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* Background is here if you need it…
…Adding… The governor was asked about Durkin’s request today…
I want to do what I did, which is turn it over to somebody who could actually go do an investigation [Office of Executive Inspector General]. Even members of the House and the Senate can’t go knock on peoples’ doors and, you know, get a subpoena or whatever in short order, get an answer the way an investigatory can in short order. We have to refer this to law enforcement or an appropriate authority as soon as humanly possible. You know the legislature cannot work that fast, so that’s why I think an investigatory body who is empowered to do that sort of thing should be in the lead.
…Adding… The House Republicans point out that federal investigations were ongoing when NRI was investigated by the Audit Commission. Rep. Derrick Smith (discipline) and Gov. Blagojevich (impeachment) were both investigated by Special Investigative Committees.
…Adding… From Leader Durkin’s spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
Please see below an email sent to House Republican members from Leader Durkin regarding Speaker Madigan’s rejection to convene the State Government Administration committee. Feel free to use it in news coverage.
Also, you can attribute this to me:
We did not realize that ghost payrolling was too sensitive of a topic for the committee to investigate on behalf of Illinois taxpayers.
* Durkin’s email…
Dear House Republican Members,
Speaker Madigan’s response (see attached) to reject our call for an investigation into alleged claims of rape and ghost payrolling made by Mike McClain is disappointing but not surprising.
We live in a world of “firsts” and this is the first time I have seen Speaker Madigan abdicate his position and hide behind any Governor.
Please know that we will continue to fight to investigate this disturbing revelation and will do everything we can to restore pride in State government.
Sincerely,
Jim
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:36 pm
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I think this was a mistake
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:47 pm
Exactly right.
Durkin should have thought about the victim first and whether he or she wanted to be the spectacle of a media circus.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:48 pm
Why doesn’t MJM just ask McClain what happened?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:50 pm
Duh. Can’t decide if the if the sensitivity for survivors is legitimate or defection. I don’t think it would be appropriate to name the victim in a hearing at the GA. On the other hand, there might be barriers to a criminal investigation like the statute of limitation and the high standards to bring criminal charges. A GA investigation might be the only way the public can get some sort of resolution about these allegations. It just happens to benefit a lot of Democrats politically too if the GA forgoes any investigation.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:50 pm
- Michelle Flaherty - has it best earlier;
=== And what pray tell would the General Assembly do at the end of these hearings?
File charges? Can’t.
Prosecute criminally? Can’t.
Imprison? Can’t.
Fine? Can’t.===
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:52 pm
What’s wrong with calling the cops? Isn’t this what should have happened years ago?
Comment by Maryjane Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:55 pm
Find out the truth? Maybe.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 1:56 pm
The Republicans can’t get out of the way of themselves. Let this play out. This is bigger that political points in a committee hearing. As stated above there is a potential victim here. The crime and fallout will take care of itself.
Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:00 pm
Checkers: I don’t think anyone would name the victim in a hearing.
I think that the hearing would reveal enough information that between the media and social media, his or her name would become public.
WBEZ is already digging around for more information, so we have perhaps already passed the point of publicizing the painful circumstances and the identity. But that doesn’t mean that we have to be complicit just because the masses want some good reality tv.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:02 pm
“What’s wrong with calling the cops?”
Generally, unless it is a current event, state employees are to contact OEIG, who will pass it along to law enforcement / more appropriate authority. Something OEIG did over 2,000 times in FY 2019.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:06 pm
The two investigations aren’t mutually exclusive. The cops can do their job while the GA does its.
Not sure what Mike is thinking here.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:06 pm
Madigan wrote an entirely reasonable response. If Republicans ever get in the majority , they could hold hearings. Although if by then there may have some sort of criminal investigation of some individuals involved in the story for things in the story or other situations.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:07 pm
=And what pray tell would the General Assembly do at the end of these hearings?=
If any member was found to know about these events- expel them.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:08 pm
===… first time I have seen Speaker Madigan abdicate his position and hide behind any Governor.===
“Usually it was me… kowtowing to a governor… to hurt Illinois”
I dunno, I think Leader Durkin worked as a prosecutor, you’d think Leader Durkin would know the difference grandstanding versus investigating.
I guess Leader Durkin is about the politics of all this?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:19 pm
There is no win situation here. If Madigan had the SGA committee do an investigation, the GOP would claim it’s a rigged process because the committee has more democrats and they’d criticize allowing democrats to investigate former democratic staffers and lobbyists.
Leaving it to the professionals is the right call.
Comment by fluffery Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:22 pm
I keep hearing that Hannig is a stand up guy. I’m sure at the hearing he would let everyone know who the person was that committed the rape. Although, it’s probably unnecessary as Hannig has probably gotten in front of this and called the State’s Attorney in Champaign.
Comment by Stand up Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:25 pm
Madigan is spot on. We need to think about the sensitivity of the matter. Let the Inspector General do their job and find out if a rape and cover up occurred. If so…..those responsible should be criminally prosecuted.
Comment by Druid Eye Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:30 pm
Apparently the Speaker has no concern for ghost payrolling within state government and the impact it has on the budget. Shocking.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:32 pm
Maybe someone was protecting Durkie from a legis hearing sprawling into the PAWS scandal…yikes that would be ugly
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:33 pm
==I guess Leader Durkin is about the politics of all this?==
I think thats the play. Of course MJM wasn’t gonna let these committee hearings fly (for both good reasons [the privacy of the victim] and disingenuous ones). Now Durkin can beat MJM about the face and neck with that political stick heading into an election AND Census year.
Comment by DarkDante Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:44 pm
Does defending the boss on internet comment boards earn you most trusted of the trusted points?
Comment by Norville Rogers Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:45 pm
=== Now Durkin can beat MJM about the face and neck with that political stick heading into an election AND Census year.===
With what money?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 2:45 pm
Potential criminal charges aside, the GA does have an oversight role here that I hope they don’t abdicate on both of these issues — What happened? How did it happen? What state employees were involved? How can this be prevented in the future? Is corrective legislation needed? Does more oversight need to be implemented at the agency level? These are all legitimate areas of inquiry at some point for a legislative body.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:14 pm
An earlier comment on one of the other post got lost somewhere in cyberworld, but the gist of which was that a legislative committee is not the right forum for this type of investigation. What we’ll see is a dog and pony political show. It must be investigated by the appropriate authorities.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:49 pm
For clarification on this matter, my money is on WBEZ and their great reporters.
https://twitter.com/dmihalopoulos/status/1215381528819257351?s=21
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 3:59 pm
This reminds me of the time that Republicans demanded hearings into alleged corruption in the Secretary of State’s office under George Ryan, or contract and hiring shenanigans at the Tollway under Bruce Rauner.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 4:38 pm