Apr 21, 2009 9:15 am US/Pacific
Judge To Blagojevich: No Reality Show For You
Judge Also Says Blagojevich Is Broke, Must Use Public Funds For Defense
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives in court, where a judge will tell him if he can leave the country to star on a reality TV show in Costa Rica.
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 public funds will have to be used for his criminal defense.
As CBS station WBBM-TV's Joanie Lum reports, 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.
Blagojevich was ordered to surrender his passport when he was hit with federal corruption charges, so he had to ask U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel for permission to leave the country.
Zagel deemed Blagojevich a flight risk and said no.
The judge also said Blagojevich has not done his homework, and has not come to full understanding of what he faces.
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, and the reality show might have earned him up to $80,000 per episode.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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