Fitzgerald On Short-List For New FBI Director?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald may be in for a major promotion.
Buzz is circulating that Fitzgerald is on the short-list to replace Robert Mueller as director of the FBI.
Mueller is facing a mandatory retirement after his tenth year on the job.
Fitzgerald prosecuted former governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, media mogul Conrad Black, and former police Cmdr. Jon Burge – who reported to prison Wednesday after being convicted of lying about torturing suspects.
As a special prosecutor, he also led the probe of the outing of CIA Officer Valerie Plame, which resulted in the conviction of Bush administration official Lewis Scooter Libby in 2007.
He gained a reputation as a zealous prosecutor devoted to fighting corruption, although some critics questioned his strong choice of words, such as proclaiming in 2008 that Blagojevich had committed "conduct that would make President Lincoln roll over in his grave."
Fitzgerald's office declined to comment or issue a statement Wednesday about the U.S. Attorney's future plans.
Sources also tell CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine that Fitzgerald is not well-liked in the White House.
