Fitzgerald Not Part of the Combine

The Combine, another word for the Chicago political machine, apparently didn't like Fitzgerald's investigation into corruption in Illinois. They were worried enough to involve Karl Rove.

In a bombshell disclosure before testimony began Wednesday morning in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko trial, a federal prosecutor said a former Rezko confidant was prepared to say that another friend of Rezko was trying to pull strings with White House political director Karl Rove to fire U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and kill his investigation into Rezko.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Carrie Hamilton said Ali Ata would testify to conversations he had with Rezko in 2004 about the power play. The Rezko investigation then was in its early stages.

Ata, a former official in the administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, on Tuesday pleaded guilty in connection with Rezko-related corruption, saying that Blagojevich was present in the room when Ata and Rezko discussed swapping a $25,000 campaign contribution for a job in the administration.

Before the jury was brought into the courtroom Wednesday, Hamilton told U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve that Republican National Committeeman Robert Kjellander was working with Rove "to have Fitzgerald removed."

[From GOP heavyweights reportedly tried to oust Fitzgerald -- chicagotribune.com]

For some reason, Fitzgerald was high profile enough not to be removed at the whim of GOP leaders.