Defense lawyers are claiming that Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich’s recent high profile interviews will probably hurt him when his case comes to trial as any statement he makes regarding the case could be used against him by prosecutors.
Since last week, the Illinois Governor has been on various radio and national television shows such as “The View” and “Larry King Live.” Blagojevich has compared his case to the jailing of peace and civil rights leaders.
“Given that he doesn’t know all the evidence against him, there’s tremendous risk in what he’s doing,” said defense lawyer Joel Levin, who prosecuted ex-Governor George Ryan. “Some of the statement… might fit nicely into the theories [that prosecutors] are laying out.”
Levin said that prosecutors are probably recording every word that the governor says.
“No defense attorney in his right mind would sanction this campaigh,” said defense lawyer Ron Safer. “It’s a horrible, horrible idea. No matter how innocent you think the statements are. No matter how good it feels. It’s a bad idea, and apparently intolerable to one of the finest criminal lawyers I know.”
Revered defense attorney Ed Genson quit the Blagojevich case last week partly due to the recent media campaign.