Ex-doorman's crucial clout [Fitzgerald bio]

-snip-

"You've met a hundred guys like Pat," says Tony Bouza, a Los Angeles lawyer who befriended Fitzgerald at Amherst. "Likable, low key, self-effacing, funny ina New York kind of way. But he hasthis amazing brain like no one you've ever known. He's smarter than 99.9% of the people you'll ever meet. ... He didn't like anyone who was pompous or stuck up. He was also an amazingly nonpolitical guy. He really has no hidden agenda except getting at the truth. Pat never liked BS."

In 1988, he became a prosecutor with the U.S. attorney's office in lower Manhattan, where over the next 13 years he put away mobsters named Gambino, indicted Osama Bin Laden and brought in convictions of the blind Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and of the terrorists who bombed the U.S. embassies in Africa. After transferring to Chicago's U.S. attorney's office, Fitzgerald was labeled "Eliot Ness with a Harvard Law degree" when he indicted Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, and two aides to Mayor Richard Daley, a Democrat.

In December 2003, he was appointed as special prosecutor in the Valerie Plame-CIA outing case, which has sent shock waves through Washington where leaking classified government information is considered a daily lunch special. In the world according to Patrick Fitzgerald, this is known as a crime.

"It's kind of odd watching Pat getting all this attention," says Bouza. "But I really can't think of anyone who is better suited for the job. ... Pat would never come after you because of your politics or forpersonal reasons. He could be making a fortune in the private sector doing half as much work. But he loves what he's doing. And he's a straight shooter. So if you come in front of him and you're innocent and tell the truth, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. But if youare in any way guilty of a federal crime, I'd be worried. Especially if you lieabout it. Because I don't care how smart you are, if you're guilty, Pat Fitzgerald's gonna get ya."

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/356835p-303999c.html

What I like best about this article? "... he's a straight shooter."

:bounce:

"He's smarter than 99.9% of the people you'll ever meet. ... He didn't like anyone who was pompous or stuck up. He was also an amazingly nonpolitical guy. He really has no hidden agenda except getting at the truth. Pat never liked BS."

If EVER there was the right man, for the RIGHT time, for the right mission, it is now. Gawd, I love this guy! He is the exact opposite of the Bushites, their perfect nemesis. Fitz even worked through school as a janitor. I have this pic printed and hanging over computer. I wish we had a avatar available of Fitz on DU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Fitzgerald

I hope so!

Thanks for posting it!!!
BHN

Regis was where the real smart Catholic guys went. If I remember correctly it was a Jesuit school.

I still find it remarkable that someone with Fitzgerald's reputation was allowed anywhere near this case.

The only thing I can think of is that they were so desperate to get this issue out of the news that appointing an honest prosecutor was considered less risky than trying to put in some hack.

Not every one can get to go to that school.

Mathematics degree? Harvard Law? If this plays out like we're all hoping and anticipating, this guy will be an authentic American hero for decades to come, and a role model for current and future generations.