Fitzgerald wants to release Blagojevich wiretaps

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald wants lawmakers to hear what Gov. Rod Blagojevich says on wiretapped phone calls.

Fitzgerald filed paperwork Monday to release conversations caught on wiretaps to the Illinois House committee moving ahead to impeach Blagojevich.

Federal prosecutors have asked a judge for permission to disclose a limited number of the intercepted conversations in a redacted form.

Fitzgerald says disclosing four calls wouldn't interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation.

Read more: http://www.wgem.com/global/story.asp?s=9590386

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Why does he want to do this?

To help the General Assembly impeach Blago? Or to slime some politician besides Blago?

[Tempest]

2. My guess is to help impeach Blago

Once he's out of office, Blago can't use legal avenues government officials have available to them to fight charges committed while in office.

[msanthrope]

3. To force a resignation. And to clear some people.

A resignation helps everyone involved. Fitzgerald, too.

Releasing some wiretaps, where Blago details his unsuccessful shakedowns of people, might help them.

Further, it gives the GA some meat to chew on without them frakking up the rest of the investigation.....

It's a smart prosecutorial move, completely within the bounds of reasonable discretion (this crim def attny HO.)

[davsand]

7. I think it is a way of turning up the heat on Blago, too.

They REALLY want that resignation and releasing strategic tapes will help apply a bit more pressure on him. I dunno if it has occurred to anybody on here or not, but Blago does still have the power to "pardon" for as long as he holds that office.

As loopy as he appears to be there is nothing stopping him from issuing some blanket pardon of EVERYONE he ever did business with. THAT would most surely screw the prosecution because once pardoned, they suddenly have zero need to offer testimony about Blago.

I also kind of wondered if they are threatening to go after a conviction on his wife, and if THAT pressure was being applied. Letting tapes out of him talking to her would be a nasty little trick for them...

Just sayin...



Laura

[AZ Criminal JD]

9. These are federal crimes

Blago can only pardon state crimes. He can't pardon anyone involved in this.

[jobycom]

5. Or other possibilities include:

If he feels that someone else, say Obama or Jackson, is being hurt by unsubstantiated rumors, maybe he thinks releasing tapes will clear them. This could be for the sake of fairness, or as part of an agreement to gain testimony from someone else who is maybe feeling overly-cautious out of fear of the media or of Fitzgerald.

Or another possibility--maybe he's trying to silence Blagojevich. Blagojevich is playing a PR game both for his public image and to affect legal proceedings. If he can convince people that Fitzgerald has no evidence or is on a witch hunt, he could poison a future jury or even put enough public pressure on Fitzgerald to water down or even drop the charges, or more likely, as you say, affect impeachment hearings. As a counter, Fitzgerald may want to weaken Blagojevich's PR moves by releasing evidence that counters what Blagojevich is saying publicly. That's not unusual.

Just random thoughts. Who knows? If the tapes are released, we'll know more about what he's up to, I guess.

[eyeontheprize]

11. To taint the jury pool

Conviction might be a problem if the jury goes in with a presumption of innocence.

[byeya]

4. Libby Case: Let him release any tapes and

interview notes in the Libby case first. He's a republican I don't trust and needs replacing.

[HereSince1628]

6. Um, Isn't the trial supposed to be in a COURTROOM?

What the fuck is up with our favorite prosecutor?

[robcon]

8. No. The impeachment trial will be in the Illinois Capitol.

n/t

[spotbird]

12. Redacted tapes?

It seems that St. Fitzgerald has a political agenda after all.

[PassingFair]

10. I think we can kiss Rahm goodbye when those tapes are released...

Roll 'em!

[fjc]

18. I'd take that bet.

[aldo]

13. Investigate Fitzgerald for prosecutorial misconduct

Putzgerald is a Rethug fixer and hitman. Why didn't he wait until he had actual crimes on tape? Obviously he thought that shame would do. But that's not his job, which he failed at.

[no limit]

14. I say release them all

let's clear the air once and for all.

[Festivito]

15. Perhaps Blago should decide, and let that stick with him.

Either let it out, or move out.

[SoCalDem]

16. so much for his court case... EVERY republican who hears them will leak like a rusty bucket

and generously dribble out every little thing that could be twisted into a "controversy" for Obama..

The legislature needs to IMPEACH his ass..and leave the recordings for the courtroom..and then after he's convicted and sent to jail, maybe ALL of them should be released..

[ldf]

17. we certainly got a lot of mileage out of the LAST case...

kkkarl rove is TOAST!

boosh and cheeney are quivering in their boots...

:sarcasm:

all we got was a scooter.

i'm holding my breath. i happen to look good blue.

:shrug:

i'm afraid that fitz has become much ado about nothing.

[JDPriestly]

19. Fitzgerald should either release no tapes or all tapes.

Anything in between could result in a bias one way or the other. Fitzgerald should not put himself up as the judge as to what evidence will be shown -- unless he follows the rules and gives up all of his evidence to Blagojevich who may introduce anything he wants.