DoJ left Fitzgerald alone in Blago probe

[maddezmom]

DoJ left Fitzgerald alone in Blago probe
Posted December 10, 2008 3:40 PM

by Josh Meyer

The prolonged federal investigation into corruption in the office of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was run almost entirely out of Chicago, with little input or guidance from officials at Justice Department headquarters in Washington, according to several current and former department officials familiar with the case and with U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

They said that while Main Justice has a very active Public Integrity Section that sends prosecutors around the country to work on cases, it has traditionally allowed a handful of large U.S. Attorney's Offices around the country to maintain almost complete autonomy over their cases, even significant political corruption cases involving sitting governors and other lawmakers, the current and former officials said. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of such matters and the ongoing investigation.

The officials said the Chicago office is particularly autonomous, in part given its long history of aggressively--and successfully--prosecuting public corruption cases there, including one that led to the conviction of Blagojevich's predecessor, Gov. George H. Ryan in 2006. That autonomy is also due to the respect for Fitzgerald, a veteran prosecutor who has maintained good and close relations with the top leadership of the Justice Department and FBI in Washington.

~snip~

Asked if he had discussed the case with Attorney General Michael Mukasey or his senior staff, Fitzgerald said that he followed Justice Department procedures for the approval of wiretaps. That meant getting the approval of Robert Grant, the FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago field office, and then apply for approval with the Justice Department's Office of Enforcement Operations in Washington, which oversees the use of the most sophisticated investigative tools--including all surveillance technologies--at the Department's disposal.

more:http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/doj_left_fitzgerald_alone_in_b.html

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. That must be why

Fitz was able to roll up his sleeves and get it done.

[aquart]

2. Why would they interfere with the prosecution of a Democrat?

They WANT Democrats prosecuted. (And, let's admit it, this one so deserves it.)

[DJ13]

4. That was the first thing that crossed my mind as well

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. He had to get approval for a wire tap?

I thought they dumped that "Quaint" idea years ago.