Posted on 12/12/2008 7:59:18 PM PST by shoptalk
As in the (Scooter) Libby case, his behavior is 'appalling.'
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's "conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," according to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. But Mr. Fitzgerald's statement would, at the very least, make well-regarded former Attorney General Robert Jackson flinch in his. Almost seven decades ago, Jackson admonished a meeting of U.S. attorneys that they should be dedicated "to the spirit of fair play and decency . . . . A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power . . . ."
In the Dec. 9 press conference regarding the federal corruption charges against Gov. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, Mr. Fitzgerald violated the ethical requirement of the Justice Department guidelines that prior to trial a "prosecutor shall refrain from making extrajudicial comments that pose a serious and imminent threat of heightening public condemnation of the accused." The prosecutor is permitted to "inform the public of the nature and extent" of the charges. In the vernacular of all of us who practice criminal law, that means the prosecutor may not go "beyond the four corners" -- the specific facts -- in the complaint or indictment. He may also provide any other public-record information, the status of the case, the names of investigators, and request assistance. But he is not permitted to make the kind of inflammatory statements Mr. Fitzgerald made during his media appearance.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Ms. Victoria Toensing, a former Justice Department official, is a lawyer in Washington.
Patrick Fitzgerald<-guilty of covering up for Barack Hussein Obama. Patrick Fitzgerald is a POS until he proves otherwise.
She’s one of the good “guys.” She is right about this, at least ethically, IMO (non lawyer that I am). It prejudices the public in a subjective way. Mentioning evidence is one thing, but this guy disturbs me. The Feds have too much power as it is. He acts self-righteous and it could hurt publuc opinion if Dems turn against him, which they very well may.
And I would add, a unquestionable Republican and no shrinking violet. When I watched the press conference, I too thought Fitzgerald went well beyond what was ethically prudent.
I don't think Fitzgerald is a Dem or a Repub. He, egotistically, puts himself "above" politics. His crusade against Scotter Libbey walked a tightrope of prosecutorial misconduct. Just because he has a Dummy in his sights now (and I think Hot Rod is guilty and crooked as a dog's hind leg) doesn't mean he acting entirely appropriately now.
Oops.
“And although I am a Republican, I am first an officer of the court. Thus, I take no joy in a prosecutor pursuing a Democratic politician by violating his ethical responsibility.”
I believe she has this bacjwards. He may have committed a violation of an EC (ethical consideration) in the course of pursuing a scoundrel; he didnt commit a violation BY pursuing one (unless he knew all along he was going to protect BHO no matter what he found.)
And yes, Victoria Toensing is right.
I agree. Don’t forget this Fitzgerald guy continued in his pursuit of Rove, Cheney, Libby, et.al. even though he knew full well none of them leaked Plame’s name. I don’t trust him.
As I recall it was Rudy Giuliani who set the example of this sort of grand standing on the part of a politically ambitious federal prosecutor.
Yeah, the Fitz led everybody to believe that he was bearing down on the leaker who blew Plame’s cover (which didn’t apply in her case anyway) and ended up charging Scooter with lying when he twisted him in knots. He sure took his time jerking everybody around.
Yup, the Fitz is a true peiece of s$it.
I wish Victoria’s hubby Joseph Di Genova was the U.S. Attorney on this case. Joe had been US attny in Manhattan doing mob cases. My guess is Blago and Rezko would be racing to Joe to cut a deal to rat out Rahm, Jesse Jr. and the Messiah.
I think Fitzgerald did all that bizarre grandstanding to distract people from wondering why he pulled out of a surveillance that was going to capture (on tape) the commission of a crime in a matter of a few days. Certainly Jesse Jr. was about to buy the seat.
As it is now, there is no crime to be prosecuted that I can see. I realize Fitzgerald would probably prosecute me for just saying what I’m saying here and there are star chamber judges who would find me guilty of SOMEthing.... But I’m talking about a real crime, something Blago could be found guilty of. Right now, what did he do? Called Obama a MFer—that’s a crime?
Somebody should be asking Fitzgerald why he pulled up so short on this case—whose butt is he covering?
Mr. Fitzgerald thinks too highly of himself....IMO.
...And after it was all over, he sent Libby to the house for something that wasn't really material to the investigation. I hope he pursues Blagojechjkhgd'(however the hell you spell it) with equal vigor.
I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall that Ms. Toensing used to post right here on FR, I don’t recall her screen name however, perhaps someone else could enlighten us?
But someone had tipped JJJ off remember. He knew at least the day before the arrest. IMO either JJJ or Blank-O are being covered for being the snitch. Patty Blank-O-Witch is too close to Rezco not to have been called in before the grand jury....or be a target of the GJ...She was the real estate agent that "arranged" the purchases of both of the Obama homes, through Rezco and the Broadway Bank.....She's the missing link that's not missing much. Michelle Robinson Obama babysat for jjj when he was little and may in fact be a distant relative of Jesse (Robinson) Jackson. JJJ or JJ are NOT going to give Friz any information on Family.
I do not think anyone can deny that Blag was accused, tried and convicted (via the MSM) during Fitzgerald’s presser that day. All by 0bomination design...
Mr. Fitzgerald spent Millions of dollars in taxpayer money to get one perjury conviction ,he did not prosecute anyone for “outing” Plame. He made a scapegoat out of Scooter Libby. Pretty expensive perjury charge IMO.
Now he has arrested the Governor of Illinois,before that Governor could sell the job of State Senator.
If he had waited until the deal was consumated he would not only have proof of wrongdoing, but he could have prosecuted whomsoever bought the job. That might have proven ticklish for obvious reasons. Right now all he has is a phone conversation with bad language. Intent to sell is not a criminal act as far as I know. I believe Fitzgerald has made a mess of this as he made a mess of the Plame investigation. He acted too soon and unwisely. Perhaps that is what he was told to do.
Isn’t Fitz also heading the Acorn investigation???
But someone had tipped JJJ off remember. He knew at least the day before the arrest. IMO either JJJ or Blank-O are being covered for being the snitch. Patty Blank-O-Witch is too close to Rezco not to have been called in before the grand jury....or be a target of the GJ...She was the real estate agent that “arranged” the purchases of both of the Obama homes, through Rezco and the Broadway Bank.....She’s the missing link that’s not missing much. Michelle Robinson Obama babysat for jjj when he was little and may in fact be a distant relative of Jesse (Robinson) Jackson. JJJ or JJ are NOT going to give Friz any information on Family.
She’s sort of a goodie-goodie, that’s my impression. That garbage Axelrod is spewing about Odumbo never wanting her in the Senate, forget that. You have to figure Odumbo probably didn’t want JJ Sr. all warped out again so he pulled Valerie out of it. Then, JJJ was the high bidder.
Fitzgerald basically saved Junior’s ass but like you say maybe that is just a side-effect of what he was really doing. He could have walked the dog into an indictment of JJJ easily by just leaving the taps on another week or two—even BEFORE Odumbo coulda pulled him off the case in January. Instead, he pulls the plug and tells JJJ it’s all cool. I don’t know. That sounds like the felony to me—Fitzgerald.
Anyway, there’s stuff missing. With something like this is can be just one little simple fact that, once you have it, everything makes perfect sense. Maybe it is a connection between Michelle and Junior that just gave the Odumbo’s a reason to want to spare him. Or, like you say, the wild wife of the gov might be a key. Supposedly, Rezko is still singing so...
Make that multiple kicks, after how he handled the Plame Affair.
Obama must have decided to leave Fitz out in the cold, which is why he went to the presser.
They probably don't have enough prison cells in America to hold every politician in Illinois guilty of that.
Asking the Illinois Supreme Court to remove a governor who hasn't been convicted of anything is quite a hoot.
I like her and her husband---whose name went bye-bye..
We are all assuming that things are as they seem to be. That JJ didn’t know the mike was open when he made the comments re: BO. That the Gov and his wife were really trying to sell the seat. etc.
Now here’s one for you:
What if the Gov and his wife had already made an agreement with Fitz, part of that being the charade played out this week, when in reality the real dance is just being choreographed.
The Gov and/or his wife are just now being wired/taped etc to catch an even bigger fish.
As I said earlier, they know too much and have too close a connection to Rezco not to have been contacted and questioned before this time.
Yes it is.
I don’t think the Gov has cooperated yet (he wouldn’t have dragged his wife into it if it was all sting), but he will to avoid serious jail time.
The reason the FBI made the arrest before the deal was closed is because the the press reported the existence of wiretaps. By then, the governor wasn’t going through with a pay to play deal after reading that in papers so Fitzgerald popped him on the conspiracy charges.
I have to admit, I like Fitzgerald. The best part about this case is that there is no way Obama can fire him now.
Did Mizz Toensing criticize Fitzgerald when he proceeded to investigate Plamegate even though he knew who revealed her name before he started? Even though a ten minute phone call to the CIA would have revealed to him that she was not a covert agent under the law?
Thankfully Patrick Fitzgerald is on the case. Let’s see what we find. Fitz is a great Prosecutor. To claim any negative on this Legal Beagle is just pure ignorance.
I just can’t see that Patty had not been questioned or testified yet by the Grand Jury.....She was just too publicly involved with Rezco and the Obamas. (Her real estate business went from six figures to zero when Rezco was indicted. She did business exclusively for him, almost a partner. She also arranged the purchases of both of the Obama’s houses through the Broadway Bank/Giannoulias Famiy. Rezco was basically a runner for the bank/family.
One blogger suggested that the family did favors. (Arranged houses for later pay...and that the first house, which the Obamas couldn’t afford either was called in when BO endorsed and got Alex Giannoulias elected for State Treasurer.
Again the Blank-O would know all the details. Fritz is not JUST NOW talking with them.
I agree and ditto to Victoria Toensing.
His behavior as a US attorney in that presser was very unseemly, blatantly unprofessional, and contrary to what his position requires.
Just the facts, Fitzie ... that’s your job to describe, not your histrionics and emotional outburts.
Credible and respected US attorneys, are expected to be the pinnacles of professionalism and integrity.
Though he’s known as a relentness prosecutor, and he’s shown he is a bulldog, I’ve long wondered, since his behavior during Scooter Libby’s trial, if he was just a little too dramatic and overreaching and too tunnel-visioned in his methods, statements and decisions.
Inserting himself personally so cavalierly into this highly charged legal matter leads me to believe even more that he is very professionally flawed.
It’s like he bores into the scenario in his mind and works only that possibility, in addition to his inappropriate descriptives.
I also think his quirky mindset causes him to ignore other possible factual scenarios and defendants because they don’t conform to his preconceived notions.
I wonder how he could so blithely state that BHO was not involved, what with the Rezko house deal and the fact that Rezko is the close associate and long time funder of both BHO and Blago. They’re in the same machine network.
If he’s mentally eliminated BHO from investigation because it doesn’t fit in with his imagined scenario or he views him as untouchable due to his election elevation, he’s not doing his job and he’s an accessory to injustice.
I fear he’s going to gloss over the depth and breadth of the crimes here.
And if he is so misguided as to be doing this to protect a possible president-elect, as if that would be too disruptive, God help him. Nothing could be more disruptive and revolting than to give ANYone who’s possibly implicated in any way a pass.
I think he’s become destructively infatuated with his own press.
She is absolutely correct. Perhaps Fitz wants to poison the jury pool.
Precisely. That scumbag knew from (near) the start that it was Richard Armitage who leaked Plame's name to Novak. That said, Libby should be in jail for stupidity, and Bush should be held up as a coward for not stepping up right away and saying, "Yeah, Plame works for the CIA and it was she, along with her husband and other cronies at CIA and the State Department, who schemed up a rogue mission to try to help the Democrats in the next election. Any questions?"
Purhaps it is all a part of the charade....Things are not as they seem. He can SAY anything he wants...Obama is not a target....Bad mouth the Gov....It may all be smoke and mirrors....Flushing out the covey....or choreographing the sting.
Why talk to JJJ the day before? Even the two hour conference call when looked at from a set up angle could have been a...a...a...set up.
No, she said “by violating his ethical responsibility.”
Conspiracy IS a crime.
I saw something today — a directive or something — I’m sorry that I just scanned it in a second. But it was some DOJ regulation that made him back off before the election. IOW, he had to.
I have only heard it mentioned a few times and it is driving me nuts about the 3 weeks of missing tapes. I can't figure out why the press is not jumping all over this.
I think Fitz is deliberately protected obongo and i don’t trust the sob, i hope he proves me wrong. i dont think he wants the truth. ditch him, special prosecuter. i think blagos wife will sing like a bird. she will take them all down
I can’t say that I trust him either. I sure hope this is at a point where she has no choice but to talk. You would sure think she could turn things upside down for a lot of the crooks there.
I was having drinks with three of my friends from law school this evening. All three went to work as prosecutors in various state and local jurisdictions in DFW/North Texas. Of course, that is small potatoes compared to Fitz's role, but nevertheless, they all agreed (even the one Democrat of the group) that Fitz's actions thus far only indicated one thing: He is hunting for larger game. By holding back the released tapes he puts everyone associated with the scandal on Team Obambi's side on notice that they have a freight train coming towards them and they can choose to jump off the tracks or die covering for someone else ... their choice.
If Fitz was in on this:
I agree completely with the fact that Obama looked like a fool in the press conferences and he is squirming big time. I have to admit I have taken some pleasure (OK a lot) in watching the tough guy, Rahm become totally unhinged. What I don’t get are the missing weeks of tapes. That’s one thing that jumped out at me when this all started, now no one is talking about it. You would think that would be a big talking point.
In my opinion, the content of those tapes is much more explosive than what we have seen thus far. By disclosing that there is quite a bit of unheard evidence sitting in Fitz's office, those that were involved will have the choice to either rush to Fitz and spill the beans, or sit back while one of the others races in instead. Basically, it is either roll over or be rolled over.
It is astounding how quickly the Dems have turned on Blago... Last night, Bob Beckel was taking the most recent tack that Blago is nuts. It could be they are afraid he wil impllcate Obama or his team in some way, and therefore are trashing him beforehand. They are going overboard, IMO, for what the guy is charged with. Trying to get money and/or power in a supposedly crooked way is not nuts. Thinking he could be HHS Sec is not nuts. I am first a skeptic that Obama was directly involved, but the way these Dems are acting makes me wonder.
I think you can absolutely count on it. There is something wrong...something warped...about this guy.
He knew within one week who gave out Plame's name, but he spent over two years and millions of dollars trying to "get" someone else. This tells us quite a bit.
Debbie Schlussel (sic) had something- she said an unnamed source told her that. I dont know about her sources. It would not surprise me, as if there is a good case, it is the belief of the Feds that it is important for the public to feel justice is being served.
Fitzgerald IS protecting Obama and his minions.
I agree. Up until now I’ve been nervous that Fitz was trying to protect Obama, but I concur Obama and Emanuel would not have behaved as they did if they knew Fitz was going to cover for them. Instead of relying on media accounts and blogosphere accounts, I actually read the transcript of Fitz’s press conference today and saw that his statements about Obama were not only carefully circumscribed, but also that 2 of the 3 statements came in response to questions.
Therefore, I’m not sure I buy the oft-repeated claim that Fitz is savvy enough not to act against the interests of his “boss.” Plamegate is living proof that Fitz doesn’t subscribe to that line of thinking. I think he’s overzealous and self-righteous and it would be ironic, indeed, if his inflammatory remarks culminated in a mistrial or reverse-on-appeal for Blago. So it’s fine by me if he’s after Emanuel, Axelrod and Obama: I just hope he doesn’t screw it up by grandstanding.
“It is astounding how quickly the Dems have turned on Blago... Last night, Bob Beckel was taking the most recent tack that Blago is nuts. It could be they are afraid he wil impllcate Obama or his team in some way, and therefore are trashing him beforehand.”
It is astounding too, that the dems think people are stupid enough to believe their ‘talking points’. The mime now is that Blago is crazy. The day it came out, the mime was that Obama is not involved because Blago says in the indictment that he would get nothing but ‘appreciation’. When JJJ was outed as Candidate #5, the mime was Blago is a liar and a psychopath, so we should not believe what he says on the tapes.
So..we are to believe a lying, crazy psychopath in his exculpatory utterances about Obama so far, and not believe a crazy lying psychopath when he implicates JJJ or Rahm Emanuel or other high ranking dems.
(cue eye roll)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.