returned a 19-count indictment April 2 that
accuses him and five others of corruption beginning before
Blagojevich even took office. Blagojevich pleaded not guilty last
week to charges including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud,
extortion conspiracy and attempted extortion, and making false
statements.
[Associated Press;
By MIKE ROBINSON]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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