Judge dismisses racketeering claims in Rutherford lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD — A federal judge has dismissed racketeering claims that one-time Illinois gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford ran the state treasurer's office like a campaign operation.

The action by Judge Joan Lefkow Thursday in Chicago did not affect allegations by ex-employee Edmund Michalowski that Rutherford — then state treasurer — sexually harassed him for several years beginning in 2010.

Michalowski's lawsuit in February 2014 effectively ended political hopes for Rutherford, who at the time was current Gov. Bruce Rauner's top rival.

Lefkow's opinion found insufficient evidence that Rutherford and top aides Kyle Ham and Curt Conrad ran an illegal racket by forcing Michalowski to do campaign work on state time or be fired.

Michalowski may press the sexual harassment claim but Ham and Conrad have not been named in that count.