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The stone wall
Thursday, Aug 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller I recently sent the governor’s office a Freedom of Information Act request asking for “all documentation which contains the total nmber of federal subpoenas received by all state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, ect., including the governor’s office, since January 1, 2005.” The logic went that if they wouldn’t release the subpoenas themselves, maybe we could at least find out how many they’ve received. It was denied, of course. As you know, this Office cannot confirm or deny the existence of the documents requested. Nonetheless, even if this Office were to have documents responsive to your request, such documents would be exempt from release under Section 7(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act. This is Section 7(1)(a): Sec. 7. Exemptions. I’m thinking about an appeal. Meanwhile, Topinka tried yesterday to turn up the heat on the hiring scandals The Republican challenger for governor said Wednesday she would release the names of unsuccessful candidates for state jobs if she’s elected, and she urged Gov. Rod Blagojevich to do the same.
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- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:04 am:
Good luck getting any information from this administration that is in any way accurate, Rich! When an administration is ran this poorly, the only thing they know for sure is where the key to the Executive Washroom is. Not every FOI request is denied because they know and don’t want to share. Sometimes they are denied because this administration really doesn’t know how to get the answers to the FOI. They are that incompetent.
If they want to use the “we’re too stupid to know how to comply with your request” approach, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be lying.
- B Hicks - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:25 am:
Judy Baar Topinka said hiring for state jobs is not about rewarding “all your little friends and contributors.â€
The hypocrisy IS breathtaking.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:36 am:
Judy Baar Topinka said hiring for state jobs is not about rewarding “all your little friends and contributors.â€
But hasn’t that always been her practice in the Treasurer’s office?
- Just Oberving - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:56 am:
I normally jump at the chance to bash G-Rod, but I don’t think I would want my name released simply because I applied for a job — what if I was currently employed and secretly looking for a new job — its grounds for dismissal.
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:00 am:
Hypocrisy? ARod the Reformer promised “No business as usual” Oh, wait, I guess that could be construed as lying. Good luck on receiving any documents, Rich.
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:01 am:
I meant to write “No MORE business as usual”.
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:08 am:
Judy Baar Topinka said hiring for state jobs is not about rewarding “all your little friends and contributors.â€
It was common practice in Treasurer’s office to hire friends of Judy who were let go from the Illiniois Republican Party. One had to be let go for propositioning young boys on the internet for sex.
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:12 am:
Think ayone will ask the Topinka campaign about political hacks hired into the Treasurer’s office using State Computers to solicit Sex from Young Boys?
- just watching - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:14 am:
Veritas,
I suppose you have some type of legitimate eveidence to back your disgusting claim. or are you just throwing it out there to see what sticks??
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:15 am:
Even better, think Topinka’s running mate, Joe Birkett, will be asked why he handled the case with kid gloves?
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:16 am:
Just Google the name Brad Graven.
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:20 am:
Here’s the link: http://www.dupageco.org/statesattorney/pressreleases.cfm?doc_id=1901
And here’s the text:
States Attorney
February 23, 2005 CONTACT: LAURA POLLASTRINI
(630) 407-8160
Bradley Graven of Sullivan, Illinois Sentenced for Indecent Solicitation of a Child on the Internet
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced that Bradley Graven, 40 (d.o.b. 8/25/64) of RR 2-1 Hedgewood in Sullivan, Illinois was sentenced today to forty (40) days in the DuPage County Jail in Wheaton for Indecent Solicitation of a Child, a Class 3 felony. Graven had pleaded guilty to this charge in October of 2004. At that time, the State dismissed one count of Attempted Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Child, and the case was continued for sentencing. At today’s hearing, the State argued the need for a penitentiary sentence of three years due to the risk to the public and the need for deterrence. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Perry Thompson sentenced Graven to 24 months sex offender probation and forty (40) days in the DuPage County Jail.
In late June of 2003, Graven was charged with Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving a Villa Park Officer who was posing as a young boy in an Internet chat room. During today’s hearing it was learned that at approximately 10:30 p.m. on June 28, 2003, Graven contacted an undercover Villa Park police officer posing as a teenage boy in an Internet chat room. During the course of the chat, the topic of meeting was brought up, with Graven agreeing to meet the “boy” in a drug store parking lot in Villa Park to engage in inappropriate sexual activities. Graven arrived at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, June 29th at the location agreed upon with the “boy”. He was arrested shortly thereafter by Villa Park Police Officers and taken into custody.
“The Villa Park Police Department did an excellent job in identifying this defendant as he was trolling the internet for a child victim,” State’s Attorney Birkett commented. “We believe that this defendant poses a risk to the public and that a sentence to the penitentiary was necessary to deter others. Unfortunately, in this case the trial court did not agree and imposed a sentence of probation and 40 days in the DuPage County Jail.”
Judge Thompson ordered the sentence to be stayed until March 4th.
Return to List of Press Releases
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:24 am:
Notice how the press release completely glosses over the fact taht Graven was an employee of the Treasurer’s office and that he used a State Computer to solicit a Young Boy for Sex.
Notice how the more damning charge of Attempted Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Child was dropped by Mr. Birkett.
- Bluefish - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:59 am:
He was on a State computer at 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday doing this? Do you have evidence?
- DOWNSTATE - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:07 am:
I just love how the Blago-maniacs try to turn this over on JBT.So just to straighten it out Rich has filed a FOIA of the GOVERNOR not JBT and far as some creep getting busted if the person in charge was guilty because someone under them got arrested then there would bo no one in charge.If you want to chase that AROD would of been in jail a long time ago.
- taxmandan - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:23 am:
What is that judge thinking?
- Veritas - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:31 am:
Graven was using a State Owned Laptop. His job required him to travel extensively, and so the Treasurer’s Office provided him with a laptop computer.
For the record, I’m an ardent Conservative Republican and can’t stand Blago. In this case, I happen to view him as the less of two evils.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:35 am:
Did Topinka fire the perv? Did she know he was a perv when he was hired? Did she try to cover it up?
This could happen to any employer. Move on, Veritas.
- Ron - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:26 pm:
Wow, that’s old news Veritas. Now tell your boss to get down to the Metro East!
- Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:57 pm:
Yellow Dog. I never thought this day would come, but I am in 100% agreement with your comment;)
- Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 1:01 pm:
Veritas - You are comparing apples and oranges when it comes to hiring at the state level. Topinka has what, maybe a few hundred employees? Crap, Blago and gang put that many hacks into DCEO in less than a year, starting with the very top spot (a Rezko boy).
- Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 2:15 pm:
About seven years ago, the school I work at hired a math teacher. This math teacher forged documents that led to his hire. He was probably the best math teacher I ever had… but he didn’t have a degree or certification. After recieving information back from the state saying that we have no records of this guy, he was immediantly dismissed… as in the principal found him in the middle of an assembly and he walked out the door never to be seen again. Now, is that the principal’s fault that this happened or anybody else’s fault? I don’t think so. So, she hired a perv. But she didn’t know. And if she did know, then she doesn’t deserve to be governor.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 2:17 pm:
Let’s get back to the topic at hand, shall we?
- one of the 35 - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 2:33 pm:
Rich: Please pursue the appeal.
- Justice - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 3:16 pm:
I got a subpoena for all records I had in my possession regarding circumvention of Rutan, circumvention of Veterans Preference, harassment, intimidation and such. I just last week supplied the Grand Jury with a complete diary and DETAILED, guaranteed to hang their ass emails. Their names are Lon Monk, Joe Handley, Greenlee, Norton, Doubet, Fishel. Facts boys and girls…..facts!!!
- Shallow Pharnyx - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 3:47 pm:
Justice,
You have Greenlee?! What about Filan, Ostro or Kraus? Please be more specific re the e-mails.
Thanks.
- Slap Me - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 4:05 pm:
Justice, those names have been bantered about before over the past year. What’s really new? How about the wire worn in high level staff meetings?
- Jack-o-Latern - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 4:16 pm:
Rich, I’m with one of the 35, pursue the appeal. Would love to see what they are desperately hiding.
- chinman - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 4:20 pm:
thank you justice.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 4:40 pm:
I’m talking to lawyers about it.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 5:18 pm:
Rich, go for it. These fools didn’t even cite the most appropriate section of the FOIA in their response. Just for grins in your appeal, ask them to cite the specific laws which prohibit them from releasing the subpoenas or which regulations are applicable. That could be Pulitzer Prize-quality fiction…
- I Once had a Cousin Named Foia - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 5:22 pm:
Better move fast, Rich. FOIA deadlines and requirements are tricky and tight if you want to fight it.
- Ophelia Owen Cox - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 9:01 pm:
have I been banished? Where’s my comment?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 22, 06 @ 11:55 am:
Yes, Ophelia, you’ve been banned. Go away and never, ever return.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 24, 06 @ 2:14 pm:
Ophelia, you can do whatever you want, but I now have three different software screens against you and if those don’t work I’ll just delete all of your posts as soon as I see them. You’re banned. If you’d like me to try to track you down, go ahead and post again.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 24, 06 @ 2:15 pm:
And on that note, comments are closed on this post.