John Norton Sworn Testimonies May Lead to Jail Time

Will Co. (ECWd) –

Willmington gadfly and former appointed Wesley Township Highway Commissioner John Norton is facing a jail sanction for failing to comply with the court’s orders dealing with a citation to discover assets.

Norton’s propensity to lie before the courts is probably the only consistent thing he does.  During a recent hearing which we covered in this article, Norton made the following claim when questioned by the Judge on July 26th, 2021.

THE COURT: Okay. My next question is, did you ever file a tax return for tax year 2020?

MR. NORTON: Actually, yes, I think I did, your Honor, on that one, for one reason.

THE COURT: I don’t need to know the reason. You filed one for 2020, is that right?

MR. NORTON: Did I? I don’t remember, your Honor.

THE COURT: I don’t believe you, Mr. Norton. You certainly know whether you filed —

MR. NORTON: Well, I have no income

THE COURT: Mr. Norton, sir, please do not interrupt me. Mr. Norton, I do not find credible your response that you don’t recall whether you filed a tax return for tax year 2020. It is July of 2021. Did you file a tax return for 2020 yet, yes or no?

MR. NORTON: No, I don’t believe I filed one, your Honor. There is no reason to file because I have no income.

Norton had filed a motion to reconsider an order of protection that was issued against him and on January 16, 2020, Norton testified in that case.  While he rambled about not having to pay taxes on certain income, he disclosed what should be a very problematic issue for him in the upcoming hearing he faces.  He not only disclosed he has income, his testimony points to yet another lie to the court that resulted in him getting a fee waiver so he could file his frivolous lawsuits, which is the very case that has landed him a jail sanction.

“Because one — a couple things that are not included in my income, my federal retirement, my VA benefits, and that, are not required to be because they’re not — they’re tax, tax exempt, because disabled veteran.”

A couple of things not included in my income?  So which is it?  A couple of things are not included in his income or he has no income?  We find it interesting to see Norton made no mention of his claimed federal retirement when he was asking for a fee waiver.

Considering Norton has disclosed before Judge Burtani in Will County that he has a federal retirement, it would appear he lied to Judge Oseterberger last week when he claimed he has no income.  His own testimony confirms he has an income, a federal retirement.  The fact such an alleged retirement may be tax-exempt does not mean he has no income.

Norton cited the Right to Privacy Act of 1974 as his justification for not producing his bank statements which may well reflect income.  He believes it is his way to hide his financial information,  however, once again, Norton’s ramblings hold no water.  According to the Department of Justice, “The Privacy Act does not prohibit the disclosure of relevant records during discovery when disclosed consistent with the Privacy Act’s disclosure provision; agencies frequently utilize the court order disclosure exception during discovery.”

Norton must disclose his assets outlined in the citation to discover assets and if he fails to bring the applicable records to court Monday of next week, the Judge said he will go to Jail.  We believe that to mean straight to jail, do not pass GO, do not collect $200.