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Tribune drops bombshell on Biss running mate

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* Depending on how you look at things, the Tribune is being unsportsmanlike by dropping a bombshell a few days before an election, Speaker Madigan is getting some payback a few days before an election, or the Daniel Biss campaign is trying to cover up and flat-out deny legit allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation a few days before an election…

A former staffer for State Rep. Litesa Wallace — the running mate of Democratic governor candidate Daniel Biss — says Wallace ignored her sexual harassment complaint involving a community leader and then retaliated against her for making the accusation.

The woman’s complaint closely resembles one of nine recently disclosed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has come under fire for his handling of sexual harassment allegations in both the legislature and his own political organization.

Madigan did not release names involved with the cases, but the Tribune learned of Wallace’s dispute with her former aide following an open records request for documents related to pay issues and harassment accusations.

Informed of the staffer’s allegations, a Biss-Wallace campaign spokesman denied any wrongdoing on the representative’s part and blamed Madigan for turning the dispute into a political issue by mischaracterizing it on his list. Madigan’s allies are backing one of Biss’ rivals, J.B. Pritzker.

* The Tribune filed a FOIA on February 27th, hours after Madigan released a list of nine resolved staff cases involving harassment. This one is the only identified case involving payment of state funds, so it was FOIA-able…

“A staffer accused a legislator of harassment, retaliation, and failure to pay wages. The matter was resolved through counsel.”

The Tribune received the info on Wednesday. Go read the whole thing and decide for yourself.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Mar 17, 18 @ 11:54 am

Comments

Vet

verb

3. to appraise, verify, or check for accuracy, authenticity, validity, etc.:

“An expert vetted the candidate before the announcement.”

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 9:38 am
If the TRONC/Madigan Combine really wanted to tube Biss, they wouldn’t have released this late on a Friday afternoon.

Comment by SAP Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 9:50 am
If the Trib waited until after the primary (and if Biss won), they would have been accused of sitting on it to hurt the nominee on purpose.

Also, is this why we haven’t seen her highlighted much by the campaign lately? She was used heavily in their digital media early on in the process.

Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 10:29 am
strike 2 for Biss. Third strike will come Tuesday. switch to Kennedy.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 10:45 am
Looks like the Trib got scooped on a #metoo story in the corner office.

Oops.

http://fortune.com/2018/03/19/tronc-chairman-michael-ferro-allegations/

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 3:44 pm