* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Anti-violence advocate Denise Rotheimer filed a complaint with Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter Wednesday against the panel Porter answers to: the Legislative Ethics Commission. In her complaint Rotheimer says the eight-lawmaker panel broke state law when they failed to appoint an acting legislative inspector general for three years, leaving dozens of complaints to go unaddressed.
“To allow for that vacancy to remain for three years shows that they are not serious about having these complaints investigated,” she said Thursday. […]
In addition to the new complaint, Rotheimer’s also asking that the commission members recuse themselves from her harassment complaint against state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, since hers was one of the complaints they shelved.
“Why should I feel as though they would take my complaint seriously if they allowed that position to remain vacant for three years,” she said.
These cases are typically handled in anonymity to protect both sides of a complaint, but Rotheimer has decided to forgo that in hopes that it will shed more light on a process that’s been criticized as ineffective and riddled with conflicts of interest in favor of the accused.
Most notably is the fact that Porter must ask the commission before she can investigate Rotheimer’s case against Silverstein. A split vote means the case goes nowhere. This step has been criticized by not only victims and their representatives, but lawmakers on the ethics commission itself.
“There are a lot of people still stuck in the dark, silently suffering because there has been no real reform,” Rotheimer said.
- Oy vey! - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 11:33 am:
I am waiting for Rotheimer to show up at a press conference with Gloria Allred or Lisa Bloom within the next few hours.
- Thinking - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 11:35 am:
So if they give her what she wants, what outcome is she seeking? What does she ultimately want? Just asking.
- Juvenal - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 11:55 am:
=== what outcome is she seeking? What does she ultimately want? ===
Apparently publicity, since we know that complaints are confidential, one assumes it must have been Rotheimer who went to the IPI, right?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
except Gloria Allred and her daughter Lisa Bloom only go after Republicans
- herehere - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/opinion/golden-globes-metoo.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region®ion=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=0
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
Do you think that if Sen. Silverstein gets knocked off the ballot on the signature issue she’ll go away. Filing for Rep and then withdrawing seemed kind of bizarre with all of her recent publicity.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
“except Gloria Allred and her daughter Lisa Bloom only go after Republicans”
Scott Lee Cohen was an exception. He was a Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor until he withdrew.
- Lincoln Square Cookout - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:53 pm:
—In addition to the new complaint, Rotheimer’s also asking that the commission members recuse themselves from her harassment complaint against state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, since hers was one of the complaints they shelved.
“Why should I feel as though they would take my complaint seriously if they allowed that position to remain vacant for three years,” she said.—
Fire up the grill. Where do I even start with this one?
1. Ms. Rotheimer has documented her entire allegation and all of “her bills” on her Facebook pages.
2. Why should anyone take your complaint seriously? Well, first of all you filed your complaint with the WRONG inspector general and then posted the response letter on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/denise.rotheimer/posts/10207529790834160
3. Did Ms. Rotheimer ever filed a complaint with the LIG or is the complaint that is before Ms. Poter the complaint/allegation that was forwarded by the Senate President’s office?
4. Her 15 minute of fame, that is- her efforts to become a state representative are over. She she filed with barely enough signatures and then withdrew her nominating papers bc this sexual harassment process was just too much for her to handle. Then she surfaces with another allegation calling on the LIC to recuse themselves (insert eye roll or take a shot).
5. As a taxpayer, I view her latest complaint as frivolous, a waste of Ms. Poter’s time and another way to get more attention. Honey, do all women a favor and walk away from this situation. You say that Silverstein wanted to meet you in parks, libraries and ice cream shops (or wherever). However, when you were first going to run against Yingling (when the retail store messed up your petitions) you posted on Facebook that you were not going to have a district office because you were going to meet people in your home or in their home. At least Silverstein met you in public places. You stated on Proft’s radio show that he did not touch you. So focus on your health, since this process has taken a toll on your health and walk away.
6. Ms. Rotheimer’s bill had problems and it was opposed by advocates that are respected under the dome. By the message that she released to Rich and her Facebook posts, I think this relationship Sen. Silverstein (who I am not friends with) was an emotional relationship. He gave her attention. He flirted with her. She flirted back. Didn’t she respond to a text at 3am? She replied with inappropriate comments, but she said once stop him or say I’m uncomfortable. No, she continued to text, call and post on Facebook about how he should be respected (she actually said something like that to one of the opponents who commented about the bill on one of her Facebook pages).
When the bill died because of its many issues, something happened and the emotional relationship stopped (or that’s what I think might have happened, but could be wrong bc I wasn’t part of this messed up relationship) and she filed a complaint with the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the agencies under the Governor, which had no jurisdiction.
She obviously knew the LIG existed (office was filled in 2015). But back in the day, she was going to file a LIG complaint against Yingling because of the way he treated her at one of his town hall meetings. So, she knew which IG to file the report with.
7. —Apparently publicity, since we know that complaints are confidential, one assumes it must have been Rotheimer who went to the IPI, right?—
Nah, I would place my money of Proft. She appeared on his radio show and his “newspapers” have covered her story. It appears to be one of those file a complaint, talk about the complaint and hope that there is a published report. Or file the complaint, run to the media and talke about how I was a victim of the system. OR, if the report isn’t founded, then complain about being a victim to the media.
8. Can we move past all of her victim allegations (I’ve actually lost count of how many times she has been a victim), and have the state focus on the real issues. Has the IG even completed her investigation on the original complaint involving Ms. Rotheimer? She needs to walk away and stop interfering with the investigation.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
Whatever her desired outcome is; is the only thing that will satisfy now. I’m sure Porter and the Commission don’t know what the desired outcome needs to be. But I’m not at all certain she knows either…
Start penalizing and she’ll let you know when to stop??
- Chicago_Downstater - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
It’s obviously a flawed system. I think there’s been enough reporting on the issues to support that. Nobody has to like the messenger (i.e. IPI or Rotheimer herself), but I don’t see how this is frivolous. More power to her if she manages to change anything.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
She is as subtle as a steam calliope
- Lincoln Square Cookout - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
—I am waiting for Rotheimer to show up at a press conference with Gloria Allred or Lisa Bloom within the next few hours.—
Nah. Those two ladies represent people before they go public. Ms. Rotheimer has talked too much for Gloria or Lisa to get involved.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
Lincoln Square as to your point #5. Interesting choice of words ‘Honey do all women a favor…’ especially in the context of the discussion