WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, Senior Vice President of the Hudson Institute and former Chief of Staff of former Vice President Dick Cheney, speaks during a discussion at the Hudson Institute March 29, 2011 in Washington, DC. The Hudson Institute hosted a discussion on 'The Rumsfeld Era at the Pentagon: Inside Perspectives.' (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Obstruction of Justice (Photo credit: Sheila Steele)
Description unavailable (Photo credit: Sheila Steele)
English: Official congressional portrait of former Congressman and Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I think I trust this prosecutor (Photo credit: Sheila Steele)
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Fitzgerald To Step Down As U.S. Attorney
Politicians across Chicago are breathing sighs of relief with news that Patrick Fitzgerald is stepping down as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, effective June 30.
Fitzgerald leaves as the longest serving U.S. prosecutor in Chicago. He was appointed Sept. 1, 2001 and has been very busy since. Fitzgerald's office led successful prosecutions against former Illinois Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich; former Chicago Sun-Times owner Conrad Black; several close aides to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in the Hired Truck Scandal, an investigation into powerful trucking companies who rigged a system intended to hire companies owned by minorities and women for city work; and former Chicago Police Lt. and alleged torturer Jon Burge.
Besides prosecuting Blagojevich, Fitzgerald is best known on a national level for his appointment as special counsel and his prosecution and conviction of former Vice President Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby for his involvement with the Valerie Plame affair, where the late columnist Robert Novak revealed Plame to be a covert CIA operative in 2003. Libby was convicted on four of five counts of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Fitzgerald said in a statement to media:
“When I was selected for this position in 2001, I said that it was one of the greatest opportunities that one could ever hope for, and I believe that even more now after having the privilege of working alongside hundreds of dedicated prosecutors and agents. I have tried not to get in their way. I extend my deepest appreciation to the attorneys and staff for their determined commitment to public service. This was a great office when I arrived, and I have no doubt that it will continue to be a great office.”
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