37 Comments - Fav human - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 11:50 am: Just in time to ruin someone’s lunch, or maybe several someone’s. Looks like the onion will be peeled back some more. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 11:53 am: Things I know; === A brief, two-count indictment against Sandoval just hit. The charges revolve around Sandoval’s alleged “continued support for the operation of red-light cameras in the State of Illinois, including opposing legislation adverse to the interests of the red-light-camera industry.”=== and… === Though the charging document is labeled “indictment” on the docket, Sandoval has actually been charged by way of an information — which means he’s likely planning to plead guilty. His attorney has declined to comment.=== It’s the red light camera for Sandoval. It’s bribery with Sandoval, it also appears Sandoval is pleading. Is is an offshoot of other things? That I don’t know, but this will begin some sunshine. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 11:59 am: The most obvious question is who did he accept the money from? Safespeed? A lobbyist? Someone else? Probably Safespeed or Omar Maani, but who knows. - Donnie Elgin - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:00 pm: penalties for 18 U.S. Code § 666. Theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds “shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both” - Kauaijim - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:02 pm: We seem to have an effective US attorney of late . Our state Attorney General s always seem to be MIA on corruption - NoGifts - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:10 pm: Did everyone miss that John Bills (Chicago DOT) got 10 years for similar activities with the red light camera company? Isn’t the news provided so we can all learn from it? https://abc7chicago.com/news/ex-cdot-official-gets-10-years-in-chicago-red-light-camera-scandal/1489610/ - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:12 pm: - Kauaijim - Do yourself a solid. Read the constitution. Report back the job of the Illinois Attorney General. My next question is who will Sandoval roll on, was that “other” Senator who was wearing a wire involved in a bigger net here too? - Yours Truly - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:13 pm: The CEO of Safespeed is married to a top Exelon executive. Just saying - Andy's Shadow - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:19 pm: “The CEO of Safespeed is married to a top Exelon executive. Just saying” I was literally just typing the same thing. And there are many more connections and commonalities than that. Tip of the iceberg. - Anyone Remember - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:19 pm: Kauaijim - “Do yourself a solid. Read the constitution. Report back the job of the Illinois Attorney General.” The consult the history books. Then AG Madigan’s people were investigating Blago’s “interesting” hiring, and stepped down at the request of US Attorney for Northeastern Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald. In case you don’t remember him, check out the link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Fitzgerald#Illinois - Precinct Captain - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:21 pm: A week of grounded, reality-based Kass columns and Tribbie editorials ahead, I’m sure. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:24 pm: - Anyone Remember - You’re on it. Was goons follow up on the whole “federal” indictment thingy but you handled that business perfectly. - Pundent - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:28 pm: =stepped down at the request of US Attorney for Northeastern Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald= And frankly that’s how you want this handled. The U.S. Attorney is appointed and not elected. It minimizes the likelihood of partisanship. They also have the resources including career investigators and prosecutors to take on these types of matters. - Anon y mouse - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:31 pm: For many Illinois Democrats, this causes more palpitations. And there’s much more bad news likely to come. #DripDripDrip - A Guy - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:39 pm: Of course Sandoval is cooperating and singing. His question for the Feds is likely the same as for everyone else, “What’s in it for me?” - Been There - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:41 pm: And he thought he had problems because someone pretended to shoot the Trump impersonator at his golf outing. - A Jack - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:53 pm: Red light camera fines should be refunded and the camera use suspended until a corruption free framework is implemented for the camera use. - Capitol Text - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 12:58 pm: So the tweedledee and tweedledum of the capital bills are cooperating. This is bigger than red light cameras - Rasselas - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:01 pm: Sandoval always had two squares on my corruption bingo card - Senator most likely to be indicted and Senator most likely to flip when indicted. - Merica - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:02 pm: Without the feds where would we be? you can create an ethics law, an ethics commission, various inspector generals, an attorney general, separate procurement review through a CPO, a procurement policy board, political donation restrictions, registration requirements, disclosure requirements, and as we see, with each new scandal, they’re all a charade. These ethics bodies go after the little things to provide the appearance of efficacy, but they stay far away from anything risky or substantive. you want truth and justice in Illinois, you gotta call the feds. - Maryjane - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:09 pm: As a newcomer to the state, I’m really surprised in my naivete how ever present blatant corruption here appears to be. As it seems so pervasive, I guess there’s no reason for over-concern or panic. That said, I’m taken aback that the red light cameras (red light cash machines) are not considered to be a financial/legal liability at this point and are still deployed at all. - City Zen - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:10 pm: ==The CEO of Safespeed is married to a top Exelon executive== Will Kwame, Mendoza, et al be refunding their contributions from said CEO? - Just a guy... - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:24 pm: Sandoval was an obvious quid pro quo fan. Even in the public hearings about the capital bill he stated his opinion that local communities whose reps and senators don’t vote for the capital bill should not get any projects funded. That statement was just a peek into his soul and real life. - Amalia - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:37 pm: whether the onion gets peeled lots or people flip, this much I know…a greedy and deeply not nice person was charged today. and I feel not one bit sorry for his mean….. - walker - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:59 pm: Is income tax always the first go-to for leverage? Asking for a friend. - Chambanalyst - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 2:08 pm: Curious to know by just how much his 2017 income exceeded $125k. He should certainly have to pay back the taxes on that. Maybe a few extra charitable contributions to our pension debt for good measure! Say at least the extra time he was compensated for after announcing his resignation. Let’s hear how you sing Marty! - Ok - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 2:16 pm: Check the safe - Skeptic - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 2:31 pm: Oh come now, this is just political log-rolling. /s - RNUG - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 4:02 pm: == As a newcomer to the state, I’m really surprised … == -Maryjane- , it may be cynical but people pretty much used to figure on a 10% “overhead” (read corruption surcharge) in at least Chicago / Cook County. And it was just accepted as business as usual as long as things got done and services were delivered. The Chicago mayors who lost elections were usually voted out for failing to deliver services; a certain garbage pickup problem and a plow problem during a major snow are two instances that come to mind as costing reflections. - RNUG - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 4:10 pm: == Is income tax always the first go-to for leverage? == That’s how the Feds got Capone … and a bunch of others ever since. Plus it is often easier to prove than a RICO case. - RNUG - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 4:11 pm: darn autocorrect … re-elections not reflections - jim - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 4:35 pm: hard to believe such an honest man and selfless public servant would run afoul of the law. there must be some mistake here. - Maryjane - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 4:50 pm: - RNUG Thanks for your response. I comment nearly every week in praise of the garbage collectors. My better half who lived here for years before, has shared the same sentiments that you shared. - otherwise - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 5:42 pm: I did not like working with Marty. But due to professional requirements, I learned to tolerate him. I am now recalibrating what I can and cannot tolerate going forward. Never ignore that voice in my head again. - Anon - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 7:08 pm: Remember people its the FBI the B team of the justice system and indictments are only charges No I don’t support Sandoval but the Facebook hair on fire posters are out in force - Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 7:29 pm: Two thoughts: Will the arraignment take longer than one of Sandoval’s Transportation Committee hearings? The lesson, if you’re paying attention, is never ever point the tequila gun at someone pretending to be the President. - Billy Sunday - Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 11:16 pm: @ Michelle Flaherty: ditto…I feel that triggered it…a nationwide news story. Again, don’t do this behavior (or have individuals do these stupid things at your event) especially when you’re acting unethically… Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.