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"I am tired of waiting for federal prosecutors to clean up the mess
in Illinois," Brady said. "If Illinois is ever going to shake its
reputation for political corruption, we've got to start policing
ourselves, instead of relying on the feds to do our work for us.
It's an embarrassment." The 44th District senator wants the
attorney general, or a special prosecutor, to review the ethical or
criminal implications of media reports that Gov. Rod Blagojevich's
office played a more active role than they have admitted in the
hiring of state employees for civil service jobs.
The Bloomington Republican is also asking the attorney general to
publicly report on what steps her office is taking to ensure that
critical evidence currently controlled by the governor's office is
not destroyed or altered. Recently, a former employee of the
Blagojevich administration told the media she had been instructed to
delete files involving campaign contributors. At the time those
allegations surfaced, the Blagojevich administration claimed it had
the right to delete those files.
"This is a major concern. This administration knows they are the
target of prosecutors. In that kind of situation, the pressure to
destroy or alter evidence is intense," Brady said. "We need to make
sure the evidence is being preserved for future prosecutions, if
they become necessary."
In a letter to Attorney General Madigan, Brady notes that the
"allegations of giving taxpayer-funded jobs to campaign donors and
political allies, if founded, are serious violations of the public
trust and may even be criminal."
"The governor had said time and again that his office did not
have a direct hand in hiring state employees for nonpolitical, civil
service jobs. Yet, documents obtained by the Associated Press show
otherwise," Brady said. "Once again, what the governor claims does
not concur with what documents show to be fact. As a state senator
who represents 210,000 Illinois citizens, I am asking for some
answers -- and sooner rather than later. The people deserve to know
quickly if these allegations are founded."
The attorney general or a special prosecutor will be asked to
report back to the General Assembly within three months.
"The General Assembly writes the laws. If the state's current
ethics laws are not sufficient and do not fully address such
situations, we need to know what must be done to improve them,"
Brady said. "During an investigation, the attorney general or
special prosecutor may find that there are loopholes this
administration is using. We need to be able to close those
loopholes."
[to top of second column]
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 Text of letter:
Bill Brady
State Senator
44th Legislative District
June 1, 2006
The Honorable Lisa Madigan
Attorney General
500 Second Street
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Attorney General Madigan:
As you are aware, many recent news
reports are raising serious questions about the legality of hiring
practices by the Blagojevich Administration. These allegations of
giving taxpayer-funded jobs to campaign donors and political allies,
if founded, are serious violations of the public trust and may even
be criminal.
Given the nature of these allegations,
I respectfully request that your office investigate these
allegations to determine if any ethical or criminal violations have
occurred. Furthermore, I believe it would be appropriate for you to
report your findings to the General Assembly within 90 days.
If you believe you have a conflict of
interest in investigating these allegations, I urge you to appoint a
special prosecutor to conduct the inquiry.
My constituents -- and all the people
of Illinois -- are tired of waiting for federal prosecutors to clean
up the mess in state government. The people deserve to know quickly
if the allegations against the Blagojevich Administration are
founded.
I also believe the public needs to
know what steps have been taken by your office, as the chief law
enforcement officer of the state, to assure that critical evidence
currently in the control of the Governor's office is not destroyed
or altered. What steps are being taken to assure the integrity of
personnel files -- either electronic or paper -- that might be
relevant to investigators or prosecutors? Recently a former employee
of the Blagojevich Administration informed the media that she had
been instructed to delete files involving campaign contributors. At
the time those allegations surfaced, the Blagojevich Administration
claimed it had the right to delete those files. With that in mind,
and with the knowledge that new investigations are either underway
or imminent, it is reasonable to assume that the Administration may
destroy other files. What steps are being taken by your office to
assure that critical information is being preserved?
Your prompt attention to this matter
is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bill Brady
State Senator -- 44th District
[News
release from
Sen. Bill Brady] |
