* Sun-Times…
Asked by the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board to explain what he’d done wrong in his relationship with victim rights advocate Denise Rotheimer, [Sen. Ira Silverstein] said: “Inappropriate, maybe some stupid banter.”
Inappropriate in what way, he was asked.
“Maybe some joking around that people might take the other way,” Silverstein said. […]
When pressed, however, he also made it clear he still does not share [legislative inspector general Julie Porter’s] view of his “unbecoming” conduct.
He said he “did not go over every paragraph” of the inspector general’s report and doesn’t know what Porter meant about maintaining an appropriate professional distance.
He didn’t read the whole report?
* Press release from Democratic primary rival Ram Villivalam…
Springfield has been a mess and Senator Ira Silverstein is part of the problem. Voters are tired of business as usual. The fact that Senator Ira Silverstein couldn’t be bothered to read the full report about his own involvement in a sexual harassment allegation is appalling but not surprising. And it’s no wonder he didn’t want to read it. The IG report found he violated the Ethics Act, and described his conduct as a Senator as unbecoming.
After 20 years in Springfield, Senator Ira Silverstein has failed our district. And if he can’t see he’s part of the problem, I’m confident voters will choose effective, ethical, and truly progressive leadership on March 20th.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Another Democratic opponent responds, Caroline McAteer-Fournier…
It is unacceptable that someone who has been a legislator for nearly two decades doesn’t read an Inspector General’s report on his own conduct. I don’t find this to be a ‘joking’ matter. If an investigation finds that one needs ethics counseling the very least that person can do is read the report written by the investigator.
If Senator Silverstein can’t make time for this, I question what else he is not making time for. It’s time for a new independent voice in Springfield.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile…
*** UPDATE *** Video of the event is here.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Also, this is from last week…
Police Chief Jerry Mitchell abruptly stepped down from his post Friday in the wake of a City Hall investigation into complaints of inappropriate behavior involving a female subordinate.
* Today…
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:08 am:
Yeah, this is just getting started.
- Anon_with_a_ymous - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:12 am:
So Ira……liar or stupid? Both?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:24 am:
Your headline appeared on my computer to read Silverstein…Biss…Rauner withdraws”
And I thought: wow, I would have led with Rauner’s withdrawl. That’s a pretty big story.
Then I kept reading. For a second there was hope that this long winter would soon be ending.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:25 am:
If ira loses, maybe he can go to work for rauner…….making toast.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:25 am:
Please voters send Silverstein packing.
This man needs to go away already.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:34 am:
Quick on the withdrawal there for Rauner and company. A lot quicker than admitting David Duke is a racist or that politically-driven assassination by white supremacists is terrorism.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:34 am:
47th. Rich has a lot on his mind …. ‘Cocktails with CapFax’
Sounds like a lot of fun. However I heard “No Political Talk”
Allowed. Lol
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:41 am:
Ira is in a wide field. It might save him. Rauner continues to flounder. Biss will soon have to do something more than claim he’s middle class. It will be fun to watch Biss play defense for a while.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:43 am:
==some joking around that people might take the other way==
I call it having an emotional affair with a subordinate, someone other than your wife.
potato-potahto.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 10:44 am:
That Silverstein interview should be taught in how NOT to respond to allegations of misconduct. He didn’t just leave it alone, he actually went after his accuser.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 11:11 am:
It’s stupid of Ira to say that he didn’t read the whole report, but let’s be honest, Ram V. would have issued an attack no matter what Ira said.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 11:19 am:
Ira did not and does not take any of this seriously. Many observers guessed that was the case but now we know for certain.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 11:31 am:
So they gonna protest every other Dem who has taken money from Hull (going to be a lot of them)
Including
Dick Durbin
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?14020191852
Obama
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?28932656812
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?12950519112
Hillary for America
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?201611239037354833
This isn’t just about taking a shot at Biss is it?
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
“This isn’t just about taking a shot at Biss is it?”
A cynic might think this looks like a ploy to put Biss on the wrong side of the #metoo movement for a news-cycle.
Fortunately, there are no cynics here.
– MrJM
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 1:11 pm:
Ira will (hopefully) have plenty of time to read the whole report on March 21.
- E Pluribus Unum - Tuesday, Feb 13, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
Called some folks up in that district…They all agree Senator Silverstein needs to go, no doubt and this race has a female candidate too. She’s not doing much right now and is linked to the Laurino/D’Amico Chicago Machine camp so that might yet come out. A woman yes but another Chicago Machine person was not getting much love. Told that Ram is hard to trust as his organization endorsed lots of Chicago Machine candidates. Ira is deservedly in a tough spot. He should step down but wants to get his 20 years of state service so he can have health insurance with his retirement. So, he’ll fight. Ram is a weak candidate that has done nothing up there.