Culture of Corruption: Jerry Hurckes
April 2nd, 2008 by Brendan SteinhauserThe editors of Roll Call are calling for a House ethics investigation of Jerry Hurckes, chief of staff to Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL). As the pressure from the media and bloggers picks up over the next few days and weeks, look for something to happen. If you’d like to call and ask Rep. Lipinski what is going on, his number is 202-225-5701. Below is an excerpt from the Roll Call editorial from today.
The case of Hurckes seems to involve no question marks at all — and deserves an investigation by the ethics committee. Ethics rules do not bar aides from holding elective office but warn that “staff should take care … to avoid any undertaking that is inconsistent with congressional responsibilities”
And, “in dealing with the public, staff who serve as local officials should always make clear in which capacity they are acting. They should discourage any suggestion that their local constituents will receive any special treatment from the congressional office, beyond that received by any other residents of the congressional district.”
Yet, in a 2007 mailer sent to local voters, Hurckes took credit for securing $4 million in federal funding for the village, including money for the Oak Lawn Children’s Museum and emergency traffic lighting.
During a March 11 trustees meeting recorded on videotape, Hurckes repeatedly used the phrase “It was I who …” in ticking off federal projects obtained by the village, including Army Corps of Engineers help with flooding problems.
Hurckes denied securing earmarks and Lipinski refused any comment after stories on the aide’s activities appeared in Roll Call and local papers. They ought to answer to the ethics committee.
