A former State Treasurer's Office employee on June 12 re-filed a federal lawsuit that maintained he was sexually harassed by State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, this time adding political discrimination and racketeering on behalf of Mitt Romney's presidential to the allegations.
At a press conference at Dirksen Federal Courthouse June 12, attorneys for the plaintiff alleged that Rutherford in effect acted as a "mob boss," threatening state employees with reprisals if they did not carry out campaign work.
Ed Michalowski this past winter sued Rutherford for making unwanted sexual advances as well as forcing him to do campaign work for Rutherford on state time. The suit significantly weakened Rutherford's bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and he came in last among the four GOP candidates in the March 18 primary. The lawsuit was dismissed last week but Michalowski's lawyers were informed he could re-file.
The new suit names as defendants Rutherford, as well as his office chief and political director, Curt Conrad; his chief of staff, Kyle Ham; the State of Illinois; the State Treasurer's Office; Dan Rutherford Campaign Committee; and Romney for President, Inc. The complaint alleges racketeering and criminal conspiracy as well as political discrimination, gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
Treasurer's Office employees were forced to contribute their own money and time to political campaigns, "with threats, that if they did not do this, they would lose their jobs," said Michalowski's attorney, Dana Kurtz, who compared the alleged tactics to mob activity.
"The allegations are that Rutherford acted essentially as a 'mob boss,' forcing employees [to carry out political work]," she added. "He had a hit list, which included Michalowski; if they did not do enough political work they were going to be fired after the election. ... Rutherford was in charge of Romney's [Illinois] campaign, and forced employees to work not only for Rutherford's campaign but Mitt Romney's campaign."
Kurtz said she did not know whether officials from Romney's national campaign knew of Rutherford's alleged activities. "The point is, Rutherford was in charge of that campaign for the state of Illinois."
Kurtz also said that Michalowski was forced to keep a "clout list" of interns who would get preferential treatment in hiring that also recorded their political connections.
Michalowski is also represented in the suit by attorney Christine Svenson, who was present at the conference. When the initial suit was filed, Rutherford maintained that it was engineered by his opponent, Bruce Rauner, citing work that Svenson had done for Rauner in the past. But Svenson and Kurtz denied that connection.
"Dan Rutherford is no longer a viable candidate for governor," Kurtz said. "This case is about stopping corruption in the state of Illinois."
Judge Joan Lefkow of the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, will hear the case.
