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* OK, so more than a few of us in and out of the media know the identity of Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s accuser. I’m not naming him because of the sorts of allegations that are being made and the fact that neither side is talking yet.

And I’m not gonna make any judgement on the validity of the allegations leveled against the treasurer. I haven’t seen the documents. I don’t know nearly enough about the details to say one way or the other.

* But it’s the other aspect of this strange day that has really made me curious. Is Bruce Rauner somehow behind this? Did Rauner or his henchmen gin it up? The Rauner campaign’s brief use of the accuser’s attorney was trumpeted by Treasurer Rutherford as proof that Rauner concocted this. If true, that’s an atomic bomb.

Except, here’s the thing. The accuser has been involved in city and state Democratic politics for a long time. He went to work for the treasurer’s office because he was apparently friends with Rutherford, who even attended the guy’s wedding.

The accuser is refusing to talk at the moment, but I gotta say that as of right now I really just don’t see a plausible “blame Rauner” connection to these allegations.

This will have to play itself out quite a bit more. Be patient.

…Adding… It’s gonna get really ugly, campers…

Sources with knowledge of the allegations say that the male employee is lodging both EEOC harassment allegations and a First Amendment complaint against Rutherford.

…Adding more… This isn’t really a major item or anything, but Christine Svenson, the alleged “Rauner lawyer” who’s been working for the Rutherford accuser has a photo of herself with Rutherford’s running mate on her Facebook page…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 31, 14 @ 8:06 pm

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