When Judge Zagel releases the government’s six-page outline of the case against Blagojevich this week, we'll be getting the Cliff's Notes version of the ex-Gov's alleged misdeeds.
That won't be much more than we already have: Ever since U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald held a press conference to announce that Blago had been arrested before he could jog away from justice, the government has only released the most profane, incriminating excerpts of the surveillance tapes.
As a result, Blago has already been convicted everywhere but in a courtroom. He’s been impeached by the legislature, parodied by cartoonists, lampooned by SNL and fired by Donald Trump.
Rod hasn't helped himself, of course. All Rod's substance-less public pleading -- talking on "The View", writing a book, giving an interview to Esquire, performing on "Celebrity Apprentice" -- has only served to bolster that buffoonish status.
That's actually rather tragic. In Blago’s mind, he has to tell his side on TV because the government has given the public an incomplete account of the case. He can't stop. But he can't say anything specific. All he has is his charm.
What he doesn't have is a lawyer who can control him.
“We don't want the case tried in the media,” said Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky, who's worried the Santiago proffer will present another one-sided view of the case.
Well then tell your client to shaddup.
If Blagojevich’s lawyers don’t want to try this case in the media, they should tell Rod to stop giving interviews until the trial begins in June.
Politics
The U.S. Attorney’s office has already won the PR battle.
The only way we'll know if Blago really is holding a better hand is when Patrick Fitzgerald has to show all his cards.
That’s not going to happen this this week.
