Chicago ? Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to racketeering and fraud charges Tuesday, defiantly embarking on a long journey to clear his name but facing serious money problems and without a team of lawyers in place.

“I’m glad this process has finally begun,” the impeached former governor told the media throng that spilled into the street in front of the courthouse after he and his brother, Robert, were arraigned on corruption charges.

“It’s the end of the beginning in one respect but it’s the beginning of another aspect” of the case, Blagojevich said. “That is the beginning of me being able to prove and clear my name and be vindicated of what are inaccurate allegations.”

Blagojevich, 52, is charged with scheming to sell President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat, attempting to extort campaign money from companies seeking state business and plotting to use the financial muscle of the governor’s office to pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers calling for his impeachment. The accusations led to his ouster as governor, but he repeated Tuesday what he has been saying for months — that he is not guilty.