Bernie: And you learned the bad information about him when?
Loncar: Probably about five years ago. The real, yeah this isn’t right.
Bernie: Does this it involve money?
Loncar, Yes of course it involves money. This is Illinois.
Bernie: How so? Somebody giving somebody something?
Loncar: Yes.
Bernie: Like what? Like a bribe or something?
Loncar: Yes.
Bernie: Who was offering that? Was it taken?
Loncar: No, because we stopped it. We were the meddling kids who stopped it.
Reporter: You’re saying the bribe was offered to Lou Lang?
Loncar: Um, y- It was offered — it was spoken to to him and two other senators. Democrats.
Amanda: You’re saying two other senators?
Loncar: Yeah. There were three of them.
Bernie: By a grower? Or developer?
Loncar: Down those lines yes.
Bernie: You wanna say who as long as we’re going this far?
Loncar: Um *long pause*
Rotheimer: It’s your call.
Ives: Maryann, if you don’t want to —
Loncar: You’re dealing with a lot of people who have a lot of money. The truth is you all know the truth.
Hannah: How much money are we talking about?
Loncar: We’re talking about at least 170-something million dollars. Is that enough for everybody to know?
Hannah: That sounds more like —
Reporter: A contractual bribe?
Loncar: No, it doesn’t. We have many people over the years that have written about this. Many.
Bishop: So you said earlier you wanted the cannabis title program to be non-profit. So it’s in this context that this bribe —
Loncar: Yes, the people who had the choice of writing HB1.
Reporter: You’re not talking about contractual arrangements, you’re talking about a bribe to three people of $170 million?
Loncar: Yeah, I’m talking about a meeting at the Capitol. That we weren’t supposed to be privy to, that we weren’t supposed to know about.
Reporter: And they didn’t accept the bribe?
Loncar: This is Illinois. Do I have to bring it back to that we’re the most corrupt state of all of the states?
Tina: But did they accept the bribe?
Loncar: We didn’t give them the chance to accept it.
Hannah: When you’re saying you meddled, what did you specifically do?
Loncar: We went to the news. I went to Andy Shaw specifically and sent him all the information I had on it and he wrote something about it.
…
Loncar: “I have written all of this down and I have documentation.” “Eventually I will release it…I’d like to be able to show all this to
Bernie: And the illegality is often in offering the bribe. If he didn’t take it, then it’s not illegal. If you offer it, it’s illegal. So you’re saying it’s not Lou Lang but somebody else who was illegal.
Loncar: Um, no. I’m saying all of these people were culpable of going that direction. And as advocates when we found out about it we stopped that direction. And this is why I am being targeted. Make no mistake about it.
Bishop: Do you fear for your life?
Loncar: Yes, yes every day.
—
Tina: How did you end up at that meeting?
Loncar: Mike Graham was at the meeting with another individual. I was at a hotel waiting for them to be done.
……
Bernie: And is the person who offered the money for this —
Loncar: They didn’t get a license and they sued.
Bernie: Okay and they’re not in operation now?
Loncar: Nope, they sued because they thought they had worked this legislation. Their lawyer basically said that they earned it.
Bernie: Are they in Chicago?
Loncar: They are up north near Lake County.
Hannah: Do you know if they sued in federal court or county court?
Loncar: They sued downtown. They sued saying that they should have gotten a license and they put a lot into it.
He added that he believed the $170 million was intended as a payment to the state for all of the operating licenses.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
===Bernie: And the illegality is often in offering the bribe. If he didn’t take it, then it’s not illegal. If you offer it, it’s illegal. So you’re saying it’s not Lou Lang but somebody else who was illegal.
Loncar: Um, no. I’m saying all of these people were culpable of going that direction. And as advocates when we found out about it we stopped that direction. And this is why I am being targeted. Make no mistake about it.===
Loncar has no idea what she’s talking about in actual law.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
For something that was so carefully stage managed these last few days, the wheels sure fell off quickly. Did they think through what they want to say here? Did they think through what they can prove? Because this looks more like a smear job than a harassment claim.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
Hannah, thank you so much for putting so much work into this post about a very key piece from today’s action. this makes it much more understandable and helps the discussion. great work.
- Anon - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:31 pm:
A $170 million bribe….
What is that? 4-5x the total annual medical revenue?
How would that much money move around with no one noticing… That alone kind of adds to the absurdity…
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
Did she make it to the elevators before the feds scooped her up? $170 million bribe? Well, I say go big or go home.
Why didn’t the reporters ask her why she didn’t go to the Feds? She mentioned every other law enforcement agency BUT except the Feds.
- RNUG - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
The part that got me is she waited 5 years to report this alledged bribery attempt.
- JoanP - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
What the heck is she even saying? That is one of the most bizarre Q & As I’ve ever read.
“The truth is you all know the truth.” Well, that’s evidence. /snark/
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
Why didn’t she go to the Feds?
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
That she references a well-known “Scooby Doo” line is….not a confidence-builder.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Absurd
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Has anybody located Andy Shaw? He was in Italy recently, if he’s back, he might have something to add to this. In the meantime, did he actually write something about this?
- Honeybadger - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Did they think through what they want to say here? Did they think through what they can prove?
Jeannie Ives was involved… ‘nuf said.
- Memo From Turner - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Somewhere Dan Proft is pounding sand.
- $170 million bribe ? - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Loncar’s alleges civil and criminal violations by legislators.
The Legislative Inspector General is the proper investigative entity.
She will make findings and referrals as appropriate.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
Asked and answered.
https://www.bettergov.org/news/legislator-gets-donations-after-backing-medical-marijuana-law
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
I just hope that this bizarre press conference doesn’t put a chill on the other soon-to-be-brave women (or men) who have experienced inappropriate or sexual harassment in the capital. If they do decide to come forward — and I hope they do — please do not rely on Ms. Denise Rotheimer as your PR agent. You’ll be better off avoiding her and you won’t look used.
- Norseman - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
=== I went to Andy Shaw specifically and sent him all the information I had on it and he wrote something about it. ===
I’ve never known Andy to be shy about corruption allegations. He loves the limelight.
Anyone remember the article about a rebuffed $170 m bribe. I don’t.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
She’s afraid for her life, too afraid to go the police or federal prosecutors, but not too afraid to do a press conference with no security with two hardcore Republican partisans.
- JS Mill - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
=Loncar, Yes of course it involves money. This is Illinois.
Loncar: This is Illinois. Do I have to bring it back to that we’re the most corrupt state of all of the states?=
Until Today I had never heard of this lady so I do not know her at all and have no idea if she is credible or not.
But those two statements above sound a lot like campaign talking points.
This is but a small part of her entire press conference so I don’t want to micro-focus but this bit doesn’t sound right, more like a reach.
Did money change hands for something or not?
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
==That she references a well-known “Scooby Doo” line is….not a confidence-builder.==
Spoken like a true villain. Lou is that you?
haha
- Nick Name - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
===This is Illinois===
Thanks, that solves everything.
- Demoralized - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:42 pm:
This turned into a the equivalent of a bad Twitter diatribe by the President. This went totally off the rails. $170 million?
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:43 pm:
“I just hope that this bizarre press conference doesn’t put a chill on the other soon-to-be-brave women (or men) who have experienced inappropriate or sexual harassment in the capital. If they do decide to come forward — and I hope they do — please do not rely on Ms. Denise Rotheimer as your PR agent. You’ll be better off avoiding her and you won’t look used.”
This is exactly what I worried about and wrote about yesterday. This is cuckoo territory. $50,000 in campaign contributions is not exactly a $170 million bribe. Good grief.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
Lang’s “take” in this bribery thingy, that he’d have to somehow now explain as income is roughly $57 million dollars.
In $100 bills (shoe boxes) it would weigh 1,257 pounds.
Don’t get me started on gold, and who, by happenstance, can launder $57 million in one swoop, or in 10 swoops, or in payments under $10K, or thru any banks?
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
47th Ward
So what happened to the other $169,950,000?
- Norseman - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
47, the article was your standard “follow the money” story about folks donating money to sponsors of bills they want passed. I’ve read tons of these. Nowhere did I see anything on bribe allegations or mention of 170 dollars, much less millions of dollars.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
===what happened to the other $169,950,000===
Some of it had to go to Dan Burke. Did you see that jacket he was wearing?
- DuPage Moderate - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-medical-marijuana-illinois-suit-met-20150225-story.html
Hmmm, bad day to be a lot of people.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
While there will be significant consequences as the direct result of today’s press conference, most of those consequences will be unintended.
– MrJM
- Nick Name - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
===Don’t get me started on gold, and who, by happenstance, can launder $57 million in one swoop, or in 10 swoops, or in payments under $10K, or thru any banks?===
Well, you can go down to the Ozarks and buy a strip club, and get controlling interest in a fishing resort. Just don’t run afoul of the local meth manufacturer. I can totally see Rep. Lang making this work down there. /s
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
Three legislators winning the “lottery”, each winning $56+ million, all at the same time, and no one heard of this lottery game these three they seem to have won?
This is a 9-figure bribe, to three state legislators…
…
… with no evidence but I need to talk to Andy Shaw?
- Illinoisian - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
This is the Lake County company that didn’t get an IL medical marijuana license. Medponics. http://thesouthern.com/news/local/state-and-regional/updated-lawsuit-denver-man-monopolizing-illinois-marijuana-biz/article_f33af3bc-a939-5791-b9e6-4c39d6c0921e.html
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
===Well, you can go down to the Ozarks and buy a strip club, and get controlling interest in a fishing resort. Just don’t run afoul of the local meth manufacturer. I can totally see Rep. Lang making this work down there. /s===
More than fair…
Ok, what about the other two legislators? lol
- Fax Machine - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:50 pm:
Reporters are likely working the phones now. Whether or not this story has legs is if there are other women who testify to creepy or bullying behavior from Rep Lang.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
===Some of it had to go to Dan Burke. Did you see that jacket he was wearing?===
Worth every penny.
- Retired Educator - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
My take is she is about a half loaf short. Money need to change hands for bribery to happen. She admits that it never happened. How much of the other stuff she alleges never happened either. This is a train wreck.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
if there are people who are being sexually harassed, I hope they come forward and are taken seriously. but bullying is not that.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
—Asked and answered.
https://www.bettergov.org/news/legislator-gets-donations-after-backing-medical-marijuana-law—
$50k from cannabis industry. Over 6 years. Even the big number in the article- $6.56m- is over 28 years. At first glance seems huge, less so when taken in context and broken down.
- Centennial - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
==Whether or not this story has legs is if there are other women who testify to creepy or bullying behavior from Rep Lang. ==
THAT determines if the story has legs? Not if legislators are offered millions of dollars in bribes in the Capitol??
- Lawyer - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
2015-CH-03226
Filing Date: 02/24/2015 Case Type: INJUNCTION
Division: Chancery Division District: First Municipal
Ad Damnum: $0.00 Calendar: 11
Party Information
Plaintiff(s) Attorney(s)
PM RX LLC FISHER KANARIS PC
1S WACKER DR #3100
CHICAGO IL, 60606
(312) 474-1400
RELATED CASE 15CH4161
033115 REL 15CH05218
Defendant(s) Defendant Date of Service Attorney(s)
CRESCO LABS LLC
IL DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
NELSON PHILIP ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE
100 W RANDOLPH ST
CHICAGO IL, 60601
(312) 814-3000
Case Activity
Activity Date: 02/24/2015 Participant: PM RX LLC
INJUNCTION COMPLAINT FILED (JURY DEMAND)
Court Fee: 567.00
Attorney: FISHER KANARIS PC
- Chris P. Bacon - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
Bringing up an alleged bribe 5 years after alleged date is not helpful on credibility. And don’t know statute of limitations off top of my head. Although even if not consummated there would in theory still be a possible conspiracy claim. But again, might be too late.
- JoanP - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
“Special interests show their appreciation with political donations.”
And in other news, water is wet.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
High point of Loncar press conference: Ives jumped to the mic to say the presser was about Madigan and bullying and - look at the time ! - I have to go so we’re done here.
- SinkingShip - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
Setting aside her other allegations, which should be investigated and given their proper weight, this reads like a child exaggerating a story that they don’t really understand to people who don’t think it’s cute. Ives and Proft should have punched up the script a bit before going live.
- Arsenal - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
This sketchy bribery story is going to drown out the legitimate MeToo issues.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
“Special interests show their appreciation with political donations.”
Funny thing is, so do individual citizens. Some, like Richard Uihlein, do so in big numbers.
- Gooner - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
Does anybody at all find this credible? Maybe Ives? I can’t believe Proft believed this.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
Loncar now will, at times, clarify this bribery allegation, and how that falls will be a measure to her.
It’s one thing to have to face the challenges of the harassment
It’s another to be scrutinized for a $170 million dollar bribery accusation, that she herself won’t reconcile to prove its validity.
- Wensicia - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
“This is Illinois” and Loncar fears for her life, from something that supposedly occurred 5 years ago?
Lots of drama, very little substance.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:16 pm:
===The part that got me is she waited 5 years to report this alledged bribery attempt.
What is the statute of limitations? I would not be surprised by five years.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
Even adjusting for inflation generously, a $170 million bribe would be by far the biggest in American history, dwarfing the likes of Teapot Dome and Credit Mobilier.
In 2017, total Illinois retail sales of med-mar, among 53 licensees, was $86.2 million.
The $170 million bribe allegation simply doesn’t make any sense, on it’s face, given the revenue derived from med mar.
http://time.com/money/4550043/political-money-scandals-history-presidential-campaign/
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/mcpp/Pages/update01032018.aspx
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
She mentioned talking with Ray and Monique for years so I am sure they can provide a fun overview.
$50K over a number of years does not seem like a big number.
Perhaps IVes should have SingleMom to produce the event. She was wandering around SPI this week palyin’ fake news
- Illinoisian - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
- Lawyer - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
That’s the wrong case. PM RX and Cresco are both from Chicago. Medponics is the Lake County applicant.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:20 pm:
====Don’t get me started on gold, and who, by happenstance, can launder $57 million in one swoop, or in 10 swoops, or in payments under $10K, or thru any banks?
That’s some Marty Byrde magic there.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:21 pm:
What, these three legislators wouldn’t do it, wouldn’t be bribed for anything less than $195 million? That $170 million was just too low?
“You offer $170 million? We said nothing less than $195 million. Let’s walk”
Aaaannnnnd scene.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:22 pm:
If Burke got some of that dough, he owes AA a couple Benjamins because that sport coat blew out the screen in my iPad. /S Totally.
Centennial, of course credible allegations of bribery are gonna have legs. This one isn’t credible. If you don’t understand why, I can’t help you.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
In fear for her life every day and doesn’t go to any law enforcement agency? That just colors the whole thing and makes every claim unbelievable.
- don the legend - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
Substitute Maryann for Merle.
I don’t know much about Merle; I don’t know what he does for a living; what he lives on.
- Nick Name - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:32 pm:
===Ok, what about the other two legislators? lol===
Well they can’t all go to the Ozarks, it would be too obvious. Maybe one to Mar-a-Lago and the other to Reno.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
===Maybe one to Mar-a-Lago and the other to Reno.===
Reno makes sense, buy a stake in a casino, let monthy receipts “grow” for a while, like $56+ million… maybe Australia too?
- ArchPundit -
You forgot, heck we all forgot about building a church…
- A Parent - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:40 pm:
No one is going to bring up the kind of people walking around with $170 million in bribes are so careless that they let a fan of Scooby Doo bungle into their bribery meeting? “Yoikes Scoob. Lou looks pretty angry!” “Ruh-Ro!”
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:40 pm:
–He added that he believed the $170 million was intended as a payment to the state for all of the operating licenses.–
So, that’s quite different than a bribe to three legislators.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:45 pm:
To the update..,
===He added that he believed the $170 million was intended as a payment to the state for all of the operating licenses.===
Now i know why this failed. They should’ve tried this…
“Rep. Lang? You can have our offer now, if you like. Our offer is this: nothing. Not even the fee for the growing or selling, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.”
Worth a shot a guess.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
So Medponics wanted to have a monopoly on all the state’s medical marijuana?
- Lawyer - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
Thank you Illinoisian. I didn’t see the Medponics cook county lawsuit. Found it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:48 pm:
===So Medponics wanted to have a monopoly on all the state’s medical marijuana?===
… and they were rebuffed?
“This is Illinois”
- Nieva - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:50 pm:
Oswego Willy I do remember shoe boxes being involved years ago. Paul Powell I believe was involved. And I love Ozark.
- Digger O'Dell - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:51 pm:
Does this charade have a connection to LTG Evelyn’s remark referring to MM as “harasser in chief”. Much more to this nonsense.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:51 pm:
Ok monopolies are bad, but would someone threaten someone else’s life over trying to get one?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 4:54 pm:
===Maryann was just overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation===
With great respect to Mike Graham and this not directed in any way, especially in a snarky way towards him… but as a statement…
So Loncar decided to exaggerate a moment to make that moment be a $170 million bribery “scam” that Scooby-Doo would say was broken up by meddling kids?
I’m just confused why someone would, even overwhelmed, claim such a bribery instance occurred, then said they have proof they would then refuse to divulge.
I do appreciate the clarification.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
where does Lang go to restore his reputation re this crack pot bribery allegation? Overwhelmed? jeez. but, again, great work, this time Rich, for getting us immediate information on what this crucial part of the story is about. I really appreciate the information so I can understand better what is happening.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:02 pm:
To the update; well, that changes things.
- Pundent - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:06 pm:
So you are witness to a $170M bribe over 5 years ago, say nothing to the feds out of fear and then decide to tell your story to Dan Proft? Sounds about right.
- lost in the weeds - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:07 pm:
“I’m just confused why someone would, even overwhelmed, claim such a bribery instance occurred, then said they have proof they would then refuse to divulge.”
Maybe this is some kind of performance art titled “Scooby Doo Godfather”.
Since I do not want to speculate beyond that I will only say Okam’s Razor might apply here- but which way?
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:08 pm:
Rotheimer’s credibility and professionalism is just about shot with this disaster. No friend or supporter of Ms. Loncar should have EVER put her in front of a camera or press conference. With a little common sense and restraint, today’s result surely could have been anticipated or avoided. Extremely poor judgement.
- Montrose - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:14 pm:
I was worried that the budget being passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote and the governor agreeing to sign it, all well before midnight, would make for a slow news day. Silly me.
- Some Anonymous Dude (S.A.D.) - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:15 pm:
She seriously thought that was a bribe. I don’t buy it. And Lou resigned a leadership position over that. Sad.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:16 pm:
We opened Geraldo’s Al Capone vault and found a plastic flower and some expired Cheetos.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:16 pm:
Breathltaking and hilarious at the same time. Forest Gumpish.
- Cindy Lou - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:16 pm:
I’m really curious as to why DR would drag Loncar out there today with no lawyer representation/advice and guidance.
The whole fearing daily for her life and Ives, DR, and Proft are going to stand with her? I’m sorry, I just can’t. Who prepared this lady for this press conference? If she actually had a ME TOO moment to tell and share this circus took all it’s weight away.
- Han's Solo Cup - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:20 pm:
I wish this moment had occurred:
Reporter: Question for Representative Ives.
Ives: Okay
Reporter: At what point during this press conference did you wish you had not agreed to be here?
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:23 pm:
===So, that’s quite different than a bribe to three legislators.
Emily Litella: Nevermind.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:24 pm:
===You forgot, heck we all forgot about building a church…
I imagine the United Church of Cannabis usage might become a bit of a Producers situation where the money laundering turns into a really profitable enterprise.
- revvedup - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:38 pm:
What in the Wide World Of Sports is a-goin’ on here
??!! That wasn’t a press conference; that was a slow-motion train wreck. Loncar obviously forgot the 1st rule of Scooby-Doo: get a clue. Medponics offered to buy the licenses, not bribing anyone. Ives might be wishing she stayed home, and Lou should consider a lawsuit for defamation of character against Loncar. What a charade!
- Mad Brown - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 5:39 pm:
Thanks, Rich for reaching out to Mr. Graham. As soon as she said his name not once, and more than thrice, I was like ‘Mike Graham’s gonna have some ‘splaining to do.’
I feel for her and I’m sad she’s being manipulated. Who’s abusing the power at this point? DR and DP, a wee bit. In addition to what she’s felt already.
And for all of us who’ve indeed felt the abuse of power in any and all forms… but darn it… to say your lawyer didn’t want you to go…and THEN invoke the stoniest of stonerdom, a Scooby Doo reference?
Overall takeaway - I think ML should wait until AFTER these types of events to partake in the Med-mar. Maybe she’d sampled a wacky strain prior to that ‘bribe meeting.’
- Anon E. Moose - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 6:05 pm:
How many times did she say “warehouses full of cash”?
- Barrington - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 6:39 pm:
I feel for her and I’m sad she’s being manipulated.
Totally agree with this statement by Mad Brown.
- Notorious BFC - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 6:54 pm:
Sadly, the blatant offering of warehouses full of $170 million to legislators in front of rooms full of advocates has become far too common in Illinois.
- Johnnie B Good - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 6:59 pm:
Not certain about the number. My recon people tell me they are all in the 13th Ward . They are all heavily guarded . Trucks are constantly coming and going with what appear to be cases of money.
- Hamlets Ghost - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 7:02 pm:
Andy Shaw is speaking live at an AAUW event in Hinsdale starting at 7 p.m.
Kinda waiting to see if he mentions this topic.
- JS Mill - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 7:04 pm:
Ok, now that the bribe stuff is out of the way what about the allegations of sexual harassment? That needs to be investigated as well.
- Juvenal - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 7:30 pm:
=== Ok, now that the bribe stuff is out of the way what about the allegations of sexual harassment? ===
Let’s Recap:
Yesterday, we were told there was no sexual harrassment, only abuse of power.
Today, we are told that there was not only sexual harrassment, and abuse of power, but The Guinness Book of World Record of Bribes.
Only it turns out that the Bribe was actually an offer to provide state government with revenue.
And the Abuse of Power was…rejecting her lobbying efforts?
Please, lets get to the sexual harrassment allegation.
- RNUG - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 7:30 pm:
== what about the allegations of sexual harassment ==
To which I will position the question Mrs RNUG asked me: “Why didn’t she just slap him? I would have (banned puncuation)”
- James Knell - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 7:41 pm:
These charges seem convoluted.
- Mama - Thursday, May 31, 18 @ 10:11 pm:
This whole thing looks/sounds 100% political. The truth doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
- the Patriot - Friday, Jun 1, 18 @ 8:55 am:
The IL medical marijuana business is the best racketeering scheme since prohibition. Regulation is virtually non existent and without banks now the transactions are almost all cash.
Some use out of state banks which requires interstate money transfers on marijuana which is by the way illegal.
Try calling the Department of Ag with questions, or a FOIA to try to find out who the real person owning one of these businesses is.
It is all secret. Shell corps inside shell corps. You could not trace the cash even if you wanted to.
After several State Legislators refused to return messages regarding specific legal problems created by the bad legislation you realize they already knew, but for some reason don’t care…