Blagojevich Busted

CHICAGO (CBS) ― A judge has ruled that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich may not go to Costa Rica to take part in a reality TV show, because the judge doesn't think the former governor will come back.

Judge James B. Zagel also said in court that Blagojevich is broke, and taxpayer funds will have to be used for his criminal defense.

Read the full Blagojevich indictment here
Breakdown of charges, possible prison time

Blagojevich arrived in court at the Dirksen Federal Building just a few minutes ahead of time for an 11 a.m. hearing. He had hoped to ask for permission to travel to Costa Rica to appear on the NBC reality program "I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here," which will be filmed in June.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that Blagojevich's lawyer said money was a big reason the former governor was in court today, asking to travel to a jungle in Central America. NBC promised to pay Blagojevich at least $320,000, and perhaps a lot more if he'd go to Costa Rica to appear on the reality TV show.

Blagojevich was ordered to surrender his passport when he was hit with federal corruption charges, so he had to ask Zagel for permission to leave the country.
 
Zagel deemed Blagojevich a flight risk and said no. Thet judge also dismissed an offer by representatives from the show to pay retired law enforcement members to keep an eye on the former governor while he taped the show, saying they would have no jurisdiction or authority in Costa Rica anyway.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar openly mocked the former governor. He called Blagojevich's behavior so bizarre and irrational that the court could not trust him to return from a trip to Costa Rica. He 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.

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.

Zagel also said Blagojevich has not done his homework, and has not come to a full understanding of what he faces. He scolded Blagojevich saying that instead of doing reality TV, he should be preparing for trial by reviewing the evidence against him.

"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.

When asked after court if he will take the judge's advice and review the evidence, Blagojevich said, "Absolutely. Of course I am. I'm eager to do it. I can't wait to do it. We've been waiting for our chance to be able to start fighting back and getting the truth out, and this will give me an opportunity to do it."

Before Judge Zagel turned thumbs-down on the reality show, new details of the former governor's financial desperation emerged.

Among revelations in open court Tuesday: Blagojevich has borrowed so much on his North Side home, there's no equity left. His once-mighty political campaign operation hasn't paid rent or any other bill in months. It still has $2 million, but because much of it is allegedly bribe money, the court froze those funds. And taxpayers may have to spend millions of dollars paying Blagojevich's defense lawyers, because he's just about flat broke.

Blagojevich said nothing during the hearing except to whisper to his defense attorney, Sheldon Sorosky.

But 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.

When asked what his job prospects are, Blagojevich said, "I thought I had one, now I have to work on another one."

When asked if this was his toughest day yet, Blagojevich said, "No, not at all. Not at all."

The former governor pleaded not guilty last week to a 19-count indictment. He faces a wide range of accusations, among them that he attempted to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat in exchange for campaign contributions, and that he threatened to withhold state assistance to the Tribune Company in selling Wrigley Field if the Chicago Tribune did not fire certain editorial writers. 

The charges have given Blagojevich national notoriety. He's the target of jokes on late night talk shows, and even the subject of a spoof on "Saturday Night Live," played by cast member Jason Sudeikis. 

But the real Blagojevich is himself well accustomed to star treatment and attention, after telling his story and proclaiming his innocence to every national network that would have him. He made appearances on programs ranging from "The View" and "Larry King Live" to "The Late Show with David Letterman." 

Blagojevich was arrested in December, and he has remained free since then because he is not considered a threat to society or a flight risk. He has also been allowed to travel outside the state for his national TV appearances, but had not asked to leave the country until now.

Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, have been out of work for several months.

Although the former governor's own finances are in ruin, sources tell CBS 2 that his wife's family has been stepping in to help. Patti Blagojevich's father, Chicago Ald. Dick Mell, is apparently providing for the couple's two children in particular. They are Mell's two granddaughters.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery and Joanie Lum contributed to this report.

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

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