Tammy Duckworth’s time under disgraced Governor Blagojevich is coming back to haunt her. Duckworth needs to answer questions about her involvement in retaliating against whistleblowers.
With the trial date set and Duckworth avoiding questions, it makes you wonder what more she has to hide.
A trial date has been set in a whistle-blower lawsuit involving U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
In a case dating to her tenure as a member of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration, the Democrat from Hoffman Estates is alleged to have retaliated against two employees of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
After six years of legal wrangling, a Union County judge on June 2 scheduled a bench trial for April 4, 2016. A pre-trial hearing is set for Aug. 4 at the courthouse in Jonesboro. […]
Allegations outlined in a September 2009 amended complaint say Duckworth, who headed the agency from December 2006 to 2009, violated state ethics rules and inflicted emotional distress on two employees of the Anna Veterans’ Home.
* From the Illinois Republican Party…
On June 2nd, a Union County Judge set the trial date for Rep. Duckworth who is facing charges filed by employees of the Anna Veteran’s Home in Union County for state ethics violations stemming from Duckworth’s attempts to silence reports of wrongdoing and abuse of veterans by caretakers.
According to the suit and documents filed in Union County Court, after firing one of the whistleblowers, Duckworth told the other whistleblower:
“If you do your job and keep your mouth shut and concentrate on job duties, you will keep your job”
The lawsuit, which was filed in 2009, alleges that Duckworth wrongfully terminated one employee and threatened and intimidated another employee for bringing reports of abuse and misconduct of veterans when she was head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The brave women who tried to call attention to problems within the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs should have been commended for their actions. Instead, Tammy Duckworth intimidated them, ordered one woman to ‘keep her mouth shut’ and attempted to fire another. These allegations of outrageous misconduct against Congresswoman Duckworth are extremely troubling. It is time for the Congresswoman to explain her actions and send a clear message that acts of retribution against whistleblowers in government will not be tolerated,” said Nick Klitzing, Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party.
The Republican Party taking the side of state bureaucrats is pretty rich. And the initial “whistleblowing” was about some yelling and a few accusations from a supervisor who made it clear she wanted to get rid of one of the plaintiffs before the plaintiffs actually blew the whistle. Go read the complaint yourself, with the link helpfully supplied by the ILGOP.
Either way, the headlines probably ain’t gonna be good for Duckworth’s US Senate campaign.
*** UPDATE *** It is, however, a bit odd that Duckworth denied the existence of this suit in her 2012 race against Joe Walsh…
Transcript…
Well, first and foremost that’s not true and you continue to say things repeatedly that are not true and you think if you say them over and over again thinking they would be true and they’re not. This is what Mr. Walsh does he tries to distract people from the issue at hand
I’m not sure if it’s much. But it’s not nothing. This trial will have heightened attention. The VA issues have all resonated. We’ll have to wait and see.
The irony of the bureaucrats getting assistance from the GOP isn’t lost on me, but VA stuff is always a sticky wicket.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:04 am:
What everyone is overlooking is the fact that the defendant and the AG spent considerable time trying to have the complaint dismissed and the motions were denied. Duckworth cannot discount the lawsuit as simply the protestations of disgruntled employees. The plaintiffs stated a cause of action that warranted a trial on the merits. Not saying Duckworth will lose at trial, but the allegations have taken on new weight.
Always felt that Duckworth used her “disabled veteran” status too much to further her own career.
Hope this doesn’t sound too mean, but wasn’t she a part of the modern “volunteer” military?
I am all for helping disabled veterans (and unfortunately, a lot of them have not been treated right), but a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…
=== And the initial “whistleblowing” was about some yelling and a few accusations from a supervisor who made it clear she wanted to get rid of one of the plaintiffs before the plaintiffs actually blew the whistle. ===
That’s a distinction the media ignores. Employees who get fired and who then accuse their former employer of wrongdoing are hardly brave whistleblowers.
The “Real Republicans” are not Conservative ideologues, and that faction needs to be minimized, MR. Anon.
Dudn’t Bruce fire a “ho” for whistleblowing and smear a great news reporter? Who’s next?
The bell tolls……
I am all for helping disabled veterans (and unfortunately, a lot of them have not been treated right), but a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…
Please tell me how many construction or industrial workers were injured in Iraq and lost their right leg near the hip and their left leg below the knee from injuries sustained when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents.
Glad you found the update Rich. I was still looking for it. When running against Walsh she repeatedly denied the lawsuit even existed. If Kirk did that the noise of outrage would be deafening.
Lawsuit that is pending over multiple years gets zero press, locally or nationally. A dumb comment by Kirk goes viral. I am assuming this suit has survived a few motions to dismiss so something must be there.
Kirk did get a great news cycle out of the Hines allegations. But I heard that subsequent investigations found nothing serious. Haven’t seen that reported, though.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
==Hope this doesn’t sound too mean, but wasn’t she a part of the modern “volunteer” military?==
She risked her life for us. I’m reading your comment as implying she deserved to lose her limbs. That’s both mean and wrong.
==a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…==
After getting over my disgust with your preceding paragraph, I do agree that it is near impossible to attack a war veteran, especially one so wounded in battle. And this is why both political parties cynically seek them as candidates for public office. Very tough to criticize them politically, and they are good soldiers.
It’ll be quite difficult to convince independent voters that Duckworth cared more about Blago/her own political future than she did other veterans.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
The leaders of the Democratic US Senatorial Campaign Committee see Duckworth as a useful marketing resource. She could be the substitute for former US Senator Cleland, the disabled vet from Georgia.
We have had a lot of disabled American Veterans serve us in the US Senate and House and in BOTH political parties.
There are currently 80 veterans serving in this Congress. There have been thousands of veterans serving in Congress since 1789. Dozens of these men and Duckworth, (the first wounded woman veteran in Congress), have been wounded.
So your comments about Duckworth and Cleland give an impression that Democrats are deliberately searching for wounded veterans “as a useful marketing resource”, as though they really aren’t Congressional material.
Your comments are useless in light of the facts, repulsive in their bias and ignorant of our history. If Republican Bob Dole could use his arm, he’d slap the living daylights out of you.
The bro/ho comment isn’t going anywhere. The more outrage Dems spin up the weirder it gets. I salute and honor Duckworth’s service and sacrifice, but it doesn’t change the fact she’s a terrible candidate who could lose. Her normal MO is stay away as much as possible. That doesn’t work for this one. She should be primaried.
UFR, you’re way out of line calling veterans who lost limbs in the line of duty a “marketing resource.”
We’re Sen. Dole and Sen. Inoyue “marketing resources,” too, due to their injuries received in Italy?
How’s about Sen. Douglas, the 50-year-old Marine volunteer who lost the use of an arm at Okinawa? Boffo marketing?
You dare accuse others of cynicism? You need to have your head examined.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
VanillaMan:
Thank you for criticizing me for a variety of comments that I never made.
Are you a psychic who can read minds? You seem to imply that I defamed her on account of her disability, but I did not.
Apart from her military service, what precisely are Duckworth’s qualifications for public office in general and the US Senate in particular?
For the record, I actually met Bob Dole in 1988 and he posed for a photograph with me. Dole completed law school and served as a local district attorney before he went to Congress. Dole represented his hometown and did not move from place to place in order to find a winnable district.
Dole was a cheerful and gracious man when I met him.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:55 pm:
@Wordslinger:
I know people who have served with Duckworth.
I have also volunteered at the VA Hospital at North Chicago. I have helped to raise funds for the Disabled Veteran’s Olympic Team (Lovell’s Legends).
You need to see someone to remove your foot from your mouth.
Sling, you’re a bit out of bounds with your criticism on this. I do know, like and respect Tammy. Her story was very powerful in marketing her for Congress…twice. She had no experience beyond going to school and serving as a reserve the first time. Her injuries and recovery were extremely compelling. That was what Rahm and Dick Durbin were banking on.
She’s an exceptional lady. She has not been an exceptional Congresswoman. She would have done well to continue serving at the VA. She was very happy there. She doesn’t love campaigning.
She was a lady veteran with terrible injuries she heroically and bravely recovered from. Now she’s a mom too. All of that has been marketed.
Kirk shown his racial bias when he made what he thought was a private comment. The GOP needed to do something to take the negative attention off of Kirk and this is the best that they could come up with. Hopefully the voters will see through the smokescreen and see who the “real” brave woman is. Kirk has had an undistinguished career as a Senator but he’ll have financial support from Rauner but change would be welcome.
Was afraid of that: stirred some people (Wordslinger and Vanillman) up who otherwise read better.
“Free pass politically” That is what I said, and what I meant, no more, no less.
“Volunteer” She didn’t volunteer to fight for me; she probably was looking for an education or just needed a job; too many kids see the heroic stuff, they don’t see the coffins or hospitals.
“Volunteer” Would argue against any of my kids or grandkids volunteering for the military to fight for big oil or religious beliefs; if the USA is under attack like we were in WW1 or WW2, then yes. Propping up countries who do not share our beliefs, and turn around and attack us, NO.
The reality is that our biggest danger is terrorism IN the United States; killing foreign guerillas in their own country doesn’t help us, all it does is waste money, and get our kids maimed or killed.
Done with my rant. I respect your views on things political; I thought this was a political blog…
I agree with part of what you stated in the previous post @Downstate. That said, in no way does that tarnish what Tammy has done for her country or diminish the courage and determination she has displayed since returning home.
- too obvious - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 10:57 am:
Duckworth is a true war hero. Plus she doesn’t refer to women as “ho.” She’ll have my vote.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 10:58 am:
The Plaintiff’s attorney is Richard J. Whitney. As in the 2006 Illinois Green Party candidate for Governor?
- A guy - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 10:58 am:
I’m not sure if it’s much. But it’s not nothing. This trial will have heightened attention. The VA issues have all resonated. We’ll have to wait and see.
The irony of the bureaucrats getting assistance from the GOP isn’t lost on me, but VA stuff is always a sticky wicket.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:04 am:
What everyone is overlooking is the fact that the defendant and the AG spent considerable time trying to have the complaint dismissed and the motions were denied. Duckworth cannot discount the lawsuit as simply the protestations of disgruntled employees. The plaintiffs stated a cause of action that warranted a trial on the merits. Not saying Duckworth will lose at trial, but the allegations have taken on new weight.
- CousinVinny - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:09 am:
Kirk’s best news cycle was blowing up the Hines VA scandal via whistle blowers. This will be a hell of a contrast.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:27 am:
It reeks of politics, so I don’t believe any of it.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:37 am:
The national party organizations have no game. The A-Team players hook up with candidates or the big “independent” funds. Talent gravitates to money.
- A guy - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:41 am:
===Talent gravitates to money.===
Very true. The reverse is also true.
- Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:43 am:
The docket in Union County must be very full if the trial isn’t set to begin until 4/2016.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:44 am:
Always felt that Duckworth used her “disabled veteran” status too much to further her own career.
Hope this doesn’t sound too mean, but wasn’t she a part of the modern “volunteer” military?
I am all for helping disabled veterans (and unfortunately, a lot of them have not been treated right), but a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:44 am:
==She’ll have my vote.==
So you’ve given up on supporting “real Republicans” then?
- nona - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:47 am:
=== And the initial “whistleblowing” was about some yelling and a few accusations from a supervisor who made it clear she wanted to get rid of one of the plaintiffs before the plaintiffs actually blew the whistle. ===
That’s a distinction the media ignores. Employees who get fired and who then accuse their former employer of wrongdoing are hardly brave whistleblowers.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:51 am:
DC, what would you have her do to assuage your discomfort? Grow a new pair legs? Would that make you feel better?
And what does being a “volunteer” have to do with it? She had it coming or something?
- MrJM - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:54 am:
Offered in rebuttal: The Kardashians.
– MrJM
- x ace - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 11:57 am:
Interesting Complaint - Jury May Have Fun - Roller Derby in Little Egypt
- Earnest - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
The “Real Republicans” are not Conservative ideologues, and that faction needs to be minimized, MR. Anon.
Dudn’t Bruce fire a “ho” for whistleblowing and smear a great news reporter? Who’s next?
The bell tolls……
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
I am all for helping disabled veterans (and unfortunately, a lot of them have not been treated right), but a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…
Please tell me how many construction or industrial workers were injured in Iraq and lost their right leg near the hip and their left leg below the knee from injuries sustained when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents.
But you are all for helping disabled veterans….
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
Glad you found the update Rich. I was still looking for it. When running against Walsh she repeatedly denied the lawsuit even existed. If Kirk did that the noise of outrage would be deafening.
Lawsuit that is pending over multiple years gets zero press, locally or nationally. A dumb comment by Kirk goes viral. I am assuming this suit has survived a few motions to dismiss so something must be there.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
I’m not thrilled with the idea of a Senator Duckworth, but I don’t think she’d call me a ho.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
Kirk did get a great news cycle out of the Hines allegations. But I heard that subsequent investigations found nothing serious. Haven’t seen that reported, though.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
==Hope this doesn’t sound too mean, but wasn’t she a part of the modern “volunteer” military?==
She risked her life for us. I’m reading your comment as implying she deserved to lose her limbs. That’s both mean and wrong.
==a construction or industrial worker injured in the same manner isn’t going to get the free pass politically that she has…==
After getting over my disgust with your preceding paragraph, I do agree that it is near impossible to attack a war veteran, especially one so wounded in battle. And this is why both political parties cynically seek them as candidates for public office. Very tough to criticize them politically, and they are good soldiers.
It’ll be quite difficult to convince independent voters that Duckworth cared more about Blago/her own political future than she did other veterans.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
She simply misremembered it wrong.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
The leaders of the Democratic US Senatorial Campaign Committee see Duckworth as a useful marketing resource. She could be the substitute for former US Senator Cleland, the disabled vet from Georgia.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
We have had a lot of disabled American Veterans serve us in the US Senate and House and in BOTH political parties.
There are currently 80 veterans serving in this Congress. There have been thousands of veterans serving in Congress since 1789. Dozens of these men and Duckworth, (the first wounded woman veteran in Congress), have been wounded.
So your comments about Duckworth and Cleland give an impression that Democrats are deliberately searching for wounded veterans “as a useful marketing resource”, as though they really aren’t Congressional material.
Your comments are useless in light of the facts, repulsive in their bias and ignorant of our history. If Republican Bob Dole could use his arm, he’d slap the living daylights out of you.
- Tourés Latte - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 1:59 pm:
The bro/ho comment isn’t going anywhere. The more outrage Dems spin up the weirder it gets. I salute and honor Duckworth’s service and sacrifice, but it doesn’t change the fact she’s a terrible candidate who could lose. Her normal MO is stay away as much as possible. That doesn’t work for this one. She should be primaried.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
UFR, you’re way out of line calling veterans who lost limbs in the line of duty a “marketing resource.”
We’re Sen. Dole and Sen. Inoyue “marketing resources,” too, due to their injuries received in Italy?
How’s about Sen. Douglas, the 50-year-old Marine volunteer who lost the use of an arm at Okinawa? Boffo marketing?
You dare accuse others of cynicism? You need to have your head examined.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
VanillaMan:
Thank you for criticizing me for a variety of comments that I never made.
Are you a psychic who can read minds? You seem to imply that I defamed her on account of her disability, but I did not.
Apart from her military service, what precisely are Duckworth’s qualifications for public office in general and the US Senate in particular?
For the record, I actually met Bob Dole in 1988 and he posed for a photograph with me. Dole completed law school and served as a local district attorney before he went to Congress. Dole represented his hometown and did not move from place to place in order to find a winnable district.
Dole was a cheerful and gracious man when I met him.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:55 pm:
@Wordslinger:
I know people who have served with Duckworth.
I have also volunteered at the VA Hospital at North Chicago. I have helped to raise funds for the Disabled Veteran’s Olympic Team (Lovell’s Legends).
You need to see someone to remove your foot from your mouth.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 3:59 pm:
UFR, good on you. What does that have to do with your contemptuous dismissal of Duckworth and Cleland as “marketing resources?”
- A guy - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 4:21 pm:
Sling, you’re a bit out of bounds with your criticism on this. I do know, like and respect Tammy. Her story was very powerful in marketing her for Congress…twice. She had no experience beyond going to school and serving as a reserve the first time. Her injuries and recovery were extremely compelling. That was what Rahm and Dick Durbin were banking on.
She’s an exceptional lady. She has not been an exceptional Congresswoman. She would have done well to continue serving at the VA. She was very happy there. She doesn’t love campaigning.
She was a lady veteran with terrible injuries she heroically and bravely recovered from. Now she’s a mom too. All of that has been marketed.
- The Dude Abides - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 4:42 pm:
Kirk shown his racial bias when he made what he thought was a private comment. The GOP needed to do something to take the negative attention off of Kirk and this is the best that they could come up with. Hopefully the voters will see through the smokescreen and see who the “real” brave woman is. Kirk has had an undistinguished career as a Senator but he’ll have financial support from Rauner but change would be welcome.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 4:53 pm:
Was afraid of that: stirred some people (Wordslinger and Vanillman) up who otherwise read better.
“Free pass politically” That is what I said, and what I meant, no more, no less.
“Volunteer” She didn’t volunteer to fight for me; she probably was looking for an education or just needed a job; too many kids see the heroic stuff, they don’t see the coffins or hospitals.
“Volunteer” Would argue against any of my kids or grandkids volunteering for the military to fight for big oil or religious beliefs; if the USA is under attack like we were in WW1 or WW2, then yes. Propping up countries who do not share our beliefs, and turn around and attack us, NO.
The reality is that our biggest danger is terrorism IN the United States; killing foreign guerillas in their own country doesn’t help us, all it does is waste money, and get our kids maimed or killed.
Done with my rant. I respect your views on things political; I thought this was a political blog…
- The Dude Abides - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 5:01 pm:
I agree with part of what you stated in the previous post @Downstate. That said, in no way does that tarnish what Tammy has done for her country or diminish the courage and determination she has displayed since returning home.
- Fed up - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 8:46 pm:
Sure looks like Duckworth lied. Merely lied to the voters. Who cares?
As this thread demonstrates, offence is often the best defense–especially when defense is impossible…
- The Snowman - Monday, Jun 15, 15 @ 10:15 pm:
“It’s a bit odd that Duckworth….”
Odd? No, she lied. Plain and simple.