Blagojevich, Elvis and Self Storage

Rob Blagojevich has a thing for the King, as this video from a Chicago block party in 2009 shows. But the mop-top ex-Illinois governor might have to do his rendition of Jailhouse Rock without one of his prized Elvis Presley possessions by his side. Blagojevich has gone more than a year without paying the bill for his seven self storage units at Boyer-Rosene Moving & Storage in Arlington Heights, Ill. Blagojevich’s possessions, including a life-sized statue of Elvis, are scheduled to be auctioned off on Aug. 14, the Chicago Tribune reported on Monday. The self storage units are the least of Blagojevich’s worries right now, as the more pressing matter is trying to avoid $6 million in fines and a sentence of up to 415 years in prison. Blagojevich is currently on trial on charges that he tried to sell President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat and allegations that he pressured people into campaign contributions. One of the allegations is that he demanded a $50,000 campaign contribution from the head of the Lincoln Park hospital. In an ironic twist, the hospital will benefit from the Blagojevich storage auction, as all proceeds are going to the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Paul Lombardo, CEO of Boyer-Rosene, said Blagojevich’s possessions will be auctioned off either one by one or all of it to one lucky bidder. Other than the Elvis statue, it’s unknown what else Blagojevich has stored. Lombardo said most of the stored items are boxes of files – professional and personal effects that the ex-governor would probably want back. So if you’re in the Arlington Heights area, it might be worth it to stop by. Aside from the Elvis fans and those looking to get their hands on what could become historical artifacts, storage auctions draw an interesting crowd. Who knows? Maybe Blagojevich will stop by to sing with the King. Doors open for the auction at 9 a.m.