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Illinois Policy Institute’s legal arm intervenes in Mautino case

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Illinois

Streator resident David Cooke finally secured legal representation to pursue his election board complaint against former state Rep. Frank Mautino.

In another development, Mautino, D-Spring Valley, on Monday appealed the state Board of Elections’ decision last week to deny his request to delay the issue while a related federal investigation continues.

The Chicago-based Liberty Justice Center, a conservative nonprofit group, revealed Monday it had agreed to represent Cooke, a former Streator High School board member.

In February, Cooke filed a complaint with the Board of Elections questioning Mautino’s spending of campaign money for more than a decade. Mautino resigned to become the state’s auditor general Jan. 1. […]

The Liberty Justice Center has filed subpoenas for information from the service station, bank and Mautino himself, Huebert said. […]

The Liberty Justice Center is linked to the Illinois Policy Institute, with which it shares a downtown Chicago office.

They don’t just share an office, the Illinois Policy Institute founded the group.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:24 am

Comments

The only reporter in the state of Illinois who seems to be obsessed with reporting on the Mautino matter is Ottawa Times reporter David Giuliani. Wasn’t Mr. Giuliani employed by the Illinois Policy Institute?

Comment by Just a Guy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:31 am
I’ll look forward to an in-depth interview by INN on this development.

Dear GOP GA,

If Rauner wants to bury you, Rauner may use the IPI, the Liberty Justice Center, INN, Dan Proft…

Speaks volumes to character.

I’m not saying watch yourselves, I’m not saying that. I guess it’s… safer… to be on good paper with Rauner, not necessarily better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:34 am
Just a Guy, you are correct.

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/author/dgiuliani/

To be fair, others at the paper including Steve Stout (who once ran for the Illinois Senate as a Democrat and is considered to be one of their more liberal writers, and who considered Frank Mautino to be a friend) has also been highly critical of Frank’s non-responsiveness to the issues before him.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:38 am
It’s like Rauner is setting up an autocratic shadow government. Policy development, Legal development, media development, business development all outside of FOIA, all outside the control of the people.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:38 am
@JustaGuy - I was not familiar with the reporter, but a quick google search confirmed your recollection.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:39 am
“Speaks volumes to to character” How about safer to be good not just on paper and avoid obviously flawed and probably fraudulent record keeping

Rauner and the FBI he controls

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:53 am
Hang on Frank, less than 2 1/2 months to go until the extra pension kicks in.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:00 am
People in that neck of the woods are probably more interested in, irritated with Mautino and following the story more than say, in Carbondale.

Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:03 am
===Rauner and the FBI he controls===

Nope.

The FBI seems to have things well in hand.

The continued piling on is Rauner trying to push an already ongoing Federal investigation.

Thus, why Rauner is about burying people. It’s not about good governance. If it was, the FBI investigation would be “enough”.

It’s not.

Capiche?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:05 am
===It’s like Rauner is setting up an autocratic shadow government. Policy development, Legal development, media development, business development all outside of FOIA, all outside the control of the people.===

In business, it’s called “vertical integration”

Use the Google on how it works, and Rauner is owning “inspectors”, “lawyers”, “media”, and then using all to assist the real “company” which is aiding Rauner in “governing” or perusing Raunerism through the Turnaround Agenda.

The vertical integration of the “outside” arm from soup to nuts allows the arms-length phoniness Rauner loves.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:12 am
Reporting on the investigation is “piling on”?

The fact that he qualifies for a $60K bump in annual pension if he can hang on should be reported by everyone, not just David Giuliani.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:20 am
The state’s auditor general?
You mean the auditor general that was supposed to review applicants for a panel that would ultimately determine the commissioners assigned to draw new “independent” legislative maps?
That auditor general?

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:35 am
OW,
This ain’t beanbag. If anyone thinks that Madigan would not make this an issue had it been a Republican that did this you need to share whatever you’re on. Had that been the case their would have been public hearings, committee of the whole’s, an Audit Commission investigation, you name it. The full force of the Speakers office would have been thrown behind it and we all know it. Frank Mautino has had plenty of time to respond and provide at least SOME answers. He has brazenly extended his middle finger to all 13.1 million Illinois residents. Why? Because…Madigan is there to protect him.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:37 am
===This ain’t beanbag.===

Did I say it was? Please cite my beanbag reference.

=== If anyone thinks that Madigan would not make this an issue had it been a Republican that did this you need to share whatever you’re on.===

Hmm.

I remember when Rod was impeached.

The use of the governing arm applied.

A phony independent group, that supports a phony legal justice front, pursuing an investigation because the BoE and the FBI aren’t… fast enough?

Are we hanging people, then trying them - Big Muddy -?

===The full force of the Speakers office would have been thrown behind it and we all know it.===

See Blagojevich impeachment, but not running afoul or not congruent with a Federal prosecution.

===Frank Mautino has had plenty of time to respond and provide at least SOME answers.===

That’s 1,000% true. Absolutely.

Creating a “phony arm” involved to investigate as a 3rd party… that’s burying, and vintage Rauner.

===He has brazenly extended his middle finger to all 13.1 million Illinois residents. Why? Because…Madigan is there to protect him.===

I don’t think having the FBI looking at you… the first thing you’re thinking is jesturing as you say.

We are victims to Madigan… again?

Ugh.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:46 am
===Reporting on the investigation is “piling on”?===

Your Karen Hill imitation is pretty good.

Being a babe in the woods about funding, representing, and reporting on the investigation by one shop IS piling on.

Your ignoring of the FBI is noted too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:47 am
–In business, it’s called “vertical integration”–

As God is my witness, I literally chilled up reading this. My God your right OW.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:50 am
OW,
My point with the beanbag comment was not that you said it but that all is fair in love and war. This is clearly war. You may not like the way Rauner fights but what he is doing is modern day warfare. Madigan has only seen this from afar and now he is clearly in the crosshairs. Money, tactics and strategy will continue to pound on the Speaker and his minions. This is just another front in that war. I say it couldn’t happen to a nicer man. Madigan or Mautino, you pick.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 10:55 am
Rough Rockets, Frank. You cooked your own goose, as they likely say a lot in your neighborhood

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:01 am
Of all jobs, the of Auditor General should not be given any special standards for professional conduct.

And, when there is a leadership vacuum on enforcing well known standards, others just might step in to do the job.

Somebody has to clean up the toothpaste that is not going back into the tube.

I look forward to the reports about what the subpoenas discover.

(some issues are not blindly partisan.)

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:09 am
===…all is fair in love and war.===

So it IS piling on, and not allowing due process by IPI inserting itself because being investigated by the FBI isn’t “enough”

Got it.

===You may not like the way Rauner fights but what he is doing is modern day warfare.===

You mean the whole “innocent until proven guilty” thingy is now dismissed and due process is just too much to ask?

Wow. Speaks volumes about you.

===Money, tactics and strategy will continue to pound on the Speaker and his minions.===

Such anger… This is also a man’s life, literally, in question by federal authorities…

Maybe I read it wrong, your bling anger is me reading into things…

=== I say it couldn’t happen to a nicer man. Madigan or Mautino, you pick===

… or maybe it’s not me reading into things. Words fail me.

“By the grace… go I”

Thanks for acknowledging the piling on as a true Rauner trait. Appreciate it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:11 am
OW,
It most certainly is piling on. FBI or not there are still these things called campaigns going on right now. If this was the other way around do you seriously think Madigan would just let the Fed’s handle it?? Please. Madigan is now feeling the full circle of “Do unto others…” Now that the table has been tilted against him after decades of it tilted in his favor there is no sympathy for those that said nothing as he played with the advantage. NONE.
Mautino could have cleared this up BEFORE the FBI got involved but chose to blow the whole thing off. His peril. His choice.
He still may be innocent and never found guilty. That does not mean he is qualified or capable of being the Auditor General, two separate issues.
Both Madigan and Mautino are in the arena and therefore subject to the scrutiny and criticism. Something about heat and a kitchen…

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:25 am
So is Illinois the case study of how democracy is subverted? Maybe I’m wrong but it seems to me democracy is being subverted little by little, piece by piece. Am I just playing victim or do I have a point? Honestly I don’t know which way is up any more.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:25 am
Honeybear,
With all due respect, if you think Illinois under Madigan is a democracy we are doomed.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:32 am
===FBI or not there are still these things called campaigns going on right now.===

I thought this was about the sanctity of the office of the Auditor General.

So you admit, it’s not about the office, it’s about the politics. Thanks.

===If this was the other way around do you seriously think Madigan would just let the Fed’s handle it??===

Actually, with Rod, they did. The Feds handled their aspect, and the GA ran their own investigation, using their own rules.

There wasn’t a 3rd party petitioning and representing the petitioners, and no reporting arm either.

===Madigan is now feeling the full circle of “Do unto others…” ===

This makes no sense. Not everything is Madigan. Mautino and his record keeping is not a Madigan thing.

===Now that the table has been tilted against him after decades of it tilted in his favor there is no sympathy for those that said nothing as he played with the advantage. NONE===

You know Madigan isn’t under investigation… right?

Take a breath.

===Mautino could have cleared this up BEFORE the FBI got involved but chose to blow the whole thing off. His peril. His choice===

If you know exactly what the FBI is looking at and further investigating, let everyone know. It was Mautino himself, not the FBI that confirmed his situation. Again, take a breath. We don’t know where this is ALL going.

===He still may be innocent and never found guilty. That does not mean he is qualified or capable of being the Auditor General, two separate issues===

So… if that’s true, then whomever we don’t like, throw some allegations against them, proven or not, throw them out!

Wow. I’m not as quick to throw due process out, thanks.

===Both Madigan and Mautino are in the arena and therefore subject to the scrutiny and criticism. Something about heat and a kitchen…===

Heat, or a vertical integration to usurp due process and ha big an ongoing Federal investigation isn’t “enough” for Rauner, who, by the way, is spending millions, but can’t make a public case against Mautino without the IPI, and the phony outside actors?

Um, ok.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:38 am
===With all due respect, if you think Illinois under Madigan is a democracy we are doomed.===

Are you saying democracy isn’t found in Illinois?

Look under your bed… It’ll make you feel better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:39 am
I have noticed a lot of stories Giuliani writes the headlines end in question marks, which leads me to believe he dose not have much evidence to support what he claims. He tends to repeat stories from Edgar County Watchdogs and IPI. This now makes sense knowing he is a past IPI employee.
I noticed a recent article he wrote about township governments was very similar to one the late Kevin Caufield wrote for the Lasalle News Tribune 2 or 3 years ago. Again just seems to repeat what he has saw elsewhere.
As far as Frank goes he is just following his legal advise which I assume most of us would do if we had Rauner funded groups coming after us. He is not going to resign because a former IPI reporter or a phony watchdog group calls for it.
The investigation will play out and if there was wrong doing he will pay the penalty what ever that is.

Comment by Augie Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:40 am
Honeybear, I definitely understand the concerns about how Rauner rolls with his limitless resources to pursue “vertical integration” and thus accomplish his public (and private) agenda.

But, ask yourself this, “is democracy being protected if someone who does not appear to be playing by the rules, or take action to prove they are playing by the rules, and then allowed to continue to be one of the lead enforcers of the rules in this state?”

Just because Rauner is a handful has nothing to do with having a minimally qualified Auditor General.

You might try to set aside partisanship. There is a serious problem here, and it needs to be resolved thoroughly and as transparently as possible.

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:47 am
@LuckyPierre - this point has been alluded to here before. Can you provide the facts involving the $60K bump in his pension?

While this may be true, it is nothing more than innuendo and character assassination without the facts.

And I have been critical of the Auditor General previously when this story first surfaced.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 11:48 am
=Are you saying democracy isn’t found in Illinois?=
Not at the state level. Perhaps if every House bill got out of Rules or at least got a hearing in a committee we would be a step closer.
Madigan and the things he controls, remember? Perhaps review the Schoolhouse Rock ~I’m just a Bill~ cartoon and compare that process to the Illinois House process under Madigan. I’m off to go check under my bed for bad things…

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 12:55 pm
- Big Muddy -

A vast majority of the House Rules were first…

… the Daniels’ Rules.

“Aw, you’re welcome.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:01 pm
HB - for the sake of agrument, this isn’t a subversion of Illinois democracy. That happened when the ILSC struck down the redistricting ballot measure.

Now what is happening is the wielding and abuse of political power as we have never seen before.

It used to be that politics had certain rules of civility and decorum.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:17 pm
===…this isn’t a subversion of Illinois democracy. That happened when the ILSC struck down the redistricting ballot measure.===

It was ruled unconstitutional.

It wasn’t arbitrary.

===It used to be that politics had certain rules of civility and decorum===

Yes. Both sides are guilty in this, and it’s escalating to record heights.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:21 pm
OW,
It was wrong under Daniels for 2 years and it remains wrong under Madigan for 10 plus years. I do not defend bad policy based on who created it. Perhaps you could learn from that in your ardent defense of Madigan. “Mmmkay?”

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:21 pm
- Big Muddy -

Then I guess you have no objections then for the next time you feel the need to say the “Madigan Rules”… you can just as easily say the “Daniels’ Republican Rules Madigan uses”

lol.

Since it’s about policy “now”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:24 pm
Big Muddy:

If you don’t like the way things are run then get people who support your beliefs elected. To whine that we aren’t a democracy because you don’t like the way things are done is ludicrous. I don’t like Madigan as much as the next guy or gal but he wins elections. Do better at winning if you don’t like the way the game is played right now.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:25 pm
The Liberty Justice Center is the Judicial Watch of Illinois.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Demoralized,
=Do better at winning= Fully agree. Winning seats is the ballgame. That’s why going after Mautino is happening. Exposing corruption and sleazy bookkeeping of a once top Dem helps R’s win. Some may decry “innocent until proven guilty.” True but as I stated earlier, this ain’t beanbag. Mautino could have taken the high road by coming clean right from the start. He chose not to and handed R’s a free issue that resonates. Yet some here question the use of his repeated blunders in the political arena against him and his largely silent former caucus colleagues? Would Madigan give someone a free pass if this was reversed? No chance so let’s not pretend that some are on the moral high ground here. Mautino let this happen. Frank made this happen.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:47 pm
–You might try to set aside partisanship. There is a serious problem here, and it needs to be resolved thoroughly and as transparently as possible.–

Sorry guys part of being a political novice is getting my messages and thoughts mixed up.

I think Mautino should have been out of there yesterday. I agree it’s a huge problem and it needs to be dealt with.

I see IPI and I go rabid and hissing. Admittedly I lose all sense of any other argument/debate going on. I lose it. I got lost in my own rage. Sorry. My concern however is about the very structures of our government and its relationship to our democratic ideas. I see more and more power going to undemocratically elected corporate systems. Public/Private partnership has turned into a parasitic stripmining operation. This concerns me terribly. I know every single person on this board is wrestling for a better tomorrow. Sorry if my rage at IPI gets in the way of me getting across a cogent thought. My bad.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Since Guiliani used to work for the Policy Institute, he should disclose that before quoting the Liberty Justice Center. I would’ve done the same.

Comment by John Gregory (ex-IRN) Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 2:10 pm
Any sort of statement that our politics “is worse now than ever before” is suspect. The Gerry in “gerrymandered” helped draft the US Constitution. In Chicago, when aldermen owned the taverns that were also the official polling places, certain bouncers were famous for beating up the voters who handed them the wrong ballot at the door. Just a little perspective — our democracy always limps forward.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 3:00 pm
I get it that it is your blog Rich but no clue why that lat comment disappeared.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 3:11 pm
There it is! Thanks Rich.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 3:18 pm
- Big Muddy -

Understand what is happening is that a 3rd party is inserting themselves into an investigation, as you say, not for the right reasons but political reasons, and a smart political move would be to pivot directly off the FBI…

… Rauner, and the phony idea that the IPI and the LJC and even you… you can care less about the Auditor General position…

You’re blinded by how you feel about Madigan to see this insertion is awful for process, and unsubstantiated accusations later against another person may be in the offing if this works.

I know you like the “blame Madigan!” and this is about payback, but if your feelings are that process just doesn’t matter, and an FBI investigation looming with millions to spend isn’t enough to make hay…

… then the only reason Rauner is doing it is to “bury” Mautino, and that’s it.

Not for good government.

It’s actually sad you think this way, abc it really does say a lot about you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 3:26 pm
OW,
What is thought of me is usually of little concern to me when it come to Illinois politics. Please feel no pity for me. You claim that this is not good for government and you may be correct. Was it good government for Madigan to say Frank will be found clean when it comes to the federal investigation? Using your logic he should have stayed out of it. Alas he did not. Can you say for certain that the Speaker is not covering the legal expenses for Mautino? You cannot as much as I cannot say that he is. I would not be shocked in the least to one day find out that were true however. Perhaps we will never know for sure. You choose to give the Speaker a pass on his actions yet decry others for similar behavior. That is called doublespeak I’m sure the Speaker thanks you for engaging in it on his behalf.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:05 pm
===You choose to give the Speaker a pass on his actions yet decry others for similar behavior. That is called doublespeak.===

A very specific example please…

I’ll wait.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:14 pm
===Can you say for certain that the Speaker is not covering the legal expenses for Mautino? You cannot as much as I cannot say that he is. I would not be shocked in the least to one day find out that were true however. Perhaps we will never know for sure===

I have no clue where this came from but if you’d like to lay down, have some water, maybe a cold compress on your forehead… I’ll wait for your exact example after your nap, don’t worry, lol

===Was it good government for Madigan to say Frank will be found clean when it comes to the federal investigation?===

Your Madigan loathing is drowning your logic?

Are you sure you checked under your bed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:22 pm
OW,
Ummm? You just wrote it. ^^^read above thread^^^ It’s okay for Madigan to defend his guy but “bad governing” for anyone else to push the issue against Mautino in the legal or political arena. If you can’t see the doublespeak then I cannot help you.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:27 pm
- Big Muddy -

You copy and paste it. No one is stopping you…

I’ll wait.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:32 pm
For your review. “Mautino responding” thats my favorite quote! Technically correct but the response has been… wait for it… silence.

http://nprillinois.org/post/madigan-scrutinized-state-watchdog-will-be-vindicated#stream/0

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:33 pm
- Big Muddy -

Use your words.

Where specifically did I do what? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:34 pm
That should read -Did Oswego Willy just describe Madigan, Rauner or both? Those are your words.

OW,
We are clearly on opposite sides here and I appreciate the debate.
Much respect even in total disagreement. I’m venturing out from under my bed and going to go enjoy what is left of this beautiful day!

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:51 pm
It’s All Good.

Use your sunscreen. Maybe bring a sweater too…

Enjoy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:55 pm
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/author/dgiuliani/

Comment by anon11 Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 7:12 pm