Blagojevich Busted

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to an array of federal corruption charges.

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

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, Blagojevich cut it close for his arrival at the Dirksen Federal Building. He arrived just before 11 a.m. for the arraignment, where he will stand before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel with his brother, Robert Blagojevich, who was indicted with him.

The former governor pleaded not guilty upon arriving in court, before a packed room of spectators. He looked relaxed as he stood alongside his brother, Robert, who also pleaded not guilty in the scheme.

Before the hearing, Blagojevich stopped outside the federal building to shake a few hands. Before entering, he said he was feeling upbeat about the hearing.

"I'm innocent of every single accusation. I know what the truth is as it concerns me. I'm glad that this day has started, because now we can begin the process of getting the truth out, and I can clear my name and vindicate myself," Blagojevich said, "and I have great respect for the court system, and we're going to deal with this in the court system."

No special provisions were made for Blagojevich to enter the federal courthouse, since he is no longer governor. But before he entered the building, he stopped the cab, had the cab driver roll down his window, and shook the cab driver's hand as if he were still a politician. 

"I wanna say something to the people of Illinois. I've not let them down," Blagojevich said.

Defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky, a longtime Blagojevich friend, first entered the plea on his client's behalf before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel. Zagel then asked Blagojevich if he was pleading not guilty to all counts.

"That's correct," the impeached former governor responded.

Other attorneys have been reluctant to file an appearance with the court on behalf of the governor because it could lock them into a case that could consume thousands of hours over the next two years without any guarantee they would be paid.

Attorneys say Blagojevich is unable to afford the kind of elaborate defense that the blue chip Chicago law firm of Winston & Strawn provided to former Gov. George Ryan when the firm's chairman was former Gov. James R. Thompson, a longtime Ryan friend.

Winston & Strawn defended Ryan for free. Ryan was convicted of racketeering and fraud and sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.

No big names among Chicago's criminal defense lawyers are offering free services to Blagojevich.

Blagojevich does have money in his Friends of Rod Blagojevich campaign fund. But prosecutors have put defense attorneys on notice they will ask Zagel to order the campaign money forfeited if Blagojevich is convicted. Attorneys could be ordered to return their fees if they were paid from the campaign fund.

There has even been speculation that Blagojevich might have to turn to the federal defender's program if Zagel doesn't assure attorneys they can be paid through the campaign fund.

The former governor's last court appearance was after he was hauled out of his Ravenswood Manor neighborhood house in handcuffs on Dec. 9.

The last time Blagojevich made headlines, he was on vacation at Disney World with his wife and two daughters as a federal indictment was delivered against him.

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.

Blagojevich has spoken at great length since he was arrested, and booted from office the following month. He has insisted up and down that he has done nothing wrong, and has painted himself as a victim of Springfield politicians who he says pushed him out to raise taxes.

Blagojevich's remaining co-defendants will all be arraigned in the coming days. Former governor's longtime chief of staff John Harris, chief fundraiser Chris Kelly, and Springfield power broker William Cellini are set to be arraigned on Thursday.

Key deputy Alonzo Monk is to be arraigned on April 23.

The former governor was released on $4,500 bond after he was arrested on two counts in December. Blagojevich now faces 16 counts.

As for Blagojevich's brother, Robert Blagojevich attorney Michael Ettinger says his client looks forward to trial and doesn't plan on making deals with prosecutors.

Ettinger said the relationship between the Blagojevich brothers has been a little strained, but he believes things will work out between the two.

Ettinger said his client has high character and cited Robert Blagojevich's two decades in the U.S. Army.

Robert Blagojevich lives in Nashville, Tenn. He is one of several defendants asking for a separate trial on the two counts he faces.

Responding to the arraignment, Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois must confront the "integrity crisis" caused by his predecessors, Blagojevich and imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan.

Quinn said the time has come to disinfect Illinois government of corruption.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Political Editor Mike Flannery, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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

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