|
*** UPDATED x2- Long does radio interview - Long refuses to resign *** House Republicans pull all resources from Rep. Jerry Long’s campaign after harassment investigation, urge him to resign
Thursday, Sep 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller * Late last Friday afternoon and throughout the evening, my phone absolutely blew up with people telling me about allegations of some sort of harassment by freshman Rep. Jerry Lee Long (R-Streator). I eventually figured out that it had something to do with his campaign and on Saturday morning I asked a House Republican Organization official for a response. I was told they were “in the process of gathering facts on a personnel issue” and would discuss it with me the following week. Well, it’s the following week. From House GOP Leader Jim Durkin’s spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
* I reached out to Rep. Long this afternoon and he said he had not yet seen the release, so I read it to him. “No comment,” he said. “I’ll have to look into it. No comment.” The “restrict access to all caucus resources” means Long will receive no resources outside of his legislative district office allotment, which is mandated by law (see the Sam McCann lawsuit stories for what will be withheld). Rep. Long is a Tier One target, so this is a huge blow to the GOP. He’s attracted the ire of the unions because he ran as a pro-union Republican and then flipped on them (at the governor’s behest) once in office. The unions and the Democrats have a ton of precinct workers in that district, so lots of them will now likely be moved to other races, which is also bad for the Republicans. The alleged victim wants to remain publicly unnamed and that’s her right and I completely respect it. Anyone trying to guess in comments will be banned for life. …Adding… …Adding… From Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections…
…Adding… Actually, he can be replaced. I misunderstood Matt when we talked about a different race earlier this month. From Dietrich…
*** UPDATE 1 *** The News Tribune has Rep. Long’s response…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Long did a radio interview this afternoon on WCMY. Click here. He repeated some comments from his official statement. “I can be demanding,” he said. “It’s extremely important to understand that I expect a lot out of people and that’s what the allegation is.” “That you’re an abusive boss, more or less?” the host asked. “Uh, uh, I’m a demanding boss, yes,” Long replied.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
“Anyone trying to guess in comments will be banned for life.”
Yes yes yes and Thank you!
- ILPundit - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
Technical question: if he resigns, can he withdraw and be replaced on the ballot, or is this essentially a pickup for the Dems now?
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:42 pm:
Madigan up to 65 in the House now, if he holds all seats.
Lots of wasted time, money and resources by HRO in this one.
Granted I guarantee there is an incumbent who would love the extra dough and manpower.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
Wow…..
This stuff never fails to shock me.
It’s horrifying
I’m thankful it’s being taken seriously
But it’s horrifying
On a lot of levels
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
Maybe if they worked at things could be worse for the Republicans but I doubt it.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:47 pm:
Long gone.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:53 pm:
“Anyone trying to guess in comments will be banned for life.”
Good.
- Anonymiss - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
“Anyone trying to guess in comments will be banned for life.”
Thank you.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Last day to withdrawal from the ballot was August 30th I believe. Maybe that county is late in producing the ballots but I would say no, his name cannot be taken off the ballot.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
Is there anyone having a worse string of luck over the past two months than Jim Durkin?
- Union Man - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
Its gonna be a long day for Rauner… pun intended.
- SAP - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:20 pm:
Props to Leader Durkin for promptly addressing this.
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
He can still be replaced - a vacancy arising between now and 15 days before the election can be filled within 8 days of the vacancy occurring.
- Me2 - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
So Long.
- The Way I See It - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Unfortunate all the way around. Amazing that with all that gas gone on the last year plus on that front that he would act that way. Have to respect Durkin for biting the bullet and making the tough choice this late in the cycle.
- theCardinal - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
“Long duck gone !” bad twist of movie quote
- titan - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Fax Machine may be right there. 10 ilcs 5/7-61
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
“I’ll have to look into it.”
Like it’s news to him.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
===Fax Machine may be right===
I just read the statute. Hmm. Odd because I asked the State Board about this on another candidate a week or two ago.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
===10 ilcs 5/7-61 ===
That applies to special elections.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:55 pm:
Scott T: Did you read the post? They took the time to investigate this, the action comes after the investigation was completed.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:55 pm:
@Scott Thorsen - You have the HRO investigating and quitting the race as a result of the investigation and Rep. Long offering no comment instead of a denial. Based on what we know this is not the post for the he-man woman-hating club to chime in with a comment bashing the majority of women who come forward with harassment allegations.
- Murray - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
Long’s campaign website is down. Must have been a caucus resource? lol
- wondering - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
Being from Long’s district I would bet that Long could remain on the ballot, blame Madigan and win. He rented to a sex offender, knew it, kept it covered up but claimed Democrats here were Madigan stooges. It worked.
- Not Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:09 pm:
His website is not down. Where did you get that idea at?
- One Time - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:10 pm:
When can we expect the results of the investigation to be released?
How many promises did Durkin just break for Jerry Long’s right to work vote?
- Uncle Merkin - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:13 pm:
You might be a Yednock if you’re knocking doors with the wind at your back today.
- Trapped in the ‘burbs - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:19 pm:
Thank you for providing a forum with integrity.
- Not Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:21 pm:
It also is not sexual harassment. Get some better facts next time before smearing.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:26 pm:
repjerrylong.com is his caucus website - it’s down and he’s been removed from the HRO gallery too. His campaign website is still up.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
===Get some better facts next time before smearing.===
I don’t much care what the root cause is - if your caucus leader has to issue a statement disavowing you as a member and withdrawing all support for your campaign, then you probably did something really bad. But please, go on with the defense. Deal us some straight talk
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
If Long doesn’t step down and withdraw there is no ballot vacancy to fill.
- Huh? - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:42 pm:
You might be a yednock if you included this in campaign literature.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:54 pm:
–At this time I have no intention on pulling out of the race because this just proves that I’m not a part of the “Good Ole Boys ” club.–
Go on.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:55 pm:
To the update,
Well there seems to be a difference of opinion on the allegations. Rep. Long better pray that the victim doesn’t decide to come forward and then allow HRO to release the report. Either way the Representative can enjoy his paycheck until January cause he ain’t winning this election now.
- ILPundit - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:55 pm:
That statement by Jerry Lee Long is 100% word salad. It is proof of how much he needs caucus support, to be honest.
- Bruce - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
I don’t know how, but this has to be Madigan’s fault.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:01 pm:
===Go on.===
Lol. I love it. Let’s hear what Jerry has to say. Pass the popcorn.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:11 pm:
This is a key race. The HRO isn’t running away because of “a difference of opinion.” I’m sure some folks might buy that, but not enough to save his seat.
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:14 pm:
once again, process, investigation, decision. same thing, different result for Lou Lang. Please note Rep. Moylan. You are grandstanding in Maine Township.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:29 pm:
He should just use the ‘Lie & Deny’ strategy.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 6:19 pm:
–“That you’re an abusive boss, more or less?” the host asked.
“Uh, uh, I’m a demanding boss, yes,” Long replied.–
“Abusive” and “Demanding” are not synonyms.
Who are you “the boss” of, anyway? By the looks of you A-1s and D-2s, the House Republican Organization and the state party are running your show.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 6:19 pm:
Rich - 10 ilcs 5/7-61 applies to all established party vacancies
- Reignin Lithuanian - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 7:35 pm:
It’s a Yedknock life for the HRO.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 7:41 pm:
Amalia -
Can you point to an independent investigation in Maine Township?
No, you cannot.
What we saw in Maine Township was the boss’s lawyer saying the boss did nothing wrong. We’ll get an independent review from the Dept. of Human Rights.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 8:42 pm:
Durkie prompt?
Yes when he got the 6 figure spot at DOC for the Kendall Co. Guy. This time nope
- Nagidam - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 8:45 pm:
To the 2nd update:
Nothing like a double, double down that has no merit or truth. HRO does not walk away from a tier 1 race because the candidate is a ‘demanding boss’. In this climate they walk away when there are credible allegations, followed up by a third party investigation, of misconduct of the #MeToo variety. Sorry Rep. Long your 15 minutes of fame are over. Do your party a favor and at least resign the nomination so they potentially can replace you on the ballot.
- Spirit of 76 - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 9:48 pm:
Rich, I noticed you removed the term “sexual harassment” from the original post and replaced it with “some sort of harassment.” Any particular reason why you reported it that way in the first place? Why not make that an update?
- Rabid - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:50 am:
Bruce’s barricade has a hole in the people’s pledge
- Yonkers - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 8:00 am:
When Long’s wife was arrested for shoplifting he also stated that was a misunderstanding. She later pleaded guilty…
- Huh? - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 8:36 am:
Runnin’ his office like a bidness. Votin’ 1.4% party line. Wonder if 1.4% is gonna donate some cash to “so long’s” campaign.
- Scott Thorsen - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
So Jim Durkin wants Jerry Long to step down because Durkin’s House Republican Employee was microagressed.
Who does Jim Durkin have in mind to replace Jerry Long on the ticket?
Surely that decision has already been made.
- Scott Thorsen - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
nice. @Scott_Thorsen and Scott T. posts. not me. I need more than Jim Durkin “independent” investigation.Have we learned anything from the Trump Dossier abd John Brennan claiming the intelligence community?