Lisa Madigan

14 Stories

Illinois AG: Names of 500 Accused Priests Kept Hidden

Claims involving only one victim often found not credible: report

(Newser) - The Catholic Church in Illinois withheld the names of at least 500 priests accused of sexually abusing children, while nearly 75% of allegations were either not investigated or investigated but not substantiated, according to a scathing report from the state's attorney general. Claims involving just one victim were often...

Lawsuits: Firms Scamming Folks WIth Student Loans

Illinois attorney general warns consumers about 'predatory' offers

(Newser) - Debt-settlement companies have long targeted people saddled with mortgages or credit card debt, promising more manageable monthly payments, settlements, or even complete loan forgiveness—but now these companies are targeting individuals bogged down with student loans, reports the New York Times . And these companies' tactics may not be on the...

Illinois Prosecutors Won't Defend Gay Marriage Ban

But some legal experts say prosecutors are legally bound to defend state's law

(Newser) - Illinois is home to a 16-year-ban on gay marriage, and some 25 same-sex couples have been gearing up for a big court fight against it. Problem is, the defense's table is looking pretty empty. The AP reports that the state's attorney general and the Cook County state attorney...

Dems May Lose Obama's Old Senate Seat
 Dems May 
 Lose Obama's 
 Old Senate Seat 

LYNN SWEET
Nov 16, 2009 10:00 AM CST

Dems May Lose Obama's Old Senate Seat

Illinois field isn't scaring GOP frontrunner Mark Kirk

(Newser) - The Democratic field for President Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat is anemic enough to make a GOP win a real possibility, Lynn Sweet writes. The candidates—only one of whom has run for office, ever—haven’t phased the Republican frontrunner, Rep. Mark Kirk. The statewide Dem establishment seems...

Blago Book: Senate Deal 'Routine' Politics

Former Illinois gov admits only 'routine' backroom dealing

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich’s memoir makes the case for his innocence with a lot of help from Shakespeare, the Chicago Tribune reports. While blaming his woes specifically on five enemies, he likens his plight to that of Othello and Lear. “You might as well throw in a little Richard the...

Economic Muck Gives GOP Hope for New Blood in 2010

Candidate recruitment up amid bad news for Dems

(Newser) - As bad economic reports keep coming, Republicans are seeing candidate recruitment soar, the Hill reports. The party has had “probably its first good couple weeks in four years,” says an analyst, fueled in large part by rising unemployment and sinking stocks. Meanwhile, Democrats have lost top Senate candidate...

Blago Toyed With Giving Rival's Daughter Senate Seat...

...in exchange for dad's pet-project support

(Newser) - Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich considered nominating his rival's daughter to the US Senate in exchange for concessions on pet projects, the AP reports. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the state's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, was in contention for the spot, according to aides to Sen. Dick...

Reid Pressured Blago on Senate Pick

(Newser) - Harry Reid called Rod Blagojevich after the election, but before the governor’s arrest, to discourage him from appointing unelectable candidates to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Senate majority leader sought to put the kibosh on Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis, along with...

Blagojevich Lawyer: Feds' Wiretaps 'Illegally Obtained'

Ill. AG says state won't pay for governor's impeachment defense

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich’s lawyer said today federal wiretaps of the Illinois governor’s phones had been “illegally obtained,” and should be excluded from his impeachment proceedings, the AP reports. Furthermore, Ed Genson told the panel of state lawmakers considering the action, the criminal case against Blagojevich shouldn’t...

Special Election Gains Ground With Blago

Guv unlikely to quit, but would give up naming Obama successor

(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, under indictment for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat, would likely now approve a bill authorizing a special election to fill the post, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times. Blagojevich—who insiders now say has decided not to resign—wants the measure to apply to...

AG Asks Court to Oust Blago
 AG Asks Court to Oust Blago 
UPDATED
Dec 12, 2008 11:24 AM CST

AG Asks Court to Oust Blago

Declare him 'unfit to serve,' she asks

(Newser) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today asked the state’s Supreme Court to declare Rod Blagojevich unfit to serve as governor, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving," said Madigan. She wants to prevent the scandal-plagued governor from appointing Barack...

Blago: To Impeach, Quit, or Stay?
 Blago: 
 To Impeach, 
 Quit, or Stay? 
Analysis
Dec 11, 2008 12:13 PM CST

Blago: To Impeach, Quit, or Stay?

What happens if he quits, is impeached, he's removed, or stays—and if there could be a special Senate election

(Newser) - Many politicians, including President-elect Obama, have called on Rod Blagojevich to quit as Illinois governor, but Ray Long writes in the Chicago Tribune, there are other possible scenarios: He’s impeached, he’s removed, or he stays—and there’s also the chance of a special election to fill Obama’...

Politicos Jockey for Obama's Senate Seat
Politicos Jockey for Obama's Senate Seat
ANALYSIS
Nov 5, 2008 10:42 AM CST

Politicos Jockey for Obama's Senate Seat

Jackson Jr. among possibilities as Illinois guv looks to fill spot

(Newser) - Now that Barack Obama is officially headed for the Oval Office, Illinois’ political class has turned its attention to his Senate replacement, Time reports. The choice rests with unpopular Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich, who is no doubt looking for a pick that will save his own political skin. Rep. Jesse...

Illinois to Sue Countrywide, CEO Over Foreclosure Fiasco

State blames company for foreclosures

(Newser) - The state of Illinois will sue Countrywide and its CEO today for "unfair and deceptive practices" in the first suit related to the current mortgage crisis. The company is accused of pushing loans on homeowners even if they couldn't repay them, the Wall Street Journal reports. Illinois' attorney general...

14 Stories