State Sen. Emil Jones III waives his constitutional right to be indicted by a grand jury. He says he has discussed the decision with his attorneys "several times."
Admittedly, I do not want Republicans to take two Dem seats in the Senate, I would rather have a legislature with morals that votes in a way I disagree with than have someone that has similar views to myself but conducts themselves in a way both Senators do… Does anyone know what happens with Jones and Hastings since they are both on the ballot? Hastings has an opponent but Jones does not.
**Does anyone know what happens with Jones and Hastings since they are both on the ballot? **
Well, neither of them has removed themselves from the ballot, so nothing happens with them. Jones is obviously going to get reelected (he’s running unopposed) and Hastings likely wins because it’s a pretty strong Democratic district.
@ Romeo: Well most likely (not too sure on Hastings)both will be re-elected. If so, if and when they are convicted, they will need to resign their seats — which can take, at times, a year or 2. The senate President can’t single-handly remove them from office, for example.
That would be true in most years, perhaps not this time with allegations of bullying a lobbyist, harassment of a staffer, and a very public and contentious domestic fight with claims of physical abuse. Oh yeah and the Gov has called on him to resign. Now if the voters in the 19th district ignore all that and still elect the guy it says more about them than Hastings.
@Pizza Man: totally standard procedure in Federal cases to plead not guilty at the start. They will probably extend things out several times to hammer out a deal — potentially longer than a year if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in the same conduct, or even longer if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in even more interesting dirty deeds. Just saying.
“The prosecutor tells the judge that evidence in the case is “somewhat voluminous.”
Yeesh. If I’m on team Jones those are not happy words. But are we going to now live through Tom Cullerton redux? The trial drags on years and Threemil refuses to leave so everyone that needs his vote just walk around him with kid gloves? Yep. That’s exactly what we’re in for.
** Now if the voters in the 19th district ignore all that and still elect the guy it says more about them than Hastings. **
Well, the VAST majority of voters in the district don’t know anything about any of the allegations. And they won’t, unless his opponent, SGOP, or ILGOP fund some money and try to tell them.
Why is there a news story every time someone pleads “not guilty” to the initial charges. That is standard procedure. The lawyer uses that to buy time to negotiate the plea deal or determine a defense strategy. Yet every time someone pleads guilty in a case involving a politician or celebrity there are 100 headlines about it and people up in arms saying “how can he/she say not guilty?”
@Pizza Man: totally standard procedure in Federal cases to plead not guilty at the start. They will probably extend things out several times to hammer out a deal — potentially longer than a year if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in the same conduct, or even longer if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in even more interesting dirty deeds. Just saying.
And unfortunately in the Great State of Illinois, we know there is most certainly someone else out there doing “even more interesting dirty deeds.” And that’s sad.
- Pizza Man - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
If the Federales have the goods on you, but you still say you’re ‘not guilty.’
- Romeo - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 12:45 pm:
Admittedly, I do not want Republicans to take two Dem seats in the Senate, I would rather have a legislature with morals that votes in a way I disagree with than have someone that has similar views to myself but conducts themselves in a way both Senators do… Does anyone know what happens with Jones and Hastings since they are both on the ballot? Hastings has an opponent but Jones does not.
- SaulGoodman - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 12:49 pm:
**Does anyone know what happens with Jones and Hastings since they are both on the ballot? **
Well, neither of them has removed themselves from the ballot, so nothing happens with them. Jones is obviously going to get reelected (he’s running unopposed) and Hastings likely wins because it’s a pretty strong Democratic district.
- Pizza Man - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
@ Romeo: Well most likely (not too sure on Hastings)both will be re-elected. If so, if and when they are convicted, they will need to resign their seats — which can take, at times, a year or 2. The senate President can’t single-handly remove them from office, for example.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 12:59 pm:
Can Duru’s on LaSalle whip up a special order for Mr. Jones? A set of Vincent Gigante’s pajamas might be in his future.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 1:07 pm:
“Hastings likely wins”
That would be true in most years, perhaps not this time with allegations of bullying a lobbyist, harassment of a staffer, and a very public and contentious domestic fight with claims of physical abuse. Oh yeah and the Gov has called on him to resign. Now if the voters in the 19th district ignore all that and still elect the guy it says more about them than Hastings.
- NotNotAStateEmployee - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 1:08 pm:
@Pizza Man: totally standard procedure in Federal cases to plead not guilty at the start. They will probably extend things out several times to hammer out a deal — potentially longer than a year if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in the same conduct, or even longer if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in even more interesting dirty deeds. Just saying.
- don the legend - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 1:52 pm:
… evidence in the case is “somewhat voluminous.”
Now that’s funny.
- New Day - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
“The prosecutor tells the judge that evidence in the case is “somewhat voluminous.”
Yeesh. If I’m on team Jones those are not happy words. But are we going to now live through Tom Cullerton redux? The trial drags on years and Threemil refuses to leave so everyone that needs his vote just walk around him with kid gloves? Yep. That’s exactly what we’re in for.
- huh - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
I mean what do you all expect the prosecutor to say? “The evidence is somewhat flimsy, your honor.”
- SaulGoodman - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
** Now if the voters in the 19th district ignore all that and still elect the guy it says more about them than Hastings. **
Well, the VAST majority of voters in the district don’t know anything about any of the allegations. And they won’t, unless his opponent, SGOP, or ILGOP fund some money and try to tell them.
- Grimlock - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 2:49 pm:
Why is there a news story every time someone pleads “not guilty” to the initial charges. That is standard procedure. The lawyer uses that to buy time to negotiate the plea deal or determine a defense strategy. Yet every time someone pleads guilty in a case involving a politician or celebrity there are 100 headlines about it and people up in arms saying “how can he/she say not guilty?”
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
@New Day-
Good reminder re Tom Cullerton.
Did we ever learn who is “Senator A” from the Tom Cullerton pleadings ?
- Just a guy - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
- NotNotAStateEmployee - Friday, Sep 23, 22 @ 1:08 pm:
@Pizza Man: totally standard procedure in Federal cases to plead not guilty at the start. They will probably extend things out several times to hammer out a deal — potentially longer than a year if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in the same conduct, or even longer if he is considering cooperating against someone involved in even more interesting dirty deeds. Just saying.
And unfortunately in the Great State of Illinois, we know there is most certainly someone else out there doing “even more interesting dirty deeds.” And that’s sad.