A former employee in Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford's office has filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and that the Republican gubernatorial candidate made him do political work on state time.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Chicago's federal court on behalf of Ed Michalowski. He was a lawyer and director in Rutherford's office.
The complaint alleges Rutherford made inappropriate sexual advances toward Michalowski, among other things.
Rutherford says state documents back him up. He says no one in the treasurer's office has been forced to do campaign work on state time. Rutherford says the treasurer's office had not previously been informed of allegations of harassment and there were no witnesses to the claims.
Rutherford also questions the timing of the allegations, which come weeks before the March 18 primary election. He says the allegations also are politically motivated. He believes that one of his GOP opponents, businessman Bruce Rauner is behind the former employee's allegations. Rauner denies wrongdoing.
ADDITIONAL:
Political analysts say a lawsuit by a former employee accusing Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford of sexual harassment likely will damage the GOP gubernatorial candidate's campaign.
David Yepsen is the director of Southern Illinois University's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. He says any kind of sexual harassment charge against a major political figure is ``toxic.''
Northern Illinois University Political Science Chair Matt Streb says the lawsuit will be a big distraction from the Chenoa Republican's main message.
