By: Mark Glennon*
Background facts are simple on the key part of this saga, and there’s been no resolution whatsoever to what’s most important in it — alleged involvement of the Pritzker Administration.
Jenny Thornley, a former state employee and former campaign worker for JB Pritzker, earlier sued Jack Garcia on a claim of sexual harassment while both worked for the state. At a cost to taxpayers of over $500,000, an independent investigative report found no basis for that harassment claim.
On Friday, a default judgement was entered against Thornley in federal court on her harassment claim and in favor of Garcia on his counterclaim for defamation about the falsity of Thornley’s allegations. That ruling in favor of Garcia was no surprise in light of the earlier report finding no evidence of the harassment.
But Thornley had nevertheless filed, and collected on, a worker’s comp claim based on harm she supposedly suffered from that harassment – the very harassment that had no basis, according to the investigation.
Most importantly, that claim was paid thanks to assistance from Pritzker’s office, according to a whistleblower complaint filed by Emily Fox, who worked in the same state office with Thornley and Garcia at the time of the alleged harassment. Her whistleblower complaint included the following:
This extraordinary level of involvement by the Governor’s General Counsel in a workers’ compensation claim involving an independent agency of State government is a raw demonstration of improper political influence to assist a friend and supporter of the Governor at the expense of the People of the State of Illinois. It is made worse by the fact that the entire premise of Thornley’s workers’ compensation claim is the “assault”…that was debunked and proven false by both the $550,000.00 independent investigation undertaken by a law firm the Governor’s Office recommended and then again by an independent investigation of the Illinois State Police.
But Attorney General Kwame Raoul proceeded to have the whistleblower case dismissed. Neither his office nor anybody in the state has done anything we can find to prosecute the fraudulent worker’s comp claim or pursue the alleged complicity of Pritzker’s office in it.
Pritzker and Raoul literally laughed off the one question put to them about the affair, which was last August, and Raoul went on to provide his apparently false excuses for doing nothing.
Nobody in the press has followed up on that smug answer, aside from a Center Square article, also from last August, reporting that no further prosecution of the matter had occurred.
So now we have a federal judgement rendered on Friday affirming that the alleged harassment was a lie, but still nothing on the fraudulent workers’ compensation claim on which it was based or the Pritzker Administration’s alleged involvement getting it paid.
While it’s good to see Garcia’s name fully cleared, it’s too bad his defamation case never went to trial. We might have learned much about what the Pritzker Administration did to help the fraudulent claim along, and why it might have done that.
We sure can’t expect to get those answers from Pritzker or Raoul.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
The following earlier Wirepoints contain extensive further background and links to relevant documents:
- Pritzker said there should be accountability for worker’s comp fraud. Where is that for Jenny Thornley and Pritzker’s staff?
- A.G. Kwame Raoul fights appeal of whistleblower lawsuit and further developments in Jenny Thornley matter
- Plaintiffs Step Up Fight For Cases To Be Heard in Jenny Thornley Scandal But Attorney General Kwame Raoul Still Covering It Up
- 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
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Two tiers of justice in america. One for elite Democrats and one for everyone else.
Biden’s 2021 pledge to address making a plan for ‘countering Corruption’ doesn’t contain any contact information for the promised ‘Ant-Corruption Task Force”. If there ever is one, they might be interested in this case (because it will be beyond statutory time limits for local law enforcement or civil litigation).
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/United-States-Strategy-on-Countering-Corruption.pdf
Tip of the iceberg-keep digging into work comp
Hey, what’s the big deal? Forget about the money spent investigating a bogus claim. Give her the workman’s compensation. Throw in a fat pension too when it’s all done, right?
Dems feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of behavior. Payoffs and influence are all part of their standard procedures. JB trying to wrangle an appointment from Blago was caught on tape, but there’s never any repercussions. They were probably surprised when the ComEd verdicts came in. If a jury ever gets ahold of JB he’ll go down in flames. Sleep tight big boy!
Look at that picture. Of course she’s going to get what she wants. Beware everybody this “I’ll pat your back, you pat my back” Mafia Pritzker could be running for President of the United States. Too bad the media here won’t dig up and print the Pritzker truth. He is a very dangerous man BUT the media does have a job to do. If they are too scared to do it they need to get out.
I can take one look at that woman’s photo and recognize no one would sexually harass her.
Reminds me of Trump’s not-so-bright defense: “She’s not my type.”
He lives in your head. Seek professional help!
Well, it sure isn’t coming from you, Mr. Always Conspiracy.
James you’re a fairly bright person. What do you call a conspiracy theory if it is based on actual, irrefutable facts? Was it a conspiracy theory when many of us believed that Trump did not conspire with the Russians, but that it was a complete lie orchestrated by the government? Was it a conspiracy when many of us believed the government lied and covered up Hunter Biden’s laptop?
Blah, blah, blah, Black Sheep. I don’t care to join a pointless loop of explanations only to have it fall on deaf ears and defiant tongues.
Yes or no question: Are the two examples I stated based on fact?
So, all you ultra-smart MAGA supporters apparently think Trump’s worse-than-goofy goofy response was just super duper? Amazing. Lord, save us all in this our hour of need!
Another example of how IL Dems try to hide Pugsley’s ethical skid-marks.
….and the media shills willingly oblige.
When are you good people making comments going to get it? The people of Illinois are ok with the corruption and the taxes. Maybe you aren’t, but that doesn’t matter. The Illinois voters made their decision. The Chicago voters made their decision. Get a clue. You need to leave.
Democrats are corrupt. Why is there any surprise about this?
Today they laugh at those willing to question. Tomorrow you will be hauled off to the gulag.
JB also purchased supreme court judges with a million each with campaign money and the Judicial Inquiry Board will not even respond publicly.
Will anyone be shocked when those two gun grabbers on the ILSC find the gun grabber law legal? There are pictures of one justice hanging out with a Mom’s gun grabber group, and she took $1,000,000 from JB. OF COURSE these judges will vote for the gun grabber law, and HOW DARE YOU question their impartiality!
Thumbs down from co- conspirators Raoul and Soros.
Pritzker and Raoul willing made a mockery of the law to put a bag over Pritzkers dalliance, laughed about it, and the IL established media winked. There is a lot more to this corruption – What did MK know, when did she know it, and what did she do?