Dec 15, 2008 5:06 pm US/Central
Blagojevich Campaign Cash Could Fund Legal Costs
Accused Governor Has Approximately $3.6
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L) waves from his back alley outside of his home on Dec.15, 2008 in Chicago, Ill.
Tasos Katopdis/Getty Images
Throughout the trial of fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, and in the latest charges against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the subject of campaign contributions reared its head again and again.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, Blagojevich may have been so preoccupied with those contributions because it's likely that money will go to pay for his criminal defense.
If you donated $20 to the Friends of Blagojevich, or if you or your firm or your union donated $20,000, the accused governor will likely be spending that money on high-powered defense attorney Ed Genson.
And, based on the most recent report, Blagojevich will have plenty to spend -- $3.6 million.
"Illinois laws by and large are a joke when it comes to campaign finance. Virtually nothing is prohibited," said Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association.
The state election code allows "the expenditure of funds of a political committee controlled by an office holder or a candidate...to defray the customary and reasonable expenses of an office holder in connection with the performance of government and public service functions."
The theory is the criminal charges against Blagojevich grow out of his role in government.
"But it doesn't appear it would be a barrier to what the governor does to try to use the money," Stewart said.
It's also possible those millions may be taken away. As they did with former Gov. George Ryan's campaign apparatus, the feds could indict and convict Friends of Blagojevich as being a corrupt, racketeering organization and seize all that money.
Blagojevich also reportedly still owes an estimated half million dollars to the law firm of Winston and Strawn, the firm that defended Ryan.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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