Judge OK's $78,473.80 for Blago lawyers fees

The judge presiding over former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption case has approved the release of $78,473.80 from his campaign fund to pay his lawyers and buy them office equipment.

Judge James B. Zagel issued the order Friday.

The fund held about $2.3 million when the case got under way. Prosecutors at that time wanted the money forfeited if the ousted governor were convicted of trying to sell or trade President Obama's Senate seat and other offenses.

But Zagel decided to let the lawyers use the money to meet expenses. If he hadn't the federal government probably would have had to come up with the money to put on Blagojevich's defense.