April 15, 2009 – Tony Stevens found himself at the “right place at the right time” on Tuesday as he strolled down Dearborn Avenue.
Stevens, suddenly encircled by a media frenzy, found himself face-to-face with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as he left the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after pleading not guilty to 16 felony counts of criminal corruption.
Blagojevich posed for a picture with Stevens and shook his hand before attempting again to get to his car while the media questioned him about his arraignment. Afterward, two reporters would ask Stevens for a copy.
The former Illinois governor is being charged with racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators. His brother, Robert, was also arraigned later Tuesday morning on similar charges.
Blagojevich had arrived at five minutes before his 11 a.m. arraignment proceedings. He spoke briefly with his lawyer before waving a reading of the indictment and entering his plea.
The ex-governor said little during the arraignment only answering questions pertaining to his age and schooling.
Sheldon Sorosky, Blagojevich’s lawyer, requested for U.S. District Judge James Zagel to allow defense to access Blagojevich’s campaign funds to hire additional lawyers. In his appeal to the judge, Sorosky said the case was a “massive indictment,” making it difficult for one lawyer to defend Blagojevich.
Sorosky also requested Blagojevich’s current bond of $4,500 be expanded for travel purposes. Sorosky did not indicate where Blagojevich would be traveling. Defense will have a another hearing on April 21 about gaining access to campaign funds and a larger bail.
After the proceedings, Sorosky said defense for the case would need “four or five” lawyers and would cost a little over $2 million dollars.
“I think a more appropriate issue will be how much of the funds are going to be freed,” said Sorosky. “Even if all the funds would be freed, it’s an insufficient sum for all the work that has to be done.”
According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, $2.6 million remains in a Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund.
Outside the courthouse, Blagojevich said this was a beginning of another stage in the process of him clearing his name and being vindicated.
“I want to say this to the people of Illinois: I have not let them down,” he said.
Some Chicagoans did not agree with plea entered by Blagojevich, but few had criticisms about Blagojevich’s request to use campaign funds for his defense.
“I’ve got no problem if this is private campaign financing that he obtained. But if there is any sort of public money that is going to be going into this defense, I don’t think that’s right,” said Ryan Evans, a lawyer.
Evans said he thought the charges had merit and believed the prosecution was probably withholding information, but he would not give his own verdict until he had “seen all the evidence.”
Gary Clark, an insurance claims adjuster said he was surprised Blagojevich’s wife Patty had not been indicted.
“I’m just waiting for the hammer to drop on her too. I’m for equal opportunity prosecution,” said Clark.
Once the excitement of Blagojevich’s departure had died down, Stevens remained downtown with plans for his picture with the impeached governor as it was being developed at a local Walgreens.
He was planning to give it to Fox News.