Ex-Blagojevich, Drew Peterson Spokesman Killed In Kabul Attack

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — A former spokesman for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as well as convicted murderer Drew Peterson and Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates, was killed in a terror attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday. Glenn Selig, 50, was one of four Americans killed in the attack when Taliban militants stormed the hotel in suicide vests. A total of 22 people died in the 13-hour siege at the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul.

Selig's Tampa, Florida-based company, The Publicity Agency, was hired to represent Blagojevich after he was arrested on corruption charges in 2008.

Ex-Bolingbrook Police Sgt. Drew Peterson, who has since been convicted in the murder of third wife Katleen Savio, also hired Selig as a publicist two months after fourth wife Stacy Peterson vanished in October 2007.

More recently, Selig served as spokesman for President Donald Trump's campaign adviser Rick Gates, according to CNN. Gates faces criminal charges in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 president election.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that Selig was a former WTVT-Ch. 13 reporter. He is survived by wife Charyn and two children, Drew and Josh, according to Congregation Mekor Shalom, the Tampa synagogue where Selig was president.

Zachary Wright, associate project manager for The Publicity Agency, said the firm received confirmation that Selig was killed in the attack.

"Glenn was a tireless professional, loyal friend and pillar of the community, but most importantly he was a loving husband and wonderful father," Wright said in a statement. "The loss for his family and friends cannot be measured nor conveyed strongly enough, but we thank everyone for the outpouring of support we have received. Moving forward we kindly request privacy and compassion as we process this terrible situation."

Wright said Selig was in Kabul "on a potential success story involving Afghanistan and its steps to battle extremism," adding, "The focus was highlighting the country’s new president and constructing a democracy forum event for Afghani women."

According to his bio on the Publicity Agency website, Selig was president and CEO of Selig Multimedia and "an award-winning former TV news anchor and investigative reporter who enjoyed a successful 20-year career in news before starting The Publicity Agency (TPA) in early 2007. Since then, Glenn and The Agency have been involved with some of the biggest crisis management PR cases in the U.S. and many notable, national publicity campaigns."

At least 22 people were killed in the Kabul attack. More than 150 were rescued or managed to escape, including 41 foreigners. Some hid in bathtubs or under mattresses.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert condemned the attack in a press briefing on Tuesday.

"The United States strongly condemns the attack on January 20th at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul," she said. "Violence like this has no place in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed and wish a speedy recovery to those who were wounded, including multiple U.S. citizens who were among the casualties."

Another Taliban attack on the Inter-Continental Hotel in June 2011 left at least 21 people dead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo of Glenn Selig provided to Patch by The Publicity Agency.