In three days, an employee of the Anna Veterans’ Home went from being a courageous whistleblower to a courageous whistleblower without a job:
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On April 30, 2007, Whistleblower Christine Butler Detailed Harassment And Abuse In A Letter To The Office Of Executive Inspector General. "On April 30, 2007, Plaintiff Butler sent a written complaint to the Office of Executive Inspector General, complaining of a pattern of harassment and abuse of authority by Defendant Simms." (Christine Butler and Denise Goins vs. Tammy Duckworth and Patricia Simms, First Judicial Circuit, Union County, 9/17/09, p.8)
- On May 3, 2007, Duckworth Fired Butler "Without Legitimate Cause Or Justification." "On May 3, 2007, Defendant Duckworth and Defendant Simms met with Plaintiffs Butler and Goins, and other department heads, at the Anna Veterans Home. In a private meeting with Plaintiff Butler, Defendant Duckworth, without legitimate cause or justification, summarily discharged Plaintiff Butler, effective immediately." (Christine Butler and Denise Goins vs. Tammy Duckworth and Patricia Simms, First Judicial Circuit, Union County, 9/17/09, p.9)
In three days, "Defendant Duckworth" will go from being an unethical member of the Rod Blagojevich administration to the latest unethical member of the Rod Blagojevich administration headed to court:
- The case hearing in Duckworth’s whistleblower lawsuit is set to take place at 11:00 AM on May 12 – this Thursday at the Union County Courthouse, courtroom 1.
After informing the Office of Executive Inspector General that mismanagement led to the abuse of a veteran, court documents allege that Tammy Duckworth fired the whistleblower three days later "without legitimate cause or justification."
The whistleblower who courageously "complain[ed] of a pattern of harassment and abuse of authority" was then "intentionally humiliated" by Duckworth. Blagojevich’s appointee "announc[ed] publicly, in a loud voice, at the Anna Veterans’ Home, that she had just terminated her, and call[ed] for security":
- Duckworth “Intentionally Humiliated” Butler By Loudly Announcing Her Termination From The Office Then Calling For Security For Her Immediate Removal. “29. After discharging Plaintiff Butler, Defendant Duckworth intentionally humiliated Plaintiff Butler by announcing publicly, in a loud voice, at the Anna Veterans Home, that she had just terminated her, and calling for security. She did not allow her to conduct an exit interview at that time and required her to remove her personal belongings and be escorted out of the facility, during working hours, at that time.” (Christine Butler and Denise Goins vs. Tammy Duckworth and Patricia Simms, First Judicial Circuit, Union County, 9/17/09, p.10)
Fittingly, on November 8, the people of Illinois will have their chance to announce publicly, in a loud voice, at the ballot box, that they will fire Duckworth for her troubling contributions to the culture of corruption at the VA.
Until then, as her whistleblower lawsuit moves forward in court, Tammy Duckworth should hope that her taxpayer-funded legal defense team works harder than she has in Congress.