Illinois’ new treasurer said he will not release the results of a taxpayer-funded investigation into his predecessor, Dan Rutherford.
Rutherford saw his political career collapse last year when an employee accused him of harassment and requiring political work.
Rutherford commissioned an investigation and pledged to release the results, but then backtracked.
Rutherford: “From the very beginning, I said I want it out there."
Reporter: “But then you said, on advice of counsel, I can’t."
Rutherford: “No, I didn’t say that. The counsel said that, because of the — a federal lawsuit had been filed."
Now new treasurer Mike Frerichs is citing the same lawsuit and instructions from the Illinois attorney general as his reason not to release the report.
A spokeswoman for Frerichs said the report “must” be released, and that her boss will work with the attorney general to do that once the lawsuit is over.
