U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald To Quit On June 30

May 23, 2012 - U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald will step down on June 30, reports CBS2 Chicago. "He took over on Sept. 1, 2001, making him the longest-serving U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He became a national celebrity for going after political corruption in Illinois. Most notably, he led the prosecutions of both Gov. George Ryan and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who are both serving time in prison."

Fitzgerald is, until June 30, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

This morning's official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice said, "Mr. Fitzgerald notified the White House, Attorney General Eric Holder, and U.S. Sens. Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk this morning of his decision to step down from the presidentially appointed post that he has held since Sept. 1, 2001, making him the longest-serving U.S. Attorney ever in Chicago. Mr. Fitzgerald, 51, has no future employment plans and will take time off this summer before considering career options. Including his tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York, Mr. Fitzgerald is leaving the Justice Department after nearly 24 years."  See the entire statement here (pdf).

The release also noted that Fitzgerald served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, where he took part in the prosecution of United States v. Osama Bin Laden, et al., "involving the August 1998 bombings of the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the trial of United States v. Omar Abdel Rahman, et al., involving the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a plot to bomb other New York landmarks." You can see Fitzgerald's official biography here.

 "Fitzgerald has been the longest serving U.S. attorney in Chicago history," says the Chicago Tribune today, "holding the office for more than 10 ½ years."

Greg Hinz at Crain's Chicago Business makes a good point about Fitzgerald's departure: The political games that will surely be played in the effort to replace the irreplaceable crime fighter:

"The question now," ponders Hinz in his column today, "is who President Barack Obama will select for this extraordinarily sensitive job — and whether Senate confirmation will come before the November election."

Feds Target Chicago Alderman Carothers

Former Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman (Democrat) was just sentenced to four years in prison for corruption. This morning, we noted that Troutman is just one more "long parade of Illinois and Chicago politicians" (as American Thinker put it) who have shamed Chicago and Illinois. The parade of clowns continues with 29th Ward Ald. Isaac Carothers, and his act promises to be even more entertaining than Troutman's. From today's Chicago Sun-Times (emphasis added): Last year, the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed that federal investigators had requested city records on four West Side zoning changes pushed by Carothers. He had received campaign contributions from two of the businesses seeking the changes. Now, a 2007 federal subpoena -- released in response to a Freedom of Information request -- reveals a demand for documents including seven years worth of aldermanic expense records; 29th Ward zoning changes; ordinances introduced by Carothers, and correspondence between Carothers and the mayor's office regarding zoning changes. This will be interesting to watch. In the meantime, when will Mr. Fitzpatrick please consider investigating 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore for similar alleged offenses? CNB RSS Feed

Moore Constituent's Letter to "The Nation"

Chicago's 49th Ward alderman Joe Moore was recently named "Most Valuable Local Official" by the neo-Stalinist magazine "The Nation" (see "Joe Moore, The Nation and Walter Duranty"). Those in the 49th Ward neighborhood of Rogers Park know better, as demonstrated by the letter to The Nation (below) from a resident. CNBench thanks the writer for allowing us to publish it here: The Nation Magazine Letter to the Editor I'm writing to express my astonishment in your naming Chicago Alderman Joe Moore as 'Most Valuable Local Official' in the annual " Most Valuable Progressives of 2008". I am a strong progressive, loyal subscriber to The Nation, and a long time resident (34 years) of the 49th Ward in Chicago. Our quality of life in the 49th Ward, under Joe's 17 year stewardship, has deteriorated greatly due to his ignoring our LOCAL Ward issues, concerns and services and instead pandering to the media regarding national and international matters. Mr. Moore is very focused in concerning himself with all manner of issues which have NOTHING to do with the job he is /was elected to do...represent and deal with local Ward constituent needs and concerns. As a loyal, long time Nation subscriber, I am dumbfounded by this choice. In making this unbelievable selection, you certainly did not speak to Alderman Moore's local constituents or evaluate and consider his performance on/in the job he is/was elected to do...represent and focus on the needs and interest of the residents of the 49th Ward. Michael C. Luckenbach 49th Ward, Chicago P.S. Over the years, Mr. Moore has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars (millions?) from Real Estate developers (for zoning changes?) and other special interest groups, in-order to fund his Aldermanic political career. It will come as no surprise, if this 'pay to play' way of doing business in the 49th Ward has come under the scrutiny of Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's office. It certainly should. Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

Jesse Jackson, Jr.: Snitch

Well, well, well. The Bench said recently (as did a lot of others) that US Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s career was "toast" because of implications that he may have been involved in the ongoing Blagojevich corruption scandal. Well, well, well. We were right, but accidentally and for the wrong reasons. Let me explain. On Dec. 16, I wrote that Jackson "is protesting his innocence just a leeeetle bit too much," and I stand by that. However, I (nor you) knew not that Jackson has been acting as an informant for the US Attorney General's office. In other words, Jackson was narcing out his colleagues. Now, I'm all in favor of a guy risking his well being to root out corruption. (Did Jackson wear a wire?) It's not exactly like he was spying on the Mafia, but damned close. Rather than kill you outright, instead of smashing your knee caps, Illinois Democrats do worse - they destroy careers and reputations and, thereby, lives. (Death is permanent but relieves you of suffering. Democrat grudges last forever, lingering on for years and years until you die, and then after you die your name is eternally besmirched.) Assuming that Jackson was spying on fellow Democrats, why would he publicly blab about that? I mean, shouldn't he go into some kind of witness protection program? So, let's go back to the whole "his career is toast" thing. His career is burnt toast, crispier than previously thought. If Jackson is not shunned by fellow Democrats, from this moment on, it will be a surprise. Can you imagine Mayor Daley ever again confiding in him? Or Howard Dean? Or Rahm Emanuel? Or any other Democrat? "Hey Junior," they'll say with squinty-eyed smirks, "you wearing a wire? Maybe we oughta pat you down, you know?" According to the Guardian (UK), "In the latest development, a spokesman for Jackson told the Associated Press last night that Jackson has been talking to federal investigators about his dealings with Blagojevich before the latest scandal" and he "had told investigators about another alleged incident that predated the present scandal." (Source) The Guardian quoted ABC-7 Chicago, which reported that "since late last summer, the congressman has worked with federal prosecutors, informing on an alleged Blagojevich administration scheme two and half years earlier. The meeting in June of 2006 at a Gold Coast hotel included Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin 'Tony' Rezko." (Source) Okay, but... Why was Jackson doing this? Two possibilities immediately come to mind. First, that he was altruistically willing to risk his career in the Democrat Party to fight corruption. Second, that he might have been cooperating with the Feds in order to take the heat of off himself in a private deal. You know, like mafiosi do when they know the game is over and their only chance is to sell out their fellows. I'm not saying that this is what Jackson was up to, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. EbonyJet.com is even harsher on Jackson: Forgetting for the moment that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s odd “I can’t be guilty because I’m a snitch” defense is just a bizarre addendum to an already bizarre case, why is it that nobody’s talking about the real oddity here? (Source) Good question, and EbonyJet asks more good questions (emphasis added): Forget all this hullabaloo about Blagojevich. Patrick Fitzgerald already said Jesse Jr. is not a subject of the investigation. So why is Jesse Jr. focusing on this so much and drawing attention to himself when he needs to be focused on the very serious career-damaging issue posed by my question above. What has he done or not done -or not achieved (at least in the minds of his colleagues)- during his tenure that would warrant a complete lack of consideration such as this? Jackson Junior is still protesting an awful lot for an innocent man. Suddenly, after letting his reputation be ravaged nationwide for days, he reveals through a spokesman late in the day that he's been a snitch for the feds. Suddenly, without full explanation, we're supposed to just accept that and not ask why he was a plant for The Man. Suddenly, Jackson not only still looks like an idiot, he now looks like a foolish idiot that none of his mostly-crooked fellow party hacks will ever trust again. Repeat: Jesse Jackson's career is toast. Pass the jam, Jesse, you can't win for losin'. RELATED: Spokesman: Jackson Jr. talked to feds for years Jesse Jackson Jr. Identified As Informant In Blagojevich Probe The Long Knives Are Out In Chicago Schumer vs. Blagojevich: No match when it comes to corruption

Ask Supreme Court to Remove Joe Moore, Too

How is Governor Rod Blagojevich different from Alderman Joe Moore (Chicago, 49th Ward)? Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (Democrat) today asked the state's Supreme Court to prevent Governor Blagojevich from doing virtually any of the important functions of his office. Madigan wants to "make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office." Blago has been charged by federal authorities with seeking cash in exchange for naming someone to Barack Obama's vacated US Senate seat. Keep in mind, however, that Blago has not been found guilty of anything. The case, still forming, has not even gone to court yet. In other words, Madigan acted against Blago because she believes he is guilty of corruption and because she feels that Blago cannot carry out his duties properly. She believes that the charges against Blago are so ugly that Blago should, in effect, be removed from office, if only temporarily. The feds have audio recordings of Blago and his top aides squeezing people for money in exchange for political favors. 49th Ward bloggers have published a photo of Joe Moore violating election law, shaking the hand of somebody while they are voting. Madigan believes Blagojevich is not capable of performing his duties. Residents of the 49th Ward know and see everyday that Moore is incapable of even getting a pile of gravel picked up. That pile of gravel has been partially obstructing a bus stop for nearly two years now. Madigan believes that charges against Blago are "severe," and so she is acting fast to contain the Governor. 49th Ward residents have severe charges against Moore, which include leaning on local developers for campaign donations, and more. Moore and Blagojevich are both Democrats. They are both cogs in the same Machine. They both engage, allegedly, in "pay to play" politics. Both have backers and promoters who are criminal scum, not the least of which is Robert Creamer, convicted felon husband of Cong. Jan Schakowsky, another Democrat. Madigan, and nearly every other Democrat in Illinois, is suddenly an avenging angel, surprised and shocked that Blago engaged in activities common to Illinois and Chicago political life. They are merely covering their asses, or trying to anyway, in a vain attempt to fool Illinoisans that they themselves are pure and never engage in such loathsome behavior. We know better, and we'd like to know why Madigan et al waited so damned long to this. We'd also like to know when she will ask the Supreme Court to remove the likes of Alderman Moore from their offices. Madigan says that Blago can no longer perform his duties "with any legitimacy." Last time we checked, Blago has not been charged with stealing an election. At least half the residents of the 49th Ward believe that Joe Moore stole his re-election in February, 2007. While we're at it, we'd like to know when federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will put handcuffs on Mr. Moore. RELATED: The Bench: Alderman Joe Moore's Pile joe moore's shameful campaign contribution Joe Moore's Dead-Beat Dad Money ~ The Bench The Bench: URGENT: Investigation of Joe Moore The Bench: Joe Moore's Fat Cat Developer Donors The Bench: President Obama's Impact on the 49th Ward

MUST READ: Is Fitzgerald Going Easy on Obama?

A must-read post by Christopher J. Adamo hints that Obama is being given more slack than he deserves. The giver of slack: Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. With a speed vastly exceeding even Armitage’s confession of guilt, Fitzgerald has, without any two-year investigation of Blagojevich’s every acquaintance going back to kindergarten, already pronounced Obama entirely innocent and clear of any suspicion. The ugly picture painted by this affair reveals the decline and likely extinction of “old justice” in which right and wrong played the supreme role, as compared to its “new law” substitute, in which the legal system has become the ultimate tool by which the state manages the people. Full Post at WebCommentary.com... RELATED: Some Questions for Mr. Fitzgerald (Rush Limbaugh)

Jackson Emissary: Daddy Jesse

The Bench speculates: Jesse Jackson, Sr. is the "emissary" who approached Governor Blagojevich about naming Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Daddy Jesse, we believe, did that without his son's knowledge. Is Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. "Senate Candidate 5," one of the people that Blago referred to in secretly recorded phone conversations of the Governor? Junior says no. We say, not so fast. Yesterday, Junior joined a flurry of Democrats who tripped all over themselves in a rush to deny any involvement in Governor Rod Blagojevich's "crime spree," as federal prosecutors are calling it. The "spree" includes the alleged attempted sale of Obama's vacated US Senate seat. Junior's father, the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson, Sr., is a man with a long history of extorting money from corporations. Squeezing people is just business to Daddy Jesse. His ego is enormous and he would undoubtedly like to see Junior become a US Senator, which would enhance his potential to one day become a viable presidential contender. Daddy Jesse ran for president but failed miserably. Like a non-athletic father who lives vicariously through his son the high school football star, Jesse Jackson, Sr. has personal high hopes for Junior in the game of politics. We don't hold the sins of the father against the son, but Junior's tightly crafted denial yesterday of any involvement in Blago's Senate seat scandal was less than satisfying. In fact, it was not a complete denial. Excerpts from his remarks on Wednesday, with analysis: JACKSON, JR: "I want to make this fact plain: I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing." ANALYSIS: Perhaps... JACKSON, JR: "I did not initiate nor authorize anyone -- at any time -- to promise anything -- to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary to the Governor to make an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat (period)." ANALYSIS: This may be strictly, literally true. However, notice that he never denies knowing about someone approaching Blago on his behalf. In other words, just because Jackson "did not initiate nor authorize anyone" to pitch him for the Senate seat, does not necessarily mean that he did not know that someone was doing it. Furthermore, Jackson stated that he "never sent a message or an emissary to the Governor" about it, but Jackson said nothing about sending a message or an emissary to any of the Governor's agents. Most importantly, Junior never said that he himself never made "an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat." He said nobody else did, but did not deny doing it himself. "I never sent a message" is not the same as saying "I never said." (If I hand you a gift, did I "send" that gift to you?) JACKSON, JR: "I thought -- mistakenly -- that the process was fair, above board and on the merits." ANALYSIS: Did Junior just land on Planet Earth last week? Merits? Since when did the Machine or the Combine care about merits? Is Jackson really not aware that during Blago's re-election campaign in 2006, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said publicly that Blago was being investigated for fraudulent hiring practices? Did Jackson miss the news that Tony Rezko, Blago's top fund-raiser and adviser from the 2002 election, was indicted on corruption charges? Did Junior miss all the coverage of the Rezko corruption trial? Did Junior not grow up with a father who is up to his buggy eyeballs in the corruption of Chicago and Illinois? Does Jackson really want us to believe that he is so naive about the nature of local political corruption? Is he really as naive as that? JACKSON, JR: "I wanted to be considered for the appointment because I believe in public service....That's what I shared with Governor Blagojevich on Monday, when I had the opportunity to meet with him for the first time in about four years. I presented my record, my qualifications and my vision. Despite what he may have been looking for, that's all I had to offer. And, that's what we discussed." ANALYSIS: That may be true (although I doubt it), but once again it does not present a specific denial. JACKSON, JR: "I spoke to the U.S. Attorney's office on Tuesday. They shared with me that I am NOT a target of the investigation and that I am NOT accused of any misconduct." ANALYSIS: Now, really, if Junior is a "a target of the investigation," and if he is being investigated, do you think Patrick Fitzgerald and his team would tell him that? Junior may not be accused of any misconduct at the moment, but as the investigation continues there is always the possibility that new charges will be brought against more individuals. JACKSON, JR: "In the days ahead, federal law enforcement officials want to meet and discuss what I know about the process." ANALYSIS: No doubt. It remains to be seen whether after Junior has met with the feds, he is still not accused of any misconduct. Junior did not mention his father in his remarks. Jesse Senior has enough contacts with deep pockets that he could, in theory, make an offer to Blago on behalf of his son. If that happened, it could have happened without Junior's knowledge. But Blago knows, Blago's aides know, and the feds know. All that remains is for the rest of us to find out. RELATED: ABC News: Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Candidate 5 Unmasking Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson, with No Role The Trail washingtonpost.com AtlanticBlog: Staying in the family business BlagoGate: Who’s Who? « RBO Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Blagojevich, Elected as Reformer, Is ... Michelle Malkin » Jesse Jackson disses Obama on race; castration ... Jesse Jackson unplugged - Mary Mitchell NewsMax.com: Commentmax Archives

Joe Moore's Loans to a Criminal

This should make for an interesting investigation after the election. Win or lose, Moore will lose. The evidence out there is HUGE, but nobody has dug deeply enough. Are you listening, Mr. Fitzgerald? The following makes for compelling reading, and illustrates the weird relationship that Alderman Joe Moore has to Robert Creamer, Congressman Jan Schakowsky's criminal husband. Before you read the following, though, have a look at the invitation pictured here (click for a larger image). It's an invitation to honor the criminal Robert Creamer. Nice, huh? Below, we see that Moore and Creamer would loan each other money, then pay each other back just days later, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, frequently and frantically. Why? Perhaps it's just coincidence, uh huh, but Robert Creamer pleaded guilty to, amongst other things, check kiting. And what is "check kiting?" This definition from Answers.com: "Drawing against balances credited to uncollected checks. By writing checks drawn on two or more out-of-town banks, a person temporarily short of cash can write an interest-free unauthorized bank loan or temporarily inflate his account balance to improve his chances of getting a loan. For example: a person deposits a $1,000 check in bank ABC, drawn on funds in bank XYZ. Before the first check clears he deposits a $1,000 check in bank XYZ, drawn on the first bank, and a $2,000 check drawn on bank XYZ in bank ABC. By carefully timing the checks, he has accumulated $3,000 in fictitious balances. Check kiting schemes can be very elaborate, and have been known to cause bank failures. Kiting is best controlled by monitoring unpaid checks in the process of collection." From Capitolfaxblog, January 2006: Note to Anon 2:10… the deadline for electronic filing is midnight. If you plan on checking out reports, be careful, since some of our politicians are very clever in using the D-2 forms to mislead the public. A number of years ago, my Alderman here in Chicago (Joe Moore of the 49th Ward), kept loaning money from his campaign fund to Bob Creamer’s Citixen Action (Creamer, Cong. Jan Schakowsky’s husband, is awaiting sentening in federal court on check-kiting charges, I believe). Each time Moore loaned Creamer money, it was repaid within a short span of time (only to see another loan a few days later). Creamer did kick in a small amount of additional money in return, but this only amounted to (as I recall) less than $30 for loans of about $30,000. The resulting activity on Moore’s D-2 made it look like he had received this huge sum of money, when in fact almost all of it was from his own campaign committee to begin with! As for Cegelis, I was under the impression that federal candidates (those running for Congress) do not file with the State Board of Elections, unless they have a secondary committee to help out local campaigns. Cegelis and the other federal candidates file with the Federal Election Commission, under an entirely different set of restrictions, requirements and guidelines. That is probably why Cegelis’ campaign committee with the State Board of Elections has such a small sum of revenue. RANDALL SHERMAN Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government