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Fitzgerald mum on Blago; Quinn wants Ryan to remain in jail

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Posted by Barton Lorimor

During a press conference to announce charges regarding the illegal importation of honey, reporters tried to get U.S. District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to talk about Rod Blagojevich’s retrial.

They hit a brick wall…

“The whole topic, put a big tent over it and I won’t touch it, sorry,” Fitzgerald said after reporters peppered him with questions at a news conference about honey importers.
On dropping charges against Robert Blagojevich last week?

No comment.

On the Wall Street Journal asking that he step down?

“Nope.”

On what his office has learned after hearing from jurors who have commented on the case?

“The office is aware there’s a trial that will be coming in January and therefore we will not be commenting,” Fitzgerald said.

Video provided by NBC Chicago:


Fitzgerald has been consistent in not going into great specifics about the Blagojevich case. He refrained himself when Blagojevich was arrested saying he has his own opinions but could not share them because his office cannot editorialize. And even after Blagojevich and his attorneys delivered a strong attack, Fitzgerald would not fire back.

In somewhat related news, Gov. Quinn was asked about former Gov. George Ryan’s recent appeal of the decision in his federal corruption case. The guv wasn’t moved by the Ryan defense team’s play…

Gov. Pat Quinn doesn’t back a bid by ex-Gov. George Ryan to have some of his corruption convictions thrown out.

Quinn said Wednesday Ryan should “do the time” because a jury has decided the case.[…]

Quinn said “if you do the crime, you gotta do the time.”

Even if Quinn felt the other way, it’s doubtful he could say so given the ongoing election.

Related…

* Feds Crack Down on Chinese Honey Smuggling

* Why a Local Photographer Bought Hundreds of Blago Recordings

* Gov. Ryan Attorneys: No Bribe, No Crime

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 7:47 am

Comments

  1. Pat Quinn said:

    “Gov. Pat Quinn doesn’t back a bid by ex-Gov. George Ryan to have some of his corruption convictions thrown out.

    Quinn said Wednesday Ryan should “do the time” because a jury has decided the case.[…]

    Quinn said “if you do the crime, you gotta do the time.”

    So our Pat doesn’t see having the part of Ryan’s conviction that was based around counts that SCOTUS recently found unconstitutional in a similar case thrown out as fair.

    Hmmm…

    Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 7:59 am

  2. God love Pat Quinn. Who else could ride Blago’s coattails through two elections and get elected from his ill-gotten booty and seriously act like a tough guy with Ryan and Blago.

    Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:17 am

  3. I know I sleep better at night knowing Fitz has Chinese honey smugglers on the run.

    Was that supposed to be funny?

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:24 am

  4. ==Quinn said “if you do the crime, you gotta do the time . . . ”==

    ” . . . unless you’re in an Illinois prison.”

    Reporters really shouldn’t truncate quotes.

    Comment by Pat Robertson Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:43 am

  5. ==Fitzgerald has been consistent in not going into great specifics about the Blagojevich case. He refrained himself when Blagojevich was arrested saying he has his own opinions but could not share them because his office cannot editorialize==

    I seem to recall fitzie and the fibbie guy having a few comments after Rod’s arrest. Something about Lincoln in his grave and some kind of crime spree. It looks like even the arrogant fitzie can learn to keep his mouth shut. It must be hard for him.

    Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 8:54 am

  6. At least Fitz learned it. Blago on the other hand…

    Comment by neo state worker Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 9:04 am

  7. Abraham Lincoln’s Bees are turning over in their hive at the buzz of corruption……

    Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 12:33 pm

  8. A level playing field for November?
    The corrupt Dem gov won’t be in prison so why should the corrupt GOP gov?
    I bet that’d rain on a few Republican campaign parades.

    Comment by Piling on Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 2:57 pm

  9. Mr. Fitzgerald - You have lots on your plate. Please don’t forget about that endemic hiring fraud thing. The same folks who unfairly benefitted from that issue will be drawing equally fraudulent pensions if something doesn’t change. That would be another slap in the face to those who played by the rules.

    Comment by skhicks Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 6:12 pm

  10. so we can now say this of Fitzgerald….you can catch
    more criminals with honey than HDO members?
    he does not want to panic people about the honey?
    I realize it’s lawbreaking, but the press conference
    looked like an SNL sketch.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 11:13 pm

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