Blagojevich Busted

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The almost non-stop national publicity blitz by ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich appears to have Federal prosecutors worried. Monday, they took the unusual step of asking a judge to order the former governor to stop talking about the corruption charges he faces.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that in effect, the Feds are finally admitting what other amazed observers have already said: that the former governor's won a surprising amount of public sympathy with his unconventional and sometimes downright bizarre public relations campaign.

Federal prosecutors were trying to limit what Blagojevich can say about his corruption case if he goes on the reality-TV show "The Celebrity Apprentice," hosted by Donald Trump.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said during a hearing Monday that he also is worried that whatever Blagojevich says on the show might cause complications at his corruption trial next June.

Blagojevich was in New York last week as taping got under way for the show, which is scheduled to air on NBC starting next March, not long before jury selection would begin in Blagojevich's federal trial. It wasn't clear to what extent Blagojevich has participated on the show so far.

Prosecutors said the show's air dates would overlap with the beginning of jury screening for the ex-governor's trial. They did not go so far as to ask Zagel to bar Blagojevich from going on the show, but one prosecutor said the defendant making "statements about evidence would be inappropriate, certainly during this timeframe."

The government asked defense attorneys for an agreement to limit what Blagojevich might say. Zagel told both sides to try to reach an agreement and report to him later. The negotiations will be under seal, for now.

One of Blagojevich's attorney's, Sam Adam, likened "Celebrity Apprentice" to a "game show," but Zagel disagreed, citing his own viewing of two episodes. The judge said the show contains "significant confessional elements," as contestants "say things about themselves and ... about other people."

Another defense attorney for Blagojevich, Sam Adam Jr., later told reporters that law-enforcement authorities usually want defendants to talk publicly. He said the feds are frightened Blagojevich will tell the truth – that he did nothing wrong.

Asked if the ex-governor would testify, Adam responded: "You try to get him not to testify."

While Blagojevich has done some silly stunts during his media blitz, they've all been in pursuit of an audience. For months, he's relentlessly insisted that he did nothing wrong. He has claimed that it is federal investigators who've been unethical and unfair.

One measure of the progress he's made was Blagojevich appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last month. Stewart, the notoriously tough interviewer, went soft -- ending the show by declaring that Blagojevich just might be completely innocent of the criminal corruption charges he faces.

Add to that the sympathy won by his wife, former First Lady Patti Blagojevich, who famously ate a tarantula "I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here." In exchange, she won long stretches of air time to vilify prosecutors and those who impeached Blagojevich and threw him out of office.

Patti Blagojevich appeared on that show after Zagel refused to allow the former governor to do so. The show was filmed in Costa Rica, and Zagel feared Blagojevich could be a flight risk.

Blagojevich wouldn't have to leave the country for "The Celebrity Apprentice."

It's been standard practice in the past for prosecutors almost to taunt indicted politicians, daring them to discuss their cases in public, where they might say something that could be used against them.

Most corruption defendants keep their lips zipped and most are convicted. A source close to the Blagojevich legal team claimed the former governor said something like this, "What I'm doing is just like any political campaign: stay visible, stay on message."

Blagojevich was charged late last year with several corruption-related charges, including accusations he tried to sell the vacant U.s. Senate seat of then President-elect Barack Obama. The Illinois Legislature booted him out of office early this year.

Adam Jr. said Blagojevich hoped to earn money for his family by appearing on "Celebrity Apprentice." Attorneys said they didn't know what he may earn for appearing.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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