Patti Blagojevich is taking aim at her former employer, filing a defamation lawsuit against a top official for allegedly making defaming remarks to a newspaper columnist.
Mrs. Blagojevich filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court charging that Rick Roberts, the senior director of strategy and communications for the Chicago Christian Industrial League, made defaming remarks about her by claiming she inappropriately took an internal email list from the group when she was fired in January.
Roberts made the remarks two weeks ago initially to columnist Michael Sneed. He then repeated them the next day in the Chicago Tribune.
Roberts called Patti Blagojevich "unethical," saying she used the email contacts to try selling her husband's new book.
Patti Blagojevich later told the Sun-Times that it was Roberts who was inappropriate; she said she dumped her own email list into the league's database to help bolster fund-raising.
"The galling thing about this is before I got to CCIL -- there was no e-mail list. They had no e-mail outreach at all," she told the Sun-Times in a Sept. 18 story. "I dumped all my contacts of all my friends. . . . Their list is my list."
Roberts could not be immediately reached for comment.
This is from the Patti Blagojevich and Rod Blagojevich's PR group.
(PRNewsChannel) / Chicago, Ill. / Less than two weeks after being accused by her former employer--a charity--of inappropriately taking its 'proprietary' donor list and then using it to promote her husband's new book, former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich fought back today by suing for defamation.
The lawsuit, filed this morning in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., names Richard Roberts, the senior director of strategy and communications for the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL) as the defendant.
According to the lawsuit, Roberts falsely accused the former first lady of stealing CCIL's donor list.
But according to the suit, CCIL never maintained an email list of donors for purposes of outreach. The suit says Mrs. Blagojevich created her own list building on her personal Outlook contacts.
When her husband was arrested, Mrs. Blagojevich was abruptly fired.
The complaint alleges that Roberts made false accusations to 'Chicago Sun-Times' columnist Michael Sneed, who then published the statements in a column on September 17, 2009.
The suit does not name the 'Chicago Sun-Times,' Sneed or the charity itself as defendants.
"There is no easier way to attract media attention and generate free publicity than to make false accusations against a person whose life is the focus of constant public attention and scrutiny," says Jay Edelson of KamberEdelson, the lead attorney in this suit. "Hopefully, this will send the message that making false statements against Patti or Rod Blagojevich will not go unanswered."
KamberEdelson LLC. has been handling the defense of various civil actions filed against the former governor of Illinois following his removal from office.
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Patti Blagojevich took issue with public criticism that she had absconded with a list of contacts from her former employer so she could help bolster sales of the former governor's new book.
Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, plan to attend Wednesday's funeral of
Chris Kelly, the former governor's one-time fund-raiser and close aide.
The indicted former governor, through his publicist, announced his plans to
attend the funeral in Western Springs.
There was no word if he would attend tonight's wake in Roselle.
Kelly died Saturday following an apparent overdose.
More details on his death are expected to be released by Country Club Hills officials this
afternoon.
Our Kara Spak writes today that audience members of "The View," walked away with copies of the ex-governor's new book, but little new insight into Illinois' former first couple.
Blago tossed out some of stale lines he's repeated on TV, proclaiming his innocence.
He and Patti fielded mostly softball questions from the panel, including from guest host Meghan McCain, daughter of former Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Patti Blagojevich initially offered to donate all the money she raises on her reality TV show to Bear Necessities.
One catch.
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is affiliated with Children's Memorial Hospital. Rod Blagojevich is accused of shaking down the Children's Memorial Hospital executive director for a $50,000 campaign contribution. According to charges, Blagojevich said he'd hold up state funding for Children's Memorial if he didn't get the money. So Bear Necessities said: thanks, but no thanks, to Patti.
"We're very flattered to be considered. Just because of the charges against the former governor in association with Children's we don't want to harm that relationship with them," Bear Necessities PR Director Courtney Krupa told me today.
Krupa said NBC approached them last Tuesday. The board took it up and turned it down. The foundation notified NBC Thursday, Krupa said.
Krupa said it was unfortunate that the foundation had to turn down the offer.
"It is (unfortunate) in a sense that it's a good opportunity for us for potential dollars coming in as well as public awareness for the organization," she said. "Our board felt that with everything going on and with the charges against the former governor with Children's we just want to be cautious because we don't want to harm relationships with supporters."
ADDENDUM from Patti's PR agency: When the men voted to give Patti Blagojevich immunity on 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here' children battling cancer and their families benefitted.
That's because the longer a celebrity stays on the NBC blockbuster summer program, the more money that goes to a celebrity's charity of choice. And Blagojevich, the wife of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, chose the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa.
For those who do want to donate to the pediatric cancer foundation, visit www.bearnecessities.org or call the general number 312-214-1200.
Here's the statement from Bear Necessities (not to be confused with Bare Necessities) on Patti Blagojevich:
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation was recently approached by the producers of "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" to be the official charity for former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich. We were flattered to be considered for a high profile opportunity to raise money and awareness for Bear Necessities. However, we declined the opportunity because her husband, former Gov. Blagojevich, faces federal charges which include an alleged extortion of our partner, Children's Memorial Hospital. We wish the show and Mrs. Blagojevich the best of luck and appreciate the offer. However, our long time partnership with Children's has made great strides in fulfilling Bear's mission of curing the scourge of pediatric cancer and we would never want to do anything to harm that relationship.
On her first night on the show, Patti Blagojevich eats a tarantula.
She later breaks down crying.
But not because of her furry snack.
She had just talked about her husband's predicament and co-contestants Heidi and Spencer Pratt ask her to join them in prayer.
Patti lowered her head and wiped tears away as Heidi led the prayer aloud.
"You know the truth," Heidi Pratt says as the three of them hold hands.
Afterward, the camera cut to Patti who is talking through tears.
"When you hear your own hopes out loud, it's kind of touching," Patti says, keeping her tough Chicago voice steady, but crying.
Just before that, Patti Blagojevich talked about her husband's criminal case. She says he was railroaded, because he tried going around the legislature instead of working with it. She says she was fired because of the publicity and that Blago was impeached after he was unable to bring evidence at his trial held by the Senate (Blago's defense refused to participate).
"It was probably the worst...the worst six months of our lives," Patti Blagojevich says on national TV.
Spencer Pratt says he would have voted for Blago for governor.
"I look at them as the Heidi-Spencer of politics," Spencer Pratt says at one point.
Rod Blagojevich was indicted April 2 on charges he schemed to trade official action for campaign contributions. Among the charges was that he tried to sell President Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Ten minutes into Patti's foray into reality TV, viewers watch her get washed down the river. As her team (TEAM RED) tries wading through a fast-moving stream, Patti gets caught in a current and is suddenly submerged and moving quickly upstream. She tries grabbing a branch, but the force of the water pushes her along.
But not to worry, she floats into a lagoon. All is well. Except her drenched backpack.
Camera cuts to her and she says she can't take much more excitement for the day.
Nearly two hours to go.
What might be tougher to endure: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt who are on Patti's team and are already snuggling.
Patti Blagojevich will appear live on a reality show tonight that's being filmed in Costa Rica.
But should the former first lady be here, in Illinois, assisting in her husband's criminal case?
"She has absolutely nothing to do with the trial," said Rod Blagojevich's lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky.
Sam Adam Jr. said Patti Blagojevich is doing what any woman should do when faced with an economic crisis in her family.
"That's what you have to do to feed your family," Adam said. Adam said Patti is doing the show to support her children. "Dignity is not in play," he added, because she's doing it to help her family. Both Patti Blagojevich and her husband are unemployed.
The show, "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," offered to pay Rod Blagojevich up to $123,000 for a month's work. Patti has likely struck a similar deal.
A new Web site promoting Patti Blagojevich JunglePatti.com has been launched, as the former first lady of Illinois prepares for her first live episode of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here," her PR firm just announced. The announcement comes hours before her husband's lawyers are to appear in court to discuss how they'll be paid to represent the ex-governor. Patti Blagojevich is appearing on the NBC program after a federal judge denied her husband's bid to do so. It is being filmed in Costa Rica.
Here's the intro written on her page:
Patti Blagojevich (pronounced Blah-go-yah-vich) is the wife of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Patti is a licensed real estate broker who owns her own real estate company. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in economics. She does not consider herself a celebrity. She is family woman who's a mother of two girls: 12-year-old Amy and 6-year-old Annie. After living politics with her husband for so many years, dodging snakes and other unsavory characters in the Costa Rican jungle may seem like a cakewalk. Votes for Patti mean money for charity! 'I'm a Celebrity...' premiers TONIGHT @ 8/7c!
America got a glimpse of former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich in Costa Rica on Thursday when she appeared on MSNBC to promote NBC's upcoming reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here."
Patti Blagojevich, daughter of a powerful alderman, wife of a onetime governor, has officially landed in the jungle.
From the Publicity Agency, which is handling Patti and Rod's PR:
PRNewsChannel) / Chicago, Ill. / Embracing her new role as reality show contestant, the former First Lady of Illinois is on her way to Costa Rica to compete in an NBC reality show.
Her email autoresponder now says: 'I will be out of the office and in the jungle until further notice.'
"Patti is going to compete because this is what a mom does for her kids and for her family," says Glenn Selig, founder of The Publicity Agency and spokesman for Patti and her husband Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor.
Patti accepted an offer from NBC to go to Costa Rica when a judge said the former governor who has been indicted could not travel out of the country, says Selig.
"On the show her strategy is to be herself. She's funny, witty and I think extremely likeable."
Based on the hit U.K. reality show, "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" is a groundbreaking live series event that premieres June 1 on NBC.
Celebrities of various backgrounds will be dropped into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle. They will face challenges designed to test their skills in adapting to the wilderness and to raise money for their favorite charities. It's the ultimate Swiss Family Robinson as participants face fun and comedic challenges designed to test their survival skills.
"Patti may be adventurous but at most she's only spent one night camping," says Selig. "She is a 'big city girl' and this will be challenging."
America is the puppet master, controlling their favorites by putting them into challenges and tasks to win food, supplies and luxury items by casting votes.
"Patti hopes the public votes to keep her in Costa Rica because the longer she stays the more money she raises for charity," says Selig.
In the most revealing interview she's given since her husband's Dec. 9 arrest, Patti Blagojevich told the Sun-Times her love for Rod Blagojevich has not wavered.
"Through thick and thin. You're married. You made a commitment to someone. I love my husband. He's a devoted husband, a great father. He's loyal, hardworking," Patti Blagojevich told the Sun-Times. "I don't see why these circumstances -- which were wholly beyond our control, rained down on us -- would affect our relationship."
As she prepared to appear as a contestant on a reality TV show, Patti said her chief concern is for her two daughters.
"The big challenge is keeping things as normal for them as possible" she said. "That's why I'm doing the show. We're going to try as hard as we can to keep them in the same school they've been in since they were toddlers, to keep that kind of stability in their lives. That's why I would consider anything like that."
Mrs. Blagojevich said fears that a lack of income will create instability for her kids. She said she's doing the show, in part, to help keep the family in the same Ravenswood Manor home as well as afford the $20,000 annual tuition it costs to put both her daughters in private school.
By DEANNA BELLANDI
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) ‹ Former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich is confident she
has the necessary experience to make it in a Costa Rican jungle where she¹ll
soon appear on a reality TV show.
³After being in, you know, Chicago and Illinois politics for this many
years, the jungle doesn¹t seem too scary,² Blagojevich said Friday during an
interview on Chicago¹s WVON radio.
Blagojevich is making the media rounds touting her upcoming stint on NBC¹s
³I¹m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here.² She¹ll appear on the show because
a federal judge barred her husband, ousted ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, from
going, saying he should stay home and concentrate on his defense in the
federal corruption case against him.
The former governor has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to
auction off the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama and
used the power of the governor¹s office to squeeze campaign contributions.
Both Blagojeviches are unemployed and Patti Blagojevich has said she
probably wouldn¹t have considered appearing on reality TV if it weren¹t for
her family¹s financial situation. She won¹t divulge how much she¹ll be paid.
The show airs June 1 and Patti Blagojevich is preparing for her trek to the
jungle.
She has gotten the necessary travel vaccinations and has attended yoga
classes inside a room heated to more than 100 degrees to help her acclimate
to Costa Rica¹s hot weather.
Blagojevich is allowed to bring one luxury item and she said she¹s thinking
about taking a pillow. The only other things she can pack are three changes
Patti Blagojevich went on the "Today Show" this morning to formally announce she'll be a contestant on "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here."
The show is expected to begin filming next month in the Costa Rican jungles.
While there was talk that contestants would have to drink out of a basin containing goat intestines and other disgusting acts, I'm told that's now changed.
NBC executives have assured her that she would not have to do anything too disgusting ... or degrading.
Said her supporting husband: "She's willing to go in the jungle for her kids."
This blog first reported Patti Blagojevich's intent on doing the reality show last week, read: Patti will do reality show
Not just another Wednesday for Mr. and Mrs. Blagojevich.
While Patti Blagojevich is flying out to Los Angeles today to finalize plans to be a contestant on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," Rod Blagojevich is meeting his book deadline, which is today.
The ex-governor's wife plans to film some promotions for the show and is expected to sign the contract while she's out west.
The prime-time NBC show will start filming in June in Costa Rica.
A lawyer who represents Rod Blagojevich and is close to the Blagojevich family just told me that it's looking like Patti Blagojevich will appear as a contestant on the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"
Sheldon Sorosky said the former Illinois first lady is expected to fly out to Los Angeles this week to sign a contract to do the show her husband was barred from doing because it's being filmed out of the country.
"It appears she's going to do it," Sorosky said when asked if Patti Blagojevich was really on board. "She'll go out mid-week to sign a contract."
His reaction? "I've always said the family should follow Judge Zagel's sage advice and prepare for trial," Sorosky said.
The Sun-Times reported Friday that plans were in the works for Patti Blagojevich to appear on the show in her husband's stead.
Zagel last month blocked the former governor from being a contestant on the NBC primetime show that starts filming in a few weeks in Costa Rica. Because of the federal charges against him, Rod Blagojevich needed approval to leave the country.
Patti Blagojevich has not been charged in the case, but her real estate dealings with convicted businessman Tony Rezko were referenced in her husband's indictment.
Patti Blagojevich's appearance could prove to be colorful. She was caught cussing on secret FBI wiretaps that were publicly released.
Today, we report that Patti Blagojevich may take her husband's spot on the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"
Patti is en route to Los Angeles to hash out the details with NBC executives.
But should a former first lady appear on a Survivor-styled television show when her husband faces criminal trial?
I'm told there have been ongoing discussions between the Blagojeviches and NBC about not making Patti do anything "disgusting."
Does that include eating insects?
Stay tuned.
Seeing Rod Blagojevich dropped into the Costa Rican jungle to film a reality TV show -- or, after a judge nixed the idea, seeing his wife do it?
NBC executives have asked Patti Blagojevich to act in her husband's stead and become a contestant on the reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"
But a defense lawyer, who did not want to be named, said the couple will heed their attorneys' warnings and not allow Patti to do the show.
The attorney said the two were told: "They both should follow Judge [James] Zagel's sage advice regarding Costa Rica."
Though the former first lady has surfaced in a federal indictment against her husband, she has not been charged. So there's nothing that bars her from traveling outside the country, unlike her husband. But those close to the couple say she wasn't too excited about the possibility of eating insects.
The Blagojeviches considered the idea to bring income into the family. Both Rod and Patti Blagojevich were fired from their jobs in January. The show would have paid a maximum of $123,000 for a month's work.
Sure they grew up together, played in a Serbian band together, and two weeks ago were indicted together, but enough is enough, Rod Blagojevich's brother, Robert seemed to say today.
His lawyer, Michael Ettinger, said he'll seek a separate trial for Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tennesse.
Ettinger acknowledged today that there was some friction between the Blagojevich brothers since elder brother, Robert, got charged with criminal wrongdoing April 2.
"There was some, but it's fine now," Ettinger said.
Ettinger added: "He entered a plea of not guilty. We're going to trial."
Asked if there's any chance of a plea deal: "Nope," Ettinger said.
Robert Blagojevich was charged in two wire fraud counts of the 19 counts in the indictment. He said after court that he was "prepared to cope with the charges and work through them."
The ex-governor faces 17 counts, ranging from racketeering to extortion to making false statements to the government.
There's varying opinions on why Patti Blagojevich wasn't among six people indicted Thursday despite a long-term federal investigation into her activities.
Sources say the probe into the former first lady continues.
Today could be the day that ex-governor Blagojevich is indicted on corruption charges.
An indictment is necessary for the case to move to trial. Here's a few things to know and expect.
1) Why might it happen today? There is an April 7 deadline on the indictment -- that's Tuesday. But the grand jury considering the matter meets on Thursdays. Today is the last Thursday before the deadline.
2) Others will be charged. But don't expect many new defendants. The 90-day deadline (which, by the way, was self-imposed by the government -- the feds could have asked for another extension) only pertains to the two people charged in a criminal complaint: Rod Blagojevich and his ex-chief of staff, John Harris. So even though there's many others in the government's sights, the clock isn't ticking on an indictment return. Other known targets of the grand jury include the governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich, who was the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund chief, former chief of staff Lon Monk and the governor's wife, Patti Blagojevich. Both the campaign fund and the governor's brother figured prominently in the criminal complaint.
3) Don't expect a news conference. Past practice in the U.S. Attorney's office dictates that a news conference isn't held when a defendant is indicted on already announced charges. Besides, the big presser already happened last December and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald took some heat for his forceful remarks.
4) It will drop like a thud. That is, the actual weight of the document. The criminal complaint was nearly 80 pages, it makes sense that the indictment will be about as long or longer. The indictment is likely to be a commentary on Blagojevich's tenure in office, which stretched over seven years before his forced removal in February. Sources say it is likely to go into schemes involving two of his now convicted advisers -- Tony Rezko and Chris Kelly -- then mirror much of the complaint, touching on allegations of pay to play, selling the Senate seat, and scheming to have members of the Tribune editorial board fired.
5) Tapes will be referenced. The probe into Blagojevich's administration goes back to 2003. But a new phase of the investigation started last October when ex-Blago friend John Wyma gave the feds the probable cause to go up on wires. They initially bugged the campaign offices and tapped Blagojevich's home phone. They were investigating pay to play allegations, then stumbled on talk of allegedly selling the Senate seat. That meant another round of taps were approved, including: Harris' cell phone, Robert Blagojevich's cell phone and Monk's cell phone. A video camera was also put up over the campaign offices to help identify people caught on the bugs.
6) Are any Senate candidates or their emissaries in trouble? Don't expect that question to be answered today. The indictment is expected to focus largely on the ex-governor's own conduct and that of his fund-raising operation.
Expect there to be some detail involving Blagojevich's alleged scheming to appoint Valerie Jarrett to the Senate seat and his discussions with her emissary, SEIU official Tom Balanoff (who is cooperating but not a target). There's not likely to be new revelations concerning discussions with representatives of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (Candidate 5 in the complaint).
7) Don't expect to see the ex-governor giving an impromptu availability in front of his house as he did the day he was removed from office. And don't expect him in court.
He's not required to appear in court until an arraignment date is set.
Besides, he and the family are in Disney World.
Tomorrow could be the day that a grand jury indictment will be returned against ex-governor Rod Blagojevich -- but if that happens, he won't be around to see it.
He took his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World in Florida.
I'm told he checked into a resort earlier today and is expected to be at one of the theme parks tomorrow if an indictment comes down.
The timing of an out-of-town escape was likely no accident.
Blagojevich knew an indictment was likely to be returned this week because the grand jury had an April 7 deadline (Tuesday) to return it.
The grand jury considering the matter meets on Thursdays. If he is indicted tomorrow, there's nothing that requires Blagojevich to be in town or show up in court immediately. That will be set up for a later date.
So Thursday, when camera people stake out his Ravenswood Manor residence and TV reporters set up their live shots -- they're likely to do it in front of a dark, empty home.
Sources gave the Sun-Times today a clue about the last-minute workings of a grand jury before it issues an indictment by an April 7th deadline.
As recently as last week, a grand jury probing corruption under ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich called witnesses who testified solely about Patti Blagojevich's real estate dealings.
It's no secret a federal grand jury is expected to return a formal indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
But it won't be today.
With an April 7 deadline looming, that leaves next week -- likely Thursday -- the day the grand jury considering evidence against Blagojevich and others meets.
Prosecutors could ask for an extension -- but I'm told that won't happen.
Sources say that prosecutors are calling witnesses back for the third and fourth time tying up small, final details.
And don't necessarily expect some big news conference the day the ex-governor is indicted. Typically, the government doesn't hold a second news conference when an indictment is returned on an already charged case. They already held one in December where U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the alleged conduct would make "Lincoln roll over in his grave."
Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Dec. 9 on charges that Blagojevich tried to sell President Obama's vacant Senate seat, on pay to play allegations and that Blagojevich sought to have Chicago Tribune editorial writers fired in return for the state helping structure a sale of Wrigley Field.
Blagojevich has maintained his innocence. Harris has been talking with prosecutors but has no formal deal.
The ex-governor's wife, Patti, and brother, Robert each figured prominently in the criminal complaint made public in December. But they were not charged.
Patti Blagojevich's lawyer tells the Sun-Times today he hopes the government uses discretion and considers the "family structure" while deciding whom to charge in its case targeting ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
