Spring Break
Job prospects unclear for the ousted Blagojevich
Associated Press
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News
CHICAGO (AP) - Ousted as Illinois governor and looking for a job, Rod Blagojevich returned to national television on Tuesday to proclaim his innocence on corruption charges - perhaps angling for a future book deal or talk show.
But Blagojevich, a lawyer whose license is inactive, has some hurdles to overcome if he wants a new career. The biggest one: Who would hire him?
"A great many employers will not hire someone who has a felony charge pending against them," said Chicago defense attorney John Beal.
But some might offer him a job, if only to exploit the built-in publicity surrounding the scandal-tainted Democrat, especially as he gets closer to a trial on charges that could bring a lengthy prison term.
A federal indictment is expected by April on allegations that Blagojevich tried to auction off Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. He was impeached by Illinois lawmakers, who stripped him of his job last week.
Blagojevich's publicist says offers are coming in, but he declined to provide details.
"Every day we get several offers of something he could do or would like to, and there are certainly no shortage of people who would love to speak with him," publicist Glenn Selig said.
Before the unanimous vote to remove Blagojevich, one Chicago radio show offered him a job if he would resign in the wake of his Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges. He refused to step down.
The former governor needs find a way to make a living. Not only did he lose his $177,000-a-year job, but his wife recently was fired from her $100,000-a-year job as the chief fundraiser for a Chicago homeless agency.
Federal authorities claim she was caught on secretly recorded tapes making expletive-laden demands to fire Chicago Tribune writers critical of Blagojevich.
"It's a period of adjustment for us. But you know what, I'm not asking for any sympathy. There are tens of thousands of Americans who are losing their job every single day. I just happen to be among the ranks," Blagojevich told NBC's "Today Show."
But Blagojevich, a lawyer whose license is inactive, has some hurdles to overcome if he wants a new career. The biggest one: Who would hire him?
"A great many employers will not hire someone who has a felony charge pending against them," said Chicago defense attorney John Beal.
But some might offer him a job, if only to exploit the built-in publicity surrounding the scandal-tainted Democrat, especially as he gets closer to a trial on charges that could bring a lengthy prison term.
A federal indictment is expected by April on allegations that Blagojevich tried to auction off Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. He was impeached by Illinois lawmakers, who stripped him of his job last week.
Blagojevich's publicist says offers are coming in, but he declined to provide details.
"Every day we get several offers of something he could do or would like to, and there are certainly no shortage of people who would love to speak with him," publicist Glenn Selig said.
Before the unanimous vote to remove Blagojevich, one Chicago radio show offered him a job if he would resign in the wake of his Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges. He refused to step down.
The former governor needs find a way to make a living. Not only did he lose his $177,000-a-year job, but his wife recently was fired from her $100,000-a-year job as the chief fundraiser for a Chicago homeless agency.
Federal authorities claim she was caught on secretly recorded tapes making expletive-laden demands to fire Chicago Tribune writers critical of Blagojevich.
"It's a period of adjustment for us. But you know what, I'm not asking for any sympathy. There are tens of thousands of Americans who are losing their job every single day. I just happen to be among the ranks," Blagojevich told NBC's "Today Show."
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