Judge Says Blagojevich Cannot Do a Reality Show

Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was denied the opportunity to appear on a reality TV show in Costa Rica by a federal judge on Tuesday. He was impeached for corruption and misconduct and was banned from holding office in Illinois. He is currently awaiting trial on several federal counts.

NBC approached Blagojevich to appear in its reality show, I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here. The show will be filmed in Costa Rica, and the Huffington Post reported that U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel felt Blagojevich should remain in the country to help his attorneys with a defense. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Zagel went on to say that the former governor does not seem to understand the gravity of the charges he faces, in part because Blagojevich hasn't seen all the evidence.

Blagojevich claims he made the decision to appear on the show to support his family: "I have to do it for my kids. I have to support my family," Blagojevich said, who is scheduled to receive a $21,000 advancement on a book deal.

The show could potentially earn him $123,000.

NBC offered to hire two court-selected security guards to remain with Blagojevich during filming. Despite the security and the fact that he would be leaving his wife and two children in Chicago, Zagel did "not have the confidence that things will not go astray if" he were to "modify bond conditions."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said there is a significant amount of evidence against Blagojevich, who faces 25 to 30 years in prison.