Legal News

Blago Wants Genson Back; Patrick Fitzgerald to Stay Put

By Dan Slater

In the case of U.S. v. Blagojevich, could it be Genson v. Fitzgerald after all?

The NLJ reports that the former Illinois governor is trying to rehire spine-eating Eddie Genson (pictured), who reportedly quit working on the case last month because he disagreed with Blago’s media-blitz strategy. Federal prosecutors have until April either to file an indictment against the former Democratic governor or seek an extension.

Meanwhile, it looks like the prosecutor in the case is staying put. NBC reports that Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney in Chicago who brought the criminal complaint against Blago and spearheaded the successful prosecution of Scooter Libby, will remain in the Obama administration, even though he was appointed to the position by President George W. Bush in 2001.

NBC says that Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has recommended that AG Eric Holder keep Fitzgerald. That suggestion, reports NBC, was “positively received,” according to officials at the Justice Department and Sen. Durbin’s office.

Photo: AP

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).