with Natasha Korecki and Sarah Ostman
Rod and Patti Blagojevich entered the federal courthouse in Chicago shortly before 10:50 a.m. today -- and it was Mrs. Blagojevich who had the first word.
After greeting people on the sidewalk and maneuvering through security, she calmly put herself in front of a phalanx of microphones and addressed reporters in the first-floor lobby. Her criminally charged husband was at her side.
Clad in a black dress, black-and-white blazer and black high-heels, Mrs. Blagojevich talked about how her husband's arrest 18 months ago was a terrible day for her family.
Today, she said, is different.
"Today is a good day because today begins a process to correct a terrible injustice that's been done to my husband, our family and the people of Illinois," she said. "My husband as governor did great things for people, and he continued to fight for them always.
"My husband is an honest man, and I know that he's innocent. Thank you."
Rod Blagojevich, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, smiled at the media throng and headed up to the courtroom.
Earlier on the sidewalk, the Blagojeviches were surrounded by reporters, photographers and average Joes with camera phones.
"Great, I feel great," Rod Blagojevich said when exiting his car.
He shook hands then stopped to talk to supporters who were holding signs, causing some people to break through security tape.
The couple held hands on the way in.
Mrs. Blagojevich got through security without a hitch, but the former governor had to go through twice. It didn't to anything to stop the perma-grin on his face.
The first elevator on the North Side of the building was being held by open by a courthouse worker.
"Dedicated to Mr. Blagojevich," he said smiling, holding it open and waiting for the former first couple to arrive.
The decision to let Mrs. Blagojevich have the first word to the news media on the day of the trial appears designed to play to the court of public opinion. Mrs. Blagojevich, a daughter of Chicago Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), became a sympathetic figure on the television show "I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here" after being named in her husband's indictment. In that document, she was quoted dropping numerous four-letter words caught on federal wiretaps.
Sheldon Sorosky, a Blagojevich lawyer, has said that Mrs. Blagojevich is "very likely" to take the witness stand in her husband's defense.
Though the Blagojeviches were all smiles this morning, not everybody surrounding the federal courthouse were Blagojevich fans.
Before they arrived, a trolley filled with kids passed the media brigade outside the courthouse. "He's guilty!" a young voice called out.
A "good man"?! Seriously? For trying to extort $500,000 from Children's Memorial Hospital, for trying to sell senate seat for cash? for trying to hold the Chicago Tribune to ransom...see a pattern. I get it, Bonnie thought Clyde was a great man too. Maybe Patti just thinks Blago is a good man for getting her $40,000 for nothing.
Enough is enough! Illinois, stop accepting and voting for crooks for elected office. Send Blago who is NOT a "good man" to jail-where he can play the martyr clown for the next 20 years!