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Rauner won’t be deposed in Madigan case

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Illinois

Gov. Bruce Rauner won’t be required to sit for a deposition in a federal lawsuit that alleges Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan put up “sham” candidates in legislative races, after a federal judge ruled Monday that there’s no reason to prove “Gov. Rauner hates Speaker Madigan.”

“You can turn on a TV and see the ads,” U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said during a status hearing, arguing that anyone who’s not fully aware of the Republican governor’s animosity to the Democratic speaker is “like Rip Van Winkle and you just woke up.”

The removal of Rauner reduces Madigan’s attorneys’ deposition list to just one man: millionaire investor Blair Hull. […]

Hull is being deposed because lawyers are trying to show that he had the most participation in funding the Gonzales campaign.

Hull was also a 2014 Rauner contributor.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 3:40 pm

Comments

Why should Rauner be exempt from being deposed? In his own words he said he knows all the machinations of why people run.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 3:52 pm
Glad to see someone is paying attention to the early ads. I wonder if they have swayed his vote

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:01 pm
While everyone may “know” Rauner hates Madigan, I don’t think that is something of which a court can take judicial notice.

Comment by JoanP Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:10 pm
Well that’s no fun at all.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:14 pm
==Hull was also a 2014 Rauner contributor.==

Man you’d think Blair Hull would have learned a lesson about wasting his money in politics after that senate run. Instead he contributed to Rauner and then bankrolled Gonzalez as well? It’s a good thing he’s awful at this, a rich guy who was actually smart with his money could have caused a lot more damage to Illinois.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:17 pm
Too bad. It would have been entertaining.

Comment by Flynn's Mom Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:17 pm
All the judge did is acknowledge bias; the judge didn’t address any knowledge Rauner may have. Wonder if they are going to appeal that ruling?

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:18 pm
A truly vexing ruling by Judge Kennelly. As JoanP indicated, the judge cannot take judicial notice of a state of mind. Quite frankly, this case never should have survived a motion to dismiss. The plaintiff has no basis to claim standing. He must show concrete injury (nearly impossible to prove given the final vote percentages). Must show tractability of damage (easier hurdle here). Can be redressed (I haven’t the slightest idea how a court can redress the claimed damage here). He has to prove all three, not one or two. Judge Kennelly, as is often the case in his courtroom, seems to be indulging a bit in the media attention. Par for the course in the Northern District.

Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:25 pm
RNUG- now we know you never went to law school. A discovery ruling isn’t appealable until after the case goes to verdict. Then the question is whether the decision is reversible error

Comment by Sue Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:32 pm
$5000 from a multi-gazillionaire seems like small potatoes. But I believe Hull lives in Idaho now so that makes sense.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:34 pm
== Judge Kennelly, as is often the case in his courtroom, seems to be indulging a bit in the media attention. ==

Bingo.

Comment by Roman Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:36 pm
Anytime Blair Hull is involved it usually results in great things for Democrats (as his expense).

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 4:52 pm
Too bad. Rauner struggling to answer questions under oath where lying actually has consequences would have been entertaining. I suspect a lot of “I don’t recall”s.

Comment by John Deere Green Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 6:18 pm
If Bruce were deposed the answer’s could be edited into a laugh track when he starts to respond to questions.

Comment by Mel Brooks Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 7:18 pm
== RNUG- now we know you never went to law school. ==

Sue, Never claimed I did. Believe I’ve gone out of my way to say I wasn’t a lawyer.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 7:29 pm
So if Rauner isn’t deposed, he certainly allows himself to be called as a witness if this goes to trial. Unless Rauner has fled the country by moving to Italy.

The judge does seem to be biased, unless he has already decided that this case will never make it to trial and so there is no point in dragging this out with discovery.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 7:44 pm
Although Gonzales attorneys aren’t the brightest if they don’t push to have Rauner deposed before trial. Rauner has proved more than once that it’s possible anything might come out of his mouth. Like when Rauner said he asked Dunkin to stay in New York.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 8:15 pm
The corruption fighter don’t have anything to say

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Aug 21, 18 @ 2:11 am
==Hull was also a 2014 Rauner contributor.==

Does that make Rauner a “2004 Hull supporter”?

If that’s true, Sam McCann will have a field day about this.

Comment by Leatherneck Tuesday, Aug 21, 18 @ 5:02 am
==“You can turn on a TV and see the ads,” U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said during a status hearing, arguing that anyone who’s not fully aware of the Republican governor’s animosity to the Democratic speaker is “like Rip Van Winkle and you just woke up.”==

That’s an interesting statement for a judge to make. I don’t know Rauner and I don’t presume to know who he actually hates. It’s obvious Rauner likes to use Madigan as scapegoat for everything wrong, but using people can be done without emotion.

Judge Kennelly is basing this on ads? He seems a bit gullible.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 21, 18 @ 8:43 am