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Posted by Barton Lorimor
In a statement to the Sun-Times, (Sean) Morrison staunchly defended his handling of the case of Anthony Martin, who was a senior vice president of Morrison Security when he was arrested by Orland Park Police in August 2013 and charged with solicitation to meet a child.
The charge stemmed from suggestive text messages that Martin, then 46, sent to a 14-year-old girl he met at an office barbecue/pool party hosted by Morrison at his Palos Park home.
…
Morrison said there was “no history or hint of inappropriate behavior” involving Martin before the incident.He said that when he learned about Martin’s texting, “I immediately encouraged his arrest and prosecution.”
But he said he did not fire Martin immediately “because my attorneys believed Martin could have the basis for a wrongful termination lawsuit and I did not want him to profit from his criminal activity by hiding behind labor laws.”
Instead, Morrison kept Martin in his senior vice president role, managing more than 450 employees, while the case dragged through the court system.
By October 2014, Martin was expecting to receive probation through a court-supervised alcohol abuse treatment program that would have allowed him to avoid a criminal conviction on his record — and keep his job.
As part of that effort, Martin’s lawyer submitted a letter signed by Morrison to Circuit Judge John J. Hynes seeking permission for Martin to continue to travel on business.
In the letter, Morrison noted that the 10-year veteran employee is “instrumental in running my business.”
“Due to his position with my firm, the trust I have in him and his long tenure with me, one of his core functions is to be the Traveling Executive for the company, to monitor my business. To continue to be able to function in this company, he must be able to travel,” Morrison wrote.
In his statement to the Sun-Times, Morrison said it was Martin’s lawyer who drafted the letter, but Morrison didn’t deny authorizing or signing it.
Just 19 days after the date of Morrison’s letter, Martin was arrested again, this time in Colorado, on charges of trying to sexually exploit a child using the Internet.
That is more than I normally like to copy from a story. The rest is here.
Morrison is chairman of the Cook County Republican Party and sitting Cook County Board Commissioner from the 17th District.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 1:01 pm
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Seems like a boring political hit piece by Brown. Morrison explained why he didn’t fire the guy to begin with then assisted the police in having the guy arrested the second time.
Comment by Long Time R Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 1:14 pm
I’m sure that Tim Schneider will make it go away.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 1:15 pm
===Seems like a boring political hit piece by Brown. Morrison explained why he didn’t fire the guy to begin with===
I disagree. Morrison advocated for allowing this guy to travel. While travelling, the guy struck again. Morrison shares some of the blame in this.
Comment by Yikes Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 1:30 pm
But he said he did not fire Martin immediately “because my attorneys believed Martin could have the basis for a wrongful termination lawsuit and I did not want him to profit from his criminal activity by hiding behind labor laws.”
I would expect him to have that legal opinion in writing somewhere signed by the advising lawyer, Right?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 1:46 pm
–Morrison explained why he didn’t fire the guy to begin with then assisted the police in having the guy arrested the second time.–
It’s important to learn the difference between what people say and what they do.
Morrison said he didn’t fire Martin the first time because of some lawylerly argle-bargle, but more than a year later, he wrote a judge about how Martin should be able to travel because Morrison had so much “trust” in him.
See the difference, between what Morrison said, and what he did?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:03 pm
If this was about Madigan’s law business what response would there be from the media and Rauner?
Comment by Metoo Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:13 pm
–I’m sure that Tim Schneider will make it go away.–
Someone should ask Schneider and Boss Rauner as to their confidence in the the Cook County Republican chair in vouching for Martin to a judge after his first arrest.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:39 pm
There’s no reason that Morrison had to keep this guy in his exact same position with the same responsibilities. It’s like moving a cop to desk duty. Take ‘em off the hot stuff. No one forced Morrison to say that this child predator was “instrumental in running my business.”
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:42 pm
This is beyond shocking on one level, but less so for people who know Morrison. BTW he’s also on IL GOP state central committee.
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:45 pm
I bet Long Time R wouldn’t think it a hit piece if it involved a Dem. Funny how that works.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:03 pm
Morrison really tied himself in knots with his explanations.
He didn’t fire Martin because he didn’t want him “to profit from his criminal activity by hiding behind labor laws.” But he subsequently sent Martin, a person he thought was a criminal, out of town to represent his company? And he asked a judge for special permission to do so?
I love his tough-guy closing statement: “…the convicted man should consider himself fortunate that his fate consists of just unemployment and incarceration.”
What’s Morrison saying? He wishes he could beat him up or something? Sean, you had a chance to fire him or at least demote him and you vouched for him to a Cook County judge instead….and now you’re gonna knock his block off?
Comment by TCB Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:11 pm
Just waiting to hear from Ives, Wherli and the rest of the GOP outrage establishment on this one. I expect they will demand that Morrison step down immediately.
Right?
LP, care to chime in?
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:15 pm
On the other hand he was charged and not yet convicted
Also a judge gave him bail and although article is not specific does not even look like he was on electronic montering.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:22 pm
== Seems like a boring political hit piece by Brown. ==
The only thing boring about it is how easy Brown goes on Morrison. He wrote it up like a straight news piece instead of an opinion column. Morrison acts like he’s the victim — I’m surprised Brown let him get away with such a lame defense without comment.
Comment by TNR Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:30 pm
You will see this story via 6 million dollars in JB campaign commercials attacking Rauner and the republicans.
Comment by JB Ads Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:39 pm
Sheer hypocrisy.
Morrison has promoted himself as an advocate for the victims of child sex exploitation as the founder and president of a group called “Operation Restoring Innocence.” Guess that advocacy ends when the alleged predator is his Senior Vice President.
https://www.seanmorrison.com/about-sean.html
Comment by TCB Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:12 pm
The guy took care of his business which is probably his first priority. The second time around he made sure the Cops got their man. Not much of a story IMO
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:13 pm
Where is Representative Cassidy?
Comment by Db dipper Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:17 pm
===The guy took care of his business which is probably his first priority.===
THAT ^^^^ is the story.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:26 pm
Uihlein coming up with a donation in 3, 2, 1…
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:27 pm
@JSMill:
Jeanne Ives was not supported by Sean Morrison during the primary. He was a Raunerite. Your effort to link Ives to Sean Morrison misses the mark.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:42 pm
“Morrison Security-Protecting Your Business, but not Your Kids”
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:48 pm
–The guy took care of his business which is probably his first priority. –
See you in church. Probably.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:50 pm
JB Ads- a comment like that is why your not running the JB campaign
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:00 pm
Morrison’s comments are laughable. He didn’t fire Martin because he felt he would be able to claim wrongful termination? Nonsense. Illinois is an employment at will state. You can be fired at any point in time for anything. To the extent an employee has a claim for wrongful termination he would have to establish that he was in a protected class and was discriminated against. An employer would be well within their rights for firing an employee for preying on a minor. And on the one had Morrison expects us to believe that he didn’t want Martin to “profit” from his behavior but then turns around and tells the court he’s instrumental to his business. How dumb does he think we are?
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:11 pm
–He didn’t fire Martin because he felt he would be able to claim wrongful termination? Nonsense. Illinois is an employment at will state. You can be fired at any point in time for anything.–
Or nothing.
Exactly.
What “protected class” did Morrison’s lawyers allegedly tell him Martin fell under? Child predators? I think they’re mistaken.
Perhaps some reporters would like to follow up with Morrison on that lawyerin’ he claims to have received.
Maybe Boss Rauner should have some questions, too. He bankrolls the Cook County GOP, such as it is.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:22 pm
So thank goodness wordslinger and prudent have now allowed us to clear out any wrongful employment claims in the state. It’s so refreshing to hear that anyone in the state that is fired hasn’t any claim against its employer. I guess the legal term wrongful termination no longer exists in the courts
Comment by Old Time R Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 8:13 pm
–So thank goodness wordslinger and prudent have now allowed us to clear out any wrongful employment claims in the state. It’s so refreshing to hear that anyone in the state that is fired hasn’t any claim against its employer.–
I don’t know who you blame for your shocking and sad writing and reading comprehension skills, but it’s on you for revealing them to the world.
Dude, maybe sound out the words, read for understanding and give everything a good couple of looks before hitting “send.”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 8:25 pm
Old Time R - That’s not what was said. In order for Martin to have a claim for “wrongful termination” he would have to establish that he was in a protected class and discriminated against. There are in fact several “protected classes” (you can use Google on your own). But as Word points out “Child Predator” isn’t one of them.
The only other form of wrongful termination that exists is if there an employment contract between an employer and employee. But in the rare instance where such contracts exist, they almost always include a moral or conduct clause.
If you are claiming to have a deeper understanding of employment law then by all means enlighten us.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 8:25 pm
Looks like the Republicans have a problem on there hands. As long as Morrison is in charge of the Cook County Republican Party have no credibility. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. JB is going to use this as an issue in the fall campaign.
Comment by Goner Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 9:12 pm