As the former US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald knows a thing or two about prosecuting government officials.
He oversaw the prosecution of Illinois Governors Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan. Now, after stepping down more than a decade ago, Fitgerald appears to be poised to serve as legal counsel to James Comey, the former FBI director indicted by the Trump Justice Department for allegedly lying to a congressional committee.
“He understands the political ramifications,” said Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley. “That’s probably why Comey picked him.”
In a post on X, Blagojevich Friday said, “Crooked James Comey has hired Crooked Patrick Fitzgerald to defend him.” “Birds of a feather flock together!”
Federal prosecutors in Virginia have charged Comey with obstruction and making a false statement to Congress.
However, court records show the grand jury failed to indict on the second of two counts. Newly appointed acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan brought the case Thursday afternoon, just days before the statute of limitations was set to run out.
In a statement Thursday night, Halligan said the “charges as alleged in this represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level.”
Comey declared his innocence in a video post on Instagram after the indictment was announced.
Halligan, who was on President Donald Trump’s defense team prior to his election to a second term, was appointed following the resignation of acting U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert last Friday after pressure grew from the White House to prosecute Comey.
The prosecution is drawing fire from Democrats. Ranking Senate Judiciary member Sen. Dick Durbin, issued a statement saying, “The Department of Justice has become a political tool of a vengeful President” adding “is there a Republican left in Washington who gives a damn.”
Harold Krent, former Dean of IIT’s Kent College of Law said the allegations against Comey will be hard to prove and will likely be challenged before the case goes to trial. He said Fitzgerald’s role as defense attorney also sends a message that he understands the gravity of the situation. “I think that’s a statement that the rule of law is important,” Krent said.
Quigley said the case comes back to politics, and the President attempting to ruin the reputation of one of his political enemies. “I think it’s a real possibility the president’s using this to put an embarrassment upon him, a great cost upon him. But i also think this is to scare and intimidate,” he said.
Fitgerald, the corruption fighter who came to Chicago to clean up government now has a new role. Ironically, NBC 5’s then chief political editor, Carol Marin, asked him about the possibility he would ever imagine himself as a defense attorney on the day he announced was stepping down.
“Can you imagine me as a defense attorney?” Fitzgerald said before he started to laugh.