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* Mary Ann with the scoop…
JUST IN: Speaker Madigan hand delivers letter to @RepKellyCassidy and copies ALL House Dems denying retaliation #twill #sexharassment pic.twitter.com/AWU6uR0tgW
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) May 22, 2018
Thoughts?
…Adding… Sen. Biss…
The people of Illinois owe @RepKellyCassidy a huge debt of gratitude for having the guts and integrity to speak out. The only way things will change is if people start telling these stories. https://t.co/o7jc0ZkYA1
— Daniel Biss (@DanielBiss) May 22, 2018
Look at Madigan's "denial" letter and pay special attention to where he writes "I have never" and where he writes "no one in my office". That distinction explains much of what's going on here, and it matches Kelly's allegations perfectly.https://t.co/H0IQAQGBTI
— Daniel Biss (@DanielBiss) May 22, 2018
*** UPDATE *** Tina Sfondeles…
Cassidy called [Speaker Madigan’s] denial the “discredit-the-target portion of the program.”
She said the letter is “missing the forest for the trees.”
“The point is not my opposition to the bill, which was no secret to them and certainly wasn’t a problem for them until Bob Rita did this,” Cassidy said .”He took the bill to come after me. He doesn’t care about the sheriff or this bill. He doesn’t work in that arena. He doesn’t do criminal justice stuff. I think the more we focus on that, the more we miss the reality.”
Cassidy said it doesn’t matter whether the speaker directed actions, but it is representative of a culture within his organization.
In February, a lawyer for political consultant Alaina Hampton sent a “cease and desist” letter to a man whom the believed was trying to find “dirt” on Hampton — the woman whose sexual harassment allegations led Madigan to fire a longtime aide who is the brother of the ward’s alderman. Jack Hynes, the man in question, called it a “casual conversation” and denied that he acted on behalf of anyone, especially the speaker or his staff.
But Cassidy said “this is how this works.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:27 am
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This avoids Madigan answering questions from the media on the matter.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:30 am
That signature looks like it’s from a student learning cursive.
Comment by m Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:35 am
He said/wrote it, so it must be true.
Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:36 am
I think you can read the last paragraph as a threat if you wanted to…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:37 am
How to address letters: When writing to a state senator, state representative, or
the governor: The Honorable John Doe (or Jane Doe), State
Senator, State Representative, or
Governor (address).
For salutation:
Dear Governor Quinn, Dear Senator, or Dear Representative.
Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:37 am
It’s complete misdirection. Cassidy never accused him of retaliating, so denying it doesn’t mean anything. He declined to comment on Rita’s actions, and doesn’t address at all Mapes’ alleged actions, which were really at the heart of what Cassidy has pointed to. He also doesn’t address her point about his having created a political organization where this is part of the culture, so that retaliation can happen without him needing to be personally involved.
It’s also interesting that he mentions her leadership roles. It seems that he is pointing out that she has maintained those rolls despite her criticism, however, it could also be read as a threat by reminding her that those positions exist at his pleasure.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:40 am
For his sake, I hope the Speaker has some assurances that no one was freelancing on his behalf. The Mapes call, if the reporting on it is accurate, feels too cute by half.
They should know by now that Cassidy is independent. I’m sure they don’t admire that trait either, and she’s been vocal about taking an honest look at sexual harassment in the Madigan organization. That’s a potential threat, but is it enough to be a motive to retaliate? I don’t know.
But so far, the Mapes call, at a minimum, was supremely stupid. The sexual harassment/me too stuff is radioactive and even if it was an innocent move by Mapes, against this backdrop, a reasonable person could see Cassidy’s point quite easily.
We’ve heard from the Speaker. Maybe it’s time to hear from Mapes?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:41 am
Perhaps he doth protest too much?
Comment by Whatever Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:45 am
I don’t think that last paragraph was a threat at all. He was simply stating that she still has a committee chair position.
If he really wanted to disrupt her life for her investigation initiative, he had much easier methods of doing that then getting her to take the fall for a bill in the hopes that she might resign from her part-time job.
Madigan seems to be as perplexed as some of the rest of us.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:45 am
Mr. Mapes has some ’splainin to do.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:47 am
I think you can read the last paragraph as a threat if you wanted to…
For the love of…I guess you could take ANYTHING as a threat if you want to One Man. This is beyond silly.
Comment by One Time Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:47 am
FOIA the Mapes call to Cara Smith, no way to know what was discussed but if the timeline matches what is being reported it would lend credibility to Representative Cassidy’s claims
Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:48 am
If he didn’t respond, damned…if he does, also damned. Don’t even bother….never complain, never explain.
Comment by wondering Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:49 am
it isn’t a threat but it sure is some rapid damage control. Madigan gonna Madigan.
Comment by Iggy Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:51 am
Kelly said it herself- the Speaker doesn’t have to direct specific people to take adverse action against people. He’s created a power structure and an operation where those behaviors are part of the routine. His refusal to acknowledge the toxic culture he spent decades cultivating and his use of words that indicate he’s just gosh-darn dumbfounded by her allegations is further proof that he doesn’t get what’s happening here.
Women are done with this. Stop acting like we’re the crazy ones.
Comment by Who Else Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:51 am
Perhaps a sign Biss isn’t planning on running for anything else: https://twitter.com/DanielBiss/status/998952743745310721
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:53 am
== Smith confirmed that Mapes called, but said: “It seemed to me just a routine question,” asking to “confirm whether Cassidy worked for us.” ==
I’m not sure why Mapes asking if Cassidy worked at the Sheriff’s Office is really such a big deal. In the Sun Times article, Smith says she didnt view it as anything more than routine question. If Cassidy thought it was a threat why didnt she talk to Madigan about it? According to today’s Cap Fax, she said she was talking to Madigan regularly at that time.
Comment by gruffer Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:54 am
What’s interesting to me is that when Tim Mapes called the Sheriff’s office, even if to innocuously inquire about Rep. Cassidy’s employment standing there, he gave a boatload of credence to Alaina Hampton’s assertion that her ability to find work as a political operative was in peril. Perception, as they say, is reality.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:54 am
I do not think this letter is going to solve “Mike’s” problem on this issue either on a macro or micro level.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:56 am
Daniel Biss seems to always be the smartest person in the room. Always. The. Smartest.
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:58 am
=I’m not sure why Mapes asking if Cassidy worked at the Sheriff’s Office is really such a big deal.=
So he probably calls the employers of all reps just as a routine question…
Comment by m Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:59 am
Then why mention the committee assignments at all?
It seems a bit like, you have a nice store here be a shame if something happened to it…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:59 am
Nothing says pure motives like a nod from Daniel Biss
Comment by Anon-I-Guess Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:05 am
So what were Mapes and Rita doing?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:08 am
If Tim Mapes really just wanted to know if Kelly Cassidy was on the Sheriff’s payroll, all he had to do was search her last name on the Cook County employee data search website:
https://datacatalog.cookcountyil.gov/Finance-Administration/Employee-Payroll-Data-Lens/d7qi-qfyb
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:10 am
P.S. Please return your clock so I can put it on the shelf next to Drury’s….
Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:11 am
I don’t think Biss helps her, he’s a sore loser and political opportunist.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:13 am
“P.S. Please return your clock so I can put it on the shelf next to Drury’s….”
Now THAT was damned funny. Of course the big difference is people like Kelly.
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:19 am
2nd Anon is a completely different person from the first. I didn’t see that someone had just used the name.
Comment by Anon2 Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:21 am
Biss hits the nail on the head here: how do you punish the guy in charge when there’s always a layer of plausible deniability between the guy and the retaliatory actor(s)? I honestly don’t know the answer, but I do know it is very depressing. I guess a starting point is to just do the right thing and admit to ourselves that it’s time Madigan leaves his position of power.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:24 am
Ives: You think Biss is a sore loser, hold my sasparilla..
In the grander scheme of things, aren’t most of them political opportunists….
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:46 am
Let’s try this again. If Tim Mapes talked to Cara Smith about Rep. Cassidy’s outside employment, it was obviously with the intent of intimidating Cassidy.
Why would Mapes even talk to Smith about Cassidy’s job? And why would Smith relay the conversation?
I’m a Democrat and don’t want see turmoil in our party when we have the opportunity to ride a “blue wave” because of Trump. But at what point to Democrats realize that the Speaker is not cut out to deal this? He has tried to control this story at every step of the way. And stepped in every time. Waiting to fire Quinn until the Trib was running a story. The weird press conference with Heather Weir Vaught. Appointing an “independent” consul who is actually the sister of lobbyists who partner with his former political director. Trying to appoint the Vice Chair of the party to an “independent” committee. The Committee not having down any work months after the allegations. And now this.
The Speaker was already hurting the party, but Dem members decided they were willing to pay the Madigan tax. That tax is getting more and more expensive.
Comment by Anon Annie Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:49 am
Vincent- that’s quite an imagination Rep. Cassidy has. That Cara Smith informed Cassidy she had talked to Tim Mapes and he said that Cassidy still has a job.
I’m not sure why Cassidy would make any of this up. Or be so specific. Seems totally plausible and realistic to me.
Comment by Anon Annie Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:53 am
So where is the retaliation?
Comment by Vincent Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:55 am
Someone should explain to Cassidy that we don’t do guilt by association in this country.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 12:05 pm
=Someone should explain to Cassidy that we don’t do guilt by association in this country.=
Actually we do. Great example would be RICO. Or political parties.
Comment by m Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Ah, Vincent. The guy who once claimed that Blair Hull was somehow bankrolling this #MeToo blowup in Illinois. Go away.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 12:12 pm
Doing best Obi-Wan voice..
Blair Hull, now that is a name I have not heard in a long time…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 12:17 pm
Ah, the ol’ deny something not alleged gambit.
I’m old enough to remember when that dodge worked.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 12:48 pm
It must be difficult for Madigan to operate in this new world. He built a powerful machine, of which he was proud, and it functioned so well. He didn’t care if you were a man or a woman, as long as you did as you were told and kissed the ring.
But then this whole #MeToo movement happened, and it’s a hard one to wrap your arms around and control. No one really cared if he walked all over some pasty guy in the course of normal business, but it turns out you can’t push a woman around the way you used to. The pendulum has swung all the way to the other side, as it often does. This could actually be the thing that brings the hammer down.
Oh the times, they are a changin.
Comment by SSL Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:11 pm
“No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.” –President Abraham Lincoln in response to a question regarding a tumultuous Democratic party nominating convention. Keep it up, you donkeys!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:23 pm
==I’m not sure why Mapes asking if Cassidy worked at the Sheriff’s Office is really such a big deal.==
Because the bigger the stick you carry, the softer you can speak.
MJM has actual power. So he doesn’t have to have quid pro quo conversations, or even commission them. Sometimes, his loyalists don’t even have to let people know what he likes and what displeases him.
Enough is communicated by communicating his special attention.
The problem with corruption investigations is that it’s outsiders like Blago who have to be crass and explicit.
The real Machine can trade very tangible favors without leaving a trail.
That makes it more intimidating. Not less.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:47 pm
m. To convict a defendant under RICO, the government must prove that the defendant engaged in two or more instances of racketeering activity and that the defendant directly invested in, maintained an interest in, or participated in a criminal enterprise affecting interstate or foreign commerce.
Comment by TominChicago Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:55 pm
will mapes fall on his sword?
Comment by west wing Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:56 pm
It has to be the hardest thing in the world for Daniel to keep his latest pontifications to a mere 280 characters. I give him all the credit in the world.
Comment by The struggle is real Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 1:59 pm
==will makes fall on his sword?==
*hysterical laughter*
Comment by Jen Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Edit: ==will mapes fall on his sword?==
*hysterical laughter* Darned auto-correct!
Comment by Jen Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:30 pm
Kelly isn’t a clay pigeon. And we’re beginning to see live ammo.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 3:24 pm
Where is the retaliation. Did she not resign the part time position. Its all politics and posture.
Comment by TinMan Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:48 pm