The circular firing squad heats up yet again
Tuesday, Sep 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From former acting legislative inspector general Julie Porter back in April…
My term ended Feb. 28, 2019, and this month — as required by law — the new LIG and the commission presented their quarterly reports to the General Assembly. The quarterly reports are hard to read and do not convey much information. But a careful look reveals that near the end of my term, I issued a founded summary report — a report where I found that a legislator engaged in wrongdoing — that was not published. I requested publication, and the commission refused.
Also buried in the numbers is a second founded summary report that I requested to be published; the new LIG chose to close the case.
* I told subscribers about this dustup earlier today. Here’s the Daily Herald…
Accusations flew among state Republicans Tuesday after a suburban lawmaker called for an investigation of Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s organization over a “buried” misconduct report.
A representative for Durkin called the comments off-base.
* Excerpt from Rep. David McSweeney’s press release early this morning…
Leader Jim Durkin has had an opportunity to be a statesman and take the bold step of rooting out corruption and wrongdoing in his own caucus. It is easy to be for ethics when the other party is under fire - it is not so easy when it potentially involves your own party. Leader Durkin is being tested and, so far, he is miserably failing that test. I’m willing to stand up against misconduct on both sides of the aisle. […]
In Springfield, there are insiders and then there are real insiders. Legislative leaders, by virtue of their position as leaders, are privy to information that most rank and file members simply do not have. I believe that Leader Jim Durkin is aware of the founded misconduct that Porter is referring to and that it likely involves a Republican House member.
Even if the buried report is about a Democrat, Durkin very likely has access to the information. Two members of Durkin’s leadership team are on the Legislative Ethics Commission, with one serving as the chairman of the commission. It is highly doubtful that Leader Durkin is truly in the dark about this situation.
* Response from House Republican spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
The House Republicans have addressed each and every allegation of abuse and misconduct swiftly and publicly. We will continue to ensure a safe workplace for all staff and employees. This is just more ramblings from someone who hasn’t even taken the time to show up for caucus in the last 5 years.
* Back to the Daily Herald…
McSweeney said Durkin likely is aware of who the legislator is and that “Leader Durkin is being tested and, so far, he is miserably failing that test.”
Demertzis countered that “the [Legislative Ethics Commission] is an independent body that the legislative leaders have no involvement with. That’s why Rep McSweeney’s statements are once again not based in fact,” she said.
…Adding… Grant usually lashes out at Democrats on the Twitter machine…
