* Press release…
An ethics violation and fraud complaint was filed today with the office of the Illinois Legislative Inspector General against State Representative Allen Skillicorn The complaint, filed by Skillicorn’s primary opponent Carolyn Schofield, claims Skillicorn created a false attendance and voting record in Springfield on Saturday, June 1, 2019 while simultaneously campaigning for another elected office at an event in Harvard, Illinois, 220 miles north of the State Capitol.
“The current Representative for the 66th District never misses an opportunity to grandstand politically when elected officials violate ethics rules, when he himself had violated the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act on the final day of the spring legislative session,” said Schofield. “He created a fraudulent House transcript that made it look like he was in Springfield voting, when instead he was walking in the Harvard Milk Days Parade more than three hours away. It was a willful effort to mislead his constituents and represents a clear violation of the Ethics Act.”
Along with the complaint, Schofield submitted a copy of the official House of Representatives Journal for June 1, 2019, which shows that roll was called at 12:11 pm with 114 members taking a digital vote that they were present in the House chamber. Skillicorn’s voting switch was engaged and a “present” vote was recorded. At the same time, Skillicorn was photographed and appeared in videos 220 miles away at the Harvard Milk Days Parade.
“The indication of ‘present’ implies that Rep. Skillicorn’s switch was pressed or else the switch would have been turned off in his absence,” continued Schofield. “Records further indicate that 26 bills were called for a vote prior to a 3:01 pm recess that day. Of these 26 votes, Skillicorn was recorded as either a ‘Y’ or ‘N’ on 23 of the bills. Obviously, he couldn’t have been in two places at once.”
In addition to the House Journal for the day in question, Schofield submitted supporting documentation from the Harvard Milk Days Facebook page, a Facebook Live video from the parade and photos posted to the Facebook pages for the Algonquin Township Republican Party, on the pages of an individual who watched the parade, photos Skillicorn posted to his own political Facebook page, and photos posted to the McHenry County Blog.
“The fact that he was physically in Harvard, Illinois the afternoon of June 1 participating in a 1:00 parade when he was recorded as ‘present’ during June 1, 2019 roll call at 12:11 pm and recorded as voting on 23 votes prior to 3:01 pm, is a concern for ethics and public integrity,” Schofield added. “These deceptive actions represent a direct violation of the State Ethics Act. He needs to be held accountable for his decision to engage in political activity while creating a fraudulent record that he was being paid for, appearing to be taking votes in Springfield.”
* Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line followed up…
“I can’t recall the exact time I left, but I left fairly early in the morning from the parade,” Skillicorn told The Daily Line, noting a floor speech he made that evening before voting against a bill that doubled the state’s gasoline tax to support transportation infrastructure in Illinois. “I didn’t miss any important votes. I did represent the people of the 66th District that day.”
When told the official Milk Days schedule indicated the parade began at 1 p.m., and that a Facebook live video posted at 2:07 p.m. on the official Milk Days’ Facebook page showed Skillicorn walking in the parade, Skillicorn said “I don’t think that could’ve been possible,” and provided the phone number of a volunteer with him at the parade that day.
Glen Swanson, himself the Algonquin Township Republican chairman, also told The Daily Linehe did not remember the exact timeline of the day, but vouched for Skillicorn, calling him a “workaholic” and accusing Schofield of only running for the House to “collect a paycheck.” […]
House Rules, which govern how business is conducted in the chamber, instruct that lawmakers must be counted as present in a quorum roll call vote before being able to vote on a bill, resolution, motion or other question before legislators.
“No member may vote on any question before the House unless on the quorum roll call before the vote is announced,” according to House Rule 49.
But the rules are silent on members falsely being marked as present when they are not, or what counts as “present.” A spokesperson for the House Republican Caucus did not return a request for comment.
So, Facebook’s time stamping was obviously malfunctioning, the official Milk Days schedule was totally wrong and we’re supposed to believe Sillicorn and Glen.
Right.
Gotcha.
He’s gonna need a better alibi than that.
Photos are here. Video is here.
*** UPDATE *** A commenter pointed out that Rep. Skillicorn’s alibi just crumbled further. Check out the tweet he sent before the parade…
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:19 am:
So, fraud?
This is fraud right?
…And who helped him out?
- Charlie Kelly - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:22 am:
Sources say it was Pepe Silvia
- Lord of the Fries - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:22 am:
Wow…. Hannah caught him in an outright lie. Skillecorn needs to go.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:24 am:
===And who helped him out? ===
It was obviously Madigan.
I kid. From the story…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:29 am:
Whoa, wait…
You tellin’ me the Magnificent 7 aren’t at all… magnificent, and…
=== State Reps. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) and Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) — may have been voting his switch in his absence, Skillicorn acknowledged his colleagues regularly did that when it was known how Skillicorn feels about a particular bill and he’s temporarily off the floor.===
I’d hate to think the Magnificent 7 aren’t ethical.
Boy I’d hate to think that.
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:29 am:
==vouched for Skillicorn, calling him a “workaholic” ==
There’s a diagnosis to be made, but that is not the right one.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:33 am:
To steal from a poster on another thread….
The FBI needs to investigate Skillicorn.
Man I love me some hypocrisy.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:36 am:
I’m not saying that this is ethical, but I am going to say this goes on all the time (or at least did) and it is bipartisan. I had the opportunity to be a House page back in the 90s, and one of the first things I noticed were how many people were voting for themselves and their absent neighbors.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:36 am:
When the Hateful Eight get that new 51st state, voting by electronic device will include Snapper-Chatter, The Facebooking, Ticker-Tocking, and InstantGram.
That way they can vote AND be vile all with one dee-vice.
Exciting stuff.
- Billy Sunday - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:36 am:
But Mr. Skillicorn is wonderful at calling out his HDems colleagues including the Speaker when they do something wrong. Hmmmm?
- don the legend - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:38 am:
To paraphrase Ricki Ricardo: “Allen, you got some splainin to do.”
- 13th - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:39 am:
it seems odd that any representative would not control who has access to key that allows him to vote. But then maybe the whole state should just elect the speaker and minority person, and just let vote for items, it be a lot cheaper **snark
- Big Tent - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:40 am:
House Rules available on line state that voting switches are turned off for any legislator who does not “vote in” as present during session. Candy Dogood is spot on.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:41 am:
Flat out wrong. If any of this is normal practice - all participants should be exposed to the public that elected them. Not ok, and lying about it should be addressed publicly so our mistakes as voters aren’t repeated.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:41 am:
===how many people were voting for themselves and their absent neighbors===
Members step out for meetings, or bathroom breaks or to see visiting constituents, etc.
But he apparently wasn’t in town for the morning roll call. That’s a no-no.
- Just a thought - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:42 am:
There are bigger implications here. Members do this for each other all the time, and if they start to crack down on voting each others’ switches, then things are really going to change for floor procedures. You will basically be verifying every vote.
That said, both sides do this regularly, so it would take a lot to bring change.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:43 am:
So the defense against this charge of misconduct is that he and his friends do it often. Glad to know.
Suggest someone introduce a bill requiring voting to be filmed. Then we have proof legitimate votes were cast.
Alternatively, let the legislators give proxies.
- Upon Further Review - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:43 am:
Let’s be clear. Voting someone’s switch while they are using the rest room, or even off of the floor for a few minutes visiting with constituents should not be confused with being voted as “present” and having one’s switch voted repeatedly while you are at home in a parade.
Do the records indicate that he received his per diem on this date? If so, Squirrelcorn has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:43 am:
=== That said, both sides do this regularly===
When members aren’t in Springfield?
Example?
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:43 am:
“Well, who ya gonna believe — me or your own eyes?”
– Chico Marx, Duck Soup (1933)
- Bruce (no not him) - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:44 am:
“No, I didn’t. Honest… I ran out of gas. I… I had a flat tire. I didn’t have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn’t come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. It wasn’t my fault. I swear to god!”
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:44 am:
Just a thought, you’re over-thinking this.
He was apparently not even in Springfield when he was listed as “Present” on the rollcall. And then he “voted” for hours. That’s different than voting somebody’s switch who is in another part of the chamber or whatever.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:45 am:
Rather than be bothered, Skillicorn probably has one of those drinking bird toys that hits ‘present’ or ‘no’…depending on his mood that day.
- @Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:47 am:
“There doesn’t seem to be any any key”
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:48 am:
Sorry for creating confusion. I never really took into account that the people not at their desks were actually in the Capitol somewhere.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:51 am:
LOCK HIM UP
- d. p. gumby - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:52 am:
Isn’t fraud the modus operendi of trumpublicans nowadays?
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:53 am:
Skillicorn is a unique and very outspoken character in the capital. The quote about being a workaholic is true, he reaches out quickly to constituent email/questions, make stons of local events and he has knocked on likely R voter doors every election. He is man without support as State Sen. Don DeWitte (R) has lined up behind Schofield.
- switched - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:54 am:
I’m ready for the Republicans to ask for the State Police, FBI, CIA and inspector Gadget to investigate. Skilletcorn’s a poppin’
- Bruce (no not him) - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:54 am:
It’s only fraud if you get caught. Oh, oops.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:56 am:
@FakeGrantWehrli - Rep. Skillicorn meant to vote all those votes. I want to ask Auditor Mautino to resign so we can ignore Rep. Skillicorn’s voting and focus on my hyperventilating.
- efudd - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:58 am:
“collect a paycheck”
Does Skillicorn collect a paycheck? Pretty sure he has to, so, does he donate his pay?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:58 am:
Did he collect a per dieum for being in Springfield for session that day?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:59 am:
“Ghost legislator” feels like a nice label for him.
- Don Gerard - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:00 am:
[begins picking banjo] “Allen Skillicorn and I don’t care…”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:01 am:
“Spooky Skillicorn Skips Votes, Ghosts Duties in Springfield”
- efudd - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:01 am:
I know hypocrisy isn’t specific to the GOP, but man, do they seem to excel at it.
- Froganon - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:07 am:
Do the votes count when he’s not there?
Pop the popcorn and wait for the hypocrisy show to unfold.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:13 am:
While legislators don’t have access to Star Trek transporters, we all know they can set land speed records as legislation requires the left lane be clear and they don’t have to obey speed limits … /s
- Harvest76 - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Look, if lying about something that is verifiably false, and then doubling down on said lie, is good enough for the White House, its good enough for the 66th district!!
- anonomoose - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Clearly Sillicorn has a doppelgänger to be able to be on two places at once.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:22 am:
=Skillicorn is a unique and very outspoken character in the capital. The quote about being a workaholic is true, he reaches out quickly to constituent email/questions, make stons of local events and he has knocked on likely R voter doors every election.=
So what? He was not in Springfield and somehow voted present. He is a liar and needs to go, preferably to jail. He is denying taxpayers honest services he is being paid for.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:29 am:
@anonomoose
I never considered that Skillicorn may have a Shemp. Were all the videos and photos of him at the parade from behind?
- Flapdoodle - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:42 am:
What I like is Skillicorn’s lame comment when told about the time-stamped Facebook Live time stamp: “. . . “I don’t think that could’ve been possible . . . ”
What he really meant to say was: ” . . . I *didn’t* think that could be possible . . . .” Adding: “But I was wrong.”
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:51 am:
You elect someone and expect them to do the job. Instead he chose to campaign for another job, and have someone else vote for him. That to me, is very bad. Not just hypocritical, it’s that and worse.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:52 am:
Waiting for an analysis of the votes that he missed. Most vote totals are overwhelming, but there might be something interesting there.
Perdiem is a serious issue. I wouldn’t be surprised if a signature was required and affirmation that it was done so under penalty of perjury.
- Boomerang - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:57 am:
Yes, it’s a common bipartisan practice for others to vote your switch when legislators are on the grounds of the Capitol somewhere (although everyone usually physically shows up for the initial roll call). When you are hundreds of miles away yet get someone to vote you present during roll call, vote your switch 23 times and collect a day’s pay for it— prosecutors call that a crime.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 10:58 am:
@FakeGrantWehrli - sure I should ask that Spooky Skillicorn should resign but having flawed whataboutism is my bread and butter #EveryoneResign
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 11:01 am:
===prosecutors call that a crime===
Take a breath. This belongs with the LIG.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 11:03 am:
===Perdiem is a serious issue===
You get paid per diem if you are there a half day or a whole day, I believe. He was there part of the day.
- Former Candidate on the Ballot - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
I believe this is going to have impact on his 2020 re-election chances. I remember a few legislatures who missed the budget vote - their votes would not have affected the result, but I believe their lack of attendance did affect their re-election outcomes and how voters perceived their actions back home
- Mr. Smith - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 12:35 pm:
I’m inclined to agree with Rich - let the LIG handle this.
But given the Representative’s history, it’s hard not to want him to have a bit of his own back. The first line of the quote from Schofield could have been ended after the word “politically”
- John Lopez - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 12:39 pm:
Skillicorn’s May 30 tweet asks his supporters to line up at 12:30PM on June 1st for Harvard Milk Days Parade
https://twitter.com/allenskillicorn/status/1134220624333824001
- revvedup - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 12:48 pm:
Turn your key, Sir!! (WarGames, 1980’s)
Didn’t Illinois have a similar scandal a decade or more ago, which led to the keyed system?
Seems the rules need to include taking keys when leaving the building (at the very least), and maybe banning
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 12:56 pm:
Ah.
Term limits.
Doesn’t matter who is in what seat… when others just vote your switch if you’re there or not.
(Hashtag) Term Limits
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
You hate to see it…
- just curious - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 1:37 pm:
Is there any blueroom stream video available from 6/1? I’d be curious to see if anything or anyone was picked up on video of floor proceedings
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 1:40 pm:
Biometrics could solve this. My phone uses my fingerprint to unlock, I am sure we could do the same. That would remove all forms of shenanigans, save for Mission Impossible style forgery.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 1:50 pm:
Yet another example of an elected official doubling down on a lie that’s easily refutable. I don’t get why simply saying “What I did was wrong and I’m sorry.” is considered so taboo.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 1:56 pm:
Social media hurts far more than it helps.
Think on this;
That tweet, allegedly to remind folks, a “good thing”, just made another social media gaffe far worse.
Get off social media.
- Bruce (no not him) - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 2:34 pm:
“Get off social media.” nope, that’s what quitters do. Just tell us ” It wasn’t me” /s
- SpfdNewb - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 3:04 pm:
=Just tell us ” It wasn’t me” /s=
Now I have the song stuck in my head…
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 3:09 pm:
Maybe it needs to be said one more time, but there is no issue when members or staff vote other member’s desks for convenience purposes due to restroom use or whatever. And there’s no need to resort to securing the keys or using biometrics. When the voting is going to be so close that this type of thing matters, then the other side will simply request a verification. And that verification process works perfectly fine for the “regular” situation of members or staff voting for other members.
But this was not the “regular” situation. When a member is hours away, then this is just wrong, even if there’s no per diem fraud involved because the member was here for part of the day.
- Ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 3:11 pm:
Just going to leave this here.
A Republican lawmaker says there’s voter fraud across the state including Jackson County.
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, (R) East Dundee, wants to take tougher action against people who vote twice. “It undermines our democracy,” “I will continue to pursue bolstering the integrity of our voting system and the prosecution of those who violate this most precious right in Illinois,”
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 3:40 pm:
===Yet another example of an elected official doubling down on a lie that’s easily refutable.===
No need to look to another politician. His own feed has multiple examples of easily disproven nonsense, and people responding to his tweets with proof what he is saying is fabricated.
I always thought this guy was a little strange, but that’s not a problem by itself. The strange ways he lies about obvious things is much more of a problem.
Does he believe the things he says, or does he just think so low of his constituents and neighbors that he thinks they will believe anything he says?
- Boomerang - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 4:49 pm:
Legit question: Is there any clarity in statute or House rules as to what constitutes “part of the day” for the purposes of being eligible for that day’s per diem? It’s very different to wake up in Springfield and leave for Harvard than to show up at the office or better yet register present on the initial roll call. The timing of the parade seems to suggest that the Rep. never made it to the Capitol that day. In my mind, that should preclude him from collecting per diem. Hope the LIG will clarify.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 5:39 pm:
There’s no defense for this, none.
Any other state employee who had someone clock them into work while they were actually doing campaign work would be fired.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 5:45 pm:
Yellow Dog Democrat -100% on point.