Fitzgerald: "Conduct Would Make Lincoln Roll Over In His Grave"
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attempt to use the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Pres.-elect Barack Obama for personal gain marks conduct that "would make (Abraham) Lincoln roll over in his grave."
"This is a sad day for government," he said during a press conference in Chicago. "It's a very sad day for Illinois government. Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low."
Fitzgerald called Blagojevich's conduct -- which he said included efforts to reap a quid pro quo for Obama's Senate seat, to extort the Chicago Tribune to force out adversarial editors in exchange for assistance in the sale of Tribune-owned Wrigley Field, and to squeeze state contractors for political donations -- a "political corruption crime spree."
"We acted to stop that crime spree," Fitzgerald said, noting that Blagojevich "attempted to sell a Senate seat."
Federal authorities planted a bug at Blagojevich's office and tapped his home phone, Fitzgerald said.
An FBI official standing by Fitzgerald's side noted that "if (Illinois) it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor." He said his agents were "thoroughly disgusted and revolted by what they heard" on the wiretaps.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
I have little doubt that Blagojevich was corrupt--but I have only media-inspired impressions--not irrefutable proof.
Fitzgerald as special prosecutor on the Plame matter--declined to prosecute the notoriously corrupt VP Cheney--which suggests he is a very political animal.
Could we have a look at Mr.Fitzgerald's financials--including intelligence community cutouts, tied to him?
If llinois history holds true some very wealthy and corrupt folks like George Soros plan on installing Fitzgerald in the Governors' mansion.
Is any one really that surprised? This is politics. It has always been this way.
Cheney was corrupt??? How about the Office of Special Plans, headed by Wolfowitz, Pearle, Feith, Lewis Libby?? Get your facts straight MarC from New York. We're tired of the MarC's of the world trying to adjust history to help Israel and AIPAC. I think Patrick Fitzgerald is getting it about right. I only wish that he could've gotten Eliot Spitzer before he allowed the State of New York's financial corruption to get so far gone. Spitzer obviously was trying to extort Dick Grasso's retirement package from the NYSE. The de-regulation of the finacial system will go down in history as the biggest crime in American history. Thanks to Eliot, Grasso, Goldman, AIG, Citi, Bear, Lehman, Barney "Google" Frank, Chris "Crafty" Dodd, Frank Raines, etc. !
Wake up, you naive, sanctimonious morons!!! Every single politician in america is corrupt, as are the corporate heads, lobbyists, special interests and foreign special interests that bribe and extort to influence policy in this country. The only difference in this case is that he got caught. The mantra of america is that it's ok as long as you don't get caught.