Have doubts about Fitzgerald? Read this

[lancdem]

http://www.billmon.org/

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine, a veteran investigative reporter, who in turn said he recently talked to one of his old editors, who covered Patrick Fitzgerald when he was an assistant U.S. attorney going after mob guys in New York. So my friend asked him what he thought of the guy.

This is from my friend's memory, but given that he's got 20+ years in the business, and I've known him longer than that, I trust his quotes:

"Fitzgerald is a prosecution machine," the old editor said. "When he wants somebody, he goes after them with whatever he's got. If he can't make the case he started with, he'll figure out what you did do and hit you with that. He's relentless, and he doesn't give a flying fuck about the press or the First Amendment. He'd throw us all in jail if it would help him make his case."

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. So how/why did Fitz get put on this if he won't play ball?

[wli]

3. AG recused himself, then deputy AG appointed Fitzgerald

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Yes, I understand that but why HIM if he's dangerous to this admin?

[lancdem]

11. The second in command, James Comey, is a longtime associate

of Fitzgerald's and knows he's a top-notch prosecutor. I give Comey credit for picking someone competent.

[Stephanie]

16. They're both out of Morgenthau's NY DA's office

Getting Ashcroft to recuse himself is what made this happen.

[Walt Starr]

7. Ashcroft recused himself and Comey, who is a longtime friend of Fitzgerald

appointed Fitzgerald to the position. Both Pete Fitzgerald and Dick Durbin said he'd be great for the job.

It was politically expedient to go forward with Fitzgerald because he appealed to everybody.

[MindPilot]

2. under ordinary circumstances, I would cringe at that

but I guess in this situation, it's good to have a guy like that on our side for a change.

[wtmusic]

10. I don't believe it

that "he doesn't give a flying fuck about the First Amendment", that is. Miller's jailing has nothing to do with A1, and everything to do with contempt of court.

I would have Fitzgerald defend me in an A1 case in a heartbeat.

[lancdem]

14. This comes from an editor

Hence, the First Amendment statement.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks for this, lancdem! Gives me much-needed

hope that something is indeed going to come of this! I'd love to see the whole stinkin' lot go directly to jail! Go get 'em, Fitzgerald!

[lancdem]

9. You're welcome

I've seen a number of other stories and statements that reinforce this. Illinois DUers like Walt Starr testify to his integrity, aggressiveness and competence; he took down the GOP in that state.

[kid a]

5. Why was Ken Starr all over the place? And Fitzgerald invisible? nt

[lancdem]

13. Because Ken Starr was a partisan whore

who wanted to force Clinton out of office through a PR campaign of leaks. The legality of what he was doing was secondary. Fitzgerald is conducting a grand jury investigation the proper way - in secret.

[Frances]

17. I am only guessing but I think Starr leaked because

he didn't have a real case. As I understand it, all the leaks from Starr's office were illegal. Starr was just trying to destroy Clinton and help the Republicans.

I think there have been no leaks from Fitzgerald because he is behaving in a professional way. I think he has a real case about an issue that is truly important (as opposed to lying about sex with a consenting adult of the opposite gender).

[Zen Democrat]

27. Starr leaked because he didn't have an indictable case ...

but he was working with the Vast RW Conspiracy to attempt to effect public opinion to support impeachment. It was such an evil enterprise.

[Walt Starr]

8. I've been holding back on this because Daley is a Democrat

I expect Fitzgerald's office to bring down Daley's Chicago machine, including Daley himself.

[lancdem]

15. If they're guilty

It doesn't matter if they're Dems or Repukes, in my book.

[Walt Starr]

18. I agree and have been watching the revelations about the Daley cronies

with relish.

[lancdem]

19. So is Fitzgerald doing the Plame and Daley investigations

at the same time?

[Walt Starr]

21. He's still U.S. Attorney for the Northern Illinois District

It's his office doing the investigation, under his direction.

And these guys are RELENTLESS. They are breaking up corruption that has been in place for decades in this city!

[frictionlessO]

23. That is why I'd just about kill to get Fizgerald or his immediate

subordinates, into Erie county NY. This place is rampantly corrupt on so many sides of the dial you almost dont know which way to turn. Locally speaking I think a lot of people will go more and more Libertarian as time goes on, especially Buffalo proper.

Seems just about all county and city officials have some dirt that they can't shake or if they don't they have to endure a smear campaign that rivals large Metroplexes or even State campaigns.

Send me a prosecutor in the mold of Fitzgerald and set my county free.

[ProudDad]

26. I wish I'd seen Daley's father

do the perp-walk. He was mondo-crooked.

His son is just following in dad's footsteps.

[ClassWarrior]

20. Thank you. Yes. A criminal is a criminal is a criminal.

NGU.

[Stephanie]

12. I love it!

Thanks! And, it's not a First Amendment issue. But anyway...

[Auntie Bush]

22. Fitzgerald is playing Monopoly with that gang of crooks...but he

disappeared the "Get Out of Jail" card and substituted it with 10 "Go Directly to Jail cards". That's the kind of game I approve.

[Tippy]

24. More about Patrick Fitzgerald

What's in a name? If it's Plame, a lot
A nearly two-year investigation, a reporter in jail, a presidential adviser under scrutiny - all this from the leak of a CIA operative's name.
By ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer
Published July 15, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WASHINGTON - It started as part of the political debate that divided the nation over whether President Bush distorted intelligence to justify going to war with Iraq.

It turned into an investigation into whether a government official broke the law by leaking a CIA operative's identity.

Now it has become a case about whether reporters can unequivocally protect their confidential sources.

The investigation into the outing of Valerie Plame as a CIA operative has put a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter behind bars and a hard-charging prosecutor under fire, and prompted demands that the president fire his top adviser for the leak.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT


< http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/15/Worldandnation/What_s_in_a_name_If_i.shtml >

[Tommymac]

25. Whole Thread is Great Reading! Recommended!

Thanks for the background on Fitzgerald. I was hoping he was this kind of a Prosecutor.

[dansolo]

30. Apparently he has no other political aspirations

One of the biggest reasons that he is so effective is that he isn't using his position as Prosecutor as a stepping stone to some other political office.

[ngGale]

28. Glad to read this about Fitzgerald ...

I was wondering. Two years and not a leak one, good going.

[AX10]

31. I know!

:kick:

[Tommymac]

29. Kick

:kick:

[Cha]

32. Kick!

:kick:

[Cha]

33. Wow! Who is this billmon?

He makes me laugh while giving me bad news. I love the way he writes..picked up a few choice adjectives for the Washington mafia.

Thanks for the link.