Fitzgerald gets tough with deputy US marshall

[dancingme]

I wish Fitz was this tough with Rove!

A deputy U.S. marshal accused of leaking secrets to the mob has moved to block his admissions to authorities, alleging he was improperly pressured by U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and the FBI's top Chicago boss when they confronted him in FBI offices.

"The pressure was so extreme that my body was shaking and my mind was racing," the deputy marshal, John Ambrose, said in a sworn statement that was part of the court filing.

According to the court filing, Ambrose was instructed to go to the FBI's Chicago headquarters Sept. 6 by a boss who misled him into thinking a white supremacist group had made a threat against a federal judge.
...

Instead, in a closed conference room, Fitzgerald accused Ambrose of compromising the integrity of the Witness Security Program, played an excerpt of a videotape and warned him to cooperate or possibly be charged and lose his job, the motion said. Ambrose said he felt he had no choice but to cooperate and answer their questions.

"Mr. Ambrose felt extreme pressure given the circumstances and surroundings, the stature of the men who were confronting him, and the intimidating nature of the confrontation," the defense said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0704170759apr18,1,2558095.story?coll=chi-newslocalwest-hed

At one point, Ambrose claims Fitzgerald referenced his father, Thomas, who was convicted in the Marquette 10 cop corruption case.
"I told Mr. Fitzgerald that they took a cheap shot bringing my father into this," Ambrose wrote.

Ambrose said Grant told him to "think of your family. Think of your job. You don't want to go to prison."

He alleged Fitzgerald told him: "You've got two choices, either fill in the blanks and cooperate, or possibly face charges and lose your job." Ambrose claims he talked because he felt he "had no choice."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/346275,CST-NWS-ambrose18.article

[Kagemusha]

1. So he was intimidated by the prospect of prison into telling the truth.

Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

[jsamuel]

2. yeah, exaclty

[H2O Man]

4. The poor guy.

How sad is that?

[Kagemusha]

5. Well I don't blame him, it's scary to have Fitz staring you down.

You know that in the prosecutorial world, he is one baaaad dude.

But he really should've argued that the content of his confession was false or something. Saying, "But he stared at me and I broke down and told the truth!" isn't gonna work well.

[H2O Man]

7. I would assume

it would only be scary if one were guilty of something. If you had nothing to hide, then Mr. Fitzgerald would be exactly who you would want staring down at you.

[dancingme]

8. if only we had a camera on Rove

when Fitz was staring him down. :evilgrin:

[hwmnbn]

3. This Ambrose guy was a mole in the Marshall's office....

He got caught tipping off mobsters.

Fitz did what he's supposed to do. I also wish he'd done this with Rove.

[Mandate My Ass]

6. Call the Waaahhhmbulance

This guy is worse than a criminal dirtbag. He's a criminal whining dirtbag who is lucky to still have a job and not be in prison.

[qdemn7]

9. So I'm Confused Here

Was Ambrose just shooting off his mouth to a Friend or a relative? Or was there something more to it?

[Robbien]

10. He is not claiming his statement is false? Just that he didn't want to give it?

Ohh Pleeeease.

[lonestarnot]

11. That Fitzie is one noble character.

[Throwing Stones]

12. hmmm, a deputy US Marshall who didn't know he could ask for a lawyer

or invoke his 5th amendment right? Must have been sick the day they taught that, uh?

[Missy Vixen]

13. We have no idea what happened with Rove

The only indication we may have that it wasn't exactly a lovefest was Rove's description of his last three-and-a-half-hour stint before the grand jury: "It was hell."

In the meantime, Mr. Ambrose has a problem. If the head of the FBI in Chicago and Patrick Fitzgerald are showing up for a little closed-door chat, he's in serious, serious trouble. Compromising the Witness Protection Program? Good one!

Let's face it: Would you want this guy pissed at you?



Julie