Blagojevich's wife offered reality TV role

CHICAGO, May 19 (UPI) -- The wife of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may take part in a reality TV show to raise money to fight his corruption charges, a lawyer for the family said.

"It appears she's going to do it," lawyer Sheldon Sorosky said.

Patti Blagojevich lost her job after her husband's arrest in December and the couple needs money to pay for his legal defense, said Glenn Selig, her spokesman.

Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery in a Justice Department complaint that alleges, among other things, he tried to sell Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Patti Blagojevich was offered her husband's place in the show "I'm a celebrity ... Get me out of here" after a federal judge last month banned the impeached governor from traveling to Costa Rica for the filming, which begins June 1, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

The NBC show features minor celebrities in humiliating and repulsive acts, such as eating insects. Patti Blagojevich would join actors Stephen Baldwin and former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar.

Patti Blagojevich has not said how much she's been offered to appear in the show, though her husband was reportedly offered up to $123,000, the Sun-Times said.