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Gonzales attorneys win right to “inspect” Madigan’s offices

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Illinois

Lawyers for a political rival suing Mike Madigan for allegedly placing “sham” candidates on the ballot will be allowed to inspect the powerful speaker’s Southwest Side offices, a federal judge has ruled.

Attorneys for Jason Gonzales in October requested to “inspect, measure” and photograph the speaker and state Democratic Party chairman’s political offices — a demand Madigan’s lawyers called a violation of the First Amendment and “a political fishing expedition.”

But Gonzales’ legal team contends it’s all part of showing that Madigan’s line between politics and official government business is a “mirage.” […]

The goal is to inspect two of the speaker’s Southwest Side offices — the political offices of Friends of Michael J. Madigan and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization offices — to show their “layout,” attorneys said.

“Your honor, one of the things we’re trying to demonstrate is that the articulated differentiation between the political and state functions between the Speaker and his political operations is really a mirage,” Boulton told Kennelly in October.

His state district office is also in the building, which houses the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture and Ald. Marty Quinn’s city office.

I’ve driven by the place several times, but I’ve never been inside.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 11:55 am

Comments

Can we expect the Property Brothers to be part of the review team and suggest “flipping” the office to a new location?

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 11:59 am
So I guess it’s time to remove the sharks from that aquarium under the trap door.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:07 pm
I think they’re trying to show that Madigan’s government and political operations are essentially the same, that they’ve merged. Except both of these offices are political offices, and if Friends of Madigan has merged with the 13th Ward Democratic Party, who cares if they share a copier? I’m fairly certain that they won’t be able to show government money is subsidizing politics, so I’m not sure what they are hoping to discover.

But then it’s Peraica. Maybe he’s looking for decorating tips.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:07 pm
I would be very surprised if they caught speaker madigan doing something unethical. If I recall, Madigan was the first legislative leader to create a firewall between his political and state operations.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Maybe Peraica is looking for a staging area for his next torchlight parade on an election night.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:09 pm
The museum is worth a visit.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:09 pm
I hear the museum is working on an exhibit to showcase and help preserve the memory of the Illinois Republican party.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:13 pm
“Here we have a desk… there, right there… a chair. If we look over here… a desk… and there… another chair… this time, we find a desk…. 2 chairs… and a table-like credenza…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:13 pm
“And here is what we call the Tim Mapes room. You can eat anywhere you want and spill food on the floor”.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:15 pm
What if there are apples in both offices? Like red apples in the political office, and red apples in the state office? It blows the mind.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:17 pm
Like the movie: Being John Malkovich, there’s a small hatch in one wall that lets you into the mind of Madigan. Then spits you out in front of the original Billy Goat fifteen minutes later.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:21 pm
Mr. Gonzales ran as a democrat and denied that he was a republican plant. If that’s true, his choice of lawyer seems odd. Last time I checked, to win an election you need more votes than anybody else in your race. Based on his meager vote total, one could argue that Mr. Gonzales was a sham candidate.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:21 pm
Well, MJM has been meticulous in keeping his governmental Twitter totally separate from his political Twitter.

I’d love to know what the offices look like right now, and how they look on the day of the inspection.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:24 pm
I fully expect all offices to be wallpapered over with posters of Gonzalez’s, or Rauner’s, face, when they get there.

Comment by Ok Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:25 pm
So if they do find any horocruxes, do they have the Sword of Gryffindor to take care of them? A basilisk tooth, at least?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Been there many, many times and its not quite a big place…several open desks placed on various big offices….then some other desks for a very small number of managers/officers separated by partitions…then other individual offices one for the Speaker, other for the Alderman…some other for storage and a back door to go down to the parking lot.

Comment by Been there, done that Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:30 pm
Are sham candidates illegal? If so, I expect the field in many races to be a lot smaller than we’ve seen in the past.

Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:31 pm
Have they figured out how they’re going to get through all of the political carcasses outside of Madigan’s office?

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:38 pm
Maybe he is looking for clocks

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:39 pm
They’re not going to stop till they get all of Blair Hull’s money, aren’t they.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Hope they are ready to be very bored.

Comment by labour Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:48 pm
Attorneys for Jason Gonzales in October requested to “inspect, measure” and photograph the speaker and state Democratic Party chairman’s political offices

Sounds like Madigan’s gonna get scrootened.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:48 pm
==looks like Madigan’s gonna get scrootened==.
Going back a ways for that one I see.

But how so? The measurements of the offices will invite scrutiny? The placement of the chairs? Or the Balzekas items will talk?

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:58 pm
Evidently, the judge is up for a little fishing.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 12:59 pm
The apples comment suggests a great future QOTD, perhaps Steve Brown can answer:

What is the Speaker’s favorite variety of apple?

With Leader Currie retiring, will Granny Smith go out of favor? (intended with great affection)

Comment by Contract disputin' Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:01 pm
I wonder if some poor staffer is ‘Fawelling’ a bunch of State-issued office furniture and appliances as we speak.

Comment by Quizzicall Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:10 pm
I call dibs if they find the stash of unicorn’s blood.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:16 pm
Can’t believe the judge is allowing this.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:17 pm
“Fawelling state owned”
- huh?

This is the political office. Near Midway. Not JRTC or Springfield.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:21 pm
===I call dibs if they find===

If they find some vintage copies of old Blue Books from the 1970s or newspaper clips, somebody should put those on e-bay. Think of the memorabilia that could be hidden away in there. It’s potentially a museum on top of a museum.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:24 pm
Cellmate…nice visual. LOL

Comment by PlayK8 Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:39 pm
===I wonder if some poor staffer is ‘Fawelling’ a bunch of State-issued office furniture and appliances as we speak.===

I have only been there a few times but if they did have any state furniture it was from a rummage sale in the 1950’s. Pretty frugal place. And the building use to be a small hospital before the museum and Madigan moves in.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:09 pm
===use to be a small hospital before the museum and Madigan moves in===

That hospital was run by a doctor who retired. Madigan bought his house (I’ve been inside once) and simultaneously worked out the deal on the hospital building.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:12 pm
Is Gonzalez is going to hire Geraldo Rivera to help with the inspection and measurement of the offices? Probably find as much as what was found in Capone’s vault.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:20 pm
When did Illinois stop publishing full volume “Blue Books?”

Back in the day, the older volumes were fairly amazing — almost like complete almanacs packed with information about Illinois and its government. Elected officials and party officers used to get personally embossed copies from the Secretary of State.

Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:32 pm
== If they find some vintage copies of old Blue Books from the 1970s ==

I probably have a couple laying around so somewhere.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:39 pm
Will an exterminator come sweep for bugs after the “inspection, measurement and photograph” is completed?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:55 pm
Rich: my earlier posting below was deleted, very sorry if I crossed a line. Did not mean to. Reposting again in case it was actually the Russians handiwork.
****
Scene: Office building. Second floor. Hallway. Jason Gonzales (JG) and a small group of attorneys stand in front of a closed door.

JG: On the other side of this door is everything you need to know about Mike Madigan, folks.

JG opens door.

In the center of an empty office stands a desk with a single item - a clock, with a note: “Jason, you can have Scott’s. Best, MJM”

JG and others stand silently, staring and trembling, a trickle of urine running down JG’s pant leg.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 3:42 pm
Looks like this Federal Judge hates MJM. Speaker better hope that Perica and Gonzo don’t ask the hack judge for 24/7 video and audio surveillance of Madigan.

Comment by Hack Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 3:55 pm
Will they take the back stairs?

Comment by Soothsayer Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 4:04 pm
I’m picturing the biker gang scene in the bar from Bronx Tale when the door shuts.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 4:07 pm
“Looks like this Federal Judge hates MJM.”

Because MJM could get his tax assessment reduced enough?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 5:15 pm
Mirage; something illusory, without substance or reality

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 5:21 pm
Maybe public access tv to do a new variation of Jackie Kennedy’s White House tv tour??

Comment by d.p.gumby Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 5:33 pm