WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderSyverson calls on NBC to not allow Blagojevich on "Apprentice"

Syverson calls on NBC to not allow Blagojevich on "Apprentice"

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Senator Dave Syverson is publicly opposing the idea of allowing impeached former Governor Rod Blagojevich appear on NBC's "The Apprentice".

In a letter sent to the show's star, Donald Trump, Syverson says allowing Blagojevich on the show could taint the jury pool for his upcoming trial and send the wrong message to the public.

"To Hollywood, Rod Blagojevich might be a harmless joke, but to Illinoisans he's no laughing matter," Syverson said. "Putting him on The Apprentice gives him a national megaphone to not only influence potential jurors, but to defend his horrible record as governor that contributed to the economic and budgetary collapse Illinois faces today. Illinois lawmakers already told Blagoevich ‘You're fired,' he doesn't need to hear it again from Donald Trump."

Syverson is filing a Senate resolution urging NBC and Donald Trump to drop Blagojevich from the upcoming season of the show.

"There's a reason why the Illinois Senate voted unanimously to remove him from office," Syverson said. "From day one, he embraced a pattern of corruption that not only involved the sale of state influence and contracts to the highest bidder, but his reckless fiscal policies have driven Illinois to the point of bankruptcy. That's Rod Blagojevich's real record."