CHICAGO, April 23, 2008
Rove Accused In U.S. Attorney Firing Plot
At Rezko Trial, Prosecutor Says High-Ranking Republicans Wanted Fitzgerald Off Ill. Corruption Probe
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Prosecutors say former White House political director Karl Rove is one of the high-ranking Republican officials who talked in 2004 of having U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald fired, to derail a corruption investigation into the Illinois Governor's administration. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald also served as special prosecutor in the CIA leak investigation (which led to the conviction of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby). (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Who's Who Firings Firestorm Justice Department at center of controversy over firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
Karl Rove, then-White House political director, and Republican national committeeman Robert Kjellander were among those mentioned in the alleged 2004 conversations, prosecutor Carrie E. Hamilton said.
Hamilton said the witness is former Illinois Finance Authority executive director Ali Ata, who on Tuesday pleaded guilty to tax fraud and lying to an FBI agent about Rezko's role in getting Ata his state job.
Rezko is on trial charged with scheming to use his clout with Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration to launch a $7 million kickback scheme. Blagojevich has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Hamilton told U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve, who is presiding over Rezko's trial, that if Ata takes the stand he will tell the jury about conversations concerning an effort to derail the corruption investigation surrounding the Blagojevich administration by having U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald fired.
Hamilton said Ata "had conversations with Mr. Rezko about the fact that Mr. Kjellander was working with Karl Rove to have Mr. Fitzgerald removed."
"Mr. Rezko's explanation, according to Mr. Ata, is that 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 and individuals who have been cooperating in this investigation will be dealt with differently," Hamilton said.
She did not give further details and federal officials declined to say more.
Kjellander, reached by telephone, brushed the claim aside.
"I never have discussed with Karl Rove or any other person on the White House staff the proposition that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald should or could be removed from his office," he said.
Robert Luskin, Rove's attorney, responded to a CBS News request for comment today by e-mail:
"Mr. Rove has known Mr. Kjellandar since college, but does not recall his ever suggesting that Mr. Fitzgerald be removed. Mr. Rove never spoke with anyone at the White House or elsewhere in an effort to secure Mr. Fitzgerald's removal.
"According to the published reports, the contact was allegedly made during 2004, when Mr. Fitzgerald was also serving as Special Counsel in the CIA leaks investigation. During that time, numerous people criticized Mr. Fitzgerald and the conduct of that investigation, but Mr. Rove never took any action that could conceivably be construed as an attempt to interfere with Mr. Fitzgerald's independence."
Prosecutors sought St. Eve's permission Wednesday to ask attorney Steven Loren, who has been on the witness stand for most of this week, about what sounded like talk of a similar plan.
St. Eve described it as a conversation between Loren and Springfield lobbyist-millionaire William Cellini "regarding attempts to conceal the conspiracy."
"Namely, his purported statements that they would have Mr. Fitzgerald removed," St. Eve said. But she ruled Loren could not be asked about such statements, saying they were outside the scope of the Rezko case.
Neither federal prosecutors nor defense attorneys would divulge any more particulars concerning the alleged Loren-Cellini conversation.
Loren was outside counsel to the Illinois Teachers Retirement System, the $40 billion state fund that pays the pensions of retired downstate and suburban school teachers.
Rezko is charged with scheming to pressure kickbacks out of money management firms wanting to invest TRS assets. He also is charged with scheming with attorney Stuart P. Levine to split a $1.5 million bribe from a contractor wanting state approval to construct a hospital in the McHenry County suburb of Crystal Lake.
Levine sat on the state boards that made both decisions.
Hamilton's description of Ata's statements marked the week's second bombshell linked to Rezko's trial.
The first came Tuesday when Ata said in a signed plea agreement with federal prosecutors that Blagojevich was on hand when Ata gave Rezko a $25,000 check for the Blagojevich campaign. Blagojevich immediately asked Rezko if he had discussed the possibility of a job on the state payroll for Ata, according the plea agreement.
Former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, R-Ill., nominated Patrick Fitzgerald - no relation to the former senator - for U.S. attorney. He said at the time he wanted someone who would be independent in investigating Illinois' endemic corruption.
Since coming to Chicago, the New Yorker has sent former Gov. George Ryan and a number of other politicians to federal prison on corruption charges, while the Rezko case has provided numerous political black eyes for the incumbent Blagojevich.
Fitzgerald also was appointed the special prosecutor for Washington's CIA leak investigation in which I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Luskin, who said he talked to Rove after his name came up in Rezko's trial Wednesday, said because Rove was a subject of that investigation, Rove "would have been especially sensitive to doing or saying anything that would appear to be interfering with Fitzgerald's independence."
The firings of U.S. attorneys around the country provoked a backlash on Capitol Hill last year, where lawmakers questioned whether the moves were politically motivated. That undermined the position of Alberto Gonzales, who wound up resigning as attorney general.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 290 Comments
- Yeah, we are going to believe Karl Rove didn''t have anything to do with anything. Lord, what a corrupt administration.
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- Oh, another story about Shrubs brain on the loose. It is time to hang another Nazi. Hey Rove, the oak tree is waiting for you. Remember, it is time for the big FLUSH this fall, McSame, and all of the other RepubliCONs, bye bye. It is time to liberate and take back America. Please vote for change. 1/20/09.
- Reply to this comment
- The following comment was made by Karl Rove--"As people do better, they start voting like Republicans--unless they have too much education and vote Democratic." Think about that statement. What is Rove stating?
Posted by ghostcommand
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YUP! That''s why Bush and Rove Created the EVERY Child left behind Educational System!
DumbF''ers Vote Republican.
Helll - 80% the Republicans still think the Earth is flat! - Reply to this comment
- The following comment was made by Karl Rove--"As people do better, they start voting like Republicans--unless they have too much education and vote Democratic." Think about that statement. What is Rove stating?
- Reply to this comment
- First--President had to withstand a relentless attack for 8 plus years while he was President is an example of telling the Big Lie and keep repeating it over and over and people will believe you--False Accusations. Second--The CA energy crisis scam and the verbal attacks on Governor Davis, then the recall and Davis was not allowed on the ballot. Siegelman of Alaabama, Spitzer of New York, the US attorneys that were fired because they refused to do political hatchet jobs. How many others has this happened to? How many traditional Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and just ordinary citizens been Rat Finged by the so-called Republicans? Are you next? These so-called Republicans are what? Fascist''s? Criminals?
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- I''m sorry Libh8er if I misinterpreted you. but the vast majority of the right wingers do espouse the end time belief system. I still wish that you would reconsider that Nazi belief system. That is what Aryan beliefs are associated with.
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- That what the over the top extremists believe. Posted by lindaredtail at 03:25 PM : Apr 24, 2008
ROFL....what I was referring to is the political and philosophical differences between people who think the country was founded on judeo/christian values, and those who espouse a secular/socialist direction for the country.
Nothing to do with ''end times''...geez - Reply to this comment
- Well, I wish you would adjust your moniker just a tad for those of us libs you don''''t 8ate. :
Posted by AaaBee at 03:34 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Suggestions? I''m all ears! :) - Reply to this comment
- Not all liberals. Posted by LibH8er at 02:16 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Well, I wish you would adjust your moniker just a tad for those of us libs you don''t 8ate. : - Reply to this comment
- Well I had company come for awhile. Now they have left. I printed out all of mudrose''s references and research will show how legitimate that they are.I have very serious doubts about the legitimacy of anything mudrose has to say. I think Libh8er said it. It''s about fighting for beliefs. That what the over the top extremists believe. That the end times began on September 11, 2008 and the battle is with Muslims and other supposed non-believers who don''t accept the idea that Darwin was a Nazi and I don''t. You can equate whatever you want but that doesn''t mean the total adds up to what you believe that it does. I am very glad libh8er that you understand physics and engineering. Because I''m pretty certain that you don''t understand anything else. Just as I''m certain that I will look up these references and find that they''ve been taken out of context by mudrose.
- Reply to this comment
- Well I had company come for awhile. Now they have left. I printed out all of mudrose''s references and research will show how legitimate that they are.I have very serious doubts about the legitimacy of anything mudrose has to say. I think Libh8er said it. It''s about fighting for beliefs. That what the over the top extremists believe. That the end times began on September 11, 2008 and the battle is with Muslims and other supposed non-believers who don''t accept the idea that Darwin was a Nazi and I don''t. You can equate whatever you want but that doesn''t mean the total adds up to what you believe that it does. I am very glad libh8er that you understand physics and engineering. Because I''m pretty certain that you don''t understand anything else. Just as I''m certain that I will look up these references and find that they''ve been taken out of context by mudrose.
- Reply to this comment
- Oh, you spank me so good, Mudrose. Do it again!
Posted by AaaBee at 02:59 PM : Apr 24, 2008
You naughty little minx! :) - Reply to this comment
- Posted by AaaBee
Hey numbnut Moniker man said "you can''''t control people". My retort was if only that were true. Got it numbnut? Point being you are controlled.
Posted by mudrose at 02:21 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Oh, you spank me so good, Mudrose. Do it again! - Reply to this comment
- "We in Germany cannot figure out why you are even bothering to hold an election.
On one side, you have a b/itch who is a lawyer, married to a lawyer, and a lawyer who is married to a b/itch who is a lawyer.
On the other side, you have a true war hero married to a woman with a huge chest who owns a beer distributorship.
Is there a contest here?"
Posted by mudrose at 02:25 PM : Apr 24, 2008
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/ - Reply to this comment
- "We in Germany cannot figure out why you are even bothering to hold an election.
On one side, you have a b/itch who is a lawyer, married to a lawyer, and a lawyer who is married to a b/itch who is a lawyer.
On the other side, you have a true war hero married to a woman with a huge chest who owns a beer distributorship.
Is there a contest here?" - Reply to this comment
- mudrose,
Eugenics...that''''s the one. Yes, I knew the history of Planned Parenthood. Ironic that they are huge supporters of Barry Obama. I guess we''''ve ''''come a long way, baby''''! LOL
Posted by LibH8er
If you look at the Oreo''s Illinois record you will notice that he''s all for partial birth abortion. No qualms about it. Biggest supporters of it. Rev. Wright wasn''t telling us the half of it. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by AaaBee
Hey numbnut Moniker man said "you can''t control people". My retort was if only that were true. Got it numbnut? Point being you are controlled. - Reply to this comment
- That''s something we knew a long time ago. So, charge the *on-of-a-*itch and put him on trial, where he belongs. That Nazi putz creeps me out and it''s time to do something other than give mouth service.
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- mudrose,
Eugenics...that''s the one. Yes, I knew the history of Planned Parenthood. Ironic that they are huge supporters of Barry Obama. I guess we''ve ''come a long way, baby''! LOL - Reply to this comment
- If only that were true.
Posted by mudrose at 02:09 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Do you really believe that?
You would want to control people?
As much as you would want someone to control you?
No. Republicans want the control, they don''''t want to relinquish it.
Posted by AaaBee at 02:13 PM : Apr 24, 2008
How many Republicans are NOT running for re election this November? - Reply to this comment
