Chicago City Wire

Chicago's former legislative inspector general refuses to back down from comments made by Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd), saying the new government watchdog group CEO did a great disservice to Reilly’s resigned zoning staffer, who had been lobbying for the company.

"The only disservice done here has been one by Alderman Reilly and Madeleine Doering to taxpayers in Chicago," Project Six CEO Faisal Khan recently told Chicago City Wire. "Project Six laid out facts. Instead of discussing substances and facts, Alderman Reilly is choosing to blame the messenger. Neither Project Six nor other media created this improper professional relationship between Mr. Reilly and Ms. Doering. Mr. Reilly and Ms. Doering did."

Project Six CEO Faisal Khan

Doering, a registered lobbyist and development expert, resigned from her post as Reilly's building and zoning aid after allegations published by Project Six claimed a conflict of interest between her city development and lobbying activities, according to an article published Thursday in Crain's Chicago Business.

Reilly told Crain's that Doering stepped down because she didn't want to be a target for his political opponents, including those with ties to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

"She's conducted herself to the highest standards," Reilly was quoted as saying in the article. "Mr. Khan has done her a great disservice."

Reilly, who once worked for Illinois Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan, also said in the article that Khan has a personal ax to grind.

Khan, as Chicago's first, only and last legislative inspector general, has a long history alleging that city aldermen engage in improper conduct, which made him no friends on city council during his time in that office.

In a report issued by Khan's then office little more than a year ago, 29 Chicago aldermen were accused of receiving $282,000 in illegal campaign donations in 2013, a violation of the city’s ethics ordinance.

Chicago City Council eliminated his job. As he left, Khan turned over his files to the FBI and U.S. attorney. Most thought he would retreat to his native New York City and never return to Chi-Town.

This past June, Khan returned as CEO of Project Six: Government Accountability Task Force. Project Six, named for the a group of civic leaders called "the Secret Six," who took down famed Chicago gangster Al Capone, boasts three full-time investigators and a communications director, all housed in offices in the Monadnock Building at 53 W. Jackson Blvd.

Khan hasn’t said who is bankrolling Project Six, but he maintains that the group tows no political or ideological line as it works to fight corruption, ethical lapses and misguided policies in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois.

Khan has been vocal in getting that point across, at times taking to Reddit and agreeing to local interviews. He didn't back away from Project Six's report about Doering, either.

"Project Six stands by its findings," he said. "The argument that Ms. Doering was not discussing projects within the 42nd Ward with the alderman holds no water because Mr. Reilly votes on citywide projects, both in committee and in council, as a whole. As the record indicates, he has voted on multiple projects for companies for which Ms. Doering is a lobbyist."  

  

Khan said that in his experience, people don't quit six-figure jobs when they’ve done nothing wrong.

"Although I note Mr. Reilly offered no real defense of the allegations against him and Ms. Doering, if he still contends that Ms. Doering was doing nothing wrong, I urge the alderman to release the board of ethics opinion he claims he has that approved the professional relationship in his office," he said. "The board will not release it without his or Ms. Doering's approval. It would be illuminating to compare that opinion to the facts gleaned in this investigation."

Khan added that he takes no pleasure in any person losing gainful employment.

"I take satisfaction in ending clear conflicts of interest and violations of ethics principles by our elected officials, who think they can do whatever they please, despite what the law says," he said. "This culture of corruption in Chicago has to change and will change because Chicagoans have had enough. And if that happens and elected officials want to blame me for a 'grudge' instead of taking responsibility for their actions, so be it. Chicagoans don't forget and voters will remember."