* Tribune…
Federal investigators are looking into $10,000 in payments from current and former ComEd lobbyists to an ousted political operative for House Speaker Michael Madigan, sources have told the Chicago Tribune.
Records obtained by the Tribune reveal that the checks went to Kevin Quinn, a former top Madigan lieutenant and brother of 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, after he was dismissed from the speaker’s political operation in early 2018 amid a sexual harassment scandal.
The checks came from accounts linked to five current or former lobbyists for utility giant ComEd, including Madigan’s close confidant Michael McClain, records showed. McClain’s home in downstate Quincy was raided by the FBI two months ago.
The FBI is looking at the checks as part of an ongoing investigation, a source with knowledge of the probe told the Tribune.
Other than McClain, the story claims the current and former lobbyists are former Rep. John Bradley, Cornerstone Government Affairs (Will Cousineau), Tom Cullen and Michael Alvarez. An unidentified businessman who has “worked with Madigan’s property tax appeals law firm” gave a grand and the name “McClain” appears in the memo area.
…Adding… Either Kevin Quinn’s ex got the number wrong or there’s more out there…
…Adding… Steve Daniels in Crain’s…
It remains unclear precisely what the feds are probing with regard to Madigan himself. But a picture is emerging of his political operation turning to ComEd to secretly aid a long-trusted lieutenant whose personal conduct made it politically impossible to continue employing him.
ComEd and its parent company, Exelon, are perhaps the most politically potent business interests in Illinois. Both donate substantial sums to political campaigns and have employed many former lawmakers and others close to Madigan as lobbyists and consultants.
In recent years, Madigan has provided immense help to Exelon, first by shepherding through ComEd’s $2.6 billion smart-grid law in 2011 over the veto of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. That act has led to substantial rate hikes to finance ComEd’s grid modernization program and a regulatory rate-setting system that enables the utility to change rates annually via a formula with limited regulatory oversight.
In 2016 Madigan helped usher through a ratepayer-funded bailout for two nuclear plants Exelon had threatened to close. That was one of the only measures Madigan and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner agreed on during Rauner’s single term. The bailout provides Exelon with more than $200 million in additional revenue each year and costs the average Illinoisan an extra $2 or so per month on their electric bill.
*** UPDATE *** Alaina Hampton…
It is deeply troublesome that various powerful lobbyists, per the Tribune article, provided financial aid to Speaker Madigan’s former political operative, Kevin Quinn, after he was let go in the wake of my disclosure of his sexual harassment of me. In contrast, I was shunned and lost out on career opportunities for speaking out. This is further evidence of a culture of sexism and corruption that has silenced victims and protected men. And it starts at the top.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:36 am:
Make a big show of firing the guy for sexual harassment, (allegedly) get some friendly lobbyists to pay him under the table for doing who knows what, and then he pleads poverty in court and says he can’t pay child support. Real nice.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:42 am:
It looks like the feds have put together all the outside pieces of the puzzle. Will they be able to make the middle pieces all fit together? This story is much more interesting than it initially appeared.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:42 am:
Next time ComEd cries poor in Springfield, maybe they can cut down on some of their lobbying expenses first.
- Todd Stroger For President - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:43 am:
We need more Tweets from Kevin Quinn’s ex-wife to shine the spotlight on this.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:45 am:
- Ron Burgundy -
Is it really under the table if they wrote checks?
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:52 am:
Checks? No one in his organization ever heard of Jerry Springer?
- The 647 - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:53 am:
He pulled in 10k over 17 months. How is that not living in poverty?
Also, in the article Cornerstone explains what he did for them. What is wrong with paying someone to do a job after they have been fired?
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:57 am:
What is wrong with paying someone to do a job after they have been fired?
What “job” did Mr. Quinn do for the lobbyists?
Speaker Madigan made a big show about firing him from his state job and his political job but then makes arrangements for powerful lobbyists and friends to pay him?
- Nova - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:58 am:
-He pulled in 10k over 17 months. How is that not living in poverty?-
I would not assume the $10K is all that he received, or that the lobbyists mentioned were the only ones who wrote checks.
Agree that there is nothing wrong with giving someone a job, but it remains to be proven whether he delivered a work product. If he didn’t, it would fit the description of ghost payrolling.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 9:59 am:
647 - You’re assuming that’s all he got, that he declared the income to the court, and that he actually did that work. The Feds will find out the truth of that, as well as how these arrangements came to be.
- Roman - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:03 am:
Just a guess here, but I suspect the Trib reporters obtained copies of those checks not from a fed leak, but from Kevin Quinn’s estranged wife’s divorce attorney.
All the check-writers are Madigan stalwarts who happen to have ComEd contracts. Does correlation equal causation here or is ComEd suffering guilt by association? After all, Team Madigan lobbyists share many common clients.
We’ll know soon enough. No doubt the federal subpoenas served on ComEd are seeking any possible payroll records related to Kevin Quinn.
- Rutro - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:04 am:
This appears to be shut up money to Quinn. Ugly.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:04 am:
===Speaker Madigan …then makes arrangements for powerful lobbyists and friends to pay him?===
Big leap there.
The guess *could* be that, but that’s a large leap without pieces from the time before, and the timing(s) after.
Money here, via check, make the timetable(s) easier to see, because the time of deposit actually exists.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:05 am:
- Ron Burgundy -
You make a very good point. The Chicago Tribune article probably will not be the last time this subject comes up.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:08 am:
- This appears to be shut up money… -
Or “we have to fire you for appearances, but we’ll take care of you, Mr. Harasser.” So much for those #metoo reforms.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:08 am:
To add to my own comment;
===But a picture is emerging of his political operation turning to ComEd to secretly aid a long-trusted lieutenant whose personal conduct made it politically impossible to continue employing him.===
It’s emerging. The end part (checks) and those timing(s) are easily understood.
Now it’s going to boil down to how they all seemingly have a matching number, the timings, but the cloudiest is how and where did these all get… if that is the question to Madigan… orchestrated.
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:15 am:
This is very bad on multiple levels. First, you have the sexual harassment angle, which team Madigan has been wrong-footing since day one. This story puts the lie to the idea that team MJM has done anything to change course. They publicly “fire” the guy, and then quietly ensure that he’s taken care of by the team. Not good, and I suspect a lot of progressive Dem. Legislators are going to be a bit upset.
Second, you can see the outlines of a potential case here. McLain at the center of a network of MJM-linked lobbyists (which we all knew, but this is substantive documentation), who are then leveraged to use their outside resources to serve the political needs of the Speaker.
Finally, and perhaps most concerning — the check from the “businessman” client of the Speaker’s law firm sending one of the payments — apparently at McLain’s direction. It ties the outside lobbying/political activity to the property tax firm. It’s a potentially significant piece of a much larger puzzle.
And all of this doesn’t even touch on the Solis tapes and other potential cooperation at the city level.
This is not your ordinary investigation. The Feds seem to be pursuing something concrete and are developing ways to squeeze a LOT of important folks who know things. I suspect the top Minions are lawyering up fast.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:22 am:
What makes us so sure that’s really his wife’s twitter account? Her handle is certainly sketch…
- Flat Bed Ford - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:28 am:
=What makes us so sure that’s really his wife’s twitter account? Her handle is certainly sketch…=
Nice to see some victim shaming going on. Madigan has made a complete mockery of the #metoo movement. How do any female legislators support him anymore?
- theCardinal - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:30 am:
SpiDem…You make some very solid points, wonder where this ends up? Paper trails and email streams ? Somebody has to actually talk.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:33 am:
Why didn’t MJM just get him a job with Metra or the RTA?
- Blinders - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:36 am:
== Second, you can see the outlines of a potential case here. McLain at the center of a network of MJM-linked lobbyists (which we all knew, but this is substantive documentation), who are then leveraged to use their outside resources to serve the political needs of the Speaker.
Finally, and perhaps most concerning — the check from the “businessman” client of the Speaker’s law firm sending one of the payments — apparently at McLain’s direction. It ties the outside lobbying/political activity to the property tax firm. It’s a potentially significant piece of a much larger puzzle.==
How is any of that illegal?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:38 am:
As if the harassment issues last year weren’t enough, here is a perfect opportunity for JB to start pushing (quietly) for Madigan to retire now. JB probably isn’t going to publicly demand that he resign over this, but it’s an opportunity (behind the scenes) to start pushing him out the door. It’s well past time for Madigan to go, and whoever becomes the next speaker will need some time before election season starts to settle in. No time like the present, JB
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:45 am:
=Why didn’t MJM just get him a job with Metra or the RTA?=
Or he could have made him the State Secretary of Education and paid him $250k a year from DHS.
I hear that used to be a thing.
@Letser Holt is right. If JB has not already been working behind the scenes to move MJM out he should be. Toot sweet.
MJM’s way of dong business is not the way business should be done and he can go off into the sunset now.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:49 am:
Folks need to pick a lane:
Either you want to punish Quinn by making sure he never works again.
Or you want him to be able to make enough money to be able to pay his child support.
If you want him to be able to make enough to pay his child support, then be ready to accept Democrats’ helping him find work.
It sounds like he has been doing work that involves no supervision of any staff, no public interaction, and very little human interaction at all. That’s probably for the best.
- A 400lb. Guy on a bed - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:52 am:
So the Tribune is after MJM. No surprise there.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:54 am:
Lester Holt’s Mustache
Still think Madigan steps down after he settles final scores in the 2020 remap (for example, Rodney Davis if he wins in 2020). https://capitolfax.com/2019/04/16/two-dems-say-theyll-challenge-lipinski/
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:56 am:
==Nice to see some victim shaming going on.==
I don’t see how Soccermom said anything that could be shaming. Anyone can open a twitter account in any name.
I was curious how, if the twitter account is really Sarah McKay, she could know about any money Quinn received, since there was a restraining order for about two years and McKay and Quinn were not allowed to talk to each other.
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:59 am:
@Blinders
You are asking the wrong question.
In a lot of US attorney offices, they spend a lot of time trying to think of creative ways to apply old laws in new ways to bring down big fishes. The roads of all 50 states are littered with the bodies of old politicians who were unable to adapt. The Speaker is obviously a very careful man, but its this type of approach that has always been the biggest threat for someone like him.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:59 am:
===if the twitter account is really Sarah McKay, she could know about any money Quinn received===
I assume her divorce lawyer would be able to get at Kevin’s bank records. Standard stuff. Not too hard to figure out unless you’re a dope.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:00 am:
===If you want him to be able to make enough to pay his child support, then be ready to accept Democrats’ helping him find work===
Sez you.
- TopHatMonocle - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:01 am:
If Madigan asked a lobbyist or lobbyists to give money to someone then he’s in for a world of hurt I imagine.
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:17 am:
This is private money we are talking about not government. Why can’t I pay a guy to sit on his ass? I’m sure the Speaker isn’t thrilled with the light being shined on his organization. Unless ComEd was reimbursing these lobbyists the only connection seems to be Madigan loyalists where some of them happen to work for ComEd.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:21 am:
===Unless ComEd was reimbursing these lobbyists…===
… or ComEd/Exelon got special treatment.
I have ZERO idea on any or all to what the G thinks it feels about these payment(s), via check, timed as they are.
The dots here have nothing *really* to do with Quinn, if that’s the “thing”
The “thing” could be payments to *any* individual as a favor, maybe, could that lead to special treatment for a company by some lobbyists actions?
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:28 am:
===… or ComEd/Exelon got special treatment.===
In this theory then ComEd owes Madigan. What did they give? Alderman Zalewski doesn’t seem to have gotten a contract. Quinn didn’t either. Maybe more shoes will drop as we haven’t seen a tie in to the Solis tapes…yet. This is all certainly fascinating to speculate. Yesterday I don’t think anyone following this blog/story would have thought specific lobbyists were going to be named.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:33 am:
—In this theory then ComEd owes Madigan. What did they give?—
In theory, they or their lobbyists gave money to a person they were asked/directed to give it to, namely Mr. Quinn.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:34 am:
- Nagidam -
That’s really the ball game, right now, for me.
While the questioning of Quinn, individually, to all this is relevant, looking outside-in, without knowing significant pieces, the payments, the checks, the amounts, and the connection to one company, a large utility, for someone doing… nothing…
“who benefits?”
If the speculation is ComEd/Exelon is owed… or if the case that is another side to be made, MJM is owed…
… who benefits from what we already know… cause all that we don’t know is pretty darn significant to the question
“who benefits?”
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:49 am:
Sloppy way of doing business here. Haste makes waste. Those names of check writers means this was more than a pedestrian request that didn’t start with the words “Could you..”
- A - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:51 am:
To quote Deep Throat in All the President’s Men, I think folks are missing the overall.
Follow the money and follow the jobs. ComEd has become the patronage army and chief sources of cash.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:52 am:
===…this was more than a pedestrian request that didn’t start with the words “Could you..”===
No.
It means a piece of the puzzle of “who benefits” is still on the table.
Unless you have that piece of first “the ask” and then the timetable for whom gets benefit from it, “more” is doing a lot of work for an unnamed actor that could be benefitting.
- The Brothers Quinn - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:52 am:
My sense is that, not unlike his brother, Kevin Quinn is blessed with literary genius (as evinced by his text messages) and there is a market for fine arts connoisseurs like the enumerated lobbyists to extend him funds as he pursues his wares.
None of this would be necessary had Rauner not slashed the state’s spending on the arts.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:56 am:
JS Mill - I think you missed the snarky tone in my comment. The last Madigan scandal we had was the Speaker placing friends and relatives at the transit agencies.
- Fav Human - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:59 am:
The king of England had to say “will no one rid me of this troublesome cleric”
I wonder if Madigan I had to SAY anything.
Or if his “vassals” just know what should be done. And when nothing is said, it keeps on being done.
- Rutro - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:00 pm:
If it’s a fake termination, does duly noted get the same help?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:03 pm:
===I wonder if Madigan I had to SAY anything.===
(Sigh)
“Yea, Senator, da family had a lotta buffers”
===Or if his “vassals” just know what should be done. And when nothing is said, it keeps on being done.===
I dunno how a USA would write that in an indictment, even under RICO, since the benefit of any action is considered… silent?
- R.A.T. - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
This was the point of my deleted post.
What makes us so sure that’s really his wife’s twitter account? Her handle is certainly sketch…
- Powdered Whig - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
I think this information is far more politically damaging than it is legally damaging.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
Also, if there’s this “need” to go “Kass” on this, the title would most likely be “Michael I” not “Madigan I”… or go full Kass and say “Michael I, King of Madiganistan”
It adds nothing to this, but if there’s gonna be mouth-breathing involved…
- Cermak - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
I think we can safely assume that OW is not a lawyer.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:31 pm:
- Cermak -
What am I missing that the story seemingly points to?
If you want to make it about me, please, really go after my thought. I’d appreciate to know.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
It is interesting to watch the GOPies — Skilly and the other meat heads — show their concern. Wonder where they were during the cyber attacks and Hug’s Handiwork? Mostly MIA in the era
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
Rich -
Maybe we’ll get a peak at that job-hunting journal, but I imagine it’s slim pickings for a forty-something who’s only job experience has been working in government and politics and whose name has been splashed all over the media with a criminal conviction relating to his now ex-wife, sexual harassment allegations from a former campaign staffer, and arrears in his child support.
To be clear, Quinn is not the victim in this situation, his kids are. And he is the one who got himself here. But he is not going to find gainful employment very easily under the aforementioned circumstances.
- Fav human - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
“dunno how a USA would write that in an indictment”
That’s rather the point. If I guess what the boss wants, and he says nothing, I guessed right. Every one is happy. Especially if he’s not “really” my boss.
I don’t read Kass. Just going with the middle ages analogy…
- TopHatMonocle - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
Thinking out loud here, but it’s been suggested that these people just assumed Madigan would want someone to help Quinn out. First of all, this seems pretty organized due to the timing, amounts, and people involved. Second, wouldn’t these people be worried that it would be a bad story if this came out since it would certainly be linked back to Madigan even if was their own decision? However if it was directed by him that is not a concern. All that being said, maybe someone on their own implied the speaker would want this to happen which is probably enough.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:10 pm:
===If I guess what the boss wants, and he says nothing, I guessed right. Every one is happy. Especially if he’s not “really” my boss.===
Lots of tin foil there.
It’s the coercion of not doing and ramifications, or doing, and being rewarded, and someone, you guessed it, benefitting.
The pieces missing are the ones that matter as we can’t know how this was orchestrated that would be illegal, at this point.
“If I guess what the boss wants, and he says nothing, I guessed right. Every one is happy. Especially if he’s not “really” my boss.”
It’s like Willi Cicci explaining a “button”
“C’mon Senator”, lol
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
===Quinn is not the victim in this situation, his kids are===
Then raise money for his kids.
- Threat level midnight - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:34 pm:
Lots of names have become public already, and the interviews of these people will lead to many more interviews/home raids. Each of these interviews is an opportunity for the fed to get new information that, if corroborated, could lead to a second interview with one of the names already mentioned. If that person doesn’t answer the feds questions honestly, they got that person for lying to the feds. This thing is an iceberg right now. The names and storyline we currently see is the tip, but there is most likely far more below the surface and out of sight. Honestly, I’m surprised it has taken this long.
- granny smith - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:37 pm:
On a separate note, It seems to me that the Chicago media has gone over the top in their negative coverage of Kevin Quinn. Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein he is not.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
==Kevin’s bank records. Standard stuff.==
Bank deposits might say payroll and the amount but won’t say ghost. The ghost payroll accusation is the lede.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
-The ghost payroll accusation is the lede.-
Yes, except in the divorce case. All they care about is he had income from somebody for something. Compare that to his statement to the court in April in that case where he said he had no clients.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 2:10 pm:
===The ghost payroll accusation is the lede===
That only applies to public jobs.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 2:19 pm:
I see what appears to be smoke…in the distance…but I can’t smell anything…yet.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 3:09 pm:
++ Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 11:52 am:
===…this was more than a pedestrian request that didn’t start with the words “Could you..”===
No.
It means a piece of the puzzle of “who benefits” is still on the table.++
Mr. Quinn obviously benefits in the first instance. (at least he thought he did before his domestic dispute was raised by his wife on Twitter)
Look at the names of checkwriters again (I’m not going to type them here) Those are loyalists to the end who inked the checks. Not only would they do what they were asked, but they could intuit what to do even before being asked. And despite the inconvenience (especially of the home invasion variety), they are likely all able to withstand a huge barrage of scrutiny.
When folks like that, write checks to guys like this, they know they’re in for some recoil.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 3:29 pm:
“McClain” on the memo line cracks me up. Whoever did that can’t be too savvy.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 3:52 pm:
===Mr. Quinn obviously benefits in the first instance.===
(Sigh)
Quinn could be “Zippy the Wunderdog” for as much as the FBI cares. It’s the reason for the inquires, the FBI can care less in “this” divorce about the money, “Zippy the Wunderdog” got cash, who benefits from, by happenstance lobbyist of a utility allegedly helping out the Speaker of the Illinois General Assembly.
That’s the ball game.
We have amounts, we have the checks, dates, is it the utility benefiting by helping at the right time?
===Those are loyalists to the end who inked the checks. Not only would they do what they were asked, but they could intuit what to do even before being asked.===
“Those are loyalists to the end who inked the checks. Not only would they do what they were asked”
If that’s the alleged issue, then charges will ask, “what do they get in return, as they seem to be linked, not only to Madigan, but to a utility. Just a coincidence, or we past just saying coincidences happen?
“but they could intuit what to do even before being asked.”
Willi Cicci’s spellbinding testimony to “C’mon Senator” needs Frankie Five Angels explain… how an alleged crime happens, not by “C’mon Senator”
The missing piece consists of these check writers and the utility, and how that connection might lead to Madigan, and what is the end to it.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
===Whoever did that can’t be too savvy==
Meh. It’s what happens when somebody bundles contributions.
- Dupage Bard - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 4:54 pm:
Anonymous- Who says?
The people that had him fired- the Speaker and his own brother say.
- Druid Eye - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 6:38 pm:
Politically…..this is very damaging. I don’t think ultimately laws were broken. Bad decision on Kevin’s part even taking this job /contract. But I do understand….a man has to make a living.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 6:56 pm:
The whole “I don’t think any laws were broken”, is a heck of a low standard at this point.
If that is what it takes for you to be ok with this whole thing, more power to you.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 7:06 pm:
- OneMan -
Here’s the “thing”
Removed from everything else, and solely talking about these payments;
How Quinn or Zippy the Wunderdog gets paid, who paid them, and when they would be paid… and who benefits by Zippy or Quinn… that’s the question to legality.
The last thing I’d want is the FBI not using investigative skills and the law, but deciding right or wrong.
With great respect.
OW
- To Her Right - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 8:21 pm:
Makes me wonder if similar payments were made to others wrapped up in the speakers me too problem.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jul 24, 19 @ 10:22 pm:
@Anonymous -
“As a woman…”
Stop right there, please.
Asking someone out once might not be harrassment, but being repeatedly asked out by the same person over and over again after saying no over and over again is sure to infringe on your work.
No one should have to put up with that. And whether or not it meets the legal definition of harassment, Marty Quinn found it unacceptable, Heather Vaught found it unacceptable, and Madigan found it unacceptable.
There is no “Ya, but…”
There is a question, as with the case of Al Franken, of proportionality that is difficult to reconcile. If Quinn had worked in the private sector, he probably would be back to work already. He certainly would not be infamous.
Even within the public sector, Democrats and Republicans seem to be held to much different standards. There’s been no federal investigation that we know of into John Anthony’s job award with IDOC. There was no three-alarm fire when when Ron Sandack hung out his shingle as a lobbyist. Lang and Silverstein, though cleared of harrassment, saw their political careers effectively ended.
It’s an open-ended question, and I don’t have a good answer. There is a case to be made that public figures should (or perhaps always will) be held to a different standard. And I don’t think there is a debate that Democrats hold their party leaders to a higher standard than Republicans. I don’t think that is even a bad thing necessarily if you are a Democrat. But I do think we ought to ensure that when those standards are not met, the consequences are proportional to the transgression.
- 19th Ward Insider - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
The only reason these checks came to light is because Kevin tried to hide his income. Due to his own refusal to comply with discovery in his divorce, subpoenas were sent to various banks and that’s how the sources of [some] of his income came to light. There is proof that this guy was making a lot more money “consulting” than he told his lawyers and ex-wife.
Had Kevin just complied with the financial disclosures related to his Cook County, Domestic Division litigation matter, NONE of these checks–nor their authors–would have been known.
Interestingly, after these subpoenas uncovered the previously undisclosed sources of income, his divorce lawyers filed a Notice for Withdraw. Kevin is now representing himself.
He may be a very good political consultant and in that case, it’s great that he’s a working parent. However, claiming to only have been paid X when you are depositing $$$ into 3+ banks throughout Chicagoland was a dumb move.