Worker says he was fired to protect governor
SPRINGFIELD -- A state worker who leaked a secret report about corruption in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration claimed in a lawsuit Monday that he was fired to protect the governor's political reputation.
Matthew Magalis admitted he gave a newspaper reporter a confidential report about a co-worker's political work for Blagojevich on state time. The Civil Service Commission upheld Magalis' dismissal Friday from an $81,840 post at the Department of Human Services.
Magalis sued in Sangamon County circuit court, saying he handed over the document because he feared nothing would happen to the co-worker and that First Amendment free speech protections insulate him. He wants to return to his job and back pay to October 2007, when he was fired.
The commission agreed with an administrative law judge's recommendation to fire Magalis for theft and violating report confidentiality because Magalis took keys without authority and removed the report from a locked cabinet.
The judge said in part that Magalis' actions would dissuade state employees from reporting wrongdoing to the Office of the Executive Inspector General out of fear their names might become public. The inspector does not consider anonymous complaints.
But Magalis claims in the lawsuit that his firing was an attempt to discourage others from reporting corruption in the Blagojevich administration and as part of a "scheme" by Blagojevich to fire "political opponents."
Defendants include DHS and its chief, Carol Adams, other Magalis co-workers and Civil Service Commission members, as well as former Blagojevich attorney Matt Ryan. The lawsuit claims Ryan attended meetings "to convey the orders of the office of the governor to fire Magalis."
A spokeswoman for Blagojevich did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Blagojevich's office has been involved in several federal investigations, including one surrounding the administration's hiring practices. A federal jury currently is deliberating corruption charges against gubernatorial adviser and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
The second-term Democrat has not been charged with wrongdoing. He told reporters Monday in Chicago that it's "stupid" to ask whether he's worried that prosecutors are targeting him.
The Chicago Tribune reported in October 2006 that DHS employee Khalil Shalabi had organized a Blagojevich political fundraiser and operated his private businesses on state time. The newspaper did not say how it got the report and a spokesman previously has said the newspaper would not comment.
The report was dated Sept. 29, 2006, according to the Tribune. Blagojevich aides said at the time Shalabi was on paid leave and would be dismissed from his administrative post at Tinley Park Mental Health Center. He left his $78,000-a-year on Dec. 28, state records show.