The story keeps changing
Monday, Jun 5, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The story shifts yet again.
I really hope they aren’t playing as fast and loose with the G as they have been with the media. Because if they are, some people are going to jail.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s patronage chief routinely met with other hiring officials to discuss job applicants and their political sponsors for positions that were supposed to be free from clout, sources involved with the process say.
Blagojevich aides say they created a complex system to prevent hiring officials from seeing the names of candidates seeking so-called civil service jobs, providing an extra layer of security to ensure politics was not a factor in doling out the jobs.
But even after the system was established, the sources said, patronage officials and others in the governor’s office still knew applicants’ names and discussed their clout at meetings to decide whether to fill positions.
The meetings were going on for at least the first two years of the Blagojevich administration, according to the sources, when the bulk of the jobs were filled.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said meetings were held through March 2004 to decide what positions should be filled at state agencies, not who should fill them.
While not acknowledging that discussions about the identities of job candidates and their sponsors took place, Ottenhoff said there would be nothing improper about it because those applicants would still have had gone through the regular hiring process.
My syndicated newspaper column this week is about this same topic.
But if they weren’t doing anything wrong, then why did they change the way they hired people when the feds started sniffing around?
Shortly after federal investigators launched a probe into Gov. Blagojevich’s hiring practices, his administration overhauled the way it awards state jobs, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
The changes, detailed in documents obtained by the newspaper, drastically scaled back the hiring duties of the governor’s personnel office and chief of staff. They took effect in January of this year — about two months after the feds peppered the governor’s office and three state agencies with subpoenas for job placement records.
Disclosure of the changes comes as Blagojevich fights accusations that job candidates’ political connections, not their qualifications, played roles in hiring decisions in possible violation of the law. No one in the governor’s office has been charged with any crime, and the feds have declined to comment about the hiring probe.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff insisted the changes did not hinge on investigators’ inquiries but were the result of the governor’s success in cutting the state’s payroll. […]
But a flow chart of the system obtained by the Sun-Times shows that Blagojevich’s personnel office and deputy chiefs of staff exercised close oversight of job vacancies, that a closed-door committee met weekly to approve or deny all job postings, and that the governor’s chief of staff had final say on who got all jobs.
A high-level state government source familiar with ePAR, speaking on condition of anonymity, described it as “an early warning system for political hiring” — an assessment the administration flatly denies.
The source said ePAR slowed the hiring process, giving some candidates with political ties time to be placed ahead in line for open positions, including low- and mid-level jobs protected under a U.S. Supreme Court decree called Rutan. Politics is not supposed to play any role in the hiring of such court-protected positions, which make up the bulk of state government jobs.
“It was their opportunity for them to see positions before anyone else knew about them,” the source said of the governor’s office. “When an opportunity presented itself, they made sure their candidates got these jobs.”
The source knew of at least three politically connected candidates who got jobs in part because of ePAR delays in getting positions filled. In one case, a candidate at first was deemed unqualified for a Rutan-protected job but apparently was allowed to reapply. On the second try, the candidate was hired, the source said.
Big trouble, campers. Big, big trouble.
- Schiznitz - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:01 am:
WOW!!! This will leave a mark.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:11 am:
Big trouble, campers. Big, big trouble.
You are right Rich, but are there any Democrats that care? It seems they are willing to sell their souls to whoever to keep this guy in office.
So much for the higher standards we used to expect from Democrats.
- Macbeth - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:18 am:
Funny thing is: NO ONE CARES about this. Voters could care less. And Topinka is silent. (Is she even still around?)
Blagojevich is gonna get away with all this — and he’s gonna get re-elected.
It’s mind boggling. I’m disappointed in Blagojevich for all this — but I’m completely mystified as to why Topinka has slipped completely off the radar. Has she given up already?
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:37 am:
excellent point Macbeth. JBT needs to start hammering away at Blago. She did fine during the Dick Snodgrass farewell show, but how about a radio spot or two? Is she that cash-poor?
- Downstater - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:59 am:
I suspect the Feds are up to their elbows investigating the hiring scandals of this administration. There has been an ongoing imvestigation for over 2 years now. As far as JBT, the election is still 5 months out and she has plenty of time to get her message out. The voting public as a rule has a short attention span.
- Gregor - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:04 am:
It gives me a little hope that some folks working in or with that adminsitration apparently can’t stand the dishonesty either and are providing these tips and leaks of documents to the press and Fitz…
A more cynical view might be that they see the ship sinking already and are making sure they get on the right side of the upcoming investigations and indictments, or, a less likely theory, they are republican spikers in Blago’s organization, undermining everything from within. From what I’ve seen of the Blago operation, I really don’t think he needs the help, frankly.
Either way, cheers to the whistle-blowers, you may be the last fail-safe of a broken, corrupt system. Keep those cards and letters and files and disks coming….
- Cassandra - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:05 am:
Yes, JBT seems to have disappeared again. I have her name on my Google news alerts and she comes up only occasionally.
As the to jobs scandal, voters knew going in that Blago was a part of the Daley machine and presumably shared the Machine’s view of patronage. Even with the federal probe and high-profile trials and plea bargains, the Daley administration is still trying to get Shakman
eliminated via the courts, claiming the problem (of political hiring) is solved!!!
As to Blago, at least theoretically he has solved his problem with the new hiring system.
If in fact it appears that he has reduced or eliminated hires the violate Rutan, will his administration be a priority for the feds? Maybe someday. Meanwhile, Blago was presumably able to
get most of his hires that violated Rutan in place before the system was changed, so he
got what he wanted.
- annoyed all the time - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:06 am:
JBT should be silent because her name was on the GHR records per Fawell.
- DOWNSTATE - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:10 am:
Why should JBT lift a finger right now while AROD is busy hanging hisself.
- Merlin - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:13 am:
What in the world could JBT say better than what every newspaper and news outlet is already saying. If she spent 10 million dollars she couldn’t buy this kind of PR
- SilverBackDemocrat - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:21 am:
This story is “Tired.” The only people who get their “undies in a pinch” is politico’s. Most people understand how dirty politics is; they were alive and well during the Clinton years. The patronage story has run its course and is very, very tired.
- Macbeth - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:33 am:
Will Topinka’s be another one of Illinois’ pseudo-candidacies? Meeks, Eisendrath, Edgar — it’s almost as if these folks know they have no intention of running but simply decide to get out in front and wave their fists at the status quo.
Then they hold a press conference, shake their head, and go back to whatever they were doing before.
Topinka — much as I hate to say it and see it — seems like she’ll be next in line on the stage. Shake your fist, decry the status quo, take the pats on the back, bask in the the ‘atta-girl’ and ‘go-get-’em’ — and then go back behind the curtain.
Is Topinka’s secret that she has no intention of winning? Is it not possible to get a genuine challenger in Illinois politics?
This seems to me to be the end of Illinois politics.
- Jechislo - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:49 am:
Like I said in another post, if Blago had developed an intricate plan to screw up State Government as much as he possibly could in 3 years, he couldn’t have even come close to what has actually happened to State Government since the last election. Internally, the State is crumbling in almost every Agency. But, nobody outside of Government really cares as long as it doesn’t affect them directly. It may not be affecting them right now, but this guys’ policies will negatively affect almost everyone in Illinois eventually. Then everyone will see how disastrous this schmuck really was. And, to top it all off, I’m betting he gets re-elected. If he does we won’t be rid of him for another 6-8 years with all of the grand jury hearings and trials to come when they prosecute ol’ Rod. Rod will do time in prison just like Ryan will do time. Illinois; it used to be a fairly decent State - but not anymore.
- Just a matter of time - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:53 am:
This “tired” story is headed the same way as the City of Chicago patronage trial.
How can anyone listen to the spokespeople of the Governor, and still believe them? Credibility and trust are very rare commodities in the Gov’s office.
- grand old partisan - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:07 am:
At least Ottenhoff had the good sense not to label those who questioned the timing of the policy change as “cynical.†Gotta put at least 3 weeks between usages of that classic.
I’ll tell you what is cynical, though: criticizing JBT for not tripping over herself to kick her opponent when he’s down. What’s wrong with you people?
Judy isn’t stupid. She knows that if she makes this into a talking point too soon, it will taint the story and make it look like a petty partisan attack. Let the media run with it, and preserve the integrity of the charge…..then savage him with it in October.
- respectful - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:14 am:
Surely no one believes the Adminstration’s repeated assertions that politics has not and does not affect state hiring! No one who works for the state thinks it’s true.
- Bubs - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:46 am:
Merlin and GOP are on target. Judy does not need to splash around in Rod’s stinking cesspool at this point in June, since the media is already after him like a pack of Dobermans - just let the story run (and run, and run).
There will be televised debates in the Fall, when the public will be paying attention. Judy will come to them Loaded for Bear.
Besides, this story is now damned serious. There is potentially criminal misconduct being revealed, and there is evidence of flat out lying, and maybe even Obstruction of Justice. If this mess reaches its full potential, the actions of the Feds could make JBT’s comments look like a whiny footnote. Judy is smart to back off until the wheels have ground further . . . and they will.
- DOWNSTATE - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:49 am:
I was told that the best investigative tool police have is the criminals big mouth.Keep talking Democrats.
- Sammy Esposito - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:50 am:
Big trouble — no doubt.
The parallels between this developing scandal and the Sorich case are uncanny. It might be worse for the governor, though. The trail in this one leads to his former chief of staff and best friend, not a humble and largely unknown political bureaucrat.
One senses the G is waiting to see what the jury decides in the Sorich trial. If they get four convictions, the first wave of indictments against the Blago administration is all but assured, probably by Labor Day.
Legal eagles might argue that Rutan and Shakman violations should be settled in civil court, not with grand juries and criminal trials. But Fitz and most of the judges in the Federal Building have already made up their minds on this point of debate. Sorich’s attorney Tom Durkin will have to convince the jury to buy into a legally complex theory.
Who would have thought that Durkin’s biggest cheerleaders might not be in Bridgeport. They’re a few miles north, on the top floor of the Thompson Center.
- B Hicks - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 12:20 pm:
Six months ago, it was shortly after the primary. Then, the legal and political experts, that post here, decided that the indictments would be here by the end of June (quickly approaching). Now they’ll be here by Labor Day or shortly after the general election.
And thereby hangs a tale.
- Making The Wheels Turn - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 12:49 pm:
“And thereby hangs a tale.”
Well, actually there’s been two other factors at play here.
First, the Fed’s wanted to see how the Ryan trial played out. When you go 22 for 22, that’s not too bad.
Secondly, there’s been some recent basic housekeeping by the Fed’s. Don’t know if you all realize it, but all the Chicago FBI just this last week consolidated & opened their new offices in a new building just for them. That’s had a real impact on their existing operations, but now that the giant move is behind them, it’s back to work.
That may seem like a stupid reason, but how many of you guys would be working at top efficency at the same time as going through a complete relocation of your offices.
Rich is onto something with this one.
- Bubs - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 12:56 pm:
The ultimate Glass Half Full is proclaiming political advantage from the fact that your people have not been indicted.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 1:02 pm:
Just remember folks, tomorrow is 6-6-06. If it starts raining blood, none of this will matter. But I suppose Blago and Abby might be saying a few prayers:-)
- Just a matter of time - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 1:05 pm:
I happen to agree with B Hicks on the timing. The more likely order of events is re-election, indictment, impeachment.
- DuPage-Moderate - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 1:28 pm:
I don’t like the guy but what did you want him to do. There was a mass exodus from state government. He needed to hire people to fill a ton of jobs..minus well hire your friends than your enemy.
Sounds to me like ordinary politics. There are plenty of things to bash his one….this one is not one of them.
BTW: has anyone looked into Judy’s hiring?
- DuPage-Moderate - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 1:30 pm:
Sorry of the typos. In a hurry.
- Charlie - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 1:58 pm:
Have you noticed what ePAR spelled backwards is?
- Bluefish - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 2:48 pm:
DuPage Moderate - rather than hiring either your friends or your enemies, Blago should have been hiring people who were qualified to do the job. Instead, he hired hacks who have no clue what to do. Our state is a real mess and you are giving us the excuse it is politics as usual. You are correct in that assessment…unfortunately Blago promised to end politics as usual, hence the reason people like me (a Dem moderate from DuPage) despise this clown.
- ONE MAN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 2:48 pm:
Rich, that was very well written.
- =bubba - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 2:53 pm:
why won’t anyone ask about the hiring of six month temp.in I D O T I know for a fact that these jobs are not rutan exempt. yet you can bet they are being filled by Political hacks.
- frustrated GOP - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 3:19 pm:
Let’s say there’s no indictment before November, Rod wins, then things go South. It’s a stretch but could we be looking at Pat Quinn as Gov. in 2 years? Imagine the fun with that.
I wonder where the leak is?
- DuPage-Moderate - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 3:50 pm:
Fish:
I agree that these positions are being filled by political hacks. However, who else is going to fill these positions. Most of them don’t pay well and why would someone take one of these jobs if they were capable of being that on the chopping block when the administration flips again. Plus, these jobs needed to be filled in short order…as such, who has that time to wait around and interview tons of applicants for the “qualified” person. It may be a reality in the private sector - but in my opinion it is impossible and infeasible to do so in the public sector. I hope I’m wrong - but I haven’t seen anyone provide any evidence to me that I am.
- DuPage-Moderate - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 3:53 pm:
Again, why is nobody talking about Topinka’s hires? Are they waiting for the race to tighten up?
Either way, it will be four more years of a kakistocracy.
- frustrated GOP - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:05 pm:
Come on, how many positions does the Treasurer control? We need to keep this in perspective. The Gov., through the agencies, control a lot of jobs. Now that ISBE is controled by his office even more. JBT hires a few people, With Gov Hair-Job we are talking about hundreds of people hired over others who went through the system many may be vets and would be happy with a decent IDOT job with some good benefits and a pension. Those are the people getting screwed, the folks that are ready to work and looking for a steady income to raise their family, instead we got a guy who’s Chinaman gets them a job and they do enough not to get fired and work and make sure they have vacation time come first part of Novemeber.
- Merlin - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:10 pm:
I would think that the main heat is coming down soon and it will start at the tollways. Specifically, the rewarding of concession contracts at the new toll plazas.
- DuPage-Moderate - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:13 pm:
Are these Vets you describe qualified? Or are they qualified just because they are Vets? If this becomes a big legal deal, it will create a political atmosphere that is impossible to wade (For both Republicans and Democrats). And you said it yourself - Blago had thousands of jobs to fill….and in short order. Who can we expect to fill them? Non-policial hiring is a pipe dream - and it always will be. Theoretically it is great, but it unrealistic.
And just because JBT may not have had the quanitiy of jobs to fill, it still bears looking at who she filled these jobs with…just like Blago.
But I guess this is his fault for saying that he was changing the way the State hired. I never would have made that promise.
- Not A Pinocchio - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:40 pm:
Rich, you know there is not much truth coming from the Governor’s office. Agency Director’s have little to say about the hiring and firing of their employees, they just receive calls from the Governor’s office of who is coming and who is going. It is sad for the taxpayers of this state, especially our senior citizens, who pay the huge salaries of these employees who are so unqualified for their positions.
- shelbyville - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:46 pm:
This opens Lon Monk and crew up to several personal law suits, by those that weren’t hired. I hope a group of them are able to band together and hire an attorney to do this.
It is awfully expensive, but I bet someone will take it on.
- Annon. - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 4:58 pm:
I have seen many IDOT hacks hired - in Rutan protected positions. Where should I report there names? Maybe if state employees in various agencies had a way to give names we could help the feds with their investigation and move the indictment against this administration a little quicker. The current Goobernor needs removed - and quickly.
- looney tunes - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 5:35 pm:
Call the Suntimes.
- Bubs - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 6:04 pm:
Office of the United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois. 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago IL 60604. (312) 353-5300.
Call first thing tomorrow!
- Obscure FM - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 6:06 pm:
Everyone here is so eager to judge and convict without knowing the facts. How sad it is when people are thriving and hoping for the downfall of a fellow human being, politics aside. Vindictive people like you are the lowest of the low. Let the justice system run its course and stop fabricating allegations that you have come to believe in your mind. So to all Republicans and Democrats who are eager to see a fellow man fall…have a coke and a smile!
- Dump_Blagojevich - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 6:17 pm:
Everyone realizes that political cronies are rewarded by the “winner”. But with G-Rod, he’s gone as far as firing engineers at IDOT and replacing them with bumbling idiots who know absolutely nothing about transportation. There’s a doofus working in Collinsville who cannot speak a complete sentence and spells at a third grade level. His title is “Assistant to the District Engineer”. Amazing. The list goes on and on…
- Bubs - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 6:36 pm:
Obscure FM, I can recall a time of naive expressions like yours. I can recall a time when people were derided for even thinking that the worst was possible, and for asking tough questions about it. I can recall a time when people were afraid of the facts, because uncovering the facts could mean the downfall of a sitting government leader.
It was during Watergate.
The people of Illinois, who own the state government, have a right to know what this Governor has done with the power we gave him.
You are very correct. We don’t know the facts.
But we will.
- A Proportionate Response - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 7:50 pm:
Silver Back: The only ones tired of the patronage story are the Blagos. Real tired, I’m sure. But their own actions are what’s perpetuating it so I say let it play as long as there’s still ink in the well and paper in the mill. It’s a big deal because he made it a big deal. He shoulda never locked the Capitol press corps out. Only someone who has something to hide keeps themselves behind locked doors.
Obscure: The facts are these. The Blagos are the ones who started pointing the finger in their blame game and they villainize their targets and make it personal. They’re the goverment machine taking on single individuals. They’ve got to realize they’re living in a glass house and that it gives them no cover and a ugly reflection staring back at them. I’m guessing your heart also bleeds for the whiny celebrities who complain about the tabloids & papparazzi.
The Blagos have tried to intimidate and malign innocent employees from day one. It’s easy to make civil servants who can’t afford Chicago lawyers’ hourly rates the villian and intimidate them into settling or just moving on with their lives. He’s got a PR machine and a stable of Nesslers on borrowed ponies ready to ride in and die on their swords for him.
- Disgusted - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 8:19 pm:
I personally cannot wait for the subpoenas to fly. I only hope the merit comp. employees who have been stiffed for 5 years while union people thrived and legislators are using shenanigans to get themselves a raise post-election, have the nerve to file a class action suit. Don Craven, are you listening????
P.S. I was told by a state supervisor that all merit comp. yearly evaluations will be exactly the same until further notice. So if merit comp. staff thought that their increased work load and good service would be recognized, think again. This way, they have no reason to give you a raise because, according to your evaluation, you haven’t improved for five years. Isn’t this lovely!
- Swami - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 8:20 pm:
You gotta see this.
http://www.rodreport.com/
- Driver - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 8:34 pm:
The feds will not touch blago until after he is re-elected, then he will be indited before his second term ends…fed investigations take a long time.
- Papa Legba - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 8:47 pm:
Two things. I was attacked and marked for elimination by the Blago group for doing poor work. I had never received a bad review and received a National award for the program I developed and managed just six months prior. I tried the civil service/CMS appeals route. All four of my complaints were bounced in one shot for a fictitious reason. My appeals were DOA. I had no chance to further my case unless I hired a $400/hr attorney. Then I was instructed to train my hack replacement. But that’s life in the Blagosphere. Besides, I may have lost the battle but I won the war.
Regarding JBT and her *vanishing* act. As others have said, why pile on it now? It will make her look bad and her message will be lost in the clutter. Using the old adage - give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves. GRoddy seems to be one of those stupid dogs that runs after a rabbit only to get his head ripped off by his leash when it reaches the end.
- Sammy Esposito - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 9:09 pm:
One more thing:
Watch the veteran’s preference angle. There’s an actual law on the books there that may have been violated. Then again, it’s a state law, so the G may need an assist from the AG or a state’s attorney.
- roy slade - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:21 pm:
Here is an easy question for the Feds to ask. We have seen parts of the “master list” describing certain individuals for state jobs. Simply pick out the position titles that are “Routan covered”- and if there is a name and if that person got hired, then politics was involved!
Think about it. If the position hasn’t been posted yet- they don’t even have the “list” (of names, Vets, A grades, etc.). How did they know before the job was even posted or interview being completed, whom would get the job? Only if they had pre-ordained the person prior to posting. (Can you say similar to the Mayors office in Chicago)?
- roy slade - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 10:28 pm:
In case people don’t know- the ePar is sent to the Gov’s office PRIOR to posting (for the various Routan covered jobs).
For MC (management) positions, this administration doesn’t even post its MC vacancies. They have a new “interpretation” (from CMS) that allows them to NOT even post most of their jobs, allowing for no competitive interviews. They simply place the person in the job title without most people even knowing a vacancy occurred.
- Obscure FM - Monday, Jun 5, 06 @ 11:27 pm:
Considering that I am naive to politics, I am man enough to admit this, I still see Blago and Daley getting re-elected despite whats going on. Regular voters seem to careless about whats going on in their world (Jay Leno’s Jaywalking segment is a great example, although it may be staged). As long as Daley takes care of the everyday city services he is in; and for Blago, as long as he is a democrat in a blue state and showcases his ideas through press conferences then people will continue to fall for the press conferences and vote for him. I seriously doubt that your regular voter is following the Sorich trial or paying attention to any of the investigations going on in the governor’s office. If they did anything wrong then the justice system will showcase that and if found guilty then they must pay for their crime.
Until then I personally will not condemn or defend politicians b/c they have a negative stereotype to begin with.
I chose a great time to be a political science major!!
- Not a Fed....but let's all help clean this up - Tuesday, Jun 6, 06 @ 12:13 am:
In terms of the FBI investigations, don’t presume they are on top of all of this. They generally don’t read blogs and I suspect they are learning some new things from the newpapers, even though subpoenas had previously been issued and some interviews have been conducted. It takes awhile to learn up on state practices and procedures, review materials collected, figure out what may be amiss in apparently straight-forward paperwork (most criminals do attempt to cover their tracks, some people lie in their interviews–See Abbys multiple answers), figure out who has information and who to interview next, among other things. All this takes a lot of time and work.
Tips on specific cases, helps a great deal in examining mounds of paperwork and thousands of hires. The best place to provide info confidentially or publicly is to the US Attorney or the FBI in Chicago.
As noted above, US Attorney Address is 219 S. Dearborn, Room 500, Chicago, IL 60604. (312) 353-5300.
FBI Chicago
Room 905
E.M. Dirksen Federal Office Building
219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1702
chicago.fbi.gov
(312) 431-1333
Note as well this recent press release from the Springfield FBI office. Would not recommend this number per se, as it sounds like it goes to Washington and then has to work its way back here.
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
——————————————————————————–
Press Release
May 24, 2006
FBI SPRINGFIELD
FBI CREATES A PUBLIC CORRUPTION WEBSITE
The FBI recently launched a new, national website to enable and encourage the public to report corruption to the FBI. Special Agent in Charge, Weysan Dun, of the Springfield Division, stated “The Springfield Division of the FBI is committed to doing our part to eliminate corruption within Central and Southern Illinois, and we will thoroughly examine all public corruption complaints.â€
Corruption erodes public confidence in governmental operations and undermines the strength of our democracy. The vast majority of public officials are honest and committed to serving their community. However, even a small percentage of corruption and abuse is unacceptable. It does not matter if it is a big city or a small town. The violation and erosion of the public trust is the same.
The FBI is uniquely situated to combat public corruption. The FBI has the skills, training, and resources to tackle complex investigations, including undercover operations. Additionally, the FBI is insulated from political pressure by the fact that the Director of the FBI serves a statutory 10-year term.
The FBI has increased the number of Special Agents working corruption cases. Currently, there are approximately 2,200 public corruption cases pending nationwide. Over the last two years, corruption indictments are up 40%, and FBI investigations have led to over 1,000 convictions of elected or appointed officials involved in corrupt activities, at all levels of government.
The Springfield Division of the FBI is fully engaged in the battle against public corruption. Operation Shattered Trust, investigated by the FBI Metro East Public Corruption Task Force, resulted in the conviction of several officials from the East Saint Louis area. In February of this year, the former Director of the Division of Physical Services for the Illinois Secretary of State was indicted on federal Wire Fraud charges, and for making False Statements. Just this month, the former Executive Director of the Lawrence County Housing Authority was indicted on federal Program Fraud charges.
The FBI needs the public’s help to fight this fight. Support from our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement is valuable. However, our most important partner in this fight is you: the public. Unfortunately, for many reasons, corruption is not always reported. Some may fear retribution. Others may not know where to turn. Because of this, the FBI is working to make it easier for the public to report corruption. While announcing the new website, FBI Director Mueller stressed “that there is a growing intolerance by the American people best illustrated by their willingness to come forward and report abuse of public office. The FBI is grateful for those who come forward to report corruption. That information is critical to our work.â€
The FBI has established a new website to enable and encourage the public to send information about public corruption to the FBI:
reportcorruption.fbi.gov
This website provides instructions on how to report corruption to the FBI, either by phone, or online, using the internet. Through this website, and with help from the public, we will continue to build on our efforts to root out public corruption.
- Not a Fed....but let's all help clean this up - Tuesday, Jun 6, 06 @ 12:51 am:
The cold paperwork they have doesn’t tell who is who (its big state with lots of players, married names, etc), relationships, qualifications or lack thereof (fluffed resumes and bogus state grading is not easy to track down in each individual hire), movements from exempt positions into non-exempt spots (intern to full civil service position), veterans passed over for positions (is their paperwork really there or did it possibly get misplaced when subpoeas started flying?–feds wouldnt know unless someone who applied and didnt get the job tells them), etc. You get the idea.
Roadmaps and specifics, make or break investigations and cases. See Deepthroat (although that was more a press investigation, than the Bureau’s finest hour). Identity of source rarely matters if the tip is solid and papertrail is there for the subpoena to collect it all up.
If we want to see better Illinois government, seems clear we have to take individual action and personal responsibility to clean this mess up ourselves in small, but collectively powerful ways, rather than continuing to wait for the politicians to really get around to ending business as usual. The time is now while the Feds are paying attention and trying to restore honesty to government.
Hat tip to Rich too, he surely would welcome a cc to his tipline while you are at it!!!!! Email at:
capitolfax@aol.com
- state worker #1 - Tuesday, Jun 6, 06 @ 5:23 pm:
“….Ottenhoff said there would be nothing improper about it because those applicants would still have had gone through the regular hiring processâ€
This is a bunch of bull!!! I know for a FACT a guy at IDOT just showed up last year in a suit and tie and stated that he was supposed to be working at the agency. Phone calls were made and THEN he filled out an application. Administration then rushed his paperwork through. There was never an interview – NEVER. How many jobs do you fill out an employment application after you start working their??????
- girl friday - Tuesday, Jun 6, 06 @ 5:39 pm:
DuPage Moderate (Monday 3:50) – boy are you wrong. I would call a job paying $80,000 (and up) as paying quite well. In addition, some of the positions are ‘newly created’ positions that just duplicate work that someone else is already doing. To get your evidence I would suggest you read the paper and take note of the ‘reorganization’ currently being conducted at a few state agencies.