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Madigan calls for LIG investigation

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* Smart move. Click the pic for the full letter with attachments…

…Adding… You may recall that Speaker Madigan did something very similar back in 2013 when he asked the Legislative Inspector General to investigate his involvement in a Metra scandal. While Madigan’s office claimed in 2014 that the LIG “found no violation of any law,” the report was later leaked and it wasn’t very flattering, to say the least.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:29 pm

Comments

Well that turned quickly.

Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:33 pm
Right thing to do.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Not sure I agree this is a smart move, especially if it’s intent (as it appears) was to take initiative away from female legislators like Melinda Bush.

We shall see

Comment by SpringfieldDem Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:38 pm
“Not sure I agree this is a smart move, especially if it’s intent (as it appears) was to take initiative away from female legislators like Melinda Bush.”

It is a smart move for Madigan. Whether it is the right move for others is a different conversation.

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:42 pm
How would it not be smart? He’s making it look like he has nothing to hide and is trying to play by the book. I doubt both of those things but that’s what it looks like on the surface.

And how would taking the initiative away from “female legislators like Melinda Bush” not be smart, if his office and not theirs has accusation against it? I don’t see how that is relevant.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:43 pm
Am I reading this correctly? Is Madigan opening the door to a wider investigation into sexual harassment with this letter?

The way I understand this, Cassidy is claiming retaliation against her because she supports an independent investigation of claims of sexual harassment in and around the political organizations run by Speaker Madigan. She is not claiming that she was harassed.

But the way this is written seems like it could be used to have an investigation (by Porter) into the Alaina Hampton allegations and other matters. I’m not sure that’s what Madigan had in mind with his letter.

I guess it’s up to Porter now.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:46 pm
Cassidy was not sexually harassed, but allegedly intimidated. So it seems the LIG would be the proper investigating authority.

That the alleged intimidation occurred because of her call for an investigation into another person’s harassment claim isn’t relative to her alleged intimidation. It would be the same if she were allegedly intimidated over any other legislative action.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:50 pm
The letter may lower the pressure on him a bit. However the short term victory for MJM’s machine will lead to a lengthy investigation that will hang over the Dems in November. Speaker of the House’s machine under investigation for potential sexual harassment and retaliation will make for great political theater in the fall.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 2:57 pm
The worst part about it is that he started a sentence with “myself”.

Comment by ChicagoR Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 3:04 pm
why would it be sexual harassment? maybe someone is a bully, and there might be retaliation, but why sexual harassment? when this situation happens to a man…and somehow this calling out an employer thing sounds familiar…., what do we call it?

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Instead of the

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 3:29 pm
Pretty much an “up day,” Mike?

You’re not helping.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 3:39 pm
The Speaker knows the Porter dodge buys him time until after the election. Now he can say the matter is the subject of investigation and he awaits the outcome. Pritzker would get 80 percent of the vote including my vote if he came out and said he will not serve with Madigan and ask the Speaker to retire

Comment by Sue Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 4:14 pm
=Pritzker would get 80 percent of the vote including my vote if he came out and said he will not serve with Madigan and ask the Speaker to retire=

80 might be a bit generous, but it would probably seal the deal nonetheless. If Madigan would agree to retire if Pritzker wins, maybe 80 isn’t so crazy any more.

Comment by m Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 4:21 pm
Smart move indeed.

https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/22/pritzker-wants-immediate-independent-investigation-following-cassidy-allegations/#comment-12959219

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 4:41 pm
If they ever do a remake of it’s a wonderful life- Madigan could be cast to play Mr. Potter

Comment by Sue Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 4:59 pm
What does LIG stand for?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 5:11 pm
–Am I reading this correctly? Is Madigan opening the door to a wider investigation into sexual harassment with this letter?–

I think so. This letter appears to have been dashed off in a hurry. “Myself and my staff will…” Not so good English.

–However the short term victory for MJM’s machine..–

I don’t see how today’s developments could be construed as any sort of victory for Madigan. An accusation from a fellow Dem of retaliation for criticizing how he handled a sexual harassment claim? In an election year?

That’s serious stuff.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 5:18 pm
Lucky for Madigan that Julie P doesn’t view her mandate like Bob Mueller views his or Julie would already be asking for the Madigan law firm client files

Comment by Sue Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 5:38 pm
=I don’t see how today’s developments could be construed as any sort of victory for Madigan

Absent the letter the calls for his immediate resignation would be deafening. With the letter he survives for the short term.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 6:02 pm
Mike Madigan can always be counted on to do the right thing… after he has exhausted all other possibilities.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 7:14 pm
Madigan only calls for an investigation after his hand has already been caught in the cookie jar.

It really is amazing that throughout all this nonsense the party’s candidate for Governor has nothing — ABSOLUTELY NOTHING — to say about the man in the middle of all this ridiculous behavior.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 8:19 pm
–The Legislative Inspector General’s report is going to find that Cassidy was not sexually harrassed, nor was she the victim of retaliation as defined by the law.

When the facts are on your side, argue the law.–

Says your crystal ball.

Mine says the Madigan crew, out stupid pettiness, gave Rauner a gift worth spending tens of millions on negative spots, tying Madigan around Pritzker’s neck, for going after a female Dem legislator who criticized his response to a sexual harassment complaint.

Think the Rauner crew can sell that to the Suburban Women?

The proverbial monkeys on typewriters could write that script.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:14 pm
–Absent the letter the calls for his immediate resignation would be deafening.–

From whom? Do you think Republicans want Madigan to resign before the election? That’s absurd. He’s the game plan.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 10:59 pm
–Madigan trades the pawn back, taking control of the tempo again but now in a stronger position.–

Really? A chess analogy? You can’t be serious.

Rauner will spend tens of millions on negative spots on today’s gift from the Madigan crew.

Think the Rauner crew can sell to Suburban Women a Dem legislator alleging retaliation for questioning how a sexual assault claim was handled?

How’s that work into the chess game?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 22, 18 @ 11:03 pm