Patrick Fitzgerald talks about his future
Thursday, May 24, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The famed US Attorney is leaving office next month. But he says there will be no campaigns and no criminal defense work in his future…
Fitzgerald — who oversaw prosecutions that sent two Illinois governors to prison for corruption — said he’s 100 percent certain he won’t ever seek elective office.
“I am not wired to campaign for anything or run for elective office, period,” he said. […]
Asked if he might consider doing what many former federal prosecutors have done and become a criminal-defense attorney, a potentially lucrative field, Fitzgerald, who is paid $155,000 a year as U.S. attorney, smiled and said, “Can you imagine me as a defense attorney? I respect what defense attorneys do. I won’t do anything I don’t feel comfortable because that’s not me.”
Though he dismissed the prospect of running for office, Fitzgerald made clear he isn’t ruling out some future post in government.
“I love public service,” he told reporters, speaking in public for the first time since announcing his resignation Wednesday. “Public service is in my blood.”
Any job ideas?
- Tommydanger - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:04 pm:
I vote for FBI Director
- too obvious - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:08 pm:
Substitute for Jesus statue at John Kass’ home.
- Name Withheld - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:12 pm:
Patrick Fitzgerald is the best example of the kind of public servant we need. That man could take the position of dog catcher and elevate its esteem in the eyes of the people.
I’m with Tommydanger - FBI Director.
- Anyone Remember? - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:12 pm:
too obvious - too funny!
Tommydanger - Mueller’s term expires in September 2013, but since he’s been there since just before 9/11, he might retire.
- OneMan - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:21 pm:
Head of the Secret Service
Illinois State Auditor If/When Bill Holland retires.
Head of the Illinois Gaming Commission
- Stones - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:21 pm:
Manager or General Manager of the Chicago Cubs. If he can clean up State and County government perhaps he can turn around the least successful franchise in the history of baseball?
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:25 pm:
Governor. Worked for Jim Thompson, and Illinois NEEDS him. Our very own Christ Christie.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:26 pm:
LOL! Christ Christie? Meant Chris.
- Ace Laredo - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:49 pm:
Supreme Court. Maybe Alderman Burke thanks him for never going after him by putting him on the bench.
- Anon - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:50 pm:
Based on his comments, I could envision him as a federal judge. Wouldn’t be surprised if he already lined up support for that appointment to be made.
- KGB - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 2:50 pm:
Maybe Fitz and Tom Dart should trade places?
- Wensicia - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:00 pm:
I could see him as a federal judge or FBI director. I don’t think he’ll get into politics.
- LINK - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:02 pm:
Attorney General….
- Smitty - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:06 pm:
Great guy. Could never quite get the goods on Daley or MJM, though, could he? Sadly he probably won’t get any of the above nods…he’s p*ssed too many people off on both sides of the aisle.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:11 pm:
I don’t see anything on a state or local level. Too small. Don’t really see him as a white-stocking law firm rainmaker — not for long anyway. Might teach law for a while.
Someday he’ll be one or more of the below:
Federal Judge
FBI Director
Attorney General
Homeland Security Secretary
CIA Director
DEA Director
- Levois - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:15 pm:
He should run for office even though he may not be comfortable with that or says that he isn’t interested. In saying that he’s not interested who’s to say it’s not being planned behind the scenes. Either way best wishes to Mr. Fitzgerald.
- Fitzy - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:20 pm:
Tamms Warden
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:23 pm:
head of the FBI
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:29 pm:
Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
Crushing George Bush’s dream.
- NIref - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 3:46 pm:
In all seriousness, FBI Director or Federal Appeals judge.
- Bill - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 4:05 pm:
I don’t care as long as it is out of town.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 4:45 pm:
For a fleeting moment, I thought about the movie “American Gangster”. Russell Crowe’s character is a poor cop who puts himself through law school becomes a prosecutor and puts away one of the most wealthy and feared drug dealers in America (played by Denzel Washington). This is a true story - so I can ruin the end of the money - but Crowe’s character eventually becomes a defense attorney, strikes up a friendship with Denzel and winds up as his attorney. How ironic would it be if that is the career path and life path that Fitz and Blago follow?!
In all seriousness, I think he should merit serious consideration for the head of the FBI or CIA - or even the Attorney General of the United States. Not to be political, but Eric Holder does not have the best track record and is not exactly revered by non-Democrats. Obama could coax Fitz to run the DOJ and should Mitt Romney win the presidency he would be a fool to not offer Fitz the job.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 4:47 pm:
While we could certainly use you there, too, don’t go for a bench seat, Fitz. As one of the 100 sexiest alive (truly sorry, but I had to this once just to make my point), you are WAY underestimating how effective you could be at campaigning at some point. We’ve already been surprised once by someone who also underestimated the need for same and we certainly could have used out in the front lines.
Merit-based greatness is knocking. Please don’t pass it up, because our State and Country need you. Not only because you’ve got the strength, “beauty and brains,” but also because we need more great role models than ever before.
- jake - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 4:50 pm:
Run for Attorney General, if and when Lisa Madigan moves on?
Attorney General of the US? Here is a flash–Eric Holder is not necessarily revered among Democrats either, because of reluctance of the administration to go after the folks who caused the financial crash. I would love to see Fitzgerald go after white collar criminals in the financial sector. Probably never happen though. They contribute too much money to both political parties. Probably no administration would turn him loose on them.
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:06 pm:
He could wait for Benedict to kick the bucket…listening to the recap of his career, I finally figured out his prosecutorial approach. He prosecuted public corruption the same way he prosecuted terrorists…no matter the context, he stretched the available laws as far as possible and then some to maximize the penalty and viewed the defendants as existential threats to society. That’s not really what I see as the prosecutors duty.
- amalia - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:18 pm:
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:21 pm:
I’d be shocked to see him anywhere outside the federal government. DOJ? FBI? DHS? Any of those are plausible.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:22 pm:
US Attorney General … for the reasons mentioned by others
Alternatively, head of the United Nations …
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:24 pm:
I bet he would enjoy working pro bono for the Center for Constitutional Rights or the National Lawyers Guild.
- LS - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:28 pm:
Obama would probably name him to any fed post he wants. Dude pretty much walks on water in the public eye.
- Phineas Fogg - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:28 pm:
I would expect him to take a teaching job at some university until something comes along (like FBI Director) that really appeals to him. His wife and kids have a husband and father who would be in the “American Justice Hall of Fame” if there ever were to be such a place created. Thank you on behalf of myself and my kids for your sacrifice and service Mr. Fitzgerald. You are what is known as “a class act”.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:33 pm:
Geez- what a lovefest for this guy! Clearly he should open a PR firm.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 5:33 pm:
–His wife and kids have a husband and father who would be in the “American Justice Hall of Fame” if there ever were to be such a place created.–
No, “Justice League of America.” He can take Superman’s spot, the way some folks carry on.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 6:10 pm:
=Geez- what a lovefest for this guy! Clearly he should open a PR firm.=
What do you not understand about the term “merit-based,” Anon 5:33? Doesn’t seem like he needs a PR firm.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 7:16 pm:
Hey anonymous at 6:10, these comments are about what Fitz’s next job should be…Suggesting he open a PR firm was a back handed compliment. Lighten up,man!
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 7:56 pm:
What do you not understand about the term “merit-based,” Anon 5:33? Doesn’t seem like he needs a PR firm. lol
hahaha! lol 
Better?
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 7:58 pm:
BTW, I actually did find the “PR” comment extremely funny and amusing.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 8:40 pm:
U.S. Atty Gen. is a political job just as much as it is a law enforcement job so that makes me skeptical he would get that appointment. FBI Director would be more in his wheelhouse.
But if he’s leaving this job to spend more time with his two kids and make more money and he wants to stay in Chicago (as he said in that linked article), then I see him getting a law professor job.
- Bill - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 9:06 pm:
Wouldn’t he have to learn the law first?
- wishbone - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 9:18 pm:
I get the impression Bill doesn’t like this guy. He could explain why but his lawyer probably would not want him to.
- Mr Rodgers - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 9:49 pm:
Warden of the Littleton, Colorado prison.
- James the Intolerant - Thursday, May 24, 12 @ 10:03 pm:
If he is such a good prosecutor how come he never came away with the big fish (RMD)?
- Ann - Friday, May 25, 12 @ 8:17 am:
Interesting that the Tribune’s “Chicago Law” column is all about what corporate jobs he might be tempted to take, with no mention of the “public service is in my blood” comment, or even any speculation about teaching.
I think the guesses here are far more likely to prove correct. I’d absolutely put my money on something on Wordslinger’s list. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0525-chicago-law-fitzgerald–20120525,0,2660508.column
- Colossus - Friday, May 25, 12 @ 9:36 am:
I think US Attorney General is a top contender, though I’d stop before I get to “highly likely”. I haven’t started playing the cabinet shuffle game yet, but I’m sure Obama will have a few changes to make. Replacing Holder would be a great way to calm some turbulence. The question then becomes, when your AG is a “fire and forget” missile like Fitzgerald, who do you target?
@Wordslinger: The Justice League of America is now known as the JLA. In an effort to help boost overseas sales, DC (or more likely Warner Brothers) has been downplaying the “America” part of that for quite a while.