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Rauner asked yet again about sexual harassment complaints in his office

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* Umm…

* I wasn’t at today’s Chicago press conference, but I did listen to the audio and that’s not the question Rauner was asked and his answer was more involved than that. The governor did dodge the question, for sure, but here’s what he actually said…

Mary Ann Ahern: Can you say today whether or not, are you aware, yes or no, of sexual harassment complaints within your office?

Gov. Bruce Rauner: So, here are the simple facts. We have a very clear, rigorous process for investigations of any potential of wrongdoing. Clear lines of authority, clear lines of reporting. We have a very independent, very confidential executive inspector general. Any specific requests or questions you have about anything pending really needs to go to the inspector general. I am not authorized to comment about it. And I specifically have taken action to put out a code of ethics, code of ethical behavior in my administration through executive order. And have pushed, made sure everybody in our state government has gone through ethics training, specifically around harassment.

Quite the pickle.

…Adding… Per a commenter, if you look at page 49 of the Office of Executive Inspector General’s latest report you’ll see one “founded report” for the governor’s office in Fiscal Year 2017. It’s unclear what that is, exactly. But here’s the procedure…

If the OEIG, upon the conclusion of an investigation, finds reasonable cause to believe that a violation of law or policy has occurred within its jurisdiction, it will write a founded report that documents:

• the allegations of wrongdoing;
• facts confirmed by the investigation;
• an analysis of the facts in comparison to the applicable law, rule, or policy; and
• findings and recommendations.

In accordance with State law, OEIG reports are provided only to the affected public entities and other appropriate authorities, such as the Governor or a board of trustees. The OEIG does not have the authority to enforce its recommendations, and therefore, it is the responsibility of the affected agencies to act upon OEIG recommendations.

So, the governor knows of at least one founded report from OEIG. I wonder what that one’s about?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 2:50 pm

Comments

1. Translation: Yes.

   Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 2:57 pm

2. That’s a very sloppy, inaccurate tweet by Cameron. That dude has been phoning it in for years.

   Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:00 pm

3. -Any specific requests or questions you have about anything pending really needs to go to the inspector general. I am not authorized to comment about it. And I specifically have taken action to put out a code of ethics, code of ethical behavior in my administration through executive order. And have pushed, made sure everybody in our state government has gone through ethics training, specifically around harassment.-

   Since the Governor takes his mandated ethics training and has taken action to put out a code of ethics, then he would know that OEIG cannot confirm or deny a complaint or pending investigation. OEIG can only comment on published reports. Nice try, as he is calling of the legislative branch to be more transparent {sign}…

   Comment by Sigh Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:03 pm

4. And this is why I don’t rely too much on the tweeter for hard news, except for the superb MrJM.

   Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:04 pm

5. Smootching on this blog is prohibited. HA

   Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:07 pm

6. He’s the freakin Governor. Who in government is more powerful than the Governor from whom he needs to get approval to speak on any topic?

   Comment by Colin O'Scopey Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:13 pm

7. I think his answer was perfectly acceptable. When he mentioned the inspector, he said any “ongoing” investigations. With litigation being the norm now a days, I don’t blame him for not wanting to talk specifically about any personnel issues.

   - Sigh - Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:03 pm:

   So what is your point? OEIG can’t confirm or deny, and Rauner can’t either. What is your point? He is simply telling the reporter to go ask them so they can confirm or deny.

   Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:21 pm

8. ==So, the governor knows of at least one founded report from OEIG. I wonder what that one’s about? ==

   I heard that a 5′3″ woman was making some guy in a Carhartt jacket cry because of her cruel digs.

   Comment by Whatever Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:37 pm

9. The Governor appoints his Inspector General, just as the legislature appoints their Inspector General. They have the exact same duties and same process for filing complaints. The only difference between the two offices is the number of people under their jurisdiction. The Rauner’s Inspector General oversees 2 elected officials (Governor, Lt. Governor) and all of the employees under the Governor (about 30,000+ people) and the legislature’s Inspector General has 167 elected officials and 300+ employees of the General Assembly.

   Comment by this guy Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:49 pm

10. 177 members, not 167

    Comment by this guy Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:51 pm

11. One founded complaint in the gov’s office - it could be for one of 40 different types of compliants from abuse of time to ghost payrolling to theft or yes sexual harassment. The report also highlighted that of the 29 total founded reports in all agencies 4 were for sexual harassment.

    Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 4:13 pm

12. -so what’s your point-

    Well, I could be wrong, but Governor Rauner could confirm if there is a pending investigation, but he cannot discuss any details of the investigation. OEIG is prohibited by law from confirming or denying an allegation unless it founded and published.

    Comment by Sigh Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 4:16 pm

13. What does “very” confidential mean?

    Comment by Molly Maguire Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 4:25 pm

14. –What does “very” confidential mean?–

    Double-secret probation.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 5:14 pm

15. ==So, the governor knows of at least one founded report from OEIG. I wonder what that one’s about?==

    Serious question: can that be FOIA’ed? Even if the names of the people are redacted?

    Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 5:15 pm

16. G, in short, nope on FOIA.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 5:32 pm

17. Word on the street is one of his Directors for one of the smaller agencies had to resign for sexual harrassment.

    I thought it was labor or aging or something. Someone should look into that.

    Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 6:06 pm

18. Another bad twitter quote trying to make news and drive readers to his feed, when in reality he’s summing up a 100 word response in 15 words. Lazy reporting as usual for Chicago media. Not a fan of the Gov, but he definitely gets no breaks from the Chicago press.

    Comment by Mikey the Dem Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 9:00 am

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