Blagojevich continues media blitz
By SOPHIA TAREEN - The Associated Press
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| ** FILE ** In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 file photo, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has some final words for the media after he announces his choice of former Ill. Attorney General Roland Burris to fill President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat in Chicago. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's access to classified federal security information, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, file) (Paul Beaty (FRE)) |
CHICAGO – Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to reiterate his innocence and recast his image in another slew of TV appearances including CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” a publicist said Monday.
Days after being booted from office, Blagojevich also was scheduled to appear today on NBC’s “Today” show, CNN’s “Larry King Live,” and Fox’s “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.”
Blagojevich, who was removed from office by the Illinois Senate last week, faces federal corruption charges including allegations that he tried to profit from President Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich has said repeatedly that he did nothing wrong.
“It’s important for him to be able to send the message that he didn’t do these things and ... that he didn’t let the public down,” said Blagojevich’s publicist, Glenn Selig. “He’s been painted a certain way in the media until he started to do interviews. Before media appearances, people thought he was a crooked politician.”
The former governor went on a media blitz last month, even boycotting part of his impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate to appear on ABC’s “The View” and “Good Morning America.” He was removed from office with a 59-0 vote Thursday.
Before the verdict, Blagojevich delivered a 47-minute plea in which he insisted that he did nothing wrong.
“How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?” he asked lawmakers.
Selig said Monday that Blagojevich felt that he did not get a chance to properly proclaim his innocence in the state Senate and that the comments by federal prosecutors had affected the public’s perception.
“He’s very concerned people think he let them down and violated their trust,” Selig said.
Selig acknowledged concern that Blagojevich could be the butt of jokes, particularly during the scheduled interview with Letterman. But other high-profile politicians, including presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, also have appeared on the show, Selig said.
“There are things you can joke about and things that are inappropriate to joke about,” Selig said.
Blagojevich will not discuss details of the federal government’s criminal allegations, which include charges the two-term Democrat tried to have Chicago Tribune editorial writers fired for writing critical articles of him and he illegally pressured people to make campaign contributions, Selig said.
Selig declined to answer whether the interviews could negatively impact Blagojevich in a federal criminal trial.
Since Thursday, Blagojevich has spent time with his wife and two daughters at their Chicago home, Selig said. He declined to give details on what Blagojevich has planned for the future or whether he has any job offers.
