Blagojevich Allowed to Appear on Celebrity Apprentice
Rod Blagojevich
A judge will allow former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to join the cast of The Celebrity Apprentice, but has requested that his attorneys meet with prosecutors to discuss how his participation in the reality show will affect his upcoming trial, according to the Chicago Tribune.
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Prosecutors did not seek to block Blagojevich from joining the cast, and have already met with his attorneys to discuss what he will be allowed to say about the trial on the television show. Statements he makes could be introduced into evidence if the government deems fit. "There are significant confessional elements on that show," U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said. "People do say things about themselves."
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Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said that Blagojevich's appearance could also affect the prospective jury pool because the NBC series will air so close to the June 3 trial date.
Zagel is the same judge who turned down Blagojevich's request to go to Costa Rica to appear on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! earlier this year.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to accusations that he tried to sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. His trial will begin in June.