By AP
Chicago, IL – Governor Pat Quinn announced he was replacing his office watchdog the same day Quinn was briefed about an ethics probe of a senior aide who quit over the weekend.
Quinn's office says replacing James Wright as the executive inspector general wasn't in retaliation for the investigation of former Quinn chief of staff Jerry Stermer.
Stermer resigned Sunday because he says he "inadvertently" used his state account to send three e-mails that he said Wright found to be prohibited under state ethics rules. Stermer says he disclosed the "mistake."
A confidential report written by Wright and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times says Stermer had e-mailed Quinn's campaign and engaged in "prohibited political activity."
Wright encouraged Illinois' attorney general to file a complaint against Stermer before the state Executive Ethics Commission.
Republicans were quick to pounce on Gov. Pat Quinn after Stermer's resignation.
Republican Bill Brady's campaign said Monday it raises a "myriad of questions" Quinn must answer. And GOP Party chairman Pat Brady accused Quinn of "trying to sweep this under the rug." Green Party candidate Rich Whitney says maybe Quinn has an explanation for firing the inspector general who found Quinn's chief of staff ... Jerry Stermer ... committed ethics violations by sending campaign emails on state time. Although Quinn's office has maintained the governor had long been planning to bring in a new inspector general ... Whitney says the sheer timing of the firing shows Quinn's bad judgment. "This is another case where I think Pat Quinn has shot himself in the foot. He's supposed to be running a competitive campaign. Well, you can't run very well if you keep shooting yourself in the foot."
