TWO WINGNUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES SHOT DOWN

The Blagojevich scandal has wingnuts in a tizzy and I came across two different explanations of why Fitzgerald took action when he did. One, he wanted to prevent Blago from dragging in Obama and two, he wanted to move before Obama became president because he felt Obama would remove him as USA and that would harm the case.

The Wall Street Journal finds a much less political explanation: The Chicago Tribune broke the story after sitting on it for some time and that forced Fitzgerald's hand.

December 14, 2008, 7:06 pm
The Real Story Behind the Rushed Blagojevich Bust: How the Feds Are Frustrated by Losing (Maybe) Half of Their Case
Cam Simpson reports on the Rod Blagojevich case in Chicago.
Washington Wire, Wall Street Journal

The precise timing of Tuesday’s dramatic, pre-dawn arrest was not dictated by Fitzgerald, nor was it dictated by the pace of Blagojevich’s alleged “crime spree.” It was dictated by the Chicago Tribune, according to people close to the investigation and a careful reading of the FBI’s affidavit in the case.

At Fitzgerald’s request, the paper had been holding back a story since October detailing how a confidante of Blagojevich was cooperating with his office.

Gerould Kern, the Tribune’s editor, said in a statement last week that these requests are granted in what he called isolated instances. “In each case, we strive to make the right decision as reporters and as citizens,” he said.

But editors decided to publish the story on Friday, Dec. 5, ending the Tribune’s own cooperation deal with the prosecutor.