Chicago billboards use Blagojevich's face

CHICAGO, May 3 (UPI) -- A Chicago radio station is using the face of jailed former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in its billboard advertisements.

The Clear Channel billboards advertising the WKQX-FM news station feature the former governor's signature big hair and face with a caption reading, "He never listens," Crain's Chicago Business reported Thursday.

"We wanted to have something that we thought would be fun and get people's attention," said John Gehron, a spokesman for radio company Merlin Media LLC, which is run by former Tribune Co. Chief Executive Officer Randy Michaels.

Sheldon Sorosky, a lawyer representing Blagojevich, who is serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges, said Merlin Media should have sought his client's permission before putting his face on their billboards.

"I don't think they got Rod Blagojevich's consent to do this," Sorosky said. "The question is what do we do -- we haven't made any decision yet, but it clearly seems to be a violation of the law."