Judge Warns Blago About Media Blitz

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 19, 2011 1:05PM

Judge James Zagel gave Rod Blagojevich the proverbial stern warning yesterday regarding former Governor Sound Bite's recent spate of media appearances leading to the start of tomorrow's jury selection in his retrial on corruption charges. Prosecutors complained to Zagel that Blagojevich has used to media appearances to unfairly cast them in the role of heavies, suggesting that they're keeping Blagojevich's team from playing the tapes he believes would acquit him of the charges.

The rulings regarding the tapes — what can be played and how much — has long been up to Zagel, not the prosecutors. Blagojevich has an advantage over the prosecution in that he can use his media blitz to confuse potential jurors into thinking otherwise, and he's stayed on message since last week, when he launched his most recent round of appearances with a prepared statement outside his home timed perfectly to coincide with evening newscasts. Blagojevich has also failed to mention during his media appearances that he has a wide range into what tapes can be played at the retrial, if only he testifies, a point made by his brother Robert over the weekend.

Blagojevich's media blitz could be unintended ammunition for the prosecution, who could enter them as evidence if they can prove the substance of their case.