While the Board does commence regulatory actions based on public records that warrant a finding of probable cause, the Board of Ethics does not have authority to conduct factual investigations of ethics complaints.  Instead, the Board adjudicates completed factual investigations conducted by the IG (and the former LIG) pursuant to its own enabling laws and rules.

We attach an ongoing record showing the status of all completed factual investigations that have been brought to the Board of Ethics.

What happens after an ethics investigation?

Petitions for Probable Cause Findings.

Pursuant to the Municipal Code of Chicago, after the IG concludes an investigation into violations of the City's Governmental Ethics Ordinance ("Ordinance"), the IG may: (i) dismiss the matter; (ii) refer it to law enforcement; or (iii) file a petition requesting a "probable cause" finding from the Board.  Note that only those investigations completed by the IG in which it believes that the evidence shows that there have been one or more violations of the Governmental Ethics Ordinance are presented to the Board of Ethics and are included in this document and the attached table.  Other IG investigations are governed by chapter 2-56 of the City's Municipal Code and the IG’s own Rules and Regulations.

Pursuant to the Municipal Code, the Office of the Legislative Inspector General  (which does not exist, as of 2016) was empowered to investigate only signed and sworn complaints alleging misconduct against aldermen or City Council employees, and only upon a finding of reasonable cause or issuance of a letter of direction by the Board of Ethics.  After the LIG concluded an investigation, the LIG was authorized to: (i) dismiss the matter; (ii) refer it to law enforcement; or (iii) file a petition requesting a "probable cause" finding from the Board.

Note: "probable cause"  means a reasonable ground for the Board to believe that the evidence presented by either inspector general in a final investigative report would constitute a violation of the Ordinance, if not overcome by any materials or evidence submitted by the subject of the investigation.

When the Board receives a final IG investigative report, it is obligated to review the entire report and corroborating evidence and determine whether the evidence presented warrants a finding of probable cause, or dismiss the matter if it concludes that the evidence does not warrant that finding.

→    If the Board does not find probable cause, it dismisses the case and notifies the subject and the investigator of its finding and the reasons for its finding. The Board will comment publicly on these dismissals, but cannot mention names.

 

Meeting, Settlement, Dismissal, or Merits Hearing and Final Board Opinion.

→     If the Board does find probable cause, the subject is provided with all the evidence and the final investigative report that was presented to the Board.  The subject has the right to meet with the Board and offer materials or arguments in support of his or her position (and/or have an attorney or other representative present).  No person from the investigating authority may be present.  This meeting is confidential and not open to the public.  It is called "a §2-156-385 meeting" after the Ordinance section that provides for it.

→      After this meeting, the Board may: (i) seek to settle the matter by fine and/or discipline, or in another appropriate manner (all settlements become public); or (ii) determine there were one or more Ordinance violations and pursue an action for fine or discipline; or (iii) take no action if the subject overcomes the finding (effectively dismissing the matter).  Or, if the subject does not overcome the Board's probable cause finding and the matter cannot be settled, the subject may contest the matter, and proceed to a confidential administrative hearing or "ethics trial."  An administrative hearing officer hears the case and issues a report and recommendation to the Board.  The Board reviews the hearing officer's report and recommendation, and issues a final opinion and determination as to whether a violation did or did not occur, and assesses fines accordingly. Per §2-156-465 of the Ordinance, fines for various types of violations range from $500 per violation up to $20,000 per violation (certain lobbying violations carry a penalty of $1,000 per day until the individual registers as a lobbyist).

All of the Board's final opinions become public.  However, if the Board determines that no violation occurred, the subject may request that his or her name be omitted from the Board's final opinion.

Appeal Rights

Any person found by the Board to have violated the Ordinance and against whom the Board has assessed a fine may, within 14 days of when the Board issues its opinion, ask the Board to reconsider its opinion, on the basis of newly discovered evidence or an intervening change in the law.  The Board's final opinion imposing a fine can be appealed to the Cook County Circuit Court.

A monograph explaining the Board's adjudicative procedures and the rights of subjects in such proceedings, is available here.

LIG Investigations, 2011-2015

From November 16, 2011, until the office's closing on November 16, 2015, the LIG  presented to the Board 50 petitions to commence investigations based on signed and sworn complaints received (two (2) of these were referred by the Board itself).  Of these 50, the Board approved all but one (1) of these.  Investigations were commenced in the remaining 49.  Of these, nine (9) remain pending, and two (2) were referred to law enforcement. 

In the remaining 38, the IG, which inherited all LIG matters upon the LIG's dissolution, informed the Board in May 2016 that the LIG had closed 14 cases, and the IG itself had closed five (5) cases.

19 investigations were completed by the LIG.

Of these, eight (8) were dismissed by the Board following findings by the LIG itself that the allegations in the complaints were not sustained. 

Another three (3) were dismissed by the Board after the Board concluded that the evidence presented in the completed reports did not warrant a finding of probable cause. In one (1) of these, there were eight (8) individual subjects, all of whom, the LIG concluded, failed to cooperate with its investigation, in violation of chapter 2-55 of the Municipal Code.  The Board determined that, although failure to cooperate with an ongoing investigation is a serious matter (which could lead to potential criminal sanctions), such violations fall outside the Governmental Ethics Ordinance and outside the Board's purview.  Thus the Board determined that there was no probable cause, but referred the matter back to the LIG and to the Law Department for appropriate action under chapter 2-55.

In one (1) investigation, which was concluded prior to July 1, 2013, the Board found that the subject, an aldermanic staffer, violated the Ordinance due to the misuse of the subject's City title, and the subject was suspended without pay for 15 days.

In the remaining seven (7) investigations, the Board found probable cause. Of these, four (4) were dismissed after meetings with the subjects were held (at which meetings the subjects overcame the Board's findings); one (1) case resulted in a finding by the Board that the subjects violated the campaign contribution limitations in the Ordinance but brought themselves into compliance, and the Board issued an advisory opinion modifying and clarifying the conclusions made in the LIG's final investigative report; two (2)  resulted in settlement agreements.  In the final investigation, the Board made different findings: (i) as to the first issue, involving failure to cooperate with the LIG's investigation, the Board again concluded that failure to cooperate is a serious matter, but beyond the Board's purview, and referred that issue back to the LIG and Law Department for appropriate action under chapter 2-55 of the Municipal Code; (ii) the Board found that the record before it warranted a finding that there was no probable cause to conclude that there were violations of the gift and political activity restrictions; and (iii) the remaining issue, involving failure to maintain time records, went to a merits hearing, and as a result the Board settled the matter for the maximum fine for these violations: $5,000.

IG Ethics Investigations as of December 17, 2024

There are currently 10 completed IG investigations awaiting final resolution by the Board: Case Nos. 23045.IG, 23054.IG, 23055.IG, 23067.IG.1, .2, .3, and .4, 24003.IG, 24004.IG, 24013.IG, 24015.IG, 24016.IG, 24018.IG, 24020.IG, and 24021.IG. These are described below.

Since the law changed on July 1, 2013 [at that time, the Board became no longer an investigative agency, but an adjudicative one, adjudicating cases brought to it by the IG and former LIG], the IG has presented the Board with 37 matters, including 36 completed Ethics Ordinance investigations—25 of these since May 2023.

In all but one (1) case, the Board found probable cause; the status of each case is explained below.

 

In the first case, 141284.IG, involving alleged post-employment violations, the Board made a preliminary finding of probable cause, met with the subject and the subject’s attorney in April 2015, and after that meeting, voted 6-0 to determine that the subject had rebutted the probable cause finding, not violated the Ordinance, and dismissed the matter outright.

 

In the second case, 151695.IG, involving failure to disclose information on a Statement of Financial Interests, the Board found probable cause and entered into a settlement agreement with the subject in April 2016 for the maximum fine of $2,000. The agreement is here.

 

In the third case, 17023.IG, involving the restrictions on dealing with one’s future employer, the Board settled the matter in September 2017 for a fine of $1,500. The case involved a former City Department Head. Note that, in this case, the Board itself had referred the subject to the IG after the subject presented facts indicating a past violation of the Ordinance. Please see the settlement agreement here.

 

In the fourth case, 17024.IG, the Board considered the matter at its July, August, and September 2017 and March 2018 meetings, and made a preliminary finding of probable cause at its September 2017 meeting after requesting clarification from the IG.  The respondent and his attorney then met with the Board, as provided by law.  After that meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to dismiss the matter for lack of jurisdiction, because the IG failed to complete its investigation within two (2) years of initiating it, as required by §2-56-050(b)(3), and, moreover, the IG failed to provide evidence sufficient to warrant a Board conclusion that the subject had taken affirmative action to conceal evidence or delay the investigation (had the IG made such a showing, the two (2) year time limit could have been extended or tolled to a maximum of four (4) years).  However, the Board also voted 5-0 to refer the matter to the City’s Department of Procurement Services on the basis that, the investigation’s dismissal on jurisdictional grounds notwithstanding, the facts cause concern that a City contract may be in violation of the Ordinance, and thus a waiver may be appropriate.

 

In the fifth case, 18012.IG, the IG presented a completed investigation to the Board on April 16, 2018.  At its May 23, 2018 meeting the Board unanimously made a finding of probable cause as to one issue (namely, that a former alderman engaged in lobbying after leaving City service during the time the official was prohibited from doing so).  But the Board unanimously dismissed another IG request for probable cause (namely that the former alderman knowingly negotiated the possibility of future employment with a person that had a matter currently before him) because there was insufficient evidence in the record to support it.  At its January 2019 meeting, the Board approved a settlement agreement with the former alderman for a $5,000 fine, and found probable cause to conclude that his employer violated the Ordinance by hiring him as an unregistered lobbyist—the employer settled with the Board for the maximum $2,000 fine.  The settlement agreements with the former alderman and his employer are posted here.

 

The sixth case, 18018.IG, involves an IG investigation of a City employee who had an ownership interest in a company that entered into a subcontract to perform services for a City prime contractor on that prime contractor’s City contract, for six (6) years, in violation of the Ordinance’s Financial Interest in City business provision.  After meeting with the subject and the subject’s attorney in October 2018, the Board voted to sustain its probable cause finding, and then settled the matter for an $8,000 fine and an admission that the subject violated the Ordinance. The settlement agreement is posted here.

 

The seventh case, 18023.IG, involves an IG investigation of a now-former City employee who, the IG's investigation found, received a gift worth in excess of $50 from a businessperson with whom he dealt, and provided advice and assistance on matters concerning business in exchange for that gift. The Board made a finding of probable cause at its July 2018 meeting, and at its January 2019 approved settlement of the matter with the former employee for a $500 fine, for failing to disclose the gift on the annual Statement of Financial Interests.  Also, at its January 2019 meeting, the Board found probable cause to conclude that the businessperson violated the Ordinance by giving a prohibited gift to a City employee.  A subject meeting was held in May 2019.  The business owner was subject to a fine between $1,001-$5,000. The Board voted 4-0 that the businessperson violated the Ordinance’s gift restrictions but voted 3-1 to impose the minimum fine of $1,001 (the dissenting board member believed no fine should be imposed.) The settlement agreements with the former employee and gift-giver are posted here.

 

In the eighth case, 18039.IG, delivered to the Board by the IG on November 30, 2018, the Board considered the matter for a finding of probable cause at its February 2019 meeting.  It involves allegations that a City employee, and another, now-former employee, each violated the Ordinance’s gift restrictions by knowingly accepting prohibited gifts from a City contractor, and that the contractor violated the Ordinance by providing these gifts, and that now-former employee approved payment vouchers for the employee’s own travel paid by a vendor, in violation of the Use of City-owned property provision.  At its February 2019 meeting, the Board determined, by a 4-0 vote, that the violations committed by the current City employee and the person that gave him dinners at which seminars on topics pertinent to his job were held, were minor, and to issue confidential letters of admonition to the employee and person. The dinners would have qualified as educational meetings, and would have been approved by the Board (and the employee would have needed to report them to the Board within 10 days after each event) had the employee sought the Board’s approval to attend them in the first place. The Board also determined, by the same vote, that there is probable cause to conclude that the former City employee violated the Ordinance’s gift and use of City-owned property provisions.  The Board met with the subject in June 2019, and at its July meeting voted 4-0 that the (now-former) employee committed a minor violation by failing to seek and receive the Board’s approval to attend these meetings, some of which were held downstate.  By the same vote the Board dismissed the matter regarding approvals of the travel, because the contract at issue contemplated the travel, and the now-former employee had received approval for these trips from a supervisor.

 

In the ninth case, 19029.IG, delivered to the Board by IG on September 4, 2019, the IG’s investigation found that a City employee exercised contract management authority over a City contract by drafting a  Request for Proposals (RFP) while negotiating and securing employment with a company that responded to the RFP and was eventually awarded the contract, then, after retiring from City employment, was actively involved in the contract as an employee of the company that was awarded the contract both before and after the City officially awarded the contract to his post-City employer.  The Board made a preliminary finding of probable cause at its October 2019 meeting, and the respondent and his attorney met with the Board on July 13, 2020.  At the meeting, the Board determined that the respondent had committed four (4) Ordinance violations (two (2) of the post-employment provisions—but the vote on the permanent prohibition’s violation was 3-1, with one Board member dissenting on the basis that there was no such violation); and one (1) each of the prohibited conduct and conflict of interests provisions, via 4-0 votes), but imposed the minimum fine of $500 for each violation, for a total fine of $2,000, because the respondent presented compelling mitigating circumstances.  The IG’s investigation was based on a 2017 complaint filed with the Board’s Executive Director, which he then immediately referred to the IG for potential investigation. Read the Settlement Agreementlement.

In the tenth case, 19035.IG, delivered to the Board on October 30, 2019, the Board voted, 3-1, at its December 6, 2019 meeting, to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction, in that the IG commenced an investigation of an alderman but did not have a written complaint signed by the complainant until 18 months after it began investigating. The IG’s enabling law in effect until September 27, 2019, required that. Evidence gathered by the IG after a proper complaint was filed was inextricably linked to evidence gathered prior to that time, and was insufficient to warrant a finding of probable cause to conclude that either the Ordinance’s prohibition on unauthorized use of City property or its prohibition on intentional misappropriation of City property for prohibited political activity could have been violated, thus Board dismissed the matter.  However, the Board also voted 4-0 to send a written letter of advisement to the alderman that City equipment cannot be operated by a non-City employee.

 

In the eleventh case, 20005.IG, the IG delivered a completed investigation to the Board on February 11, 2020, and the Board made a preliminary finding that there is probable cause to conclude that the subject, now a former-employee, violated the Ordinance by knowingly filing false or misleading Statements of Financial Interests in 2018 and 2019, by failing to disclose outside income received in excess of $1,000 in 2017 and 2018.  The Board requested the investigation after reading media accounts of the respondent’s outside, secondary employment. The respondent and his attorney presented the Board with a written response to the probable cause finding. The Board then determined, at its July 13, 2020 meeting, that the respondent committed two (2) Ordinance violations by knowingly failing to disclose outside income in excess of $1,000 on his 2018 and 2019 Statements of Financial Interests.  The Board imposed the maximum fine of $2,000 for each violation, for total fines of $4,000. You can read more about this case here.

 

The twelfth case, 21006.IG, was delivered to the Board on January 22, 2021.  At its February 8, 2021 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to make a preliminary finding that there is probable cause to conclude that the subject, a City employee, had a prohibited financial interest in 2017 in a subcontract by virtue of owning a company that entered into that subcontract with a company to do work contracted by the Public Building Commission, as that subcontract, and the prime contract, were paid with funds belonging to or administered by the City.  The Board considered as mitigating factors that the employee’s counsel clarified the Ordinance’s restrictions as soon as possible and the employee instituted changes to ensure this type of violation does not recur.  At its March 2021 meeting, the Board ratified an agreement ending the matter for the minimum fine of $500.  The agreement is here.

 

In the thirteenth case, 21027.IG, the IG delivered its completed investigative file to the Board on August 13, 2021, and requested that the Board find probable cause to conclude that a formerly registered lobbyist with the Board violated the Ordinance on three (3) occasions by lobbying on behalf of entities for which the individual had not duly registered as a lobbyist, and on four (4) occasions lobbied but failed to properly report that lobbying activity as required on the quarterly lobbying activity reports.  The Board considered this matter at its September 2021 meeting, and determined there is probable cause to conclude that the formerly registered lobbyist did lobby on behalf of three (3) separate clients without ever having registered for those clients, and faces penalties of $1,000 per day, beginning on the fifth day after engaging in such lobbying, per client, for each day the individual was registered with the Board to lobby on behalf of other clients, but not including the dates on which the individual had previously terminated their lobbyist registration. Neither the respondent nor the attorney who represented the respondent in the IG investigation responded to or met with the Board to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding, per §2-156-385.  Accordingly, the Board determined that the respondent violated the Ordinance on three occasions and imposed a $75,000 fine. The day after the Board’s determination, respondent’s attorney stating to the media that the respondent would have no comment on the Board’s finding or fines. Note: the Board did not find probable cause to conclude that this lobbyist had failed to file activity reports for these clients.  On November 1, 2021, the respondent petitioned the Board to reconsider its October 18 determination and fines, per §2-156-396 of the Ordinance. On November 15, the Board voted unanimously to deny the petition, as no newly discovered facts were presented to warrant such a reconsideration. In December 2021, the respondent again petitioned the Board to reconsider its determination, this time the amount of its fine. The Board considered this petition at its January 2022 meeting, but voted unanimously to deny it, as it was defective under §2-156-396, and because the respondent did not respond to the Board’s multiple entreaties inviting respondent to a hearing, even to request an extension.

 

The fourteenth matter is Case 21035.IG, which was referred to the Board on October 28, 2021. It involves allegations that a City appointed official failed to disclose a financial interest pending before the City.  On November 15, 2021, the Board voted unanimously to refer the matter back to the IG for further investigation, as the facts show that there may have been one or more Ordinance violations, but not of the provision cited by the IG.

 

The fifteenth matter, Case No. 23041.IG, was referred to the Board by the IG on May 1, 2023. It involves allegations that an elected City official was responsible for the unauthorized use of City property for prohibited political activity, for violation of the official’s fiduciary duty, and for the solicitation of political contributions in violation of several sections of the Ordinance, including §§2-156-020, -060, -135(b), and -140(a). At its May 22, 2023 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the official violated these sections of the Ordinance. The subject and subject’s counsel met with the Board at its September and October 2023 meetings to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding. At its November 13 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to dismiss the matter on the basis that the factual record before it, including the evidence submitted by both the IG and official, was insufficient to warrant a finding that the official violated these Ordinance sections. Three Board members joined in this opinion; a fourth member issued their own opinion, concurring with the result but for different reasons. These opinions are posted here:  https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/ethics/general/Publications/23041.ig.pdf

 

The sixteenth matter, Case No. 23043.IG, was referred to the Board by the IG on May 10, 2023. It involves allegations that a building owner bribed a building inspector during an inspection conducted in August 2021, by placing cash in the inspector’s shirt. The inspector refused the money and together with the Department of Buildings filed a complaint with the IG. At is May 22, 2023 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the building owner violated §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance, which provides that “no person shall offer, with the intent to violate, or make a gift that violates this section.”  The subject met with the Board at its August 2023 meeting to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding. The Board voted 5-0 to refer the matter back to the IG for further investigation, per §2-156-380(h-1).

The IG then submitted its supplemental investigative report to the Board on October 18, 2023. After reviewing it, the Board voted 4-0 at its November 2023 meeting to invite the subject to meet with the Board to attempt to rebut the IG’s supplemental findings. The subject met with the Board at its December 2023 meeting. Following that meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to dismiss the matter, as the evidence did not support a finding that the subject attempted to place cash in the building inspector’s shirt.

 

The seventeenth matter, Case No. 23045.IG, was referred to the Board on June 6, 2023. It involves allegations that a City official misused City staff and resources for personal, non-official purposes, in violation of §§2-156-020 (Fiduciary duty) -060 (Unauthorized use of City property) of the Ordinance. 

At its June 2023 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the official violated these sections of the Ordinance. The subject and subject’s counsel met with the Board at its August, September, and October 2023 meetings to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding. At its October 16 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 that the official committed five (5) violations each of these two provisions—a total of 10 violations— and voted to impose the maximum fine of $20,000--$2,000 per violation.

At its November 2023 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to pursue an action before an administrative law judge, pursuant to §2-156-392 of the Ordinance. The matter was referred to the Law Department for the drafting of charges, and to the Department of Administrative Hearings, which has appointed an Administrative Law Judge to hear the matter in a confidential proceeding pursuant to §2-156-392.

 

The eighteenth matter, Case No. 23050.IG was referred to the Board on August 17, 2023. It involves allegations that a restaurant employee attempted to bribe an inspector from the City’s Department of Public Health by slipping an envelope containing a restaurant gift card and a $100 into the inspector’s pocket—but the inspector refused to accept them and immediately returned them to the restaurant.

At its September 2023 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the restaurant employee violated §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance, which provides that “no person shall offer, with the intent to violate, or make a gift that violates this section.”

The subject’s counsel met the Board at its November 2023 meeting to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding. After that meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to determine that the subject violated §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance, and to impose the maximum fine: $5,000. At its December 2023 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to pursue an action before an administrative law judge, pursuant to §2-156-392 of the Ordinance, as the matter was not settled and the subject had not paid the fine. The matter was referred to the Law Department for the drafting of charges, and to the Department of Administrative Hearings, which appointed an Administrative Law Judge to hear the matter in a confidential proceeding pursuant to §2-156-392. At its January 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to reject the subject’s offer to settle the matter for a $1,250 fine, and to proceed to an administrative hearing to collect the maximum fine: $5,000. At its May 2024 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to reject the settlement terms proffered by the subject (through the subject’s attorney), and to pursue the matter in an administrative hearing or enable the subject to pay the fine on terms previously offered by the Board. At its June 2024 meeting, the Board voted to accept the original terms of the settlement agreement, whereby the subject is paying the maximum $5,000 fine. It is posted here:  https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/ethics/general/SettlementAgreements/23050.IG.pdf

 

The nineteenth matter, Case No. 23053.IG, was referred to the Board by the IG on October 13, 2023. It involves allegations that an employee of a company that supplies materials to several City vendors, delivered holiday gifts worth in excess of $50 to the home of a City employee, in violation of §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance. That section that “no person shall offer, with the intent to violate, or make a gift that violates this section.”

The employee and their supervisor contacted the Board immediately after the gift was returned, and the Board advised them to turn the matter over to the IG. The Board thanks the employee, their supervisor, and the IG, for the conscientious manner this matter was handled.

At is November 2023 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to determine there is probable cause to conclude the subject violated §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance. The subject’s counsel met with the Board at its February 2024 meeting to attempt to rebut the Board’s probable cause finding. After that meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to find that the subject violated the Ordinance by giving prohibited gifts to the City employee and to impose the minimum fine of $1,001. The fine was paid.

 

The twentieth and twenty-first matters, Case Nos. 23054.IG and 23055.IG, were referred to the Board on October 16, 2023. In Case No. 23054.IG, after its investigation, the IG petitioned the Board to find probable cause to conclude that a City official wrongfully terminated the employment of two (2) City employees, in violation of §2-156-019 of the Ordinance.

At its November 2023 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to determine there is probable cause to conclude that the official violated §2-156-019 of the Ordinance by wrongfully terminating the employees. The subject’s counsel met with the Board at its February 2024 meeting to attempt to rebut the Board’s probable cause finding. The Board considered the matter again at its April 2024 meeting, and voted to continue to the matter to the May meeting and seek additional information and clarification from the IG. At the Board’s May 2024 meeting, the Board, having analyzed the further clarification provided by the IG, voted 4-0 to find that the subject committed two (2) violations of §2-156-019(b) and to assess the maximum $5,000 fine for each violation. If the Board and subject are unable to settle the matter within 60 days, the Board can vote to pursue the fine through a confidential administrative hearing, pursuant to §2-156-392 of the Ordinance. At its June 2024 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to reject the settlement terms offered by the subject and proceed to a confidential administrative hearing to collect the maximum fine of $5,000 for each of two violations, for a total of $10,000. The Law Department has retained counsel to represent the City, and an Administrative Law Judge has been assigned to hear the matter in a confidential proceeding pursuant to §2-156-392.

 

In Case No. 23055.IG, after its investigation, the IG petitioned the Board to find probable cause that a City official misappropriated City resources for political and otherwise unauthorized purposes, in violation of §§2-156-020, -060, and -135 of the Ordinance. 

At its November 2023 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to determine there is probable cause to conclude that the official violated these Ordinance sections on multiple occasions. The subject’s counsel met with the Board at its February 2024 meeting to attempt to rebut the Board’s probable cause finding. The Board considered the matter again at its April 2024, and, having considered the entire record before it, voted 5-0 to find that the subject committed 12 violations of the Ordinance – four violations each of §§2-156-020, -060, and -135, and to pursue a fine of $60,000 – assessing the maximum fine of $5,000 for each violation.

At its June 2024, the Board voted unanimously to reject the settlement terms offered by the subject and proceed to a confidential administrative hearing to collect the full $60,000 fine, which represents the maximum fine of $5,000 for each of 12 violations. The Law Department has retained counsel to represent the City, and an Administrative Law Judge has been assigned to hear the matter in a confidential proceeding pursuant to §2-156-392.

 

In the twenty-second matter, Case No. 23059.IG, after its investigation, the IG referred the matter to the Board on November 14, 2023, and petitioned the Board to find probable cause to conclude that the owner of a company gave a prohibited gift of cash to an inspector from the Department of Buildings during an inspection. At its December 2023 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to determine that there is probable cause to conclude that the business owner violated §2-156-142(c) of the Ordinance, which provides that “no person shall offer, with the intent to violate, or make a gift that violates this section.” The subject met with the Board at its February 2024 meeting; after that meeting the Board voted 4-0 to find the subject in violation of the Ordinance and imposed a fine of $2,000. The subject paid the fine.

 

In the twenty-third matter, Case No. 23063.IG, After an investigation, the IG referred this matter to the Board on November 20, 2023. It petitioned the Board to find probable cause that a City employee received in excess of $1,000 in City funds as compensation for contracting work performed by a company owned by the employee, in violation of §2-156-110(a) of the Ordinance. That section prohibits City employees and elected officials from having a “financial interest” (defined as an ownership interest in one’s own name or in the name of another, such as a company one owns worth more than $1,000 in a calendar year) in any City contract, work or business of the City. At its December 2023 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to determine there is probable cause to conclude that the employee violated that Ordinance provision. The employee and their union representative met with the Board at its February 2024 meeting. After that meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to find that the employee had committed a minor violation of the Ordinance, and sent a confidential letter to the employee advising them of the prohibition on having a financial interest in any City contract, work, or business—and that an employee’s spouse could have a financial interest in City business only if it is through the spouse’s ”independent occupation, business, or profession,” which was not the case here.

Should the employee repeat this type of violation, the violation would not be considered minor.

   

In the twenty-fourth matter, Case No. 23065.IG, after its investigation, the IG referred the matter to the Board on December 18, 2023, and petitioned the Board to find probable cause that a City employee violated §2-156-060 of the Ordinance. The employee was a candidate for elected City office in 2023, and campaigned in their City uniform, and authorized photos of themself to be used for their campaign social media accounts. At its January 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to find that the subject had committed a minor violation of the Ordinance. If the conduct is repeated, the violation will not be considered minor.

 

In the twenty-fifth matter, Case No. 23066.IG, after its investigation, the IG referred the matter to the Board on December 26, 2023, and petitioned the Board to find probable cause that a City employee violated §2-156-160(a)(1) of the Ordinance for failing to disclose, on their 2020 and 2021 Statement of Financial Interests, income received in excess of $1,000 from a company of which the City employee was the sole employee. Because the employee’s 2023 Statement of Financial Interests was filed after the subject was interviewed by the IG, but the facts showed that there was a failure to make this disclosure on that form, the Board voted to find probable cause that the subject committed three (3) violations of the Ordinance. The subject submitted written materials to the Board through their counsel to attempt to rebut the Board’s finding. At its April 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to determine that the subject violated the Ordinance by failing to disclose income received on their 2020, 2021, and 2023 Statement of Financial Interests, and to pursue a fine of $4,000--$1,000 for the 2020 and 2021 violations, and $2,000 for the 2023 violation, which occurred after the subject’s interview with the IG as to these two previous failures to disclose.

At its May 2024 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to accept a payment plan whereby the subject will pay the $4,000 fine over several months. The agreement is posted here: https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/ethics/general/SettlementAgreements/23066.IG.pdf  

 

In the twenty-sixth matter, Case Nos. 23067.IG.1, -.2, and -.3, and .4, after its investigation, the IG referred this matter to the Board on December 30, 2023, and petitioned the Board for a probable cause finding. The matter involves three (3) employees from the same City department; the IG concluded that one of them had a prohibited financial interest in City contracts, in violation of §2-156-110(a), and that the others knew of this violation but failed to report it to the IG as required by §2-156-018(a). At its January 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to refer the matter back to the IG, because the evidence adduced in the IG’s investigation appears to show that a fourth employee from the same department also violated §2-156-018(a) by failing to report the violation to the IG. The Board  requested that the IG review its investigation, and if it agrees with the Board, to properly petition the Board for a probable cause finding with respect to that fourth employee. At its May 2024 meeting, the Board voted 4-0 to find probable cause that all four employees violated various provisions of the Ordinance: the first, for having a prohibited financial interest in City business by owning a company that was a contractor to the employee’s department (in violation of §2-156-110); the other three, as having failed to report the unlawful activity to the IG as required by §2-156-018(a). One (1) met with the Board in July; two (2) met with the Board at its September meeting. The Board voted 5-0 at its September 2024 meeting to continue the matter, and consider the responses provided by the subject of 23067.IG.1.

At its October 2024 meeting, the Board voted 7-0 to find: (i) that the employee in 23067.IG.01 violated §2-156-110(a) twice, for having a prohibited financial interest in City business by virtue of owning a company that was a subcontractor known to the City to be owned by a City employee, and to assess the maximum fine of $5,000 per violation; (ii) that the employees in .02 and former employer in .03 each violated §2-156-018(a), two times, and to assess the maximum fine of $5,000 per violation as to the employee in .02 and $2,500 per violation as to the former employee in .03, for a total of $15,000; and (iii) to assess a fine of $1,750 for two violations each of §2-156-018(a), with respect to the employee in .04. At its December 2024 meeting, the Board considered settlement offers from three (3) of the employees, and rejected them by a 5-0 vote, and voted to send the matter to the Law Department to draft charges to enforce the Board’s determination in a confidential administrative hearing pursuant to §2-156-392.

Thus the total fines assessed for eight (8) violations come to $28,500. 

 

The twenty-seventh matter is Case No. 24003.IG. After its investigation, the IG referred this matter to the Board on February 2, 2024, and petitioned the Board for a probable cause finding. It involves an investigation into the deletion of comments from an elected City official’s governmental social media account. The IG’s investigation found that the official improperly used a comment moderation tool that resulted in the deletion of comments that did not meet the Board’s prescriptions for the kinds of comments that can be deleted. At its April 2024 meeting, the Board voted to seek further information and clarification from the IG, pursuant to §2-156-380(h-1). The IG responded. At the Board’s May 2024 meeting, it voted 4-0 to refer the matter back to the IG for an analysis applying the test set out by the US Supreme Court in its March 15, 2024 decision in Lindke v. Freed, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-611_ap6c.pdf   to the blocked comments to determine whether the blocking is actionable. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to continue the matter for further study and analysis consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision. After further discussion of the matter at its October meeting, the Board voted 7-0 to continue the matter, pending guidance from federal courts before which litigation on social media blocking by elected officials is proceeding, in light of the Lindke v. Freed decision.

 

The twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth cases, 24004.IG and 24005.IG, were both presented by the IG to the Board on February 27, 2024, with requests for probable cause findings. Each matter involves attempted bribery by residents/property owners of City Building inspectors. At its April 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to issue notices of probable cause to each subject, that they violated the Ordinance’s gift prohibitions. At the Board’s May 2024 meeting, it voted 4-0 to assess the maximum $5,000 fine for each subject’s violation. After the Board voted to send Case 24004.IG to a confidential administrative hearing to enforce its determination, the subject of Case 24004.IG agreed in December 2024 to pay the fine. The Board will post the settlement agreement once it is finalized. The subject of Case 24005.IG paid the $5,000 fine in full. 

 

The thirtieth matter, 24013.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on June 10, 2024. It involves an investigation of a City employee who ran for elected City office in 2023 and was found to have improperly used City property (an official City photograph) for electioneering communications. At its July 2024 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the subject violated §2-156-060 of the Ordinance. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to continue the matter, at the subject’s request. The subject met with the Board at its October 2024 meeting in order to attempt to rebut the Board’s probable cause finding. After that meeting, the Board voted 5-1 (with one abstention) to determine that the employee violated the Ordinance and to assess a $1,500 fine. The subject can pay the fine, or attempt to settle the matter with the Board for a lesser fine, or proceed to a confidential administrative hearing. At its December 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to send the matter to the Law Department to draft charges and collect the fine in a confidential administrative hearing pursuant to §2-156-392. 

 

The thirty-first matter, Case 24015.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on June 25, 2024. After its investigation the IG concluded that a City employee supervised (and thereby “employed”) their relative in the same department in which they both worked, in violation of §2-156-130(a) of the Ordinance.  At its July 2024 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to find probable cause that the subject violated the Ordinance. The subject presented written materials to the Board, in order to rebut the Board’s finding. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to determine that the subject violated the Ordinance on two occasions, and to impose the maximum fine of $5,000 per violation, for a total of $10,000. At its October 2024 meeting, the Board voted 7-0 to vacate the $5,000 fine for the first violation and to assess the maximum fine of $2,000 instead, as the violation occurred before September 29, 2019, and thus to assess total fines of $7,000 for both violations. The subject can pay the fine, or attempt to settle the matter with the Board for a lesser fine, or proceed to a confidential administrative hearing. At its December 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to enter into a settlement agreement with the subject whereby the subject is paying the fine. The Board will post the settlement agreement when it is finalized.

 

The thirty-second matter, Case 24016.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on June 27, 2024. After its investigation, the IG concluded that a former City employee assisted or represented their post-City employer in a matter that arose under a contract with a City department, and that the employee had exercised contract management authority with respect to that contract during City employment, thereby violating §2-156-100(b) of the Ordinance. The Board found probable cause at its July 2024 meeting. The subject’s attorneys met with the Board at its September 2024 meeting. After that meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to find that the subject violated the Ordinance’s post-employment provisions, and to impose a fine of $2,000. The subject paid the fine.

 

The thirty-third matter, Case 24018.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on August 8, 2024. After its investigation, the IG concluded that an elected official from a non-City jurisdiction lobbied the City, in violation of the “cross-lobbying ban,” §2-156-309 of the Ordinance. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to refer the matter back to the IG for further investigation and clarification, per §2-156-380(h-1) of the Ordinance. The OIG responded on November 1. At its January 2025 meeting, the Board will again take up the matter for a potential finding of probable cause.

 

The thirty-fourth matter, Case 24020.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on August 27, 2024. After its investigation, the IG concluded that a former City employee failed to disclose financial interests in real estate located in the City on three (3) Statements of Financial Interests filed in 2019, 2020, and 2021, in violation of the law. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to find probable cause. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to find probable cause. The subject was entitled to meet with and/or present evidence to the Board at its November or December meeting to attempt to rebut that finding.  Despite the Board’s repeated attempts to serve the subject with the probable cause finding and advise them of their rights, the subject never responded. Thus, at its December 2024 meeting, the Board, taking the subject’s non-response as an admission, voted 5-0 to find that the subject violated the Ordinance three (3) times and assessed the maximum fine for each violation: $2,000 for the 2019 violation, and $5,000 each for the 2020 and 2021 violations, for a total of $12,000, and to send the matter to the Law Department to draft charges to enforce the Board’s determination in a confidential administrative hearing pursuant to §2-156-392.

 

The thirty-fifth matter, Case 24021.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on August 27, 2024. After an investigation, the IG concluded that a now-former appointed official failed to disclose various board memberships and non-City income received, on their filed Statements of Financial Interests for years 2017-2019. At its September 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to find probable cause. The subject and their counsel met with the Board at its November meeting to attempt to rebut that finding. After that meeting, the Board, with the entire factual record before it, voted 6-0 to determine that the subject violated the Ordinance, and voted 4-2 to conclude that the violations were minor, and to send the subject a confidential letter of admonition.

 

The thirty-sixth matter, Case 24025.IG, was referred to the Board for a probable cause finding on December 2, 2024.  After an investigation, the IG concluded that an elected official repeatedly invoked their City title to demand expedited service from a private business and threatened to use their position and authority improperly, all in violation of §2-156-060. At its December 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to refer the matter back to the IG for further investigation and clarification, pursuant to §2-156-380(h-1).

 

The thirty-seventh matter, Case 24026.IG, was referred to the Board on December 5, 2024, for any action the Board deems appropriate. The IG received a complaint about an elected official’s alleged improper use of an official social media account, but declined to investigate the complaint. At its December 2024 meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to send the official formal notice of the proper and improper uses of an official social media account.

Should the subject repeat these types of violations, the violations would not be considered minor.

In this time period, the Board of Ethics has itself referred 190 non-campaign financing complaints to the IG.

  

 

  

A NOTE ON CONFIDENTIALITY: 

As provided in the Municipal Code of Chicago, for investigations that were pending or were commenced on or after July 1, 2013, the Board may make public the names of persons investigated or whose matters are in the adjudicative process only after the matters are disposed of either through settlement or a final determination after a merits hearing.  Hence, the names of the persons investigated are omitted in the chart, except under the circumstances just described.  For investigations that were concluded prior to July 1, 2013, all names shall remain confidential.  To read all settlement agreements, see this page.