Conventional wisdom holds that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald ordered the FBI to arrest Rod Blagojevich before sunrise Tuesday in order to stop a crime from being committed. That would have been the sale of the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
But the opposite is true: Members of Fitzgerald’s team are livid the scheme didn’t advance, at least for a little longer, according to some people close to Fitzgerald’s office. Why? Because had the plot unfolded, they might have had an opportunity most feds can only dream of: A chance to catch the sale of a Senate seat on tape, including the sellers and the buyers.
The precise timing of Tuesday’s dramatic, pre-dawn arrest was not dictated by Fitzgerald, nor was it dictated by the pace of Blagojevich’s alleged “crime spree.†It was dictated by the Chicago Tribune, according to people close to the investigation and a careful reading of the FBI’s affidavit in the case.
At Fitzgerald’s request, the paper had been holding back a story since October detailing how a confidante of Blagojevich was cooperating with his office.
Gerould Kern, the Tribune’s editor, said in a statement last week that these requests are granted in what he called isolated instances. “In each case, we strive to make the right decision as reporters and as citizens,†he said.
But editors decided to publish the story on Friday, Dec. 5, ending the Tribune’s own cooperation deal with the prosecutor.
So, perhaps the Tribune’s journalistic citizenship might have been better.
So the newspaper and the Feds conspired to keep a story quiet in order “not to influence” the election.
Quiet so as not to affect the election, whistle-blower so as not to affect the inauguration.
It’s their patriotic duty, Dan.
Except when they’re making millions off the backs of the poor, I mean.
The right decision for the citizenry would have been to allow the feds to roll up as many people they could. Instead, the paper went along far enough to find out who was likely invovled (my guess) and when they found someone they wanted to protect they told the story, warning that person off.
The paper only wanted Blago out. It didn’t have any beef with the rest of the Chicago establishment.
So it acted to protect the rest of the Chicago establishment, and protect Barack Obama’s image.
And the only problem with the Tribune’s plan, Daryl, is that Obama and Emanuel reacted so ham-fistedly to the situation that even the LA Times is wondering what they are trying to cover up. The Tribune’s editors must seething right now – they did their best to keep Obama and Co. out of the soup and the silly gits got themselves in up to their eyebrows anyway.
I don’t see how this helps keep [BOOOOOSH SHOOOOOOESSSSSSS] on the front page of parsnip’s paper.
IIRC it was the Tribune that went to court and got the divorce records of Sen. Ryan to be unsealed. That action resulted in Obama getting to the Senate.
Blowing the investigation now after holding off since October makes sense only if the Feds were getting too close to someone or something the Tribune wants to protect. My guess would be Obama.
Now will Fitzgerald go after the Tribune like he did the reporters in the Libby case? Jail time if they don’t roll on sources etc.
geoffb, no, the Tribune are members of the FOURTH ESTATE, a sacred position endowed with vast legal and governmental powers and authority. They are THE DECIDERS and they have spoken.
Not to be a pest, but where did this report come from? You have no link to it.
oh. I was gonna say the same thing as mishu.
Federal investigation, sealed divorce records….pffft. The Tribune will decide what should see the light of day, you non-journalists you.
geoffb said: “Blowing the investigation now after holding off since October makes sense only if the Feds were getting too close to someone or something the Tribune wants to protect. My guess would be Obama.”
Another good guess would be Jesse Jackson Jr., candidate #5 in the Fitzgerald indictment.
#13 doubled:
It could be #5, or any combination of people. It will be interesting when a grand jury is sworn in and people are asked to testify. We will then see how far Mr. Fitzgerald wants to pursue this.