Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Important witness likely to testify under subpoena

Posted in:

Illinois

* AP…

Illinois lawmakers will decide Monday whether to subpoena a former official in Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration to answer questions about the Democrat’s anti-violence program.

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is co-chairman of the Legislative Audit Commission and a member of the subcommittee that will meet Monday. He says the panel will vote on whether to compel Barbara Shaw to answer questions about the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.

“Why did this thing go from zero to 50 overnight?” said Barickman. “The governor’s office has tried to throw this person under the bus. I think she needs to come forward and explain herself to us.”

* Sun-Times…

“It’s likely if she’s subpoenaed, she would testify,” Shaw’s lawyer, John Theis, told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Early & Often politics portal. […]

Jane Stricklin, executive director of the Legislative Audit Commission, told the Chicago Sun-Times that she contacted Shaw and learned she didn’t feel comfortable voluntarily testifying in front of the commission. The panel held a contentious May 28 hearing on the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative audit performed by Auditor General William Holland.

“What she told me was that she did want to be cooperative,” Stricklin said. “But after seeing and hearing the hearing on May 28 and thinking more about it, she did not think she could voluntarily appear.”

Theis declined to say what insights into the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative his client is prepared to offer the audit panel if she is subpoenaed.

“The best thing to say at this point is she wouldn’t want to comment on the substance of her testimony,” he said. “She has a lot of information about how it was done and what was done, and lots of it will show that the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, at least at the Violence Prevention Authority, they were making substantial efforts to make sure everything was done the right way.”

So, apparently, she won’t be taking the 5th. Away we go…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 11:17 am

Comments

–So, apparently, she won’t be taking the 5th–

Bad idea. The federales will be watching and will use anything to try and trip her up later.

Then, if it can be argued that she “lied” to them….

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 11:25 am
The pressure to issue a subpoena when she is begging to testify will be overwhelming.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 11:29 am
I hope rep. John c. D’Amico gets to the bottom of this. You can call him at the water department.

Comment by oyvah today Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 11:33 am
What if she decides to really get back at getting tossed under the bus by only using the 5th on questions related to the governors office…

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 11:47 am
The waiting and watching will begin when the subpoena is issued.

Think the Feds will call to remind her that the only person that can help you, is you. The bus has seats, you may want one early…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 12:19 pm
==The bus has seats, you may want one early…==

Just make sure it’s not the bus from “Speed.” Sometimes the whole bus blows up.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 12:48 pm
If her lawyer doesn’t advise her to take the Fifth, she needs a new lawyer. There’s no upside to testifying before this whatever-it-is that has no power to do anything about squat. There is a potential downside, and when there’s zero upside and a potential downside, you should save your testimony for venue that matters. This one does not. Even assuming that she’s never called by the feds or anyone else and she hasn’t done anything wrong or chargeable, this screwball committee is still a terrible venue to get your story out.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 2:16 pm
Is being clueless a defense? Hard to believe someone of her background would be deliberately involved in ethical transgressions or corruption but if she didn’t understand what was going on, is that fair to us citizens? She was the head of the agency, after all. Is there fiduciary responsibility any more in Illinois state government.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 2:54 pm
Taking the 5th puts all of the attention squarely on her. If she’s only guilty of getting pressured and pushed around by others, why take the heat by presenting an aura of guilt? Taking the 5th only adds to the public perception of those who are already placing her under the bus.

Comment by Befuddled Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 3:55 pm
Befuddled, “guilty of being pressured and pushed around by others” is more than good enough for the G on at least conspiracy.
Her best outcome in the short run would be to get subpoenaed and then tell the LAC “Sorry, no comment, Federal investigation.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 5:34 pm
If she doesn’t believe she was pressured not to do the right thing but instead feels she did her best to DO the right thing and she feels strongly she has nothing to hide, maybe it makes sense for her to testify because her attorney just doesn’t think she has anything to be too concerned about.

And maybe she’s not worried about contradicting herself because she only has had one story to tell and that’s just called telling the truth as she knows it and as best as she can remember it.

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 7:52 pm
gosh, Shaw has been around doing anti violence work for a long long time. she always seems to have had a good heart for doing the right thing. wondering how that plays here.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 8:18 pm
Just take the 5th and claim that your hard-drive crashed. No problem….

Comment by Holdingontomywallet Wednesday, Jun 18, 14 @ 8:32 pm
If your PC does not crash in safe mode, it suggests that something to do with the Windows system & your software
is to blame. Should you be looking for a Watch Dogs PC Download then you
are at the proper place. If you enjoyed rating tattoos you now
have 13,000+ new pictures to rate.

Comment by www.youtube.com Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:49 am