By John McCormick March 2 (Bloomberg) — Rod Blagojevich , the former Illinois governor who faces a June trial on federal corruption charges, proclaimed his innocence at a college campus appearance tonight where he lectured on government ethics. He also took note of the oddity of the speech he was making. “Many of you must think it’s kind of ironic that I would agree and accept an opportunity to come here and talk to you about ethics in government,” he said. “For all the courage and testicular virility you think you have, if I did the things they said I did, and I did wrong things like they want you to believe I did, I’d be nowhere near this event.” Blagojevich, 53, spoke in front of about 1,000 people at an event billed as “Ethics in Politics: An Evening with Former Governor Rod Blagojevich,” sponsored by student Democrats at Northwestern University , in Evanston, Illinois. The former governor, a Democrat, started his speech by echoing remarks made by one of his heroes, Elvis Presley , at a press conference at Madison Square Garden in 1972. “I want to quote Elvis and tell you: I am innocent of all charges,” he said, adding that he was “illegally and unethically hijacked from office.” Blagojevich, who received an undergraduate degree from Northwestern, said he recently learned that federal agents have subpoenaed his school records for his trial. “That was 30 years ago,” he said. “They subpoenaed all the financial records. They subpoenaed, evidently, my classroom participation, my grades.” High Profile Blagojevich has maintained a high profile since the December 2008 arrest that cost him his governorship. He has made numerous television appearances to promote a book he authored last year and debuts as a contestant later this month on NBC’s “ The Celebrity Apprentice ,” a reality television program that features Donald Trump . Jeffrey Cramer , a former federal prosecutor in Chicago, said lawyers typically encourage defendants to keep a low profile in advance of their trials. “He’s doing the exact opposite,” said Cramer, a managing director and head of the Chicago office of Kroll Inc. , the New York-based risk consulting company. “Anything he says could possibly be used against him, so it is unusual that a criminal defendant would go out there and be so public.” Influence Jurors Cramer said Blagojevich may be motivated by money or trying to influence future jurors. “It does seem like he needs money,” Cramer said. Among other charges, Blagojevich is accused of trying to trade President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash or other favors. Blagojevich, who was impeached by state legislators and then removed from office following a January 2009 trial in the state Senate, is scheduled to stand trial June 3. He and his brother Robert, 54, who was chairman of his campaign finance committee, were first indicted April 2, along with two former chiefs of staff, Alonzo “Lon” Monk , 51, and John Harris , 47. The four were re-indicted Feb. 4 and are accused of plotting to use the governor’s powers to enrich themselves. Blagojevich told reporters earlier this month that he plans to testify at his trial. The ex-governor has also said he would waive his constitutional right to seek suppression of any of the more than 500 hours of eavesdropping and wiretap recordings collected by the government during its investigation of him. ‘Anti-Nixon’ “I’m the anti-Nixon,” he said at Northwestern, referring to former President Richard Nixon and the White House tapes that helped drive him from office in the Watergate scandal. “Play the tapes, they will prove me innocent,” Blagojevich said. Political observers have said the spectacle of his trial may cast a shadow over other Illinois Democrats, including Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias who is in a U.S. Senate race with Mark Kirk , a five-term Republican congressman from Chicago’s northern suburbs. Blagojevich faces charges that include racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion. Conviction on any of the most serious counts, including racketeering or attempted extortion, could result in a prison sentence of as long as 20 years. Jordan Fein, 20, president of the Northwestern University College Democrats , declined to disclose how much Blagojevich was paid for the appearance. He said the money came from student activity fees. Fein said the goal for the evening was for students and faculty to get a “greater understanding of what’s happened in Illinois the last few years.” Blagojevich is the fourth of the past eight Illinois governors to face criminal charges. His predecessor, Republican George Ryan , was convicted in 2006 of trading political favors for trips and cash and is serving a 6 1/2-year sentence at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Democrat Otto Kerner , who held the office from 1961 to 1968, was convicted on corruption charges after being appointed a federal judge. Democrat Dan Walker , who held the job from 1973 to 1977, was found guilty of crimes committed after he left office in 1987. To contact the reporters on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net ;
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Indicted Ex-Governor Blagojevich Lectures on Government Ethics in Illinois
