Old slam resurfaces, lawsuit results
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It ain’t beanbag..
A candidate for the Illinois General Assembly is accusing a former Chicago alderman of slandering him while stumping for another candidate at a West Side church last week.
Eddie Winters, a candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives 10th District seat, filed the suit against former Alderman Ed Smith (28th), claiming Smith referred to him as a “wife-beater” who “failed to pay child support and leaves his kids starving.”
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Smith made the remarks while speaking in support of another 10th District candidate, Pamela Reaves-Harris, at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church on Jan. 5, 2014.
“I stand by my statement, because the record shows it to be true,” Smith said in a emailed statement. “Mr. Winters does not want the people to know his true character. The voters have the right to know who he is and his past.”
Winters is backed by Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Bob Fioretti. Similar allegations were made against Winters by a previous opponent, former Rep. Annazette Collins, who was also backed by Ed Smith. Winters denied the allegations at the time. Smith ought to either put up or shut up on these charges once and for all.
The incumbent in the five-way primary is indicted for bribery state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago).
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Jan 14, 14 @ 11:59 am:
I found this story incomplete.
If Smith is going to say “the record shows it to be true”, why can’t CBS explain what Smith means?
Is Smith alleging this comes from a criminal conviction? A criminal complaint? A divorce pleading?
This seems like pretty basic journalism.
BTW, two of the candidates in this race, Antwan Hampton and Pamela Reaves-Harris are scheduled to speak at Northside DFA tonight, provided they can get there from the IFT endorsement session.
NDFA is meeting at Nookies Edgewater, 1100 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago (near Red Line, limited free parking available behind restaurant). Social hour starts at 6 PM and formal meeting starts at 7 PM.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 14, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
Nothing says “pious” like standing in church and alleging to the congregation that someone who isn’t present to defend themselves is a “wife beater” who “leaves his kids starving”.
Stay classy, Ed Smith.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Jan 14, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
Watch for an obnoxious TV reporter pounding on Winters front door asking “When did you stop beating your wife?”
- austinman - Tuesday, Jan 14, 14 @ 12:51 pm:
and this is why Derrick will win