Joe Moore Goes H*A*M On City Legislative Inspector General In Community Newsletter
By Jon Graef in News on Aug 3, 2013 6:30PM
Ald. Joe Moore (49th) has had a rough couple of weeks. First, the progressive alderman (for good and ill) was accused of multiple ethics violations by City Legislative Inspector General Faisal Khan.
The accusations included claims Moore fired an employee for blowing the whistle on campaign work being done in his ward office, and that said alleged whistleblower, along with another former staffer, received severance packages to which they weren't entitled.
Moore denied the accusations, but, as a result of them, the White House decision to withhold a good government award Moore was slated to receive pending the result of the investigation. Damn, son, that's gotta hurt.
But does Joe Moore take these events lying down? Oh, no, he does not! In a community newsletter, Moore went boldface, all-caps HAM on Faisal Khan.
Moore writes that "Khan's accusations are false, and his behavior was at best completely unprofessional." Moore further added that Khan, "owes me and all of the residents of the City of Chicago an apology."
Much of the letter repeats what Moore has said regarding Khan's accusations. But it does so some of the time in boldface, and all-caps, much like you would do were you refuting an argument in YouTube's comments section.
For example:
MR. KHAN'S FALSE ALLEGATION THAT I ENGAGED IN "THEFT" IS WITHOUT FACTUAL OR LEGAL SUPPORT...
MR. KHAN'S FALSE ALLEGATION THAT I ENGAGED IN AN "ABUSE OF AUTHORITY" IS ALSO WITHOUT FACTUAL OR LEGAL SUPPORT.
See also:
FAISAL KHAN BLATANTLY VIOLATED THE STANDARDS OF INVESTIGATORY PROCEDURE SET OUT IN THE CITY CODE; HIS CONDUCT IN THIS SO-CALLED "INVESTIGATION" IS BOTH UNETHICAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
He also explains that, yes, some political activity took place in his office, but that said activity was the result of an intern's misunderstanding. Lousy interns, mock fist shake!
Since this allegation first surfaced last week, I conducted my own investigation and spoke with my staff assistants who were employed at the time the alleged event occurred. Staff members have confirmed that volunteers in the ward office, such as the unpaid intern, on occasion placed stamps and labels on postcards for small political mailings, primarily mailings to the members of my ward organization. My staff members assure me that these occasional mailings are the only political activity that took place in the office, that it was performed only by volunteers and that it has not taken place in the last several years.Nonetheless, I have reminded them that it was then and is still against my directive and policy to allow any of this kind of activity in the office, even if it is performed by volunteers, and that it should not happen again. I maintain a year-round political office in the community at 1774 W. Greenleaf, for which I pay over $1,000 a month in rent, to help ensure that political work is kept separate from government work.
Though the activity is not something I support or condone in my ward office, it is important to note that the activity that Ms. Sullivan alleges did not violate the City's Code of Ethics or any other law. The City's Code of Ethics applies to paid City employees only, not to volunteers or unpaid interns.
Read the comprehensive, yet complete eyesore of a letter here. Formatting consistencies, people!
Also, here's Khan's full report below: