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Truthdigger of the Week:  Patrick J. Fitzgerald

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Posted on Mar 10, 2007
fitzgerald
answers.com

Truthdig tips its hat this week to Patrick J. Fitzgerald, whose talent for tackling high-stakes court cases without flinching or yielding to partisan pressures made him the ideal prosecutor for the I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby trial.  Fitzgerald’s work in clinching Tuesday’s guilty verdict boosted his already stellar reputation, well established in his current hometown of Chicago as well as in international legal circles, into the realm of the legendary.  More important, though, the Libby verdict sent a strong message to the media about the catastrophic costs of getting too cozy with the government they are supposed to scrutinize and may have marked the end of an era of media manipulation at the hands of a secretive and self-serving administration.

Fitzgerald’s creative and aggressive tactics in this convoluted case didn’t win him many friends at The New York Times or within President Bush’s camp.  In his determination to identify the “two senior administration officials” who revealed the identity of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak in 2003, Fitzgerald challenged a sacred covenant of journalism by asking reporters to reveal their sources.  In following the crumb trail of evidence to Scooter Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, he threatened the inner sanctum of the Bush regime, although Libby’s turn as fall guy in this case kept the heat off Cheney, Karl Rove and Richard Armitage—all of whom Plame names in a civil suit she has filed.

The player who kicked off the chain of events that ended with Libby’s conviction should feel that his First Amendment rights were preserved by the outcome.  Former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, Plame’s husband, who believes that his public questioning of the Bush administration’s reasons for invading Iraq led to his wife’s outing, refused to be intimidated by either the culture of media silence about the Iraq war in 2003 or the not-so-subtle hint to keep quiet represented by the Plame disclosure.  Having Fitzgerald on this case ensured that abuses of power didn’t go unchecked and that those who perform the vital democratic function of keeping a critical eye on the government (even when some members of the media falter) will be protected, not punished, for speaking out.

More links:

Click here for a detailed profile about Fitzgerald, from his New York working-class roots to his big wins in international terrorism cases to his current position as a real “untouchable” in Chicago’s U.S. attorney’s office.

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Click here for details about Tuesday’s Libby verdict.

Or, look here for former federal prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega’s 2005 article in The Nation, in which the author takes the media to task for its complicity and the Bush administration for its “deliberate distortion of intelligence” before the Iraq invasion.


Elsewhere: .

Comments

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By StoBarriatryNow, June 21, 2007 at 3:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Nifong has bit the dust for his Political Agenda-based prosecution/persecution. FatzPatrick is next. Libby’s only “Crime” is to be a WMD expert, which is what he is really being prosecuted/persecuted for.

Mark well, Ronnie Earle, that you too are on the same list, as Nifong and FitzPatrick, for being one of America’s Worst Political Agenda-based Prosecuters/persecutors.

May the whhole mess of you be sent to Prison for the rest of your lives with worthy cellmates, commiters of the most depraved sex crimes.

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By Gary K, March 14, 2007 at 12:51 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Because Fitz has a well deserved reputation of playing his cards close to his vest it is likely that he still considers Cheney and Rove to be “persons of interest”. He’s just waiting for the most opportune moment to spring the trap. My advice to both Both Cheney and Rove would be to be very, very careful. I doubt that they will, though, considering their extreme arrogance.

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By charles bass, March 13, 2007 at 11:19 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I was asking the very same thing the other da, where the hell are the contemporary Archibald Cox and Kunstlers oftoday?  Viola. Patrick Fitzgerald. Thank God.

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By Kol Klink, March 12, 2007 at 7:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

The following link from Salon.com sheds some new light on the trial of Libby and the reasons that Rove was not indicted and Cheney called as a witness in the defense of Libby.

This snowball is gathering size and momentum as it rolls downhill.

Cheney knows what is going on, Rove knows what is going on, Bush, as usual, states that he has an advantage over Churchill the agnostic because he talks to god and doesnt care what anyone thinks of him or his decisions. Duh???

This is a good read from Salon…a tip of the hat to them.

http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/fairenough/salon060.html

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By Jackie T. Gabel, March 12, 2007 at 7:23 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

RE: Comment #57973 by AnnaCatherine  on  3/11  at  12:46 pm
Relax people. Fitzgerald is not finished with this crowd.

>>>>> Wrong

I hope I am. If you’re right, then how about trying to convince someone in Congress to show the guts to give him something he can really sink his teeth into: Misprision of Treason for the entire administration? Someone has to prosecute the 911 criminals. If he is what you suggest (the best and the bravest), let him make history. He’s already part of it. Seems like a simple choice: Dragon Slayer or Poop Scooper. But don’t forget, there is still some of that Government-issue anthrax out there.

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By AnnaCatherine, March 11, 2007 at 4:46 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Relax people. Fitzgerald is not finished with this crowd. He would be Gonzales’ worst nightmare. Cheney’s heart would stop. Actually he would have that effect on most people. He’s brilliant and he’s not for sale. Gotta love him! He’s also a nice guy.

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By Bert, March 11, 2007 at 3:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Here’s some more ‘truth’ for you…

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=2941931

Halliburton Will Move HQ to Dubai

Halliburton Will Shift Headquarters From Houston to Mideast Financial Powerhouse of Dubai….

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By joneden, March 11, 2007 at 11:33 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

As Fitzgerald demonstrated, our judiciary is still strong. Unfortunately, the other 2 branches of gov and the 4th estate are failing us.

jon

Connecting the Dots: From human behaviors to Ecosystem Collapse
http://StudentsForTheEarth.org

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By gryphyn, March 11, 2007 at 9:47 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I hope Libby will be well compensated for taking it in the rear for these, I’d call them fascists but for the lack of competency, men.  I’m waiting to see what the sentence will be and whether he’ll be pardoned and then awarded the medal of freedom.  Let’s see I think I got that sequence right, taking it in the butt, then laughable hand slapping of a sentence, reward for falling on one’s own sword, but there’s honor in that right, soooo… reward for taking it in the butt. yep, okay, that’s it.  Got it.

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By Christopher Robin, March 11, 2007 at 1:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

When I read Fitzgerald described in court as “methodical”

I knew this guy was on the ball.

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By Kol Klink, March 11, 2007 at 1:18 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

First and foremost I would like to say THANK YOU MR FITZGERALD! You make me realize that there are still Americans that are stand up guys! I am extremely impressed!

I would also like to add for those that seem to be impatient about the speed of the Libby investigation/trial…It takes time for the wheels of justice to turn. Mr Fitzgerald has proven time and again that he gets the job done in due time. Some of his investigations/trials last for years. He starts at the bottom and works his way up the food chain.

I would not be too hasty to conclude that the investigation, trials and grand juries surrounding the Plame investigation are over. Mr Libby has no guarantees that he will be pardoned and at some point he may decide that its better to ‘come clean’ and go for a reduced sentence than to assume that he will pardoned at some future date. Cheney has a bad ticker and might not last out the tenure of this administration. Bush could be impeached on the basis of the laws that he has already broken. Mr Libby is no fool and has definitely got to be considering all the possibilities that could play out. But there is always the unknowable…

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By Toby, March 11, 2007 at 12:36 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Excuse me!

Did I miss something, or did YOU miss something?

Fitzgerald was empowered to discover WHO outed a CIA agent. He did not!

Now maybe the Libby side-rail was not his fault, but that in no way justifies his decision that no more indictments will be issued. If anything, the clear evidence that Libby lied followed by his conviction, prove a crime was committed and he is willing to go to jail to prevent person or persons unknown from being investigated and/or charged, and/or tried!

And, apparently Fitzgerald is willing to drop the investigation and go along with Libby to cover up the truth!

The original investigation into the original crime has not been concluded. And those responsible have not been identified and/or prosecuted, and thanks to Fitzgerald apparently never will be!

So why exactly did this “truth-digging” end?

I for one am not impressed!

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By Jackie T. Gabel, March 10, 2007 at 11:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Before we get too excited about Patrick J. Fitzgerald, it might be worth considering the damage-controle/fallout-containment angles, not unlike was called for here.

August 27, 2006 — http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/archives/cat_coverupdeceptions.html

1993 World Trade Center bombing evidence suppressed by chief federal prosecutors in case—Patrick J. Fitzgerald and Michael Chertoff.

U.S. federal prosecutors suppressed critical evidence in trial of 1993 World Trade Center bombers. According to U.S. intelligence sources, the FBI and Justice Department sat on volumes of translations of Arabic telephone intercepts gathered before the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center from U.S.- and Sudan-based Muslim militants who once worked for U.S. intelligence in the mujaheddin war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The critical intelligence, which demonstrated a link between the CIA and “Afghan Arab” muhajeddin forces, including those loyal to Osama bin Laden, was never introduced into the trial of the Brooklyn- and Jersey City-based based cell that included the blind Egyptian cleric Shaikh Omar Abdul Rahman, Ramzi Yousef, and Eyad Ismail.

See also The FBI allowed the 1993 WTC bombing to happen. - M. R. http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/OK/wtcbomb.html

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By HeadlessHessian, March 10, 2007 at 10:40 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Don’t know about you guys, but I think ‘Scooter’ (what a name!  I have to laugh every time) is a small fish.  Meanwhile all the other large carp in this cesspool are still swiming about spewing their shit!  Rove, Cheney, Dubyah, and the list is endless.  This guys went after the sure thing and not after what really mattered.
Now, having said that, I’ll say 1 down…3 to go!
We just need the Wilson law suit to drag out the rest of the crap and use this victory as a basis.
Finally, if this clown really goes to the clink, I will bet that shrubby will pardon him, and that is why the man never once winked when the verdicts came about. 

Headless

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By Steve Hammons, March 10, 2007 at 6:14 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

A big part of the efforts of Fitzgerald and his staff was obviously gathering intelligence. In this case, it was “legal intelligence.”

But Fitzgerald and his team’s investigations are also connected with other intelligence operations and concerns—ops and concerns of significant national importance.

These factors remind all citizens that we are all “intelligence officers” in the sense that we are constantly trying to understand information we have access to.

For more on this, the article referenced below may be of interest:

“Gathering intelligence: Grassroots intel by and for the people”

By Steve Hammons
Columnist, PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
January 30, 2007

http://www.populistamerica.com/gathering_intelligence_grassroots_intel_by_and_for_the_people

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By Rodney, March 10, 2007 at 5:56 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Mr Fitzgerald allowed himself to be manipulated by the liars in the Bush adminstration. Karl Rove along with Dick Cheney and Richard Armatage should all have been on trial. Who knows, a through investigation may have also landed Bush ,Rice ,and Ari Fleisher. This corrupt Bunch of immoral individuals should all be in jail for lies that led to war,outing a CIA operative,war crimes that included the murder of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens,torture of POW’S voilating the U S constitution,Bill of Rights,the Geneova Convention and Habaes Corpus. After all of the crimes committed by members of the Bush Adminstration all we got was a weak conviction of perjury and obstruction of justice from a man who is a fall guy and will be pardoned later. God will bless America straight to HELL! 

 


i

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By Quy Tran, March 10, 2007 at 4:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Mr. Fitzgerald, you can be proud of yourself !

Nobody in this world could take away your courage even under the pressure of a thunderbolt.
We take off our hat high !

Nobody in this world could seize your determination because you have spoken the voice of justice. We take off our hat higher !

You had to cope with powerful and authoritarian individuals but you never stepped back and at last you’d come to crystal clear decision. We take off our hat more higher !

You, your family, your colleagues…can look up with brave, proud but not with haughty and arrogant.

The “Scooter” trial was a biggest slap at the face of this illegal, criminal administration in which lots of crimes are hiding.

You ought to be the Attorney General instead of Alberto “boots-licking” Gonzales.

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By Bert, March 10, 2007 at 4:26 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Can you imagine a Fitzgerald/Spitzer ticket? OMG!

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