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*** UPDATED x4 - Pritzker campaign responds - Rauner admin responds - McSweeney supports Ives’ call for investigation *** Murashko memo finally surfaces
Friday, Dec 8, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller * Thursday, August 24th Rauner administration press release…
That press release was issued not long after Gov. Rauner told reporters there would be no more major departures. But Murashko’s departure didn’t happen at the end of August, which would’ve been a week later. It happened the very next day. * Saturday, August 26th…
What happened? It’s been the object of much speculation.
That didn’t turn out to be totally true. * I obtained a copy of the memo this morning. Click here to read it. It’s addressed to Gov. Rauner and his then-chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen as a response to their request for info on “best practices for interactions between employees of the Office of the Governor (including the Governor) (collectively, ‘Governor’s Office employees’) and members of the Governor’s 2018 reelection campaign.” I’m told that the governor did not react well to these proposed restrictions, some of which were pretty strict. * Some quick excerpts…  
I’ve asked the governor’s office for comment. *** UPDATE 1 *** Hmm…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Dave McSweeney…
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the governor’s office…
The attachment is here. *** UPDATE 4 *** Pritzker campaign…
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- Thomas Stepp - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:49 am:
Thanks for your unabashed journalistic integrity. I have a feeling that this might not be the last we hear of this said memo.
- Winnin’ - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:52 am:
It is unfortunate that the governor does not react well to people acting ethically.
Very unfortunate.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:54 am:
===…a response to their request for info on “best practices for interactions between employees of the Office of the Governor (including the Governor) (collectively, ‘Governor’s Office employees’) and members of the Governor’s 2018 reelection campaign.”
I’m told that the governor did not react well to these proposed restrictions, some of which were pretty strict.===
So… Rauner, it appears from this, wanted better and more coordination being possible that this memo proposed which on its face is very restrictive.
Interesting and tasty… the response to the memo, if that was written, possibly “complaining” it’s too restrictive would be better fodder to make a case against, but I guess firing Murashko and the timing of the firing is interesting and tasty, but more reflective light and heat then actual burning?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:56 am:
Sorry, “ - Anonymous -“ above is me.
Phone cycled out.
- Macbeth - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:57 am:
Was Rasmussen looking for cover and received something she didn’t expect?
If so, why was she looking for cover?
- Macbeth - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:59 am:
BTW — So … this is like firing Comey to stop an investigation?
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 10:59 am:
==but I guess firing Murashko and the timing of the firing is interesting and tasty==
Methinks there’s more to his firing than just a memo
- Anon221 - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:01 am:
1b kinda works against Rauner’s whole, “I’m not in charge,” claim.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:01 am:
George Ryan called, he wants the warning memo back
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:02 am:
===Methinks===
Ugh.
No. You’re speculating at this point.
If “you think”, then you think it. It doesn’t mean you’re wrong, but it’s not been seen or shown that you’re right.
The memo, the timeline, today, it’s interesting and tasty. That’s all that is “known” now
- Macbeth - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:05 am:
1.b.ii — this seems to be at the heart of well … everything in Rauner’s world.
“Tell me I can’t do this? Then what am I doing here?”
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:06 am:
No way he got escorted out of the building for this memo. This memo may have been the cover for the resignation. You don’t tossed for this. There was another reason for sure.
- 100 miles west - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Illinois ain’t ready for a reform governor
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:08 am:
I’m not sure what the Governor wanted, but I can attest that these restrictions are in place for numerous other political organizations. They’re not terribly onerous if you want to be ethical and above board.
- Nick Name - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:09 am:
===No way he got escorted out of the building for this memo.===
I think the escorting is just for humiliation. That’s how a lot of longtime, loyal staffers were let go in the Great Purge of July: being escorted out by security, just to add insult to injury.
- Macbeth - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:10 am:
—
They’re not terribly onerous if you want to be ethical and above board.
—
… and *govern* instead of perpetually campaigning.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:16 am:
Dennis obviously gave Rauner what he needed to hear as opposed to what he wanted to hear. ‘You’re fired!’
- Flapdoodle - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:21 am:
“interesting and tasty”
I agree with OW that speculation is dangerous when all that is known is that the memo was written. But General Counsels don’t draft such memos without reason, nor do Governors and Chiefs of Staff request them without such. There can be many reasons, of course. Best to bide one’s time until more is known. But yes, definitely “interesting and tasty.”
- Langhorne - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:24 am:
===did not react well ===
Do tell. Memo, in draft form, dated 8/21. He was gone days later.
“The ultimate decision making authority on all questions of the official state business lies with the governor in his capacity as the chief executive of the state.” Governors own. Not madigan. Not I am not in charge.
- Arsenal - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:27 am:
==No way he got escorted out of the building for this memo.==
That’s where I’m at. None of these recommendations are all that onerous, or even surprising. Something else was up.
- northsider(the original) - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:28 am:
Drafting this memo, which is similar to many written in other offices, probably wouldn’t trigger a firing.
Perhaps he was directed to edit the memo, and refused?
- Not It - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Just a reminder that we have a former Governor currently in jail for violating all of the rules contained in this memo.
- Question - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Anyone know where Murashko is working now?
- Juice - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:31 am:
I really didn’t see anything in the memo that goes beyond common sense of how to conduct the business of a government office in the context of a campaign. So if the Governor did not react well, I find that to be a bit troubling for how things have been running for the past three years (though not shocking).
Rich, which prohibitions do you think are pretty strict?
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:36 am:
==No. You’re speculating at this point.==
Not really. There are other issues that have been flagged/hinted at regarding him in the media. I’m sure it will all eventually come out.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:38 am:
In light of Bruce “I will bury her” Rauner’s history, this seems like a very likely explanation.
– MrJM
- illini - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:44 am:
It might appear to many that “If you don’t like the message you have to kill the messenger.” Right?
- Chris Widger - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:44 am:
==In light of Bruce “I will bury her” Rauner’s history==
We commit perfidy when we quote allegations from legal complaints untested in the adversarial trial process. Let’s be better than perfiders, right?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:45 am:
===Not really.===
Yes. Really. Ugh…
===There are other issues that have been flagged/hinted at===
Aren’t those the foundation of speculation? “Flagged” or “hinted at”? Nothing has been shown.
===I’m sure it will all eventually come out.===
Which means you’re speculating and eventually igcwill all come out.
So, let it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:49 am:
- Chris Widger -
“I don’t want any $&@#% problems”…
… then McCann gets a primary opponent.
Rauner is petty. It’s who he is. Others got escorts that weren’t a threat to anything at all, and were only too close to people Bruce and Diana had a beef with.
Rauner is thin-skinned petty.
- Donnie - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:53 am:
==Which means you’re speculating and eventually igcwill all come out.
So, let it.==
You seem awfully defensive about speculating about this, compared to your normal willingnessn to painfully overthink and speculate about numerous other issues on here. Interesting.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:57 am:
“We commit perfidy when we quote allegations from legal complaints untested in the adversarial trial process.”
If you wish to restrict your comments to only those matters tested in the adversarial trial process, you are perfectly free to do so.
– MrJM
- Chris Widger - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:57 am:
==Interesting.==
Is this hinting at an allegation that Oswego Willy is a Rauner supporter/defender? Now there’s a memo I’d like to see.
- Mason born - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Question for the political types, are these normal best practices or extreme?
Just curious.
- Former Hillrod - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 11:58 am:
To me Rauner is a petty,thin-skinned, mean spirited, penny pinching miser. And that is on a good day.
- Former Hillrod - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
I almost forgot… and perfidious.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
==Is this hinting at an allegation that Oswego Willy is a Rauner supporter/defender? Now there’s a memo I’d like to see.==
Moreso the seemingly overprotective nature of Willy regarding Murashko, not Rauner
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
===You seem awfully defensive about speculating about this, compared to your normal willingnessn to painfully overthink and speculate about numerous other issues on here. Interesting.===
No.
What I’m doing is actually, here, today, seeing what HAS come out, and since the memo appears to be different that what was first… you guessed it… speculated…
To to use a quote…
“Don’t wait for it to happen. Don’ t even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.”
It’s interesting that the memo is what it turned out to be.
===Is this hinting at an allegation … is a Rauner supporter/defender? Now there’s a memo I’d like to see.===
Meh, I guess I’ve been called, or speculated, to be worse.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
===Moreso the seemingly overprotective nature of Willy regarding Murashko, not Rauner===
Nope.
How about that the memo that was speculated about turned out to be seemingly different that what others “speculated” and now that that premise is rebuffed, let’s see how what we now know is going to play out.
See… facts.. change premises… because facts…are facts.
- Huh? - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
This memo seems to be straight out of the annual ethics training State employees are required to take. Makes me wonder if someone needed a mid-year refresher from tutor.
- Macbeth - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
Too much radical candor for Rasmussen?
Probably.
BTW — what happened to @RadicalCandor? No tweets for several days. This stuff is overripe — and this memo just adds to the rot.
- Politix - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
Anyone who has taken the mandated annual IL ethics test, as I have for many years, knows these are very basic, rudimentary requirements. Rasmussen may have had a tough time rectifying this with the IPI hat she was so used to wearing.
- Juice - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
To the update, what charge has Murashko leveled?
- crazybleedingheart - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
Shrug. The only “strict” interpretation I see is not being able to talk political business over Taco Bell in the basement on a lunch hour.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
EOIG?
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
The line is always long at that Taco Bell. But the Gov moved his operations out of the JRTC long ago.
- Keyrock - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
That “resignation letter” is consistent with Murashko having been told: “you have 5 minutes to resign before you’re fired.” It sure doesn’t prove much.
- illini - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:48 pm:
Rich - speaking as a long time reader and infrequent commenter, I think we should all Thank You for being the first reporter in this state to break this story. Great work. And thanks again.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:51 pm:
–You appear to have an internal document prepared for internal use — one of dozens of legal memos prepared to provide advice to the office on various topics.–
That’s a feeble attempt of appearing to say something when not saying anything at all.
Your point being?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
===when not saying anything at all. ===
Nope. Read it again. They publicly confirmed its authenticity.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:09 pm:
== It sure doesn’t prove much.==
It proves he agreed to resign. I’m not sure he wants a lot of digging as to why.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
The resignation letter notes his resignation is effective August 23rd but he was escorted from the building on the 25th. Did he continue to work after his resignation?
- Keyrock - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
Anonymous-I’m sure there’s more to the story. But the fact that there is a “resignation letter,” doesn’t prove much, if anything.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:23 pm:
OW - “So… Rauner, it appears from this, wanted better and more coordination being possible that this memo proposed which on its face is very restrictive.”
That is also speculation as you call out other speculation.
Here is some other speculation -
So… Rauner, it appears from this, wanted to make sure his political activity was done ethically as he approaches the upcoming election cycle.
As to why Murashko was fired? One can speculate on that all day.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
R-A-C-C-O-O-N… lol.
===“So… Rauner, it appears from this, wanted better and more coordination being possible that this memo proposed which on its face is very restrictive.”
That is also speculation as you call out other speculation.===
You forgot this…
===…a response to their request for info on “best practices for interactions between employees of the Office of the Governor (including the Governor) (collectively, ‘Governor’s Office employees’) and members of the Governor’s 2018 reelection campaign.”
I’m told that the governor did not react well to these proposed restrictions, some of which were pretty strict.===
That’s Rich’s reporting, and me responding to…
“which were pretty strict.”
… which was from the memo.
(Sigh)
===So… Rauner, it appears from this, wanted to make sure his political activity was done ethically as he approaches the upcoming election cycle===
Why would that make Rauner upset?
It’s Friday, go start the weekend early.