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March 28, 2024

Carlinville’s Atty Dan Schuering claims Edgar County Watchdogs are Political Terrorists –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On August 21, 2018

CARLINVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –

On August 20, 2018, during a Carlinville City Council meeting, their FOIA attorney, Mr. Dan P. Schuering, was discussing Freedom of Information Act requests for public records. To date, several lawsuits have been filed due to Carlinville refusing to provide requested records.

Schuering stated that the lawsuits were nothing more than the result of “Political Terrorists” -(note: A recent loss on our case number 2017-MR-25 must have gotten under his skin!)

We ask “when did suing for records after a city refused to fulfill a FOIA become “political terrorism?”

We are simply demanding compliance with state law.

Regrettably, Attorney Dan Schuering lied to the city council on several points. We will cover his inaccuracies in a future article. Until then, please enjoy this comedy show, and feel free to donate to further the cause of a free press and to the operation of our non-profit governmental accountability organization, the Edgar County Watchdogs:

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12 Comments
  • jannie
    Posted at 12:20h, 21 August

    Why is it so hard to hand over public records – and why insult people who are trying to get public records – Though, if the lawyer is getting paid by the hour, I suppose it’s “good for business” 🙂

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 12:22h, 21 August

      I suspect it is extremely good for his business and paycheck.

    • NiteCat
      Posted at 14:25h, 21 August

      It’s amazing how many lawyers representing municipalities still need “schooling” in municipal & state law. Remember Janine, lawyers bill in 15 minute increments for their time and they always “round up”. There just isn’t even one little corner in this state that hasn’t been tainted by greed and corruption…:-/

  • ang
    Posted at 12:26h, 21 August

    Hah! This is the latest American Police State propaganda tactic in its War on a Free Press That Holds it Accountable, accusing activism of being akin to some form of “terrorism.” It’s a well known propaganda technique, to use the word “terrorism” in the same sentence to psychologically anchor the idea that exposing corruption, waste, fraud and abuse is something bad.

    The real “political terrorism” is coming from corrupt government officials now at war with a free press. Nice try, bozos, but We, the People aren’t buying it.

    I bet corrupt government officials all over the State of Illinois want to call the cops on pesky activists or round up journalists, some of them? Wish they could jail their critics, the people they are supposed to serve?

    As the Better Government Association has noted, even some of the police are corrupt! But the BGA also notes that corruption even in the suburbs occurs because not enough people are watching.

    https://www.bettergov.org/news/suburbs-need-inspector-general-to-fight-corruption-and-sheriffs-posse-is-ready

    So GO EDGAR COUNTY WATCHDOGS. Keep up that Political Accountability and Transparency Mission that the corrupt pathetically attemp to decry as something bad.

    The good people of Illinois will have none of these scare tactics. We WILL make our State great, through R-E-F-O-R-M. It is our civic duty to reform waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.

    And remember, we VOTE in November!

  • Sherry
    Posted at 13:21h, 21 August

    I don’t think Atty Schuering understands ?? he did loose the one FOIA lawsuit he was referring to w Judge Cadigan & also several more lawsuits to be heard & to come? Seriously wondering why the City Atty & Mayor & Clerk are allowing this to happen?? $$$$$ Guess what they allowed to happen they want him to take all the blame?? Hummm…but they are the leaders of the city & responsible too? Aren’t they?? Our City Council needs to ALL be updated properly. Our City Atty was there for that hearing & he did not correct this guy on Mon Nor did the Mayor or City Atty put a stop to Schuering attacking Councilperson Toon. They did not correct what he was saying or bulling of Toon. Oh, well another day at Carlinville City Hall! Remember & vote for change in the next election!

  • Robert O. Bogue
    Posted at 14:37h, 21 August

    -“Mr. Dan” claims Political Terrorists/terrorism. By definition, that is a the threat of violence, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political goals.

    -So, what are the facts? What threat of violence has been made against anyone for any reason by the ECWD’s. Whoops, no data right?
    -And, specifically, what are the political goals pursued by ECWD’s? Woops, no facts to support your allegations,….. again?

    Having said that, I’m completely aware of the lawless obstructionism and dis-service to the taxpayers that you, Mr. Dan, have provided: while filling your coffers with tax dollars.
    This game of denying citizens access to public documents for the sole purpose of lining your pockets is what’s wrong with the Illinois swamp and Carlinville. Carpetbaggers and those wanting to hide their crimes need to leave Illinois.

    Brace yourselves, my FOIA suit and others are just around the corner.

  • ang
    Posted at 01:13h, 22 August

    FOIA is such an important tool for transparency.

    For just one example, let’s say you want to FOIA your local government due to them implementing TIF (tax increment financing)…

    http://www.tifreports.com/2011/03/30/bad-deal/

    Say…oh…maybe LaGrange Park is implementing TIF (they are) and you have learned that TIF is not good for taxpayers…

    https://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-chicago-reader-tif-archive/Content?oid=1180567

    So you need info

    So you file a Freedom of Information Act request

    You ought to get public records promptly, right?

    Well, some governments comply with FOIA and others selectively comply (meaning you literally have to appeal through the AG’s Public Access Counselor or file a FOIA lawsuit to pry forth the records). But records can shine sunlight on government affairs, on everything from police misconduct complaints to info about TIF and plans to use Eminent Domain. Important stuff for taxpayers and property owners, obviously. Thus, noncompliance with FOIA is just unacceptable.

    It is NOT “political terrorism” to expect governments to comply. It’s Illinois LAW. What lawyer would argue otherwise? Oh wait! I know of one.

    Get this clown out of town already. What a buffoon.

  • Bob Judd
    Posted at 09:57h, 23 August

    @NiteCat ; I like and totally agree with your comment about Lawyers billing for services and the taint of greed and corruption..

    In Chatham, we have a Village Attorney raking in Thousands of our Tax Dollars sitting at every meeting.. I have even caught him (Youtube Recordings) in some of our meetings making statements that are not true.. When called out by wife at later meetings, he gave her meek corrections but no apologies to Darlene OR the Village Board for giving wrong information on laws… Result? No Class by him and no Class by the Mayor or Village Board for allowing that to happen.

    Our Village Attorney has even gone so far as to -back up- the Mayor’s lies in a -reply- to the AG Office on a Request for Review I had filed against them for Fraud.. It was a case of Post Dating Info on the Website (after) the meeting had occurred in which the AG Attorney agreed with me…. According to the AG Attorney (by phone conversation) who handled my case, I could go to the States Attorney to file charges of Fraud.. However, my effort to do so was/is [greatly ]restrained by my health..

  • Sherry Brianza
    Posted at 10:14h, 23 August

    Good for you- another area who had water issues too from what I was told from someone who lives there! Take care of yourself – wish others would stand up with you too! It is needed for good change!

  • Warren J. Le Fever
    Posted at 11:29h, 23 August

    I guess asking for information that makes city attorneys’ clients uncomfortable is his definition of “political terrorist.” It’s merely an accusation that will soon be forgotten if the information asked for turns up wrongdoing.

  • Danni Smith
    Posted at 20:26h, 23 August

    I had to be certain what a political terrorist is before commenting. I assumed what it was, never having been pressed for a definition, that in order to be a political terrorist, one must be committing political terrorism. However, mr. paunchy on the video, it requires violence. And the only violence I see, is the force of lies escaping your mouth. I would be in terror too, if my thieving was close to being caught.

  • ang
    Posted at 13:52h, 24 August

    I think Americans know who (some of) the real “terrorists” are in America…

    https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/battlefield_america_the_ongoing_war_on_the_american_people

    This is part of why the Watchdogs, and others like them, are getting these comments like it-sounds-like-a-threat or being likened to “political” terrorists.

    Sounds like The Powerful are afraid of political threats, so they toss around these propagada terms to change the subject from…well…these Watchdog investigations and this!!!

    https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/battlefield_america_the_ongoing_war_on_the_american_people

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