Rep. Weller Leaves With A Bang Not a Whimper
It wasn't the most graceful of exits for Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), whose now open seat is highly coveted by optimistic Democrats.
An aide to the embattled congressman may now face charges for allegedly pushing a TV reporter in a stairwell following Weller's retirement announcement on Friday.
After delighting over the notion that Weller may have been forced into retirement because of his questionable land deals and other ethics problems, Democrats are quietly smacking their lips over the roughhousing that went down on Friday.
Mike Flannery of Chicago TV station CBS 2 has filed a complaint against Weller aide Jack Dusik for allegedly pushing the reporter down a flight of stairs. Flannery was shouting questions to a silent Weller about the congressman's questionable land deals in Central America. Police are deciding this week whether to file charges against the Weller aide.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee declined to comment on the alleged shoving incident. DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer said Dems are keeping their eyes on the prize. "Illinois' 11th congressional seat has been a top pick-up opportunity for Democrats well before Congressman Weller's political meltdown," he said.
By
Mary Ann Akers
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September 24, 2007; 1:58 PM ET
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Posted by: Zathras | September 24, 2007 2:37 PM | Report abuse
The capitalfax blog has pictures of it, and a link to a video of the same aide pushing a television reporter from CLTV into a doorway (the video is on CLTV's website.)
Posted by: chuddery | September 24, 2007 2:44 PM | Report abuse
Flannery is perhaps the most seasoned and level-headed political reporter in Chicago television news, one of the last links to the golden age of CBS-TV's Chicago operation (Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson). He's extremely mild-mannered, and not one to pick a fight. If he got shoved down some stairs and is making a formal complaint about it, believe it.
Weller, what a piece of work.
Posted by: GJO'L | September 24, 2007 4:33 PM | Report abuse
Not to worry. If there is a successful prosecution, Bush can always give the aide a pardon.
Posted by: SaraBB. | September 24, 2007 5:07 PM | Report abuse
Another example of politicians getting different treatments than normal people. On the other hand, they have more responsibilities to hold up, so the special treatment might not be so bad. Celebrities blow up about getting fired a lot, and we hear about it all the time on the news. I don't personally find it that interesting that a politician had a meltdown, because it happens so much that we have been desensitized to it.
Posted by: colorado_skiier | September 24, 2007 10:01 PM | Report abuse
shouldn't we get rid of rumors and try to uncover the truth once in a while. If he pushed down the stairs because of some question, that's ridiculous, and if it was an accident, it'snot very smart on the reporters part to file a complaint, now is it!
Posted by: J Murphy | September 24, 2007 10:22 PM | Report abuse
every reporter should be pushed down the stairs
Posted by: rufus | September 25, 2007 9:27 AM | Report abuse
what land deal? was he in business with DIRTY HARRY in reno, las vegas of some other secluded democratic thieves den?
Posted by: jake | September 25, 2007 12:10 PM | Report abuse
Mike Flannery--unless he's changed--was certainly THE most plugged-in political reporter in Chicago when we lived there five years ago.
He was nonpartisan, going after Rs and Ds alike. But while he was sort of the heir to Bulldog Drummond on the political side, he was no bully, just a good investigative journalist. And a very good reporter and writer with an understated style.
He's used to the roughhouse tactics of Chicago politics, so if he filed a complaint, it must have been serious.
Posted by: pacman | September 25, 2007 1:40 PM | Report abuse
They had better hope they got the aide shoving the reporter down a flight of stairs on tape, and that injuries were involved. This is Congress, remember, where it's not a crime if there's no jail time, so there's got to be definite proof
Posted by: auburnfan10101 | September 27, 2007 11:23 AM | Report abuse
BEING ASKED THE HARD QUESTIONS GO'S WITH THE JOB IN POLOTICS TO BAD HONEST ANSWERES DON'T THE REPORTER IS RIGHT IN BRINGING CHARGES WE ALL LIVE BY THE SAME LAW EVEN POLITICLE STAFF AND THIER BOSSES
Posted by: EARL HARDWICK | October 2, 2007 1:15 AM | Report abuse
Ethics lapses? Let me tell you....The GOP Rep from my area, John Doolittle, had his wife setup a "Work at Home" Company....she was then "hired" by Abramoff before his arrest and jailing,to do some "work" for a fund raiser he planned....she was paid $60,000 according to CNN and the affair had been cancelled....then good old John arranged for her to get 15% of all the donations to his campaigns and PAC's.....What a Country!!!
Posted by: Geniehal | October 2, 2007 5:39 PM | Report abuse
Representative Jerry Weller is safe for now. I have not seen any actual prove on what Representative Jerry Weller is being accused of. If there are no injuries and no witnesses then he can get out of this one. And besides like Zathras commented, "This is Congress, remember, where it's not a crime if there's no jail time."
Posted by: Jose Robles | October 10, 2007 1:23 PM | Report abuse
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Better hope they got the aide shoving the reporter down a flight of stairs on tape, and that injuries were involved. This is Congress, remember, where it's not a crime if there's no jail time.