Democratic Congressional candidate Colleen Callahan spent Friday traveling the 18th District making hay out of the burgeoning “Notarygate” scandal enveloping her opponent Aaron Schock:
During an appearance of Callahan’s supporters in Peoria, attorney and former congressional candidate Doug Stephens said the statute of limitations is likely up on any misdemeanor charges that could arise from the alleged backdating.
However, Stephens and other Callahan supporters say that’s not the point. They argue it’s about trust and Schock violated that trust when he signed his name as a notary on the documents.
I’m sorry. I am not Schock supporter. I think I’ve been perfectly clear on that point.
But the “point” of the criminal justice system is to decide whether or not someone should be charged with a crime, not helping voters decide whether a candidate “violated their trust,” or in this case, validate their lack of trust. If the statute of limitations has passed, then I hate to tell you folks, but there’s gonna be no charges against Schock. And if not, what possible reason would Lyons have to investigate this? The answer: No reason except politics.
If some voters believe this eight-year-old incident demonstrates that Schock cannot be trusted as a Congressman, that’s their right. It’s also Colleen Callahan’s right to promote that point of view.
86 days 3 hours ago.
Billy Dennis
PeoriaIllinoisan
Anon E. Mouse
billy_dennis
Bookworm
C.J. Summers
Diane Vespa
David P. Jordan
11bravo
mahkno
Merle Widmer
Precinct Committeeman
Peo Proud
iwillrambleon.blogspot.com/
Neil Johnson
pdcj
Billy Dennis
Promote her point of view by using the States Attorney’s Office at taxpayer expense? I’ll be waiting for Gary Sandberg to demand an accounting of Lyon’s expenses and submit them to the Callahan campaign.
Well said Billy. Voters; Democrat, Republican, Green, and Independant are sick and tired of “Gotcha” politics. This whole thing is being driven by the Colleen Callahan campaign for political purposes only. To take up the time and resources of the State’s Attorney’s office, himself in a tough political battle, is just wrong.
She has made her point, now it is up to the voters to decide, not the criminal justice system. Frankley I think this is going to back fire on Callahan. The average voter sees through this crap and will pass it off for what it is, pure political grandstanding by a candidate incapable of waging a good campaign in the arena of ideas and public policy differences.
Okay, let me get this straight. Because the State’s Attorney is investigating an alleged crime it is an abuse of power and waste of resources? Honestly, if it were the other way around you would both be singing a different tune.
If you aren’t going to argue that Aaron didn’t backdate the documents I really can’t see how you could possibly be opposed to the investigation. Would you prefer this were just wiped under the rug?
Aaron Schock’s actions were clearly unethical and illegal. That said, Callahan is making way too much of this notary issue. These tactics fire up the base, but alienate moderates and independents. It’s the same sort of desperate negative politicking that the McCain/Palin campaign is using (although nowhere near as despicable), and Callahan’s going to get the same results … increasingly negative opinion polls and failure in November.
Finally … Notarygate??? (GROAN)
11Bravo: “If you aren’t going to argue that Aaron didn’t backdate the documents I really can’t see how you could possibly be opposed to the investigation. ”
I thought I was clear. The outcome of any investigation by the state’s attorney should be to:
1. File charges against someone.
2. Not file chargesagainst someone.
If it’s clear that the statute of limitations means it’s too late no matter what happened, then it’s a forgone conclusion that option 2 will be the outcome.
It’s not the SA’s job to be a truth seaker just for the Hell of it. That’sthe presses’ job. The voters know about it. Let them cast their votes accordingly, based on what they know about the facts and the willingness of the candidates to come clean.
Knight: We can always call it “backdate-gate.”
for your information….
(720 ILCS 5/3‑5)
Sec. 3‑5. General Limitations.
(b) Unless the statute describing the offense provides otherwise, or the period of limitation is extended by Section 3‑6, a prosecution for any offense not designated in Subsection (a) must be commenced within 3 years after the commission of the offense if it is a felony, or within one year and 6 months after its commission if it is a misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 94‑487, eff. 11‑9‑05; 94‑683, eff. 11‑9‑05; 95‑899, eff. 1‑1‑09.)
(720 ILCS 5/3-6)
Sec 3-6. Extended limitations
(b) A prosecution for any offense based upon misconduct in office by a public officer or employee may be commenced within one year after discovery of the offense by a person having a legal duty to report such offense, or in the absence of such discovery, within one year after the proper prosecuting officer becomes aware of the offense. However, in no such case is the period of limitation so extended more than 3 years beyond the expiration of the period otherwise applicable.
The right thing for Lyons to do is to end this political circus by Callahan, who doesn’t have the financial support to do anything but try to get some free news coverage to bolster her flagging campaign. By accepting the investigation, and then promptly closing it, he can end the speculation and put this where it belongs, in the court of public opinion. This case is why we need a prosecutor and not a wannabe politician who can’t decide whether he wants to be Congressman or State’s Attorney.
Callahan lives in a glass barn and should not be sanctimoniously throwing stones on this subject. There is plenty in her sordid past she could be made to answer for. For starters:
Only a few years ago, she and her husband won first prize at the State Fair for a show hog. It was later verified by the State Fair Board and the chief veterinarian that they biologically cheated. (Left half a testicle up in the hog for the testosterone to help muscle tone). Her husband punched a fair official who called them on it and he is banned from the State Fair. (Not the only time her husband beat up a farm hand).
The crux of the matter is that the prize was rescinded. But Callahan and her husband have to this day refused to return the prize money they won by cheating.
Check with the State Fair Board or farmers who show hogs at the State Fair.
COLLEEN CALLAHAN–GIVE THE CHEATED PRIZE MONEY BACK!!!
So now we have CheatGate or TesticleGate for Callahan to answer.
Or we can get back to the issues that matter. It’s up to Callahan.
Billy, my post was to Diane and SCR, not to you.
Just to add Billy, I think if Lyons knew this was going to appear as a political stunt on his part he probably wouldn’t spend the time and effort pursuing it. I also think that gfalkes probably doesn’t have his J.D. and there is likely more to the statute of limitations otherwise we would have already hear that from Lyons or an attorney representing Schock.
You know, I always thought that Callahan LOOKED like a ball-buster.
Pego man: You are a sexist pig. She’s waging the toughest campaign she can, no different than a male candidate would. You respond by describing is sexually degrading terms. Feh.
Billy, you’re a goof. It was a “take” on the State Fair comment from Glass Barn. Geez. Why don’t you loosen up your panties a bit, willya? I shouldn’t have to put a “smiley face” after every damned comment, for cryin’ out loud. Sooner or later, you’re gonna have to think for yourself, you know.
11Bravo, law degree or not, I can read. I’ll expect an apology if I’m right and I’ll make one if I’m wrong.
Let’s see if the Journal Star and local TV is fair and investigates Callahan’s cheating at the state fair. Lot’s of farmers who know her and her husband believe there is a lot of shady dealings they have been involved in. That’s why many won’t buy livestock from them.
Sorry no apology here gfalkes, my point was that if it was as cut and dry as you seem to think, we would have already heard from either Lyons or Schock’s attorneys. Since neither has made an announcement with respect to what you cited then I doubt it is as cut and dry.
“Only a few years ago, she and her husband won first prize at the State Fair for a show hog. It was later verified by the State Fair Board and the chief veterinarian that they biologically cheated. (Left half a testicle up in the hog for the testosterone to help muscle tone). Her husband punched a fair official who called them on it and he is banned from the State Fair. (Not the only time her husband beat up a farm hand).”
Ha ha ha! I want to party with that guy! That whole scene sounds like something out of a Christopher Guest movie.
Is anyone disputing the fact the Callahan Family got caught cheating at the State Fair? Is it relavent to this campaign? I would say no except for all the crap that has been thrown at the Aaron Schock campaign.
Aaron has a legislative track record he is running on. If you differ with him on public policy issues so be it. I for one will be proud to have him as our representative in Congress from the 18th Congressional district , as I think he will best represent my values and positions on important issues. I think many other people feel similarly. His past electoral success affirms that belief.
I am a Republican, and I am not going to apologize for that. I am just as disappointed, if not more so than most, by the Republican leadership in Illinois and nationally. I think Aaron offers new hope and direction to the Republican Party in Illinois and potentially nationwide.
I believe in the guy. We can disagree on that, but I stand on my beliefs and I stand with Aaron.
One party rule in Illinois has been a disaster. Lets don’t take it national.
Her husband is not now, nor has he ever been banned from the State Fair. I hope someone DOES actually call the State Fair Board. That’s hilarious. He’s actually a highly respected Judge himself and has never punched another judge, fair official, or FARM HAND for that matter.
I have seen the entire Callahan family at every State Fair for the past ten years. They are definitely not banned, in any way.
Seriously, people. I don’t print rumors about Schock. His supporters ought to return the favor.
Any rumor mongering is shameful, but alleging the old half-inverted-hog-nut trick, the farm world’s equivalent of the baseball doping scandal, is far beyond the pale.