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Blagojevich is reportedly going to star in Celebrity Apprentice.

(CNN) – Members of the Blagojevich family are becoming pros at reality television.

First, Patti Blagojevich, wife of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, appeared on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" this past summer, lasting 23 days in the Costa Rican jungle before being voted off.

Now the disgraced former governor himself - who had reportedly been the original choice for the Survivor-like show - appears likely to be a cast member of this season's "Celebrity Apprentice."

People Magazine reports Blagojevich has been spotted on the New York City set, along with Sharon Osbourne, ex-baseball star Darryl Straweberry, celebrity chef Curtis Stone, and comedian Sinbad. Singer Cyndi Lauper and Bret Michaels are also rumored to be a part of this year's cast.

NBC is not confirming the official cast list.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A House ethics panel says it is investigating allegations against three representatives including Jesse Jackson Jr., who allegedly launched a "public campaign" to be appointed to President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

The preliminary investigation into Jackson's activities by the Office of Congressional Ethics became known in April. At the time, Jackson, an Illinois Democrat, issued a statement saying he was cooperating and was "eager to answer any questions and provide any information to the OCE about my actions related to last year's vacant Senate seat."

The House ethics panel, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, said in a statement Tuesday it had received a referral on the matter from the ethics office.

Transcripts of recordings from former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich "contain statements that an 'emissary' from Representative Jackson had offered to raise money for Blagojevich and provide 'money up-front' if Blagojevich nominated Representative Jackson to the (U.S.) Senate seat vacated by President Obama," the ethics office report says. "If this 'emissary' acted either at the direction of Representative Jackson or with his knowledge and acquiescence, Representative Jackson may have violated federal law and House rules."

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Christopher Kelly, 51, was former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief fundraiser.

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Police are looking into the death of the former chief fundraiser for ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a "death-suicide investigation," an Illinois mayor said Sunday.

Financier Christopher Kelly told police shortly before he died Saturday that he took an "overdose of drugs," said Dwight Welch, mayor of Country Club Hills, Illinois.

Country Club Hills police found several drugs in Kelly's black 2007 Cadillac Escalade, but they were not sure yet whether they were prescribed, Welch said. Country Club Hills is about 27 miles south of Chicago.

Kelly had recently undergone surgery and was taking drugs following the operation, Welch said. Welch said he did not know which drugs Kelly was taking.

Kelly, 51, of Burr Ridge, Illinois, was pronounced dead at Stroger hospital in Cook County at 10:46 a.m. Saturday, hospital spokesman Marcel Bright told CNN. Cook County authorities did not release any details about Kelly's death.

Earlier this year, Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office, pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges. A federal grand jury in April indicted him on 16 felony counts, including racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators.

The indictment also named some of Blagojevich's closest aides, including Kelly; former chief of staff, John Harris; and Springfield, Illinois, millionaire William Cellini.

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A former chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of participating in a scheme to commit wire fraud.

(CNN) – A former chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of participating in a scheme to commit wire fraud related to the former Illinois governor's alleged efforts to profit off of his appointment of a replacement to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

Under the plea deal, federal prosecutors will ask that the defendant, John Harris, serve no more than 35 months in prison. Harris agreed to testify at Blagojevich's trial, set to begin June 3, 2010, said Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney.

"At times defendant assisted Blagojevich's efforts to carry out the scheme by suggesting means by which Blagojevich could secure personal benefits for himself in exchange for appointing a United States senator, conducting factual research relating to the scheme at Blagojevich's direction, and counseling Blagojevich on carrying out the scheme," the 25-page plea said.

"At other times, defendant expressed opposition to Blagojevich's efforts to enrich himself through his appointment of a United States senator, and/or did not follow instructions from Blagojevich to assist in those efforts," it added.

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(CNN) – Sen. Roland Burris will not face state perjury charges in connection with his sworn testimony about an alleged "pay-for-play" scheme to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, a state prosecutor said Friday.

Burris, appointed to the Senate seat just days before Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office in January, gave incomplete but truthful answers to questions about his conversations with Blagojevich's representatives, said John Schmidt, the state's attorney in Sangamon County.

Schmidt began looking at perjury charges in February amid disclosures that Burris spoke with Blagojevich's brother about possibly raising money for the governor.

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Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said Wednesday that he will not support fellow Illinois Sen. Roland Burris for re-election in 2010.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sen. Dick Durbin repeated Wednesday that he would not support his colleague from Illinois, Sen. Roland Burris, for re-election in 2010.

Durbin said he told Burris that he was "disappointed" to read a federal wiretap transcript, released on Tuesday, which showed that the junior senator had offered former Gov. Rod Blagojevich campaign cash while trying to win a Senate appointment.

"We stuck our neck out for him and said if you do this thing, you'll do it in a proper, professional way, then we can stand behind you being sworn into the Senate," Durbin said, according to NBCChicago.com. "And I just don't think his testimony was complete and accurate."

Durbin has in the past called for Burris' resignation.

A Federal judge has denied ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's request to travel to Central America to take part in a reality TV show.

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) – A Federal judge has denied ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's request to travel to Central America to take part in a reality TV show.

Blagojevich had signed on to "be dropped into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle" in a celebrity competition, according to the NBC television network.

But his participation depended U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel lifting travel restrictions imposed when the former governor was indicted on federal corruption charges, the network said.

Zagel, in a Tuesday morning hearing, called it "a bad idea" and suggested Blagojevich find another way to earn money, according CNN affiliate WLS-TV.

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Blagojevich has inked a deal to appear on an NBC reality show, if a judge allows.

(CNN) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's career as a politician appears to be over, but a new career in the world of reality television could just be beginning.

The impeached former governor has inked a deal to appear on an NBC celebrity-themed reality show, assuming a federal judge allows him to travel as his criminal charges remain pending, the network said in a statement.

The upcoming show, called I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, pits 10 celebrities in a Costa Rican village for a month while they battle each other in competitions and put their survival skills to the test. The show will air nightly and viewers will have the final say on which celebrities have to go home early.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the financially-strained Blagojevich stands to make $80,000 a week for his appearance on the show. Blagojevich's attorney will soon make a formal request that the former governor be allowed to travel outside of the country for the gig, the Tribune also reported.

An ill-fated earlier iteration of the show ran on ABC six years ago, when the celebrity cast included Melissa Rivers, Bruce Jenner, and Tyson Beckford. Chris Judd, the onetime husband of Jennifer Lopez, won the competition that year. The show drew little attention then and was not renewed.

Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office earlier this year, pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges Tuesday. A federal grand jury indicted him this month on 16 felony counts, including racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators.i

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office earlier this year, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal corruption charges.

A federal grand jury indicted him this month on 16 felony counts, including racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is facing such charges as racketeering, conspiracy and wire fraud.

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, already facing conspiracy and fraud charges, was indicted on 16 additional felony counts by a federal grand jury on Thursday.

The indictment charges Blagojevich, and some of his closest aides and advisers, with a wide-ranging "scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government," according to a statement by the attorney's office.

Blagojevich, 52, was charged with racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators, among other charges, according to the release.

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Blagojevich was arrested in December on federal corruption charges that included allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

(CNN) - The U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago, said Thursday it would release news late in the afternoon about a "significant criminal matter" that would include a court filing.

A written statement gave no information on what the subject might be, but on January 5 federal Judge James Holderman gave the office three additional months to decide whether to indict then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and resigned from office. That deadline ends Sunday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said its announcement would be made in a news release, and posted on its Web site.

Blagojevich was arrested in December on federal corruption charges that included allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

The Illinois House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in January to impeach the Democrat, accusing him of abusing his gubernatorial power.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich hosted a two-hour radio program in Chicago Wednesday.

(CNN) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sounded an uncharacteristically conciliatory tone during a solo radio hosting appearance on Chicago's WLS 890 AM.

"I have no complaints," Blagojevich told CNN contributor D.L. Hughley during a reflective moment in Wednesday's broadcast.

"I think there's always a purpose that God has for all of us and, you know, in my mind and my heart, I believe God has a purpose for me. And I'm his instrument in some form or another. To the extent that I can be still someone who fights for the average guy, the little guy . . . I'm going to keep trying to do that."

Blagojevich also praised President Obama, and likened the new president to former Presidents Reagan and Kennedy in his push for tax cuts in an effort to turn the economy around.

"He's the number one Democrat in America, and so I think those Democrats [on Capitol Hill] have to give their brand new president a chance to get his program passed," Blagojevich said. "If it's one that's going to provide tax relief to people, I'm imploring my fellow Democrats in Congress to go along with President Obama."

Blagojevich also used his time at the mic to tout his own accomplishments while governor, and to repeatedly criticize his successor Gov. Pat Quinn for plans to raise taxes.

Before Rod Blagojevich was ousted from office, WLS-AM had offered him his own radio show on Sundays if he agreed to voluntarily step down.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be back on the airwaves Wednesday, serving as a fill-in host on a Chicago talk radio station.

Blagojevich will host the Don Wade and Roma Morning Show on WLS-AM - a show the station refers to as "the most positive, optimistic radio show in the universe" - alone from 7-9 am Wednesday. The station confirmed to CNN that the gig is a one-time occurrence.

Before he was ousted from office, WLS-AM had offered the former governor his own radio show on Sundays if he agreed to voluntarily step down. Blagojevich, who didn't take the deal, was later impeached over allegations that he tried to sell President Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will include information that could be “embarrassing” in his upcoming book.

(CNN) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has landed a six-figure book deal to tell his story, his spokesman confirmed to CNN Monday.

Blagojevich was impeached earlier this year amid allegations that he tried to sell President Obama’s vacant Senate seat. The former governor, who maintains his innocence, will write about the process he used to pick Obama’s successor, and “the dark side of politics he witnessed in both the state and national level.” The former governor will also discuss his two-terms in office.

The book, which has a working title of “The Governor,” is scheduled to be released by Phoenix Books in October.

Glenn Selig, Blagojevich's publicist and founder of The Publicity Agency, said the governor will divulge information that will be “embarrassing” to himself and others.

"There were some people in high places who didn't want the governor to write this book and worked to try to squash a book deal," Selig said in a statement released Monday.

The Illinois Senate voted unanimously in January to impeach Blagojevich and to permanently bar him from holding political office in the state of Illinois.

Sen. Roland Burris, D-Illinois, says in an affidavit that he refused to contribute money to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - The brother of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich solicited Sen. Roland Burris, D-Illinois, for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Burris was named to his Senate seat, according to Burris staffers and an affidavit obtained Saturday by CNN.

However, in the affidavit, Burris said he refused to contribute to Blagojevich or to assist in fundraising for him.

Burris' appointment by Blagojevich was hotly disputed, as Blagojevich is facing corruption charges. Prosecutors' allegations against him include that he attempted to sell the Senate seat, vacated by President Barack Obama upon his election, to the highest bidder. He was ousted from office last month by Illinois lawmakers.

In his January 8 testimony before an Illinois House impeachment panel, Burris, the former Illinois attorney general, said he had no conversations with Blagojevich about his desire to be appointed to the seat prior to Blagojevich's December 9 arrest. Burris also said that he was not aware of any "quid pro quo"
with the former governor.

"I can for this committee state that there was no legal, personal or political exchange for my seat," Burris said.

(CNN) - Moments after removing him from office, the Illinois senate voted unanimously to prevent impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich from ever holding political office in the state again.

(CNN) – The Illinois Senate has voted unanimously to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich delivers a closing argument at his impeachment trial Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared before senators in his impeachment trial for the first time Thursday, saying he has done "absolutely nothing wrong."

Watch: Blagojevich begins his closing argument

Senators had granted Blagojevich - who has avoided the trial since it began Monday - permission to speak.

Speaking beforehand outside the state Senate to reporters, Blagojevich said he wants to "clear my name and restore the public trust."

"I feel confident. I know the truth of things. I hope I get a fair shot today," he said. "Of course there is [sadness]. That's life. There's moments of triumph and moments of disappointment. I'm not giving up hope."

Blagojevich has demonstrated an "abuse of power" throughout his tenure as Illinois' chief executive, the prosecutor in the governor's impeachment trial told state senators.

"In this trial we have laid out a pattern of abuse of power by Gov. Rod Blagojevich that culminated in his arrest on December 9, 2008," David Ellis said in his closing argument.

Watch: Ellis makes the case against Blagojevich

"This pattern of abuse of power spanned, in fact, throughout the governor's entire tenure in office," he said.

Full story

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) - Illinois state senators have granted Gov. Rod Blagojevich permission to speak before the Senate during his impeachment trial Thursday.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has decided to participate in his impeachment trial before the state senate.

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) - After avoiding his impeachment trial since it began, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected to deliver a closing argument Thursday to senators who will decide whether to oust him from office.

The two-term governor has refused to take part in the trial's proceedings since its Monday opening, preferring to proclaim his innocence on a round of talk shows.

Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges in December, and federal authorities say he was trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. Following the governor's arrest, the state House overwhelmingly voted to impeach him.

On Wednesday, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said Blagojevich had asked to be allowed to speak before the chamber, a request that senators are expected to vote on Thursday morning.

Because the governor would be delivering a closing argument, not testifying, senators would not be able to question him and he would not be cross-examined by the House prosecutor, Cullerton said.

After the closing arguments, the chamber will begin deliberating on whether to remove Blagojevich from office and also whether to bar him from holding future office.

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