Really, now. Can we trust Fitzgerald?

[Writer]

Bush appointed this man to investigate this leak. He's been hush-hush, but for some reason, no gag order has been placed on the lawyers surrounding the case, so public opinion still is shaped.

Who is to say that this is not a show that merely appears serious? To make sure, much like Dan Rather was stuffed, that true information bears false weight because of an unsuccessful investigation?

Why is it that we trust Fitzgerald?

I want to trust him. Convince me why.

[LittleClarkie]

1. I'd like to know who recommended him to Bush

first.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. Was Not Appointed By Shrub

Shrub appointed Ashcroft, who recused himself, and then he was recommended by another person named Fitzgerald, who I believe is a repub in some government capacity. I believe he was appointed by someone other than Shrub though.

[LittleClarkie]

11. So somebody outside the circle

That makes sense. I don't think Mr. Fitzgerald is one of the good old boys. He wouldn't have let things get this far if he was.

I bet Bush WISHES he had appointed the special prosecutor. He has no control over this guy, it appears.

[roguevalley]

14. he's an apolitical, jesuit school raised bull dog who will follow this

trail wherever it goes to whomever it leads. he's the bomb.

[formernaderite]

32. oh great...the end justifies the means crowd

if we're talking jesuits. I am not counting on any of this to go anywhere.

[Kurovski]

15. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (a man who is clean as a whistle).

'Now, as then, the U.S. attorney's job has the gloss of patronage. The late Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley used to say the U.S. attorney in Chicago is one of the three most important people in the state, and Peter Fitzgerald said he wanted "someone who couldn't be influenced either to prosecute someone unfairly or protect someone from being prosecuted unjustly." '

The former Senator (who chose not to run again) was replaced by none other than Senator Barack Obama. Here's a nice article on dear and fearless Patrick:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55560-2005Feb1?language=printer

[The Magistrate]

19. Indeed, Sir

Though the former Senator is definitely on the other side, and a rightist to his core, he struck me through his service in the Senate as an honorable man. It would be a pleasure to confront an opposition of his character.

[Kurovski]

20. It would once and for all be morning in America, to be certain.

*sigh*

[longship]

24. He was appointed by the Deputy Atty Genl

nt

[feistydem]

7. If memory serves me, Ashcoft recused himself and Fitzgerald was appointed

by the guy under Ashcroft (I forget his name--but he has since quit)

on edit, someone else pointed out his name is Comey.

In any case, Fitzgerald was not a direct WH 'pick'

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. Shrub's Ratings Are In The Toilet....

This mess in Iraq is not getting any better, and the public knows it. I'm beginning to actually think the opportunity is right to bring this whole administration down, and Fitzgerald has the ability to make himself into the lead prosecutor of the first monumental court case of the 21st century. Hopefully he realizes this is his Watergate.....his moment.....and guarantee his spot in history for exposing what took place in '02-'03.

[Kagemusha]

3. Deleted - better answers by other people below

particularly re: lawyers and gag orders. It sounds like.. when the lawyers are asking for anonymity citing grand jury secrecy rules, they are engaging in selective use of the truth... Fitz can ask people all he wants not to talk about it like this but, that's not "grand jury secrecy rules" and has no legal force.

[Zen Democrat]

4. He was appointed by James Comey, Dep. Attorney General --

after Ashcroft recused himself. And Comey? He's no longer Dep. Attorney General. Wonder why?

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

6. What Happened To Comey?

What were the circumstances of his leaving that post? Was he fired? Did it happen soon after this appointment? Who had a say in whatever took place?

[Kagemusha]

10. His would-be replacement withdrew his nomination under fire.

Because he was possibly connected to Jack Abramoff's stuff with Tyco where the guy had been working as an attorney.

That's all I can remember for 100% certain that's helpful. (I'm otherwise going to confuse Comey's career data with Fitzgerald's. Ick.)

[whalerider55]

8. well...

bush had to appoint this guy.

he has a reputation that preceeds him- he pursues the truth aggressively and isn't afraid of anyone.

no gag orders are placed on the attorneys and those who have testified; witnesses are perfectly free to share their testimony with nanyone after they testify (see Matt Cooper). These defense lawyers only leak what serves their clients (spin)- and sometimes serving their clients means pointing at the other guy as the one the Spec Prosecutor is after.

He played Miller like a charm. If this guy doens't indict, then I actually believe no indictable crimes were committed.

the key players Rove, Libby, Cheney- have all disappeared from the radar screens- the great stgorm is coming.

you can choose to truast him or not. sometimes, you have to watch what is going on in the environment, what is happening outside of the circle, to best understand what is happening at the center.

there are ripples on still water here.

whalerider

[longship]

25. I heard the other day.

That there's no gag order on the lawyers or witnesses. The gag order is on the jury and inner workings. Hell, witnesses giving testimony aren't even allowed counsel while testifying. But there's no gag on them after they leave chambers. I heard that this is typical.

[enid602]

9. Fitz

Fitz was appointed by his former boss, who Bush recently replaced with someone else. Many thought that Bush was trying to derail Fitz by replacing his boss. At any rate, I do not think that Fitz was asked by Bush to look into these matters, but I could be wrong. Fitz was instrumental in bringing down Gotti, the Giambino family, the blind Egyptian, etc., and is currently going after the William Daley administration in Chicago. He has a reputation for getting to the bottom of things.

[tuvor]

12. My feeling is that if he's untrustworthy...

...we'd have heard about it by now. After all, it's been two years, and there are too many DUers who don't exactly take what they're offered too easily.

[autorank]

13. Well, when I asked that some time back, an IL DUer pointed out...

"Well, he destroyed the Republican Party in Illinois." Not a bad days work.

He snuck in under the radar. He's there for a reason, no :tinfoilhat: stuff. Selected by "people who care" with the full knowledge that he'd do what he always does. To wit, the story of the Scorpion and the Ox crossing the river. "It's his nature."

"Trust but verify" ... we'll see with the indictments.

[longship]

16. Fitzgerald was appointed by the Deputy Attorney General.

Under Asscruft, who recused himself. Fitzgerald is well-known as being a Republican who is apolitical when it comes to his work. His reputation is that of a pit bull, not letting go once he sinks his teeth into somebody.

Trust him.

[windbreeze]

17. So is Fitz Republican...or is he Independent?

I have heard both on DU...that he is R...and that no he isn't, he's an Independent...and a pit bull, when he investigates something...but but for some reason, I really really hope he's an Independent..
windbreeze

[longship]

23. Fitz is a Republican

His reputation is that he is politically a Republican, but in his work he is apolitical. He has a very good reputation and seems to be beyond corruption and tenacious as Hell.

[Carla in Ca]

22. This is a prosecutor with quite a resume. Wow

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Fitzgerald>

[Gyre]

18. "Really, now." Do we have any choice?

He's our only shot other than waiting for them to implode.

Gyre

[DrDoubleplusgood]

21. I hear ya

My first couple posts in DU were about the very same apprehension(that this is all a setup to make us think there still checks, balnces, and a little rule of law). I doubt there will be indictments. Or, if they really are close, perhaps Fitz and a couple otehr key figures will have themselves a nice little accident.

Fitz, if you're serious about the investigation and you're reading this-stay off small private planes. Stay alive, dude.

The Junta does certainly seem to be teflon, I'll believe otherwise when I SEE otherwise.

[longship]

26. Wait a minute.

I doubt there will be indictments.

Why would a prosecutor with a sparkling resume consume two years of investigation and not hand down indictments?

Have you read none of the other posts in this thread? Have you not seen the news the past month? The West Wing is terrified of this case, and of this prosecutor.

And if he suddenly turns up dead, there will be another prosecutor investigating that. And murder for hire is a bit more serious than perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy, which will be the bulk of the charges in this case.

So take the tin foil hat off, calm down a bit and consider not what conceivably might happen, but what is likely to happen. That, kind sir, is that these guys are going to be indicted for felonies and the Chimp regime is going to implode because of it. They blew their wad. They are fini.

[DrDoubleplusgood]

27. I'm just tired of waiting

For months we keep hearing that indictments are imminent but they don't happen. So, either the optimists are right and Fitz is being damn thorough, or he is in on a game to make us think there is still a little rule of law in this country. He could waste two years if he's getting paid right. If someone would have told me 5 years ago about everything that was going to go down, I would have told them to take off the tinfoil hat, too. I think I'll just abandon the Plame subject now until something really happens either way. Being a new fish here, it was dumb of me to presume to rain on the prade.

[longship]

28. BTW, Welcome to DU!!

And don't worry about your post. We all get frustrated around here sometimes. Between the lunatic Repugs and the spineless fool Dems, it's enough to piss off the pope. And enough to drive any sane man crazy.

[jaded_at_best]

29. No one will be indicted

Fitzgerald is no Ronnie Earle.

And if it happens, Bush will pardon these antichrists. No one will go to jail, no one will lose their jobs.

[JNelson6563]

30. He has my vote of confidence

I like that he's running a tight, leak-free operation. :toast:

[MaineDem]

31. Joe Wilson said he trusts him

That's good enough for me.

33. here is my current round-up of Fitzgerald

He has prosecuted the mob and Chicago Mayor Daley's cronyism. He must insulate himself from political pressures.

I think that with Judy Miller giving more information, there is a bit of a new flow of information and so he will have to follow it again and this process will go on for a while longer.




FBI indicts 14 reputed mob figures
FBI agents were always sure that 18 unsolved murders, some dating back more than three decades, were ordered by some of the top men in the Chicago mob. But they were never able to arrest anyone for the crimes — until now.

Patrick Fitzgerald announces the arrests of reputed mob members and associates on charges of plotting at least 18 murders. "The mob takes a hit today," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald told reporters in announcing the charges.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-04-25-fbi-mob_...


CIA leak prosecutor takes on Chicago machine

Fitzgerald leads investigation into Daley's political empire CHICAGO - He sent members of New York’s Gambino crime family to the federal pen and he jailed terrorists who planned to strike America with a wave of bombings. Now Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the federal prosecutor who heads Washington’s CIA leak investigation, is also taking on City Hall. The 45-year-old New Yorker who is chief federal prosecutor in
Chicago is digging deep into Mayor Richard M. Daley’s political empire.


Chicago officials aren’t the only ones concerned about Fitzgerald’s zeal. New York Times reporter Judith Miller has been jailed since July 6 for refusing to testify in his investigation of who leaked
the fact that Valerie Plame was an undercover CIA officer. Miller said she was keeping her promise of confidentiality to her source. But Fitzgerald said not even the attorney general or director of central intelligence could make such a vow. “I would love to tell someone, ’Come in, and tell me what you know. I will never betray who you are to anyone,”’ Fitzgerald said. “I would love to say that in the hunt for bin Laden.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8852202 /