Chicago alderman denied honor by White House

The White House decided not to honor a Chicago alderman at a Tuesday ceremony honoring groups and individuals who positively affect their communities after it learned shortly before it started that the alderman was the subject of an ethics investigation.

The FBI spoke with Alderman Joe Moore after receiving a report from Chicago's inspector general about allegations concerning one of Moore's former staffers. The report alleged that Moore fired the staffer for disclosing that campaign work was performed out of Moore's ward office and that Moore then paid the fired staffer a severance money.

Moore said Monday that he had spoken to the FBI about the matter and he denied wrongdoing, saying the allegations were prompted by a “disgruntled employee.”

Moore was to be recognized Tuesday as part of President Barack Obama's Winning the Future Initiative. However, WMAQ-TV reported that White House officials decided not to honor Moore after they learned of the FBI investigation of him shortly before the ceremony.

Moore, who has represented his North Side ward since 1991, is known for allowing district residents to decide how his annual $1 million ward budget is spent.

His initiative has since been adopted by several other alderman, as well as elected officials in New York City and San Francisco.