"I'm real excited about getting started. I can't wait, and I don't view this as a grim duty as much as I do as an opportunity to get the truth out, clear my name, prove my innocence, show the people of Illinois I didn't let them down; I was an honest governor and that these federal prosecutors have abused their powers," Blagojevich said.
The former governor also says the government is wasting millions of dollars prosecuting him. He denies ever trying to selling President Obama's vacant Senate seat for his own gain.
The trial is set to begin Thursday.
