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*** UPDATED x3 - Rutherford schedules presser *** Lawsuit filed

Monday, Feb 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Floodgates are now open…

A former high-ranking employee for Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford dropped bombshell allegations in federal court Monday – charging that Rutherford sexually harassed him and used his state office to further his political aspirations.

The employee, Ed Michalowski, charged that Rutherford has made unwanted sexual advances against him since 2011. In one instance, Michalowski claims that in 2011 Rutherford held an overnight office retreat at Rutherford’s Pontiac home, entered Michalowski’s bedroom and grabbed his genitals.

Michalowski, 43, served as Rutherford’s Director of Community Affairs and Marketing. He resigned last week, telling the Sun-Times he felt intimidated by a news conference Rutherford held promising to combat the allegations while flanked by former federal agents. […]

In August of 2011, at D.H. Brown’s, a bar in Springfield, Michalowski alleges that Rutherford approached him and said: “If you go home with me you can have anything you want in the office.”

Michalowski further alleges that Rutherford demanded that he go through his personal list of past clients and ask them to donate to Rutherford’s campaign fund.

Michalowski’s attorney said on Monday that her client kept some text messages as corroboration but concedes there were likely no witnesses to the alleged incidents.

Michalowski worked for the secretary of state’s office before Rutherford hired him.

*** UPDATE *** Rutherford spokesperson Judy Pardonnet told Eric Zorn this today…

I would say the chances of anyone else coming forward is very unlikely.

Denial runs awful deep in that office.

*** UPDATE 2 *** The lawsuit can be read by clicking here.

*** UPDATE 3 *** From Rutherford’s office…

Treasurer Rutherford will hold a media availability this afternoon to address an ex-employee’s complaint.

Date: Monday, February 10, 2014
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency, 1800 E. Golf Rd., Schaumburg

79 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Unanswered questions about DNR resignation

Monday, Feb 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Fox 32…

A deputy director at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources resigned Thursday just hours after FOX 32 confronted DNR officials with evidence that he needed a gone fishin’ sign on his door last summer, while he was claiming to be sick. […]

Last year, according to the Illinois comptroller’s office, he earned $92,809.04 in his full-time job as Deputy Director for the Department of Natural Resources.

So, how did he manage to squeeze in four-day fishing tournaments in Florida, Alabama Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Michigan and still handle his state job?

Using the Freedom of Information Act, FOX 32 obtained Loyd’s time sheets. They show that between May 1 and mid-August last summer, about three and half months, the deputy director put in just seven and half hours working for the state.

He took 12 and a half vacation days in May, no problem there, but then claimed he was on sick leave for 44 consecutive days, not including weekends.

According to the WALMART FLW fishing tournament website, on five specific days when Loyd was using sick leave he was fishing for dollars in those tournaments.

Loyd had accumulated his unused sick days during his four years with the DNR, but state regulations say, “sick leave may be used for illness, disability, or injury of the employee, appointments with the doctor, dentist or other professional medical practitioner.”

There’s no mention of going fishing.

He was a deputy director. So, how did the DNR director not know about this? It just seems awful weird that a top official would essentially disappear for months and nobody bothers to wonder why.

*** UPDATE *** A DNR spokesman says Loyd was on a “physician-approved” family medical leave.

Still, the guy is posting pics all over his Facebook page and nobody at the office notices?

51 Comments

Cross harshly criticizes own party

Monday, Feb 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Bernie’s latest column about Rep. Tom Cross…

“I think we have to be cognizant of the fact that we got our clocks cleaned in the last … presidential race,” he said, “and we have done, I think, a very miserable job of reaching out to young people. I think we scare women. I think we sometimes scare men. And I think we need to be cognizant of that as a party.

“And I think we’ve done a pretty lousy job on outreach to minorities,” he added. “In the last presidential race, Hispanic, Latino, voters went 80-20 against us. … We need to learn from all of it.”

Cross is running in the primary for treasurer against DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogran. Grogan opposes same-sex marriage, but Cross voted for it when it passed in the fall.

“It was the right thing to do,” Cross said. “You have a different role in life when you’re not the House Republican leader.” He had earlier opposed legalizing gay marriage.

“Personal decisions are important to people,” he said last week, “and I’m an advocate for that and will continue to be.”

Discuss.

…Adding… From a Daily Herald story about a weekend Indian-American candidates’ forum…

“We see the best and brightest students come to the United States for a college education and then go back home,” said community member Amol Shelat. “There is a perception among Indian Americans that Republicans are anti-immigration, so why should we vote for your party?”

Rutherford contended that the problem is more of perception than reality.

“The Republican Party has a brand problem right now from the national scene. It is perceived to be intolerant,” Rutherford said.

“We need to have a reasonable Republican, one that understands that there are people from different backgrounds who make up our state.”

Dillard said he voted for the Illinois version of the DREAM Act and would be welcoming to immigrants.

Brady said it actually the Democratic Party that is labeling Republicans as anti-immigration.

“We want to keep the doors open. For national security reasons we need to protect our country’s borders, but this state’s strength lies in immigration,” Brady said.

27 Comments

*** UPDATED x2 - Audio posted - Rutherford could speak today *** Attorney says complaint to be filed today

Monday, Feb 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The treasurer’s office says they haven’t seen anything yet, and pointed out that the attorney didn’t even know in what court she was filing the charges, but say they’re ready to rebut and refute. They’d better be…

Attorney Christine Svenson, who represents a former employee of the treasurer’s office, and was on with Bruce and Dan Monday morning, says the allegations lay out the employee being forced to do political work on state time as well as sexual harassment.

Svenson detailed points in which she says her client was allegedly harassed by Rutherford, including an incident at an overnight retreat at Rutherford’s home in 2011.

Svenson told Bruce and Dan, “Mr. Rutherford entered my client’s bedroom and grabbed at his genital area. My client immediately forced him off of him, gathered his belongings and left. He went to go talk to the chief of staff about it, and the chief of staff said quote…’at least we have job security’…unquote, and that it had happened to him as well.”

Svenson says complaints are also being filed against Rutherford’s chief of staff.

Oy.

This story has been going around for a bit, and at least some people have said that it appeared to change over time. So, let’s all reserve judgement on this for a while.

Also, in my opinion, Svenson ought to be doing her talking in court from now on.

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

“Obviously the allegations are false. If there is a lawsuit filed today then the Treasurer will respond,” his spokeswoman Mary Frances Bragiel said. “He’ll possibly have a media avail if something is filed today.”

That’ll probably be the wildest presser since the Jack Ryan death march.

*** UPDATE 2 *** The full audio has now been posted…

Click to listen

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