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* As I told subscribers this morning, Rep. Jerry Long (R-Streator) has once again changed his story…
Long initially claimed he was a “demanding boss,” then he claimed he was railroaded for not agreeing with the script of a robo-call, he also claimed he pounded on the desk and possibly frightened the complainant.
Yesterday he said on television that his complainant had a headache and he massaged her neck.
“No, that is not the story that was received from the complainant,” said Eleni Demertzis, spokesperson for House Republican Organization Leader Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge). “The facts brought forward by the complainant were corroborated by a witness and ultimately deemed truthful and founded by the independent investigators. Leader Durkin and his leadership team stand by the independent investigator’s report and subsequent actions rendered to Rep. Long.”
That’s the first time the HGOPs have said on record that they have a corroborating witness. This is not gonna end well.
The only “good” thing about this saga is I’ve had a chance to interact with a couple of very good local reporters. Tamara Abbey wrote the above story. She’s really insightful and top notch.
* Meanwhile, McGlasson’s comments to a Proft paper make him sound like he’s living in an alternate universe…
John McGlasson, central committeeman for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District believes the Republican Party is attempting to torpedo the re-election of Rep. Jerry Long (R-Streator) in a campaign to rid the party of anyone not in lockstep with Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“[The Illinois GOP] targeted me and three others in our run for Central Committee (last spring),” McGlasson told the Illinois Valley Times. “I saw what dirty tricks they can play. Bob Winchester knows this too.” […]
Long doesn’t talk the “same line” as Rauner, who trails Democrat J.B. Pritzker by double digits in the polls, McGlasson said.
“It’s my opinion that Rauner believes the only way he can win this thing is to have everyone talking the same line and get only those targeted votes to come out,” he said.
That’s some weird logic there, campers. Rauner wanted to dump Long so he could… what again? I read it like ten times and I can’t make any sense of it at all. Maybe you can help.
And Rep. Long may say he doesn’t talk the same line as Rauner, but the unions are all going after him for siding with the governor against them.
* More…
McGlasson said Long told the group that the anonymous allegations made against him are “not valid.”
He said HRO is trying to force its conservative members, like Long, into taking “centrist positions” as part of strategy of “uniformity across all state house districts.”
And there he goes changing his story yet again.
Plus, you gotta be more than just a Kool-Aid drinker to believe that kookiness about candidate “uniformity.” I mean, you probably gotta be living in a Kool-Aid ocean to buy into that insane nonsense.
*** UPDATE *** The Ottawa Times (home to another good local reporter named Derek Barichello) has its story up…
“She was at the computer. I’m standing right behind, and I’m looking at it,” Long told The Times Wednesday. “She leans back. She goes, ‘Ah man I’m tense, I’m getting a migraine headache.’ And I grabbed her neck. Not grab. I touched her neck. And I said: ‘You do feel tense.’ And then I said I’m going to grab my stuff and go.” […]
Long didn’t speak to the staff member all weekend and the co-worker didn’t answer her text messages Monday or Tuesday. Long received a call later that Tuesday indicating a complaint had been made to the House Republican Organization and he was being investigated for harassment. Long said initially investigators told him they were looking into “sexual harassment.”
“Once they realized the touch wasn’t sexual harassment, they said it’s a hostile work environment,” Long said.
That last statement was flatly denied by the House Republicans this afternoon.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:54 pm
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===Yesterday he said on television that his complainant had a headache and he massaged her neck.===
She then responded, “it was the Dukes. It was the Dukes.”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:01 pm
==Rauner wanted to dump Long so he could…==
QotD candidate, snark heavily encouraged.
“Rauner wanted to dump Long so he could …. spend his post-Governor years working to “Shake up Streator”
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:05 pm
I do not think it fair that a mere accusation should cost a job or an election but this is beyond that there evidently is collaboration. So just leave and be grateful no one presses assault charges.
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:05 pm
When an unwelcomed massage is your alibi, you’re done.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:05 pm
If you are going to make up a story, KISS. Keep it short, sparse on details, and repeat as often as possible with NO embellishments.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:10 pm
I don’t recall Long being among the House GOP members who bucked Rauner last year. Or any other time.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:18 pm
This the is best HRO could find in district last cycle?
Comment by Fixer Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:22 pm
This is beyond embarrassing for Long and his lackeys.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:25 pm
Comments section has been a little chilly lately. That many deletions, or just no one willing to wade into the water?
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Well Fixer, yes the best. Creme de la Creme of the South of 80 crowd. Not only was he a truck driver he knows how to spell it. The sewers piped to the coal mine tunnels crowd back him in Streator.
Comment by wondering Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:49 pm
>The facts brought forward by the complainant were corroborated by a witness and ultimately deemed truthful and founded by the independent investigators
I keep going back to how nice a job the HRO is doing with this–thorough, not politicized or sensationalized. I’m not sure what Long’s trying to accomplish here…no one believes he hasn’t voted they way he was told to by Rauner and he’s building up stories about his misconduct rather than defusing them.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:51 pm
=The sewers piped to the coal mine tunnels crowd back him in Streator=
Please, some of Long’s constituents could predict this happening and will be glad to see him go. Not all of us are Trumpanzees and we actually have a full set of teeth.
Comment by Adios Jerry Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:59 pm
http://www.mywebtimes.com/2018/09/20/long-gives-his-version-of-harassment-complaint/aaudzeq/
Longest version of events yet. Times took a ling time to get this posted.
Comment by Seats Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:24 pm
Gee, Adios, I qualifed the subset, the tunnel crowd backs him. I live close to Ottaway, in Lay Salle. Moved from the suburbs. Had a tooth pulled few years back, didn’t replace. Trying to blend.
Comment by wondering Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:33 pm
>“She leans back. She goes, ‘Ah man I’m tense, I’m getting a migraine headache.’ And I grabbed her neck. Not grab. I touched her neck. And I said: ‘You do feel tense.’ And then I said I’m going to grab my stuff and go.”
This sounds so much creepier than anything I was imagining.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:40 pm
I had a male upper management co-worker slightly massage my shoulder one time. I was kind of tense at the moment. Should I be filing a sexual harassment complaint?
I don’t know what all was in the report but people need to stop acting like everything is of a sexual nature.
Comment by Real Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:54 pm
I know this was posted last night, but here is a link to the story on WEEK last night:
https://www.facebook.com/WEEK25News/videos/555327178230980/?hc_location=ufi
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:55 pm
If Yednock wants to run a commercial I could see it going something like this:
Long (from the WEEK report): I touched her neck
Narrator: The House Republican Organization asked Jerry to resign.
Long: I touched her neck
Narrator: The Illinois Republican Party has withdrawn all support from Long’s campaign.
Long: I touched her neck
Narrator: Even his Republican colleagues have asked him to resign [Show headline of Rezin’s statement]
Long: I touched her neck
Narrator: Is this a person we want to represent us in Springfield”
Long: I touched her neck
Okay, the pros on this blog, who I respect, can now rip this to shreds.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:08 pm
== I’m standing right behind, and I’m looking at it,” Long told The Times Wednesday.==
The man needs to shut up. Yikes.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:10 pm
@Real
“I had a male upper management co-worker slightly massage my shoulder one time. I was kind of tense at the moment. Should I be filing a sexual harassment complaint?”
Yeah if he did it without asking your permission. just because you are fine with something doesn’t mean everyone has a free pass to touch people without consent. Also, your assuming that someone we already confirmed as changing his story on the matter is being truthful about what he did.
Comment by ItsMillerTime Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:27 pm
===This sounds so much creepier than anything I was imagining.===
Yep. Me too.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:32 pm
–I don’t know what all was in the report but people need to stop acting like everything is of a sexual nature.–
Refraining from unsolicited/unwanted touching in the workplace ain’t exactly a heavy lift.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:37 pm
Will HRO release the report from the investigation, or will they continue to let this guy make up whatever story he feels like in the moment.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:44 pm
Leave “so long” to swing in the breeze. The more he opens his mouth the worse it gets.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 7:24 pm
Learned long ago in State of Illinois sexual harassment classes to keep my hands to my self and watch what I say.
“So long” has enough rope, let him swing.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 9:19 pm
FYI, Rep. Long. “Hostile work environment” is a legal term that is used in most sexual harassment litigaton. It’s actually one of the two categories. Get a lawyer and quit blabbing, dude.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Sep 21, 18 @ 6:58 am