President-elect Obama: Hands Off Patrick Fitzgerald

U.S. Attorney for Illinois' Northern District Should Stay Right Where He Is

 

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director  

 

Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney for Illinois' Northern District first achieved national prominence when he was appointed special prosecutor in the investigation of the so-called "outing" of CIA operative Valerie Plame.  Fitzgerald brought charges against White House insider Scooter Libby, but most would agree the call for the prosecution of Libby was driven by politics and Fitzgerald was simply doing the job he was given.

 

Fitzgerald, who was first appointed to his position in Illinois by then-U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (no relation), has done an outstanding job rooting out political corruption for nearly a decade, no matter in what Party he found it.

 

Fitzgerald's list of accomplishments regarding the fight against Illinois-style political corruption is lengthy.  Perhaps his biggest catch was former Governor George Ryan who now sits in a federal prison after being convicted of numerous charges related to the abuse of his office.

 

Indeed, the name Fitzgerald strikes fear into the hearts of Illinois politicians, including those in the vaunted Daley Machine and those who remain from the "Republican Combine".  However, such success has its drawbacks.  There are individuals who would like to see Fitzgerald disappear from the caverns of Illinois justice and the sooner, the better.

 

Now, I'm not talking about a criminal plot that would bring harm to the U.S. Attorney.  I'm referring to those who would like to see Fitzgerald go away because they have the most to lose if Fitzgerald pulls more criminal indictments out of his legal hat.  I'm sure Mayor Richard M. Daley would be included in this group who would like to see Fitzgerald take a nice long vacation from his prosecutorial duties.  Former Governor "Big Jim" Thompson probably wouldn't mind seeing Fitzgerald go on a Titanic-like cruise aboard a ship to nowhere and his crony, former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar's head would be sticking right out of Thompson's pocket, echoing the same sentiments.

 

Of course, there is the well-respected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan, who would like to be on Navy Pier waving a scarf in farewell to Fitzgerald and he would be joined by his vivacious daughter Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.  Can't you hear Speaker Madigan introducing Lisa?  "My daughter, my Attorney General, my daughter, my Governor..."  Oh well, you get the idea and for those of you who don't, Lisa Madigan has been one of the most outspoken critics of maligned Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  But you may not have heard Ms. Madigan was seeking Blagojevich's job and planned to run against him in 2010.  Does anyone else think Ms. Madigan should recuse herself from an investigation into the Blagojevich affair besides me?  "My daughter, my prosecutor, my daughter, my governor..."  But that's the incestuous nature of Illinois politics.

 

However, there is one man I haven't mentioned so far and this individual has the power to grant every one of the above the best present they could ever get for Christmas...the removal of Patrick Fitzgerald as the lead federal prosecutor in Illinois.

 

Of course, I'm talking about Barack Obama.  The rumblings have already began.  Did Fitzgerald say too much about Illinois corruption during his press conference when the case against Blagojevich was first revealed to the public?  Yes, I know, this criticism sounds very flimsy, but there are those who will grasp at any straw to get Fitzgerald removed, especially if it helps protect Obama, the media's darling.  This includes those in the Chicago press who have learned to benefit from the political shell game which defines Illinois politics.

 

There might be another route being planned out for Fitzgerald.  They might try to love him to death.  Obama may decide to give Fitzgerald a nice, juicy promotion.  Kick him upstairs, so to speak, where Fitzgerald can't do any harm.  Perhaps Obama might appoint Fitzgerald to be an assistant of yet to be confirmed Attorney General Eric Holder or something of the sort.  After all, one of Obama's closest buddies and real estate confidants Antoin "Tony" Rezko has already been snagged by the feds and Rezko is supposed to be singing like the Bird Man of Alcatraz's ... birds.

 

No, Mr. Obama, don't try it.  You frequently used the word transparency during your election run and that word would be applicable if Mr. Fitzgerald were suddenly needed elsewhere.  That's right, everyone would see through this ploy:  It would truly be transparent.

 

We need Patrick Fitzgerald right where he is, Mr. President-elect.  You are about to give the entire nation a lesson in Illinois-style politics.  And until a special investigator is needed to investigate you, Mr. Fitzgerald looks very good right where he is, thank you very much.

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Comments

[Charlie]

Good thoughts well stated. I am willing to have taxes raised a little to house a much larger number of the elected criminals in our state.