Working In The Blagojevich Administration

The Illinois Review Board has recommended a 60-day suspension for false statements in an employment application

Respondent was licensed in 1994. At the time of his  hearing, he stated he was a sole practitioner. After obtaining his law license,  Respondent held a number of positions including a position as a clerk in the  Circuit Court of Cook County. In 2002, while unemployed, Respondent volunteered  for Rod Blagojevich’s gubernatorial campaign and later volunteered in the Office  of the Governor. As set forth in the Administrator’s complaint, Respondent then  sought assistance from employees in Blagojevich’s office to obtain state  employment. In April 2003, Respondent was asked to complete an Illinois  Department of Central Management Services Examining/Employment Application (“CMS  100”). On the application, Respondent stated he was counsel for a company called  Codevco from “2003 to the present”, worked forty hours a week and earned $800 a  week. These statements were false; Respondent was never an employee of Codevco.  After obtaining a position for a four year term as an attorney with DCFS, DCFS  requested verification of Respondent’s employment and salary at Codevco.  Respondent then asked his father to provide a letter verifying his employment.  At Respondent’s request, his father submitted a letter falsely stating that  Respondent was an employee of Codevco and falsely stating that Respondent earned  $1800 per week. When Respondent’s four year term expired, he sought to be  re-appointed to a position at the DCFS and he again submitted a false CMS 100.

In sum

Respondent engaged in the deliberate misrepresentations to obtain a job with a  public agency. He also induced his father to lie for him. For these reasons, we  conclude that a sixty day suspension adequately addresses Respondent’s  misconduct.

The Administrator had sought a nine-month suspension. (Mike Frisch)