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* Speaker Madigan’s team has always denied that they put two Latino Democratic candidates into Madigan’s 2016 primary race to take votes away from well-funded challenger Jason Gonzales. But depositions from a few people involved reveal the involvement of 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s brother Kevin (who worked out of Madigan’s office until given the boot after being accused of sexual harassment) and of one of Madigan’s precinct captains, Eugene Pagois.
The entire Tribune story about the depositions is a must-read, if only for passages like this about former HDO and Cicero Voters Alliance precinct worker Joseph Nasella…
Nasella didn’t easily give up his story about what he said was the Madigan camp’s request to help another candidate get on the ballot against the speaker.
According to court records, Nasella avoided process servers in Hammond, Lansing and his mother’s 10th Ward residence for months. But after a federal judge issued an arrest warrant, he turned up.
Even then, Nasella initially came across as a reluctant witness during the lengthy deposition. A lawyer’s attempt to get some basic information on the record proved a challenge.
“Where I live and who I f— is my business,” responded Nasella, 55.
This is a truly fascinating story. You’ve got one guy, Nasella, who has wandered from one public job to another (he’s currently at IDNR) and literally hid out from process servers for months to avoid testifying about his petition effort allegedly directed by Kevin Quinn, the brother of Madigan’s “general.” And another guy, Michael Kuba, who reads at the 6th grade level and apparently accompanied Madigan precinct captain Pagois while Pagois obtained signatures so that Kuba could sign the petition sheets and obscure MJM’s direct involvement.
I got tired just writing that paragraph. Imagine how much energy and effort they’ve had to put into that race, before, during and for three years after. I mean, sheesh, did they also fly in uncles from Sicily to attend the depositions?
Madigan ended up winning with 65 percent of the vote. Maybe they should focus on doing that sort of precinct work and dump the dark skullduggery.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 9:51 am
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I like how the defense seems to have turned from “We didn’t do it!” to “So what if we did?”
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 9:56 am
== Imagine how much energy and effort they’ve had to put into that race ==
Swatting at flies with a sledgehammer is one of their specialties.
Comment by TNR Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:01 am
The amount of effort this guy went to just to avoid getting deposed, that level of loyalty is kind of mind blowing in this day and age.
I don’t know if I should admire the effort they put into this stuff or wonder what that level of effort being put into something productive to society would accomplish.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:03 am
We may need to get into Quantum Physics to figure out what really happened here.
Comment by A guy Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:04 am
“did they also fly in uncles from Sicily to attend the depositions?”
Good reference to “The Godfather — Part II.”
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:06 am
Rich dropping Easter eggs like an Easter bunny.
To the Post,
The cautious Madigan operation, willing to cover all bases and angles truly forgot the main point in the exercises;
Do the best job, work the hardest in the precincts, make those precincts “your own”
The rest takes care of itself, really.
No matter the alleged unpopularity the Speaker has, in those 60, 70, 80 or so precincts… that’s it. The simplicity of “home” is what makes defeating incumbents so difficult.
I’d go as far to say they ALL forgot that what makes the Ward organization so strong and powerful isn’t the outside influences attacking and the deflecting, it’s the insulating that the organization does… by making everything local… and the locals already know their guys serves THEM well.
They plum forgot… why they even exist as a base.
“We want nothing to chance”
What… Gonzo and Peraica and Rauner could flip that organization’s powerful connection to the precincts?
Are you that worried you can’t measure up?
Oh, the HDems also now hold more seats than at any time in Madigan’s tenure as Speaker. Yeah… that’s downstate, big stage MJM… y’all are the Ward Crew. Local. Do the work you use to… then these gnats will be swatted away, not by you all… but by the voters you know so well… and why wouldn’t ya, it’s your home, and you take care of home, first, last, always.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:07 am
This race and the David Krupa go to show that if you have a massive war chest and one of the last precinct armies left in the State, use those to win the election not prestadigitation.
Another interesting case was a young man who filed against Mike Madigan for State Central Committeeman in the 2018 primary. After they checked his signatures he was initially over the minimum of 100 signatures. Then the objectors brought in a handwriting expert and he was found to be under 100. Had he made the ballot that would have been quite the race because it was over the whole 3rd Congressional district, not just the 13th Ward or 22nd State Rep district where the organization can rely on their reputation for delivering services and investment to get reelected.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:10 am
The Chicago Tribune story is informative. But, it’s not clear if there’s more to this story or not. Mistakes made? Ethics violations? Laws broken?
Comment by Steve Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:17 am
I’m picturing Gonzo and Peraica using string to tie together all the clues left in Madigan’s political offices.
https://capitolfax.com/2018/10/25/gonzales-wants-to-inspect-measure-and-photograph-madigans-offices/
Comment by Jocko Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:24 am
Just another everyday honest public servant doing the will of the people..”Still, Nasella was slow to disclose his current state job during the deposition, saying he feared Madigan would decide “we got to get him.”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:26 am
Maybe I have missed something, but laws where broken? Is it against the law to fund other candidates for the hope effect of hurting your well funded challenger? I am not trying to be sarcastic…I really am asking that question.
Comment by reddevil1 Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:31 am
What laws were broken? That, sadly, is the Illinois standard. Ethics? Nope. Fiduciary? Most in Springfield don’t even know what that means. Hey. We didn’t break the law… is where we are as a government. Explains it all really. Let’s all go enjoy all those new taxes today…
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 10:47 am
Boy that Nasella, what a guy. Wanders from public job to public job doing the people’s work. Hands blistered no doubt, and so busy he can’t even be found to be served. And what loyalty he demonstrated. Yes sir, he’s one of the good ones.
Mr. Madigan has built an organization that is completely dedicated to the people they serve. Why would anyone take issue with the man?
Comment by SSL Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:13 am
This is all very fascinating and it’s fun seeing MJM embarrassed but what is the point of this lawsuit again?
I don’t see how the plaintiff’s rationale that his constitutional rights were violated by sham candidates competing against him is any more a justiciable question than partisan gerrymandering per the recent Rucho v. Common Cause ruling.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:19 am
This Nasella guy sounds like a perfect public servant.
Comment by Just Me Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:23 am
hisgirlfriday - I doubt Madigan is embarrassed by this story. If anything, he is proud of this behavior.
Comment by Just Me Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:24 am
I don’t know what the suit alleges, but as far as law breaking, could the sham candidates be construed as illegally undisclosed campaign messaging for Madigan, as well as a way for him to skirt campaign financing laws?
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:30 am
The lawsuit was filed under 42 US 1983 which means they are alleging a deprivation of civil rights under color of law. I believe that the Plaintiffs are alleging that this was done under color of law because they believe that the Speaker used the power of his office in his quest to recruit these candidates
Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 11:47 am
“I mean, sheesh, did they also fly in uncles from Sicily to attend the depositions?”
Certified lol material.
Comment by Liandro Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:01 pm
@Just Me. What’s the over/under on whether he’s even read it?
I would argue he’s most likely completely neutral on this sort of thing; his guys get it done and it’s gotta be done, so, you know, it got did.
Comment by lakeside Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:02 pm
Right, sort of like in The Princess Bride. Prince Humperdinck didn’t actively manage the Brute Squad, but he was happy to know they were there.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:07 pm
===they believe that the Speaker used the power of his office in his quest to recruit these candidates===
And that was completely based on an allegation that Attorney General Lisa Madigan hired one of the circulators. It turns out, that was false. The circulator did work for the plaintiff’s attorney once, however. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:21 pm
I’m picturing Mr. Nasella doing his best Frank Pentangeli impression:
“The FBI guys promised me a deal. So I made up a lot of stuff about Michael Madigan. Because then, that’s what they wanted. But it was all lies. Everything. They said Michael Madigan did this, Michael Madigan did that. So I said, “Yeah, sure.”
Comment by don the legend Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:22 pm
To make a nod to another great movie: That Madigan… He is some kind of man… What does it matter what you say about people?
Doubt Madigan cares what people think or say about him.
Comment by BaileyWarren Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 12:25 pm
“…did they also fly in uncles from Sicily to attend the depositions?” I had to choke down my sip of water as I read that one. this is a masterful post, Rich.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 1:01 pm
===I mean, sheesh, did they also fly in uncles from Sicily to attend the depositions===
LOL. Either that or someone went to Sicily to disappear for a while. “APOLLONIA NO!”
Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 1:44 pm
I thought it was the brother that was flown in from Sicily.
Comment by Powdered Whig Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 2:45 pm
Powdered Whig you are correct.
Comment by Leave a light on George Monday, Jul 1, 19 @ 7:17 pm