Not so fast, Blago

Feds to raise concerns about ex-governor’s ‘Apprentice’ stint

Will Rod Blagojevich and Donald Trump go head-to-head in a boardroom after all?

Federal prosecutors Monday are expected to be in court to raise concerns over Blagojevich's slotted "Celebrity Apprentice" appearance.

Though the show's taping gets under way this month, it's expected to air in March, just months before a jury would be seated in the former governor's June criminal trial, sources said.

Blagojevich, who is being paid to be a contestant on Trump's NBC show, was in New York this week to film promotions for the reality series. Taping for the show was to begin Sunday.

A hearing was initially scheduled in federal court Friday, but it was moved to Monday.

Since his December arrest, Blagojevich has embarked on a media blitz. So why the concern about pre-trial publicity now?

"Celebrity Apprentice" doesn't air until next spring, so prosecutors are likely to complain the jury pool could be tainted, sources said.

But defense attorneys have long complained about remarks by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald the day of Blagojevich's arrest in which he said Blagojevich had Abraham Lincoln rolling over in his grave and that he had taken the state "to a new low."

The latest matter will be before U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who denied Blagojevich's bid to travel to Costa Rica earlier this year to film a different reality TV show.

Contributing: Mitch Dudek