Illinois State Police sued for withholding public records –

Springfield, IL. (ECWd) –

On September 22, 2020, we filed a FOIA lawsuit against the Illinois State Police for their alleged refusal to provide records we requested on July 27, 2020.

We asked for copies of complaints/investigative records related to Coles County State’s Attorney Jesse Danley in the past two years. We knew a complaint was referred to them on July 28, 2020, because we had an email confirmation of its receipt by the ISP and that the Mattoon Police Department allegedly forwarded it to them.

The ISP responded that they found no responsive records to our request.

When we were made aware of the allegations in the complaint, we asked State’s Attorney Danley for comment, and here is his response:

    “I was able to download the petition. My comment is that this is yet another continuation of Mr. Wolfe’s harassment as a result of my office filing a criminal misdemeanor against him in 2019. It is a gross misrepresentation of facts and I believe it may rise to the level of defamation. I deny all of the allegations of misuse of office resources, Ms. Parker’s misuse of her authority or office resources, any insinuation that I had any knowledge of or approved of in any way Mr. Allen’s actions, and any other allegation of misconduct by me or any other employee other  than Mr. Allen. They are unsupported accusations designed to defame myself and the office.  Nothing more.“

Read our FOIA Complaint below, with the first Hearing on January 20, 2021 in Cook County: