Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Harmon’s formal response to federal subpoena shows he had basically no records to submit

Posted in:

Illinois

Add Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s office to the long list of organizations, politicians, lobbyists and others subpoenaed in a wide-ranging federal probe that has already led to a series of political corruption charges and convictions.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago demanded that Harmon’s office, which he took over early this year after the retirement of former Senate President John Cullerton, turn over all documents and communications related to a property at Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue in Chinatown. The parcel is a state-owned parking lot long coveted by developers. […]

There’s no indication in the subpoena that Harmon is a target of a federal probe.

“Clearly there is an ongoing federal investigation related to Marty Sandoval’s legislative activities,” Harmon spokesman John Patterson said in a statement. “Our office has complied with requests for information.”

* Sun-Times…

When the feds raided Sandoval’s offices last year, they sought records related to the law firm where Harmon used to work. The Oak Park Democrat stepped down from that firm after succeeding John Cullerton as Senate president in January.

Harmon, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has said Sandoval had a habit of keeping files on political opponents.

“Clearly there is an ongoing federal investigation related to Marty Sandoval’s legislative activities,” Harmon spokesman John Patterson said. “Our office has complied with requests for information.”

* From the subpoena…

* As I told subscribers this morning, the two stories left out a very important item: Harmon’s complete response to the subpoena. Click here and scroll down to see it.

All you will see in Harmon’s response is the Senate Judiciary Committee’s packet of information about bills that were currently in the committee at the time, which included the legislation in question.

Oh, and by the way, the Chinatown parcel was not even in the Senate bill when it passed the committee, nor was it in the bill when the Senate sent the bill to the House, nor was it in the bill when the House sent it back to the Senate for concurrence.

So, unless you’re prepared to say that Don Harmon is flat-out defying a federal subpoena, there’s pretty much nothing to see here.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 10:45 am

Comments

The weekend headlines were really unfair to Harmon. The feds weren’t looking for his records, they were looking for months old senate records.

Comment by TNR Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 10:59 am
“The feds weren’t looking for his records, they were looking for months old senate records.”

Well, that headline’s not gonna draw many clicks, is it?

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 11:15 am
==Well, that headline’s not gonna draw many clicks, is it?==

LOL - one of these days, I will learn not to drink coffee while reading your stuff (banned punctuation)

Comment by Monadnock Pigeon Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 11:26 am
subpoenas are now an occupational hazard for lL Dems

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 11:57 am
My thought, they are looking for a communication they know exists, maybe nothing to do with the senate records?

Comment by Rutro Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 12:21 pm
But the Cermak land did float around an amendment offered sponsored by noted Chicago land developer Avery Bourne (tee hee)

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 1:00 pm
That Chinatown property description appears almost verbatim in a House amendment filed by a House Republican and I’ve yet to see a single media inquiry about whether the feds have contacted her about why she filed it and then tabled it or any surrounding communications.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 1:31 pm
Is it possible they may be looking for records that might go back to former President Cullerton?

Comment by Nummy yummy Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 2:50 pm