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* The more I think about this Kjellander-Rove-Fitzgerald allegation, the more it sounds like a bunch of guys who think they have power boasting about how they’re gonna take Patrick Fitzgerald out of the game…
“What I anticipate Mr. Ata would testify to would be that he did actually have direct conversations with Mr. Rezko about the fact that . . . Mr. Kjellander was working with Karl Rove to have [US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald] removed,” Hamilton told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve. Hamilton said Rezko told Ata: “Mr. Kjellander is working with Mr. Rove to have Mr. Fitzgerald removed so that someone else can come in to the U.S. attorney’s office.”
* Read between the lines of Karl Rove’s response…
“Karl has known Kjellander for many years but does not recall him or anyone else arguing for Fitzgerald’s removal,” Robert Luskin, Rove’s attorney, said Wednesday.
“And [Rove] is very certain that he didn’t take any steps to do that, or have any conversations with anyone in the White House—or in the Justice Department—about doing anything like that.”
That statement was referred to as “unequivocal” by two reporters, but it’s hardly that. Rove “does not recall” the case being made, but he is positive that he didn’t take any steps to have Fitz removed.
* This point about the alleged move against Fitzgerald is also worth noting…
If they occurred, the alleged conversations would predate the Bush administration’s more systematic effort in 2005 to remove U.S. attorneys it perceived as disloyal.
* I think former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald may have it right…
“It wouldn’t surprise me either if Kjellander actually did talk to Rove,” the former senator said.
But knowing Rove, Peter Fitzgerald said, he doesn’t believe the adviser to President Bush would have gotten involved in trying to replace the U.S. attorney under those circumstances. […]
Perhaps Rezko was just bragging to Ata, or maybe it was wishful thinking on somebody’s part, he theorized.
It’s interesting, though, that Patrick Fitzgerald is trying to inject this development into Rezko’s trial, even though the judge didn’t appear to be enthralled with the idea yesterday.
* More stuff…
* Quinn Demands Ata Answers from Governor
* Plot to dump Fitzgerald?
* Rezko trial: Kjellander tried to oust Fitzgerald
* Feds: Illinois insiders tried to have U.S. attorney ousted
* Allegation puts governor in middle
* Feds: Witness says Rezko tried to oust Fitzgerald
* Talk of firing the U.S. attorney told at Rezko trial
* Gavel-to-Gavel: Plot to dump U.S. attorney?
* Rezko Pal, Rove Named In Plan To Fire Fitzgerald
* Talk of firing the U.S. attorney told at Rezko trial
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 10:55 am
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I think we finally can figure out who the Governor would like to appoint to the Senate seat if Obama vacates it—Pat Fitzgerald. Of all the people he would like to get out of town, that would be number 1.
Comment by jake Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:00 am
If this is true, why is there not Obstruction of Justice charges against Bob K, Bill C, and the rest of the gang? I would think Fitzy would be all over that.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:07 am
Must choke most posters to have to give Bush credit for not removing Fitzgerald.
Comment by True Observer Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:08 am
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:10 am
11:07 AM.
Fitzgerald is all over Cellini and Kjellander. Thats why they are not going to testify at Rezko’s trial. In due time they will also be indicted!
Comment by MOON Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:17 am
remember when Bush visited Chicago on da Mares birthday this year? What do you think they were talking about? Hmmmm….
Comment by Anonymous45 Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:36 am
The whole thing is a bunch of nothing. It shouldn’t have even been entered into the trial.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:48 am
What do you think they were talking about?
Deep dish and the Go-Go Sox.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:51 am
A failed coup must therefore be viewed as just name dropping? I think the point is Ill influential who were selling their ability to protect wrong doers in the State by using their juice, no matter how little of it they actually had.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 11:51 am
I suspect Peter Fitzgerald’s take is closest to the truth.
Why would Rove go out on a limb for these guys? During the Plame investigation, Fitzgerald was untouchable. Even entertaining the thought of a move against him would have been incredibly reckless. The damage to Rove and the president would have been catastrophic if it ever came out.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 12:05 pm
What are the odds that if Obama gets it he saves his buddy Blago by firing Fitzy or even pardon Blago if there is a conviction by then.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 12:41 pm
well this all should make for a very good movie- I’m glad they have a producer on the stand…
What were Rove and $hellander going to do admit the conversation? There is no way of course they deny…weakly as you mention.
Comment by GofGlenview Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:02 pm
VanMan, I usually agree with you and highly respect your opinions but I do believe that Kjellander actually did talk to Rove about Patrick Fitzgerald, and probably a whole lot of other baloney as well. Rove has selective memory and doesn’t seem to remember it. PETER Fitzgerald is a visionary when it comes to Illinois politics. We can thank him for giving us PATRICK Fitzgerald, or not. Depending on if you think GRyan should be at ClubFed.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:17 pm
They know that Rove knows what’s-what in Chicago and will act to remove Fitz if he is inclined or able to do so. So, if any such talk actually did occur, I would agree that it was just bragadacio on the part of those involved. Why would the prosecution want to bring that in? Well, just another seed to plant negativity against the defendant in the minds of the jury. By the time they’re done, those little tads of hearsay will make Rezko look like Osama bin Laden in the minds of the jurors.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:23 pm
Moon,
Give me the lottery numbers ( and the mega ball)please! I think your predictions are spot on, including yesterday’s about Patti B.
Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:25 pm
If this is just a little “political puffery” it’s hard to see why it comes up as a subject at a trial…but I do admit it would plant a seed in the jury’s mind, if nothing else. There are a lot of idle conversations that take place privately that are dead notions as soon as the conversation is over. Pete Fitz’ take seems plausible.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:26 pm
Carlos Hernandez Gomez was the “guest news person” on WBEZ’s 848 this morning. He had a great line about the Rezko trial. Said that the reason why Blago’s scandals are different than George Ryans is that the GOP stood by Ryan but all the other Dems (minus Emil) have “thrown Blago under the bus. But the Governor keeps getting back up and putting Seniors on the bus for free.” Not known for his wit, I enjoyed that one.
Clearly they were reading you Rich because him and the host both made the point about how Blago’s people keep denying he’s Official A. They also made a great point how it was easy for the Blagos to dismiss Stuart Levine but Ali Ata is a very big deal indeed.
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 2:39 pm
I can’t wait to see what Duffy does with this!!!
Comment by reasonable 1 Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 3:14 pm
Of course Peter thinks KJ talked, he’s got an ax to grind here.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 3:30 pm
I think Rove would have been happy to accomodate K by removing Fitz given the political firings of other US attorneys. However, as ArchPundit pointed out the other day, Fitz was untouchable because of his role as the Plame special prosecutor.
Comment by Captain America Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 3:45 pm
The introduction of Ata here is to my mind an indication that Fitz was worried about the effect of the weak Levine on a Rezco conviction, He was to be saved — again IMHO — for the next level to tag team with a convicted Rezco forthe next trial. Either Public Official A or a quick switch to the Shill-lander with “A” next on the docket.
PatFitz does work carefully when he builds an edifice. The netted Libby in D.C.would have been great bait for the next higher up up there. Bush’s pardon was sort of a catch and release deal, but I am sure that our man has a file cabinet or two which provide him with job security here.
Comment by Truthful James Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 3:56 pm
Tom Rosenberg recalled hearing of pressures the governor’s people were putting on a state board to reward political donors.
He once told GOP power broker Bill Cellini predicted that the way a state board operated, people could end up in court.
“One day, Jon Bauman is going to be raising his hand under oath and he’s going to tell what happened and that day is going to be very bad for Mr. (Chris) Kelly and Mr. Rezko.”
Looks like the bad day has finally arrived!
Comment by oooppppsss Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 4:06 pm
I have little doubt they went to Rove. Rove isn’t that stupid, however. Thus telling us something about how dumb Kjellander and Rezko are.
Comment by archpundit Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 4:08 pm
Oh, hell. I’ve been hearing about Kjellander going to Rove to get Fitz ousted for at least three years. Old news. The press is just s. . .l . . o . . .w.
Comment by Google Girl Thursday, Apr 24, 08 @ 6:59 pm
Even if these conversations occured the Bush administration wouldn’t remove Fitzgerald. The 2005 removals were (allegedly) because the attorneys let go wouldn’t go after democrats. Not the case here in Illinois.
Comment by Packerfan Friday, Apr 25, 08 @ 7:13 am
Moon-
I think your right that Cellini and Kjellander will be indicted. Is there a reason that Rosenburg is testifying with immunity?
I think he has the goods on Cellini. If Cellini goes so does Kjellander and Hurtgen (whose trial starts next week).
The fact is that the hold outs are: Rezko, Hurtgen and the yet unindicted Cellini and Kjellander.
With immunity of guilty pleas are:
Glennon
Levine
Loren
Cari
Keiferbaum
Ata
(some other Rezko flunkies)
Did I leave anyone out…
Comment by GofGelnview Friday, Apr 25, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Does any one remember this:
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
– For a real judicial lesson, call these guys - John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0703180181mar18,1,2287941.column
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: …Perhaps Heaton could explain to the Senate about his chummy dinner, and what Kjellander and Cellini had for dessert.)
Heaton was the hand picked White House down state Us Attorney. What the hell was he doing having dinner with two “individuals” who were part of these investigations?
Comment by GofGelnview Friday, Apr 25, 08 @ 2:24 pm