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* Tina Sfondeles…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday said he doesn’t know the man suing Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan in federal court for allegedly helping to put “sham” candidates on ballots.
But the plaintiff, Jason Gonzales, is now coming to the Republican governor’s defense, arguing against requiring depositions of Rauner and many of the governor’s GOP allies and former staffers.
Gonzales’ attorneys contend the depositions Madigan’s team are seeking concern a documentary that was highly critical of the speaker titled “Madigan: Power, Privilege, Politics,” which was released in October 2016.
A motion filed Monday by one of Gonzales’ attorneys accuses the powerful speaker of engaging in “political intelligence” in order to tarnish Rauner in the November election.
“It appears that Speaker Madigan is not interested in what the witnesses know about this case but seeks instead to engage in political intelligence about the film’s origin, perhaps even to obtain evidence for the ongoing Illinois general election campaign of November 2018 or even a future suit,” attorney Stephen Boulton wrote in the motion filed in U.S. District Court. “Defendants’ subpoenas are an improper use of this Court’s subpoena power of this Court to engage in political intelligence.” […]
Madigan’s attorneys in June told U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly one of the defense strategies is to try to prove that Gonzales was a “closet Republican.” Gonzales has denied being a “plant of Gov. Rauner.”
According to the story, Madigan’s lawyers are also seeking to depose Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman, Rauner’s former chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, former Rauner campaign adviser Nick Ayers (who is now VP Pence’s chief of staff), Blair Hull and Kristina Rasmussen,who served as Rauner’s chief of staff after a stint running the Illinois Policy Institute.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 9:58 am
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Rauner knows who Jason Gonzalez is and I believe he is a Rauner plant and closet republican.
Comment by Real Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:03 am
You start a lawsuit and all kinds of boxes and closets can get opened … including some you may not want opened.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:04 am
Just like he said Ives was Madigan’s favorite candidate, she was a shill for the Speaker. The dude lies all the time. Get him infant of lawyers and let’s see him spin this one off. There is nobody there to say last question as he walks away.
Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:13 am
*in front* sorry auto correct
Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:14 am
Roaches absolutely hate it when light is shined upon them.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:18 am
Some tend to forget that discovery goes both ways.
Gonzo’s lawsuit contends that Madigan put up “fake Democrats” in the primary. If you want to go there, it seems reasonable to determine if there were other “fake Democrats” in the race.
I’m aware of ballot-packing shenanigans. I just don’t get how a federal judge will decide who’s “real” and who’s “fake” among those who achieved the statutory requirements for getting on the ballot.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:19 am
Why would he say he doesn’t know Gonzales - unless he does?
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:20 am
As I suggested yesterday, judge might as well appoint a referee to sit in on all the depositions right now (costs paid by the deposing party), or he’s gonna be hip deep in motion practice, transcripts and objections.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:22 am
You know Rauner is lying when he says he knows nothing about the Jason Gonzalez race against Madigan. Who doesn’t pay attention to a race against someone you are suppose to hate so much?
If there is nothing to hide then no need for Gonzalez to come to Rauner’s defense, especially if Gonzelez was a real democrat running for office to oppose Rauner. In which case we see that Gonzalez has little to say against Rauner.
Comment by Real Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:24 am
The connection to IPI is likely because Gonzales was featured in the Madigan movie paid for by IPI.
Comment by frogger Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:24 am
How dare you use the legal system to tarnish your political opponent… That’s our bit!
Comment by Concerned Dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:26 am
All this *action* requires a gif of Michael Jackson eating popcorn.
Comment by MG85 Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:29 am
Why Blair Hull? Am I missing something.
Comment by Some Anonymous Dude (S.A.D.) Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:31 am
What a circus. Not a surprise to anyone who follows federal court in the Northern District of Illinois that Judge Kennelly would allow this nonsensical waste of time and resources to move forward.
Comment by Telly Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:32 am
==Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday said he doesn’t know the man suing Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan in federal court…==
In Rauner’s defense, he might mean he doesn’t know him personally or even met the guy, which wouldn’t be a surprise. Either that or he’s so delusional to think that we’d believe he’s never even heard of the guy even though he gets a hard on for any anti-Madigan news.
Comment by BucknIrish Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:33 am
Ron Burgundy - excellent suggestion. The presence of the judge at the Paula Jones deposition saved Clinton’s presidency. In this case, would keep thing on track.
Comment by Smitty Irving Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:36 am
Dude (SAD) Blair Hull is the money behind everything anti Madigan from Gonzales to Kelly Cassidy #metoo
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:42 am
Wow- Blair Hull is behind Kelly Cassidy being upset that Tim Mapes threatened her job? That’s fascinating. Did Blair Hull also help fake the moon landing?
Comment by Anonchalant Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:47 am
Like most of the over 300 million people who live in America, I missed the Madigan film.
If these depositions on both sides are indeed an effort by the Madigan and IPI folks to find “Political Intelligence” then I really don’t think that the effort will be successful.
They are not looking in the right places.
Anybody remember when political campaigns were fun?
Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:52 am
Some forget that discovery goes both ways.
Gonzo wants a federal judge to decide who “real Democrats” are. Careful what you wish for — why didn’t your legal wizards warn you that you’d be scrootened as well?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:58 am
===Did Blair Hull also help fake the moon landing? ===
According to Team Madigan, the answer would be “Yes.”
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:00 am
If Madigan wants “political intelligence,” he should check with his guy who is here every day.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:04 am
Touché Team Madigan. Two can play at that game (even if the game is ridiculous).
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:06 am
=== - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:04 am:
If Madigan wants “political intelligence,” he should check with his guy who is here every day. ===
OW?
Comment by Birdseed Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:21 am
- Birdseed -
You must not own a decoder ring…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:25 am
According to Ballotpedia Hull was a major funder of Gonzalez.
Madigan got 65%, Gonzalez got 27% and the other candidates got 8%. Why did Madigan need sham candidates?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 11:42 am
Hull has long been a thorn in Madigan’s left side.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 12:25 pm
I don’t understand why Gonzalez attorney Stephan Boulton would care if Republicans are being subpoenaed. If what he says is true, that their depositions have nothing to do with this case, then they can’t hurt his client.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:01 pm
== the other candidates got 8%. Why did Madigan need sham candidates? ==
Good question, but there’s a more important one: why was this case allowed to move forward?
Even if Gonzales can prove the candidates were put up by Madigan — and I have no doubt they were — they had no effect on the outcome, which means they caused Gonzales no injury, which means he has no case.
Judge Kennelly has put the federal court system on a slippery slope. He’s inviting other losing candidates to redress their campaign grievances if federal court after they’ve been rejected by the voters.
That sound you hear is Antonin Scalia doing backflips in his grave.
Comment by Telly Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:07 pm
Real Democrats.
Real Republicans.
Wonders never cease.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:10 pm
He’s inviting other losing candidates to redress their campaign grievances if federal court after they’ve been rejected by the voters. - telly
Which, of course, will be summarily dismissed with prejudice…on their face.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Is McCann a sham candidate?
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:38 pm
–I believe he (Blair Hull) blames Madigan for supporting Dan Hynes, who if absent from the primary would have shifted the results to old Blair ” wife kicker” Hull.–
Obama got 53% of the vote in that Senate primary. Hull and Hynes, combined, got 34%. Not close.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:41 pm
==Even if Gonzales can prove the candidates were put up by Madigan they had no effect on the outcome, which means they caused Gonzales no injury, which means he has no case.==
Which makes this lawsuit even weirder. Because he wouldn’t have won, other candidates or not.
Why would a young man, who you would think would have better things to do, tie up all his time and money on what seems to be a frivolous lawsuit?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:05 pm
== Which, of course, will be summarily dismissed with prejudice…on their face. ==
What makes you say that? This case certainly hasn’t been dismissed.
Comment by Telly Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:16 pm
The term “reversal” comes to mind. In wrestling, one guy has the other one pinned, then suddenly the guy being pinned overpowers and pins the other guy. Turnabout=fair play.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:25 pm
- Telly - Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:32 am:
What a circus. Not a surprise to anyone who follows federal court in the Northern District of Illinois that Judge Kennelly would allow this nonsensical waste of time and resources to move forward.
We live in Illinois. We’ve been enjoying nonsensical wastes of time and resources for decades.
Comment by JustHereForTheComments Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 4:03 pm
I think it is really awesome of the Republican Party to find a Democrat less likable than Mike Madigan to fund sham Republican candidates. Full speed ahead with depositions please.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 4:47 pm
Please define a sham candidate.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 7:58 pm
==Please define a sham candidate.==
Someone who runs for office but has no real intent on winning.
It’s next to impossible to prove intent. In civil cases the plaintiff must prove his case has preponderence of evidence, so poor Jason Gonzalez is throwing his money away.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 6:20 am