By: Diane Benjamin
Anyone surprised? The law firm hired by the County to investigate the PAC created to abolish the Auditor’s office didn’t agree with the ethics commission ruling.
See the WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-02-26/mclean-county-ethics-complaint-found-to-be-unsubstantiated-after-attorneys-investigation
There is one glaring problem. Talking to County employees is nice but they are not central to what should have been investigated.
According the the PC reports filed, cash was available of over $4900 before filing was required. https://blnnews.com/2025/02/22/lizzys-pac-reports/
Lizzy Johnston provided $1871 from her campaign fund.
Where did the rest of the money come from?
Did the law firm get a list of contributors? How many are County employees or elected individuals? Who asked them to contribute?
Maybe Trevor Sierra’s attorney didn’t want him interviewed for cause. I have no inside information on that.
Essential to investigations is “follow the money”. If the law firm who conducted the investigation did that WGLT didn’t put it in the story. Seems like an essential missed element.
The law firm might think ” follow the money” was outside the scope of the work they were hired to do. If true, the investigation was useless.
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What’s also interesting is that they’ll ethics commission and/or the States Attorney either ignored or just ignored to every legal request and subpoena submitted by Mr. Berck, but not Mr. Hunt, Elizabeth Johnstons attorney, seeking more information and evidence.
Not one list of names of donors, witnesses, questions asked, transcripts, or additional email requests were provided. As per Illinois Supreme Court Rule 754.
Why not get an attorney then? Fire with fire etc
Taxpayers have to fund another investigation when they were already billed for this one?
No, just asking Chad Berck in the comments (since he is commenting but referred to himself in the 3rd person) if he’s considered getting a lawyer himself. Not sure why that invoked a reference of taxpayers because they have nothing to do with that.
County money comes from taxpayers. Duh. You assume too much
Law firms are hired to support the outcome which the party who hired them wants, PERIOD.
Remember in EVERY court case, there is an attorney, or someone, arguing the opposite side. An attorney’s job is not to judge right, wrong, or even truth. They interpret/arguee a perspective to support the outcome they were paid to represent.
Mr. Sierra taking the 5th concerning his own complaint sunk his case. But there is hope the State AG’s office will properly investigate Mr. Berck’s complaint, which the county ethics committee found had probable cause to refer the case to Erika Reynolds (State’s Attorney). She views the county board as her client, so for conflict of interest, she gave it to the AG. My understanding is this case follows the money and has better evidence to support.
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-02-20/political-fundraising-allegations-in-mclean-county-headed-to-illinois-attorney-generals-office-for-review