Nader Camapaign to Call for Investigation into '04 Ballot Obstruction at IL Press Conference
Press Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christina Tobin, 312-320-4101, christina@votenader.org
NADER/GONZALEZ 2008 CAMPAIGN TO CALL ON IL AG LISA MADIGAN TO INVESTIGATE EVIDENCE THAT STATE OFFICIALS MAY HAVE ORCHESTRATED EFFORT TO BLOCK ‘04 TICKET FROM BALLOT AT TUESDAY MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO, IL
Christina Tobin, National Field Coordinator for the Nader/Gonzalez campaign, will be speaking to the press Tuesday morning at the launching of the campaign’s newest office in Chicago, Illinois.
The main topic of discussion will be the role played by Michael Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representative and Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, to block the Nader/Camejo ticket from the state’s ballot during the 2004 general election. Evidence suggests that Illinois state employees may have illegally worked to remove the ticket from reaching the ballot. Mr. Madigan is the father of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan who bears the responsibility to launch an investigation into the matter.
In 2004, the Illinois Democratic Party challenged the Nader/Camejo ballot line and sent party members to the Cook County Elections Office to oversee the verification of signature petitions. A photocopied sign-in sheet reveals that state employees, possibly from Mr. Madigan’s office, were among those present. According to Tobin, who was working at the elections office at the time, the state employees indicated that they were sent by their supervisor or supervisors upon questioning.
Precedent for an investigation into these suspicions was set earlier this year when 12 members or employees of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus were indicted for a number of charges including criminal conspiracy, theft and conflict of interest. A Grand Jury convened by Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett found that state employees, using taxpayer money and time, invested "a staggering number of man-hours" to keep the Nader/Camejo ticket off the ballot during the 2004 general election.
Last month, Mr. Nader wrote to the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Election Commission urging state-by-state investigations similar to the one conducted in Pennsylvania. Mr. Nader applauds the Pennsylvania Attorney General for its diligence and professionalism while conducting the investigation and urges Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to recognize and carry out her duties to follow suit.
