The plans for a reality show that former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been making were dismissed by a federal judge who refused to allow the politician to go to Costa Rica.

 

Judge James Zagel told Mr. Blagojevich that he can not go to Costa Rica to shoot NBC's summer series "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here."  This came after the former governor who tried to sell the Senate seat left vacant by President Barack Obama requested a loosening of the travel restriction previously imposed. 

 

Judge Zagel answered that he was not confident that things will not go “astray” if he allows the traveling restriction to be changed in order to permit Mr. Blagojevich to travel outside the United States. 

 

"I don't think this defendant fully understands and I don't think he could understand ... the position he finds himself in," the judge said Tuesday at a hearing.

 

Rod Blagojevich said he wanted to play in the reality show so that he could raise money for his defense. While leaving the courthouse after the hearing, Mr. Blagojevich said that he's "going to play a very big role, a significant role" in his defense.

 

The NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" is a program similar to "Survivor." The participants are place in the Costa Rican jungle where they are given difficult tasks which they must accomplish in order to avoid elimination.  

 

If convicted, Mr. Rod Blagojevich may face as many as 25 or 30 years behind bars.