* Tribune…
A day after approving subpoenas for seven former aides to Gov. Pat Quinn in a probe of a troubled $55 million anti-violence program, Democrats today opted to drop two from the list.
Rep. Frank Mautino, the Democratic co-chair of the panel looking Quinn’s Neighborhood Recovery, said he chose not to sign off on subpoenas seeking testimony of Warren Ribley, the former head of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Andrew Ross, Quinn’s former chief operating officer. Mautino said their involvement in the program is outside the scope of a blistering audit lawmakers are examining, one that found the anti-violence program was hastily implemented and had inadequate oversight.
Ribley and Ross were involved with a portion of the anti-violence program that distributed loans to small businesses. The audit primarily focused on grants given to neighborhood groups.
Mautino did approve subpoenas for Barbara Shaw, the former head of the NRI program, as well as Jack Lavin, Quinn’s former chief of staff; Toni Irving, former deputy chief of staff; Malcolm Weems, former head of the Department of Central Management Services; and Billy Ocasio, a former senior advisor.
* The Sun-Times has Rep. Mautino’s explanation…
Mautino said neither Ribley nor Ross factored heavily in the rollout of the $54.5 million program that is now under separate federal and Cook County investigations.
“In talking with the auditor general, he and his auditors unanimously determined they are outside the scope of the Violence Prevention Authority and Criminal Justice Information Authority,” Mautino told the Chicago Sun-Times, alluding to the two agencies that were involved in the implementation of the anti-violence program.
Ribley and Ross “are on two documents of the 55,000” gathered by Auditor General William Holland in connection with the NRI audit, Mautino said in justifying their elimination from the list of those to be subpoenaed.
The Cook County State’s Attorney had earlier subpoenaed DCEO’s files, but that subpoena was eventually withdrawn.
*** UPDATE *** Co-chairman Barickman’s response…
Sen. Jason Barickman: “It’s unfortunate that Democrats would obstruct our efforts to find out what happened,” Barickman said. “We worked diligently with the Democrats yesterday to find cooperation and it’s unfortunate that not even 24 hours later some are changing their tune.”
- walker - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:20 pm:
I wondered why Ribley was on the list.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
Meh, they’ll have their hands full with five. If they pick up a trail, they can always issue more subpoenas then.
- Cassiopeia - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
I think Ross was included by mistake. As Gov office COO he shouldn’t have had any sign off participation on a DCEO grant.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
Cassiopeia, he was with DCEO at the time.
- Cassiopeia - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:44 pm:
Sorry Rich but Andy Ross was hired as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff in March 2009.
He was not at DCEO in 2010.
- Wondering - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 12:51 pm:
I would pay money to see what’s inside Andy Ross’ safe deposit box
- CirularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
So now JumpingJason gets to used the line he practiced yesterday, but could not use. Explains why he was so tongued tied for two solid hours.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
Seems odd that this would not have come up when they were voting on the subpoena’s but I don’t see anything sinister in what Rep. Mautino is doing. Why hear from somebody who isn’t involved and who the AG agrees wasn’t involved?
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
This will still be a wild show - watching these guys all take the fifth - but I’m bummed Andy has been excused from the party.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
If the agreement was made less than 24 hours ago to subpoena all 7, then the agreement should be honored by Mr. Mautino. Otherwise it looks like someone pressured Mr. Mautino after the fact to get these two men out of testifying.
If no agreement was made, then this is a moot point and Mr. Barickman should not be making claims there ever was an agreement.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
Someday, the politics of voter suppression will be seen for what it is.
The need to do something, to do ANYTHING, to try and stop the senseless shooting and killing in the inner city that occurs every day will become the story, and will be reported not in body counts on page 8 of your newspaper - but as the challenge of this generation to advance on equality in jobs, opportunities, and in hope for a future not defined by violence and crime.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:48 pm:
And if Ribley and Ross are outside the scope of this investigation, then it is improper to drag them into this. Both Mautino and Barickman need to work together in keeping things on point and staying focused on the task at hand.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 1:58 pm:
Wasn’t Barickman just complaining about the Dems rushing things by expanding the number of subpoenas. I know, I know it really doesn’t matter what they do the party’s will complain about the opposition’ position.
- huh - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
I don’t think there was an agreement. Mautino wasn’t there yesterday and I don’t think the GOP had prepared a list until during the meeting. The GOP seemed truly stunned that the dems were pushing them to invite others.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 2:39 pm:
Cynic — I believe there is more than one party, unfortunately….
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 4:01 pm:
At least someone is standing up to this fishing expedition.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 24, 14 @ 4:39 pm:
–Wasn’t Barickman just complaining about the Dems rushing things by expanding the number of subpoenas.–
Yes, he was.
Everything was going too fast for him, even though the audit came out in February.
For crying out loud, when that audit came out, it should have been red-hot for GOP members on the audit committee.
There are 19 GOP members in a body of 59.
What else are you doing?
Get your game on.