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Legislative IG tries to quash subpoena in MJM lawsuit

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* Cook County Record…

A former candidate who is suing Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and some of his supporters for allegedly using political tricks to sabotage his campaign, is now locked in a fight in Chicago federal court to secure the release of a 2014 inspector general’s report his lawyer says is needed to shed light on how the longest serving state house speaker in U.S. history and his political organization work, to help substantiate the candidate’s claims.

On Jan. 21, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ordered Julie Porter, who serves as the state’s Special Legislative Inspector General, to turn over to him for his review a selection of documents subpoenaed by counsel for Jason Gonzales, a Chicago Democrat who unsuccessfully campaigned against Madigan in the 2016 Democratic Party primary. Among those documents, according to court filings, was a copy of the so-called “Homer Report,” a report prepared nearly four years ago by former Legislative Inspector General Thomas Homer, purportedly focusing on Madigan’s alleged influence over hiring decisions at the Metra commuter rail agency. […]

Porter responded to the subpoena by asking the judge to allow her to keep the report away from public view. In a motion to quash the subpoena, filed by Assistant Illinois Attorney General Sunil Bhave, who serves under Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the Speaker’s daughter, Porter asserts Illinois state law mandates such reports remain confidential, primarily to protect those who may have testified or cooperated with the LIG’s office.

Porter’s motion also asserts Gonzales wouldn’t be able to demonstrate how the Homer Report and his lawsuit are connected. […]

As a compromise, Porter offered to turn over the documents to the judge for his review before he ruled on the subpoena, an offer Kennelly accepted on Jan. 21.

In response to Porter’s motion to quash, Peraica and Gonzales argued the subpoenaed documents would allow them to buttress their claims asserting “Madigan’s personal actions are inseparable from his political actions” and “Madigan intertwines his political office and campaign.”

“Each of these matters is likely addressed in the Homer Report, the investigation led by Homer and in complaints filed against Michael Madigan,” Gonzales and Peraica said in their reply, filed Jan. 5.

…Adding… From Rep. Scott Drury…

Patronage is a corrupt practice that puts political self-interest ahead of the public interest. Politicians who benefit from or promote patronage cannot be trusted to change the status quo.

As Attorney General, I will root out corruption - including patronage - wherever it exists. We have to transform Illinois into a State that works for people, not politicians.

* Meanwhile, speaking of IG Porter…

The woman who accused a Senator of sexual harassment is speaking out after the charges were cleared.

Denise Rotheimer accused Sen. Ira Silverstein of sexual harassment in October. Just last week Inspector General Julie Porter ruled that Silverstein didn’t harass Rotheimer but said he acted with “conduct unbecoming of a legislator”.

Rotheimer said during a press conference on Monday, she believes Porter omitted critical information thus slanting the case for Sen. Silverstein.

* INN…

Rotheimer said earlier during a news conference the LIG report from Julie Porter was incomplete, contradictory and full of errors. She said people should be outraged.

“But if this is how the legislators want to behave at the taxpayer expense while not wanting to provide us representation and incurring higher taxes because of all this misconduct and corruption, then it will be high time for the people to be outraged,” Rotheimer said.

* ABC 7…

In a written statement, Porter responded, “I fully considered all of the information Ms. Rotheimer chose to provide to me, as well as extensive additional information supplied by 19 other witnesses. I stand by my report (which is a summary, not intended to convey every detail I examined) and its conclusions.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:21 am

Comments

The legislative IG is not entitled to the same level of protection as a Federal grand jury. The in camera review was certainly required. It may have been offered as a way to get the judge to order the release of the record, while Ms. Porter took all steps to honor the required confidentiality.

By the way, might AG Madigan’s office have a bit of a conflict?

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:42 am
“No fair! He’s funding Gonzo’s federal lawsuit and all I got is this janky website??” — K. Dunkin

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:43 am
Peraica and Gonzales are on a fishing expedition. The Metra stuff doesn’t have anything to do with the Complaint’s allegations. Sad that the judge not just dismissing the case in the first place is costing taxpayers all this money to resolve this.

As for Rotheimer, when does her being mad stop being “news”? I know she called a press conference yesterday but I cannot tell from coverage of it what new information or allegations came out of it.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:47 am
The Legislative Ethics Commission can only publish reports if the Inspector General finds wrongdoing. If the report wasn’t published, the Inspector General didn’t find any violations of the law.

Comment by HOD Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:53 am
As reported so far, Peraica’s own arguments demonstrate that this has nothing to do with Gonzales’s specific complaint that Madigan sabotaged his election campaign. Should be a quick denial by the judge after review.

Is Rauner’s campaign team funding this search party?

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 11:59 am
To the link from WAND ——Denise Rotheimer accused Sen. Ira Silverstein of sexual harassment in October. ——

It’s time for media to start doing research on their stories before they print/run said story. Did any of the media outlets that covered Ms. Rotheimer’s press conference WATCH the press conference? That bizarre event yesterday is too painful for me to watch again, but I believe Ms. Rotheimer said yesterday that the complaint that she filed was NOT a sexual harassment complaint. If I am correct, then WHY is the media reporting that she accused the senator of sexual harassment in October?

Comment by Sigh Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:00 pm
Quoting the Illinois News Network without noting the Tillman comnection. It’s a new day.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:16 pm
=== It’s a new day. ===

Nah. Just trying to transition to a new label.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:17 pm
Anything to do with Anthony Peraica should be approached whilst wearing a bio-hazard protective suit.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:21 pm
The “Homer Report” - Marge would be so proud.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Rotheimer needs to do us all a favor and take a hiatus. Read the IG’s report. Watched the press conference. It was embarrassing. DR blames Silverstein for the defeat of her bill which had lots of opposition.

Comment by Move On! Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:05 pm
Scott “Former Federal Prosecutor” Drury will root out the sort of corruption and patronage that prevents completely deserving people from receiving the clocks that they are due.

Comment by SinkingShip Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:08 pm
Jason Gonzales & Rep. Scott Drury are doing Rauner’s dirty work.

Comment by Is it just me or... Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:54 pm
How many jobs does Chicago’s Metra commuter rail agency have?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:56 pm
I agree with Move On! Ms. Denise Rotheimer needs to take a long hiatus. Denise is a former lap dancer at Heavenly Body in Elk Grove who performed under the pseudonym of China. She allowed almost any male to touch her, feel her, flirt with her, grind against her, you name it, she did it! Of course she was paid for her services and nothing seemed to bother her.
Suddenly, Senator Silverstein flirting with her in a boyish immature manner set her off to go nuclear and join the “Me Too” movement by hollering “sexual harassment.” I don’t buy any of her alleged false allegations. Neither did Legislative Inspector General Ms. Julie Porter who was very aware of Rotheimer’s past of “pay to play with me.” Her 15 minutes of fame is over. End of discussion!

Comment by Oh My God! Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 11:05 pm