* Twitters…
* Sun-Times…
Republican state Rep. Ronald L. Sandack, a top of ally of Gov. Bruce Rauner, went to police in his hometown earlier this month to report an “Internet scam” — but a report about the incident reveals little about what led Sandack to abruptly resign his seat in the Illinois House over the weekend.
Sandack issued a statement to the Capitol Fax political blog on Sunday saying that “cyber security issues” forced him to re-evaluate his “continued public service” and that he was resigning immediately. But the three-page police report released Tuesday afternoon by the Downers Grove Police Department offers no details about what might have happened to Sandack, as virtually the entire narrative is blacked out.
Disclosing the information “would obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation,” the police said in their response to a Chicago Sun-Times Freedom of Information Act request, also noting that supplemental case reports “have not been completed as of the date of this response.”
Sandack, 52, a former Downers Grove mayor, met with an officer on July 14, 2016, a Tuesday evening, “in reference to a walk-in report of an Internet scam.” The narrative in the police report notes that the incident began on July 7, but the rest of that page and the next are almost completely redacted.
* Tribune…
Asked about Sandack’s resignation, Rauner told reporters he didn’t have much to add.
“I really can’t comment much on Mr. Sandack’s situation. I heard about it yesterday morning, the same time most of you did. I am not sure what all is going on there, so I can’t comment,” Rauner said.
Asked if it was difficult to lose a top ally, Rauner repeated that he could not comment, adding that he has not talked to Sandack.
To be clear here, Sandack was Rauner’s top floor leader and one of his most persistent defenders in the House chamber and in social media.
* Zorn…
The claim that some online mischief maker using tired and predictable tricks drove one of the state’s most prominent lawmakers back into private life sounds more like pretext than explanation.
But explanations are things that Citizen Sandack no longer owes us.
That’s true, but others still might owe us something.
*** UPDATE *** The Sun-Times asked Speaker Madigan about the issue today…
Asked Wednesday morning at a Democratic National Convention breakfast whether Democrats had any role in the cyber attacks that Sandack had cited in resigning, the Southwest Side Democrat replied “No. . . . I’ll let Sandack speak to what his problem is. I don’t know anything about it.”
Sandack had been facing a challenge from Democrat Greg Hose in the November election — a race that might now be more winnable for Democrats with the much better-known Sandack off the ballot.
“Again, I’d leave it up to Sandack to explain his problems,” Madigan said.
- Terry Salad - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 9:59 am:
So, how much money did he send to that Nigerian Prince?
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:01 am:
The story will come out after the elections.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:13 am:
I am quite torn on this story. Sandack is now a private citizen, and anything in his life is now private. Provided he did not break the law. Rauner is clearly upset, he didn’t say anything nice about Sandack, or wish him well. That makes me think he knows something and doesn’t want to be caught saying something positive about Sandack.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:22 am:
In the absence of evidence, people will assume the worst.
- Joe M - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Sandack may be a private citizen now, but what happened to him - or what he did, why in office is still fair game and open to public scrutiny.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Yeah not much can be said at this point. Will something come out later? Maybe, maybe not. As for anyone acting shocked that the police records are so heavily redacted, don’t be. It’s an ongoing investigation and we’re not entitled to know yet.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:32 am:
Joe M - I may respectfully disagree, and I am the last person to ever, ever defend a Republican. That being said, he was a public figure, but he has the right to retain a personal life, and one in which the public or his constituents have no right to know…as long as he did not break the law.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:35 am:
I for one think we need to get off of him. I hope he actually joins the blog here. Paging “Owl”. Come on man, how cool would that be. It would be really great diversity of opinion. Oh, oh there’s a good question of the day Rich. What would people suggest as Ron’s Capfax handle. I call dibs on suggesting Owl, Hooter, Sandman, and for the Pokémon fans, Hoothoot.
- Silent Majority - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:36 am:
To move that quickly from the spotlight to nowhere and blame it on cyber security usually means someone found something you were hoping to hide or found something you thought was buried. Look at Illinois politicians in the past that have made a hasty retreat into private lives…. Usually the storm that follows is impressive…
- Flippy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:37 am:
I was no fan of his, but this could lead to something larger and more serious: elected officials being targeted online and then determining that their only recourse is resigning immediately. That’s scary. Whoever is doing this is undoing a duly democratic and fair election. Who’s next??
- Joe M - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:45 am:
==but he has the right to retain a personal life, and one in which the public or his constituents have no right to know…as long as he did not break the law==
But we can’t know if he broke while in office law unless his time in public office is scrutinized. Otherwise, any politician who did break the law (and there have been many in the news) could just resign, and make everything go away.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:47 am:
To the Post…
…
The gentleman is a private citizen now. He has given up his political career, in his own words, public service for now, and while others have continued to continued innuendo-type narratives about a man who has retired from the field, and did so, so quietly and abruptly, former allies heard the news, and not given the news by the gentleman.
Local authorities are now involved and engaged in an investigation and at some time maybe that public part may indeed come to light.
The only thing owed now, if there is this overwhelming feeling to use the word owed, are the results of the investigation, if there are any, and what steps are next in that process. Even then, if the investigation closes without a finding, are we owed the knowledge of what exactly drove the gentleman to resign? I don’t need to know. The gentleman has retired from the field of engagement.
People’s curiosity is not required to be quenched at the whim of a rumor mill’s turn.
I take the gentleman at his word, and until something of significant substance with absolute credibility of proof emerges to counter his statement, his statement is the only thing of record.
As his statement indicates, and responding to that specific statement, I wish him well.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:54 am:
The very moment you walk off the public stage, your privacy is yours to reclaim. He has.
An explanation is his prerogative. As is the lack of one.
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:55 am:
With a friend like Rauner, who needs enemies?
- Big Muddy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:55 am:
Oswego Willy,
I rarely agree with you, but your post at 10:47 is spot on. Well said.
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 10:59 am:
To Flippy’s comment:
Don’t forget-
“If you go legal on us, we’ll hurt you and your family.”
Who wouldn’t quit when faced with such a choice?
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:22 am:
I respectfully disagree with OW. If he hadn’t mentioned a cyber security issue, I am with you 100%. However, if he was somehow forced out, I think we eventually need to know. To have a duly elected official in effect removed from office by some secret means, that upsets the whole democratic process.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:25 am:
It’s wrong to assume Sandack committed a crime or some moral failing, but the person assuming a fake account to intimidate him into this reaction possibly did commit a crime. I hope law enforcement track down the perpetrator(s).
Rauner could have shown a little support for Sandack, even if he’s disappointed in the abrupt departure.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:28 am:
===To have a duly elected official in effect removed from office by some secret means===
He resigned. And it wasn’t a secret that he did.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:28 am:
How many tens of thousands of Illinois’ most vulnerable families were unwittingly dragged into the political arena by Bruce Rauner and Ron Sandack?
How many Illinois social services agencies were conscripted to serve as a political wedge for the partisan benefit of Bruce Rauner and Ron Sandack?
How many Illinois families and service providers were allowed to say, “My goodness! I’m not sure this reckless, protracted and abusive process is best for my family, so I want out”?
Not a single one.
And now Ron Sandack, of all people, gets to say, “I don’t like being a part of this anymore, so I’m out. Now leave me alone”?
Please.
– MrJM
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:51 am:
I agree with both OW’s and MrJM’s posts. And, I hope Mr. Sandack, as a private citizen who is very familiar with the inner workings of government, will reach out to his former constituents and help undo the damage done by Rauner’s insistence on TurnArounds that turned people’s live upside down.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
MJM, Assuredly, they’d want him out. He’s out. That group existed before he got there, and they continue to exist now he’s gone. I think time will prove it isn’t “all his fault”.
Your yardstick only work on one party?
- illini - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 12:18 pm:
MrJM - ironic, isn’t it!
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 12:20 pm:
===whether Democrats had any role in the cyber attacks that Sandack had cited in resigning,===
Lol, under Madigan’s leadership, the DPI doesn’t use e-mail and probably doesn’t have an ISP. The Speaker probably had to ask somebody what a “cyber attack” was.
- James Knell - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
This is as fishy as the dumpster behind Isaacson’s fish market.
- Rough Rider - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Unusual that it was a walk in.
Getting out in front maybe?
- NSideLady - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
I’ve heard references to his “problems” and mention of his “family.” This is probably something embarrassing and something he doesn’t want shared with the public to protect his family. His family is definitely in my prayers, but as a man and a leader, I’m sure he’s coming to understand that our actions have consequences.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
The story of Gov. Rauner stating he does not know what happened to one of he top legislative people does not pass the smell test.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
He claimed there was a cyber attack. A police report was filed. It was heavily redacted. Never mind, nothing to see here. Probably just Russian hackers.
- CrazyHorse - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
=Probably just Russian hackers.=
Good call. If Sandack were a Democrat, they’d say Putin was behind it.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
It really makes one wonder if he was caught doing something questionable on the Internet while in office and is now pretending he was hacked.
- South Illinoisian - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 5:19 pm:
I think if it was something illegal he is trying to hide, he wouldn’t have wanted any police involvement.
- Mark Twain - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 5:58 pm:
In this case, I did not send a telegram….
- Union Thug Gramma - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 7:45 pm:
From one who lives in this district, don’t let the door hit ya where the lord split ya.
Considering that Republicons don’t resign if it’s money(I thought first, maybe he was caught with kickbacks or something), has to be sex…is there a photo of him in a diaper? S/M? Inquiring minds want to know…since he was so ruthless to seniors and others in his own district.
- Josh - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 7:51 pm:
Time for David Olsen to step up and take Sandacks Place
- DS - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:37 pm:
Excited to see what Hose will do in office