Prosecutors: Blagojevich not fulfilling bond terms

Overdue paperwork could land Rod Blagojevich in hot water with a judge after prosecutors complained that the former governor hasn't met conditions keeping him out of jail as he awaits sentencing on convictions including that he tried to sell President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.

Immediately after jurors at his retrial found Blagojevich guilty last month on 17 of 20 charges, Judge James Zagel told the broke politician to use his spacious home in Chicago and a condo in Washington, D.C., to secure his bond as a guarantee he would not flee.

But prosecutors alleged in a filing this week that Blagojevich has failed to turn in all the necessary documentation, which had included title reports, appraisals and mortgage statements. They asked Zagel to order Blagojevich to show up in court Friday to hand the papers over.

The 54-year-old and his attorneys, the filing went on, should be "admonished by the court regarding the consequences of violations of the defendant's conditions of release."

In a separate court document, prosecutors said they would be in court to formally present their motion on Friday.

Blagojevich spokesman Glenn Selig says the former governor will be in attendance Friday. However, Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment on the government's contention.

The motion itself doesn't call for the twice-elected governor to be jailed, but that is an option judges can and do employ if convicted felons don't fulfill the conditions of their bond.

"That could happen, but it's unlikely to come to that," said Michael Helfand, a Chicago attorney not linked to the case. "I suspect his attorneys will say this was a clerical or procedural error and clear this up."

No sentencing date for Blagojevich has been set. Most legal observers say Zagel is likely to send Blagojevich to prison for around ten years for his recent convictions and his sole conviction at his first trial last year of lying to the FBI.

But judges can factor in the degree of pre-sentencing cooperation in determining the length of a prison term, which would be all the more incentive for Blagojevich make sure his paperwork's in order, Helfand said.

After the guilty verdicts last month, prosecutors said they would not seek the forfeiture of Blagojevich's home in a leafy Chicago neighborhood and the Washington condo as part of the sanctions he faced.

It's still unclear whether the cash-strapped Blagojevich can hold on to his home, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. It was valued a few years ago at $700,000, but there have been liens on the property.

Blagojevich has described himself as broke, the last of his liquid funds going to pay his lawyers for his first trial. Since that trial ended with a hung jury, it is taxpayers who have footed his legal bill.