By: Mark Glennon
Despite Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s insistence that his office “referred” a politically sensitive allegation of workers’ compensation fraud to an appellate prosecutor, no such order has been issued by a court. That’s the last we’ve heard on the Jenny Thornley saga, which was reported by The Center Square ten days ago. To our knowledge, nothing further has happened.
The smug, deceptive answers by both Raoul and Gov. JB Pritzker are infuriating, as is the media’s docile complacence about that.
Few cases would seem to demand accountability more than the one of Pritzker’s former campaign worker, Thornley. She based her workers’ comp claim on harm allegedly suffered from sexual harassment as a state employee. But the harassment never happened according to findings in an independent investigation concluded at a cost to taxpayers of over $500,000.
More importantly, the award of the claim was facilitated by the governor’s office, according to two lawsuits of record and extensive documentary evidence.
The last we heard from Pritzker was earlier in the month when all he would say was that he knew nothing about the matter other than what he read in the newspapers and that “the truth is, if somebody committed workman’s comp fraud, they should be held accountable.”
And the last we heard from Raoul was on August 17 when he provided the same answers that are inconsistent and entirely unconvincing. Again, only The Center Square covered his comments:
“We are conflicted out,” Raoul told The Center Square. “There’s only so many times I can say that.”
Documents show Raoul’s office telling the Sangamon County state’s attorney they didn’t have original jurisdiction in the case. In the civil lawsuit, Raoul’s office motioned for dismissal, saying they investigated the case and it’s not worth the state’s time. Last month, Raoul said there was a “typical conflict,” and they referred the case to the special prosecutor.
“And so, that’s it, there’s nothing else to be said on that,” Raoul said. “Thank you for your questions.”
Raoul refused to answer further questions.
But the only conflict of interest that has been reported applied only to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney due to an unrelated matter in which that state’s attorney is effectively representing Thornley. Raoul’s office has no conflict of interest that’s apparent. Nor has he ever explained one or put it in front of a court.
And Raoul had earlier claimed that he had “referred the case out” to the Illinois Appellate Advocate’s office to handle. However, a subsequent email from an official there said they knew nothing about it.
The legacy news media continue to ignore the Jenny Thornley matter entirely. They’ve asked about it only once, when Pritzker and Raoul literally laughed the question off and Raoul went on to provide his apparently false excuses for doing nothing. But there has been no followup in the press whatsoever aside from The Center Square.
That’s Illinois. No accountability. Not for the alleged fraudster or for those who are running things.
Details and background are in the links below.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
- Pritzker’s response to the Jenny Thornley matter is either dishonest, derelict or both
- Deeper into the hole he dug goes Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the Jenny Thornley matter
- Questions Mount Over Pritzker Administration’s Involvement In Thornley’s Alleged Fraud
- Answers needed as Illinois’ Jenny Thornley affair continues
Audio and summary 
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Raoul has the ‘Poindexter Look’ down pat.
And Ghost Payrolling too right JB?
Pritzker meant accountability for all of us peons.
He sees himself as above it all.
Raoul and Pritzker are hiding something, something that would gravely effect both of there re-election plans, Devore please don’t give up and Bailey you need to start making this a issue in your bid for Governor, don’t let this go by the wayside gentleman.
Should aggrieved damaged parties (employers who are forced to contribute to IDES) file civil suit seeking tolling agreement to preserve their rights to recover fraudulent payouts?
Illinois government industry can slow-walk this case for more than 2 years.
While the suit might cost more than the potential recovery, activist billionaires would get more accomplished through litigation funding suits against government corruption than by donating to political campaigns.
You mean like tax fraud (toilet removal), etc? Right?