* From Leader Durkin’s office…
Joint Statement from state Reps. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) and Dan Brady (R-Bloomington):
“After being briefed by the independent investigators on the credible harassment allegations regarding Representative Long, the House Republican Leadership team stands unified with Leader Durkin’s actions and encourages Representative Long to resign immediately.”
Please note due to Rep. Norine Hammond’s position on the Legislative Ethics Commission, she has refrained from participating in this joint statement.
…Adding… Aside from Demmer, Brady and Hammond, the HGOP leadership team includes Reps. Grant Wehrli, Mike McAuliffe, Bill Mitchell, David Reis, Mike Unes and Keith Wheeler.
* Meanwhile, Rep. Jerry Long shared this post on his Facebook page…
This should be the new cover photo for the ILGOP and The HRO
After the phony sexual harrassment allegations about Jerry Long.
Jim Durkin head of the Elite Establishment HRO. Lied when he put out a press release.
To undermine Jerry Long campaign,
because Jerry Long would not bend to their liberal demands.
The HRO has no credibility. They are the same ones who told Jacob Bramel to drop out if the race 3 years ago.
You can click here and scroll down to see the photo if you want.
* So, I reached out to Reps. Jeanne Ives, Grant Wehrli, Dave McSweeny, Allen Skillicorn, Mark Batinick, Peter Breen and Tom Morrison via text and/or e-mail with this question…
Jerry Long has a post on his Facebook page about how he “would not bend” to the “liberal demands” of the House Republican leadership and resign. As a conservative House member, do you believe that Rep. Long should resign and/or drop out of his reelection bid?
* Their answers in the order in which they were received (an ellipsis indicates two separate messages)…
Rep. Batinick: Both.
Rep. Wehrli: Yes.
Rep. Skillicorn: On one hand I trust Durkin did his due diligence with the 3rd party investigation. On the other only Jerry and the accuser know what really happened. … If he did it, yes.
Rep. McSweeney: Resign! … And drop out to be clear.
Rep. Breen: Yes, Rep. Long should resign & drop out.
I’ll update if Ives (who advocated for two women in their #metoo claims against Democrats) and Morrison respond.
* In other news, remember when Rep. Long chided Sen. Sue Rezin yesterday for deciding to toe the party line without knowing the facts and forming her own opinion? From Sen. Rezin…
“After the allegations against Rep. Long were reported last Thursday, I reached out to Rep. Long Friday morning. He told me he couldn’t discuss them and instead, he would have his lawyer call me. After four days, that never occurred, and that still hasn’t occurred. Rep. Long’s own caucus conducted a third party investigation and determined by that investigation that his behavior warranted his resignation. I made my statement. This isn’t about me.”
- State Sen. Sue Rezin.
* Also…
Long said he will speak with only the Ottawa paper about the harassment charges lodged against him. He claims he can provide “the truth.”
Perhaps no coincidence that the other local reporter he won’t speak to is a female?
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Tom Morrison just called. “All I know about this situation is what I’ve read on your blog,” he said. “I really want to reserve comment until I see an official report.” He said while the leaders have seen the report, he hasn’t. “I’ve asked when that report will come out and I was told ‘later.’ It’s just not appropriate for me to comment until I’ve seen what others have seen.”
Back in June, Morrison joined with Rep. Jeanne Ives and others to call on Speaker Madigan to resign over the House’s #MeToo problems…
The GOPers tied their call for resignation to accusations of Speaker Madigan allowing a culture of corruption, abuse of power, bullying and sexual harassment as well as discrimination among his House members and staff.
Rep. Ives, of course, appeared at a press conference with Rep. Lou Lang’s accuser. Lang was later cleared by the Inspector General.
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Is it too late for the GOP to replace Long if he drops out?
- MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:19 am:
As Rich rightly points out- Reps. Ives and Morrison were the first to call upon Democratic legislators to resign; however, they refuse to make comments on their own party. This is #2 for the Republicans this summer, and the women of the party are saying/doing NOTHING. #FacePalm
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:23 am:
Whole lotta liberals out there, Jerry.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:27 am:
Appears he’s either changed the privacy setting for that post or removed it.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:29 am:
–The HRO has no credibility.–
Dude, you’re a creation of HRO. They’ve been virtually the sole means of support for your political career, way north of a million bucks.
- Demise - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:31 am:
Seeing some lawns with Long and Kinzinger signs together. Wondering if Kinzinger appreciates the association.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:37 am:
–To undermine Jerry Long campaign,
because Jerry Long would not bend to their liberal demands.–
What were those “liberal demands” of Durkin, Rep. Long.
- Less Nessman - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:37 am:
Might just be a coincidence but Rep. Long’s email address is no longer listed on his ILGA profile.
- jim - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:40 am:
so what exactly did this guy do — or does it matter?
- A guy - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:45 am:
Jerry, it wasn’t nice to know you. Go away.
As in Scram.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:49 am:
I thought it was reported as harrassment. Now according to Long it is sexual harassment.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:50 am:
Long is playing to his base and they have been set up to receive the message by years of Republican messaging. That he does not drop out and has a chorus to back him indicates that the Republican’s anti-establishment message works well (at least with a certain segment of the population) and that it has a serious down-side.
- King Louis XVI - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:58 am:
He needs the paycheck. He’s not going anywhere.
- Drew - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
Don’t forget about the local petition for constituents at jerrylongmustgo.com
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
Sen Rezin’s response has been posted to his campaign page. Doubt there’ll be any response, but we’ll see. A FOIA for his records might be of interest though.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
Don’t let them rail road you Jerry. They rail road John Anthony.
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
Rep. Long,
We know you are following these posts. Your Republican colleagues are abandoning you. They are abandoning you because they probably know what is in that investigation. There is life beyond the General Assembly. You can enter private life with some of your dignity intact with people not knowing 100% what took place or you can enter private life with everything out in the open. The choice is yours. This victim may just decide to come forward and speak and then everything falls apart for you. Either way come January you will be private citizen Jerry Long.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
“undermine Jerry Long campaign,
because Jerry Long would not bend to their liberal demands”
Such a martyr. The ILGOP’s version of Scott Drury minus the harassment allegation.
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:15 pm:
==Seeing some lawns with Long and Kinzinger signs together. Wondering if Kinzinger appreciates the association.==
Kinzinger said yesterday, and I heard it this morning on WLPO, that he doesn’t know enough to comment on the situation.
- Tracy - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
I Wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for Ms. Ives ti respond. She’s too busy regurgitating WirePoints releases and whatever else Dan Proft sends her.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
This is some nice work by the HRO. It’s about as inconvenient and political a time as it gets, yet they are handling this in a planful and organized manner. However the election goes, I hope they can be free from Rauner’s control and help shape the future of the state.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
You don’t have to go away mad Jerry just go away.
- Seats - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
Looks like it’ll be a story tomorrow too.
Posted from Long’s facebook page:
WATCH IT TONIGHT! After multiple attempts of my attorney verbally requesting the full report from Robert Milan, the “Independent Ivestigator” my attorney has filed legal papers yesterday to get the full report from him.
I interviewed with ABC News out of Peoria, also known as “WEEK/HOI, this morning, and hopefully they will have it on the 5,6, or 10 o’clock news tonight. If not, it will be tomorrow. Also, I did my one on one exclusive interview with Derek Barichello, and his full report should come out in tomorrow’s paper. I want to thank all of you for your patience during this horrifying time, and ask that you “SHARE” this post with everyone you know. Thank you, Jerry Long.
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:23 pm:
To the Update:
Rep. Morrison you are a feckless ambassador for the Conservative Movement. You didn’t need a report to condemn Speaker Madigan or Leader Lang. In a caucus you trust the majority of your colleagues. They all have condemned Rep. Long. Your answer is a complete sell out for everything you believe in. Which unfortunately doesn’t surprise me.
- Seats - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 7:39 pm:
https://www.facebook.com/WEEK25News/videos/555327178230980/
Link to Jerry Long video interview