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Prosecutors concerned over Blago's 'Celebrity Apprentice' stint

By April MacIntyre Oct 20, 2009, 15:59 GMT

Impeached former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich needs money to pay lawyers and the bills. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Rod Blagojevich needs money to pay lawyers and the bills.

Wife Patty did her part on "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Outta Here" and ate bugs and had to endure Stephen Baldwin's company for weeks in a vermin-infested jungle.

Now Blago will take on The Donald's challenge to see if he has the kill or be killed stamina to survive and win "Celebrity Apprentice."

This fact has prosecutors, building a case against Blago for an assortment of ethics and legal campaign violations, on edge.

Rod Blagojevich will be competing against uber mom/mananger Sharon Osbourne, rocker Bret Michaels and former wrestler Bill Goldberg, and WWE diva Maria Kanellis on the upcoming season of "Celebrity Apprentice."

According to the Associated Press, prosecutors said Monday they are worried about what ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich could say on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" that could taint the jury pool for his federal corruption trial.

The show will coincide with juror selection, according to the AP, whicis scheduled to start June 3, and anything Blagojevich might say about the evidence "could cause complications," prosecutors told U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel.

Blagojevich was indicted on charges of scheming to trade or sell President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

According to the AP report, Defense attorney Samuel E. Adam claimed it would be "unfair" to prevent Blagojevich from proclaiming his innocence in public.

He said lead prosecutor U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald used such strong language in announcing the indictment that the jury pool was already tainted.

Fitzgerald said at a news conference after the indictment was returned that Blagojevich's crimes would make "Lincoln roll over in his grave."

"Celebity Apprentice" is due to air in March.