The Chicago Board of Ethics has fined a private equity group's president for improperly lobbying Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Anthony Davis, a managing partner with Linden Capital Partners of Chicago, was found to have sent the mayor and the deputy mayor an email in December 2014 soliciting their help.
“(A project) needs a zoning change … time is of the essence … how can we get this moved along as quickly as possible?” the email read.
Davis argued that he was not working for anyone as a lobbyist at the time, but the ordinance does not require such employment for a violation to occur.
The board noted in its determination that it did not “question the subject’s integrity, character or motivations.” The finding of violation is a finding of fact that leads to specific consequences.
Davis is one of several people to have been found to have violated the ethical code. A July 21 account published on BetterGov.org shows some of the others include former City Council member William Singer and Marc Andreessen, the founder of Netscape.
The findings are the result of the release of thousands of emails from Emanuel’s personal account, which show various instances of individuals petitioning the mayor for political favors.
The release of the personal emails has also raised questions about whether the Emanuel's use of a personal account was proper, as reported by the Guardian late in 2016. Some have likened the process to the evaluation of Hillary Clinton’s private emails during the last presidential campaign.
Alerts Sign-up