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One Chicago Alderman Goes to Prison, The Rest Claim Legislative Immunity

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Never a dull moment in Chicago. According to <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-carothers-plead-2010020…; target="”_blank”">an
article in the Chicago <i>Tribune</i></a>, a now-former alderman has pleaded
guilty to bribery and tax fraud charges relating to $40,000 in work done on
his home by a developer whose development he backed. This makes him the
29th Chicago alderman to be convicted over the last four decades (including his father, on a similar charge). Other
deals done by the alderman have also come to light, as well as the fact
that he wore a wire for the last year (shortening his sentence). In
other words, more heads will soon be rolling.<br>
<br>

But not if the current aldermen can help it. The developer will soon be
going to trial for his end of the transaction, and he wants to subpoena
ten current and former aldermen, including five members of the zoning
committee.<br>
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Surely these aldermen care more about transparency, justice, and the
people's trust in government than they do about the Speech or Debate
Clause that provides them with legislative immunity from being
questioned in court. Yeah, right.<br>
<br>
According to the <i>Tribune</i> article, "Corporation Counsel Mara Georges
last week filed a motion with the
court trying to keep the aldermen from having to testify by claiming
legislative immunity." It's likely she'll be using this motion a lot
over the next year.<br>
<br>
An <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-council-2…; target="”_blank”">excellent
<i>Tribune</i> editorial</a> yesterday calls for allowing the Inspector
General to have jurisdiction over aldermen. It so happens that when the
aldermen set up the IG's office, they conveniently excluded themselves,
and subsequent attempts to get rid of this loophole have never made it
out of committee.The editorial also calls for protection of the IG's
budget from political interference, and for all IG reports to be made
public. Hear, hear!<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
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