* This happened while I was on vacation…

A Chicago federal judge has refused to allow attorneys for a failed primary challenger to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan the chance to obtain a copy of a 2014 inspector general’s report detailing the ways Madigan wields clout and influence in Illinois, saying the contents of the report would be of no value to the ex-candidate’s lawsuit accusing Madigan of pulling strings and using underhanded tactics to undercut his candidacy.

On June 14, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly granted motions from Julie Porter, the state’s Special Legislative Inspector General, to quash subpoenas issued by attorneys for Jason Gonzales, to secure a selection of documents, including a copy of the so-called Homer Report.

That report had been published by former LIG Thomas Homer, purportedly addressing allegations concerning Madigan’s influence over hiring decisions at Metra, the Chicago regional commuter rail agency.

“Even if one assumes, for purposes of discussion, that this material contains information tending to show that Madigan used influence derived from his official position to influence Metra’s personnel decisions, that would not tend to make it more likely … that he also used influence derived from his office in connection with the primary election,” Kennelly wrote.

“And even if it did, the proposition that because Madigan used influence gained from his official position vis-à-vis Metra, it is more likely that he also did so in connection with the primary election likely would involve an inference prohibited under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b).”

* Meanwhile…

Cicero Town President Larry Dominick is alleging the attorney for a failed primary challenger to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is claiming in federal court Madigan pulled strings to undercut his candidacy, is playing to the media and engaging in other dirty tricks to force Dominick to answer questions in a deposition about Madigan’s power.

On June 21, Dominick’s attorneys filed papers in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, contesting a subpoena from Jason Gonzales to depose Dominick. Gonzales lost to Madigan in the 2016 Democratic Primary Election, and has a suit going against Madigan and Madigan’s allies alleging Madigan used “political favors, control of campaign funds and precinct captains to discredit Gonzales.” […]

Gonzales’ attorney, Anthony Peraica, is claiming Dominick can shed light on the 76-year-old Madigan’s influence and methods. Attempted service of the subpoena on Dominick has met with controversy, as the process server was arrested by Cicero police on charges of theft and impersonation of a police officer.

Peraica, of Chicago, called the charges against the process server “false” and then filed a motion asking the U.S. Marshal’s Service to serve the subpoena. […]

The “grudge” to which [Dominick attorney Sean Sullivan] alluded concerns Peraica’s unsuccessful reelection bid in 2010 against Jeffrey Tobolski for the post of Cook County commissioner. Dominick endorsed Tobolski, a Democrat and criticized the Republican Peraica during the campaign. Sullivan noted Peraica was convicted of vandalizing Tobolski’s campaign signs during the election season.

Peraica also pursued two suits – both eventually dismissed – against Cicero on behalf of a person politically opposed to Dominick, according to Sullivan.

* From Gonzales’ attorney…