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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-23jan23,0,7887434.story

Blagojevich told the Tribune and other media that he would like to call on Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago congressman who’s now Obama’s chief of staff, to testify. He said Emanuel could help provide a defense because in a television interview last weekend he “made it clear nothing inappropriate” was said in their conversations about naming someone to Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat.

(snip)

Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), called the governor’s remarks an attempt to “muddy the distinction between a criminal court process and the Senate impeachment proceeding and rules.”

Legislators said they expect that the impeachment trial could wrap up by the end of next week, especially because Blagojevich isn’t expected to put up a defense.

The apparent decision not to contest the Senate proceedings marks a stark reversal from comments the governor made after Blagojevich was impeached Jan. 9 that he would fight.

But when the trial begins Monday, neither Blagojevich nor his legal team will be there, Genson said.

“On the state impeachment, it appears he’s not going to do anything,” Genson said. “On the federal case, he’s waiting to see what occurs. . . . He’s going to fight it.”

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1386816,CST-NWS-blago20.article

With the governor strapped for cash, his lawyers were looking to his campaign fund for their fees. But prosecutors wouldn’t sign off on lawyers tapping into the Friends of Blagojevich war chest to cover legal expenses for the impeachment. They have agreed that some attorney fees can come out of the fund for the criminal case, though, sources said.

The Blagojevich campaign fund’s latest report showed it had more than $3.6 million in it.

While there’s no formal government order that bans defense lawyers from tapping the fund, prosecutors have filed a notice that they intended to freeze it. Since receiving that notice — which came about a week after the governor’s Dec. 9 arrest on corruption charges, including an allegation he tried to sell an appointment to succeed Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate — Blagojevich’s lawyers have been careful to take money from the fund only with government permission, fearing the money might be seized later, sources said.

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1393502,CST-NWS-SNEED23.article

January 23, 2009

BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist

Is beleaguered Gov. Blagojevich showing his feminine side?

Sneed hears Blagojevich, who is weighing the possibility of a major media blitz, is keen on appearing on Barbara Walters’ hit ABC-TV show “The View” with its all-woman panel.

Gov. Blagojevich may seek a spot on “The View” with Whoopi Goldberg (from left), Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar and Barbara Walters.
(Rich Hein/Sun-Times, ABC)

• • Translation: Word is Gov. Blago, who is being probed by the feds, impeached by the Illinois House and awaiting trial in the state Senate, is considering launching an all-out media attack.

(snip)

• • The backshot: “The governor is weighing offers from multiple media sources — and if he did appear on ‘The View,’ it would probably be in tandem [contingent?] with an interview on ‘Good Morning America,’ which is also on ABC-TV and has expressed interest in him appearing on the show,” a top source said. “He is weighing his offers.”

(snip)

• • The strategy: Sneed hears members of Gov. Blago’s defense team are encouraging him to carpet-bomb the media and take his fight nationwide.

• • The upshot: Blago already plans to appear on WLS-AM’s “Don Wade & Roma” show this morning, which follows an on-air job offer to Blago from WLS-AM program director Bob Shomper on Thursday morning. (Blago was reportedly called Wednesday and told to listen to the radio at 7 a.m. Thursday. That’s when the pitch was reportedly made.)

• • The stumbling block? “The governor would have to quit his job to do the show,” said a Blago source.

(snip)