News reports this week say the 26 year-old son of Illinois Senate President and Ravenswood Manor resident John Cullerton was cited for driving under the influence while driving a car registered to the State Senate President’s office.
The Ravenswood Manor home of Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton.
CBS 2 quoted published reports that Garritt M Cullerton had twice the legal limit of alcohol when he was pulled over in the 2009 Ford Escape, while the Tribune Company’s Breaking News site says Garritt had a blood alcohol level of 0.188. The legal limit in Illinois is 0.08.
Follow-up reports from CBS 2 indicate Garritt Cullerton was arrested in 2002 for retail theft and shoplifting, receiving six months court supervision. The CBS 2 report adds that he was ticketed in 2003 for negligent driving. In 2004 Garritt was issued with a DUI and a reckless driving charge, although those charges were dismissed.
The report says there is a report of an arrest as a minor, in 2004, for the possession of liquor, which was dismissed. In 2005 the report says there was an allegation of battery against Garritt.
Garritt’s troubles didn’t end there however, in 2006 he was issued a ticket for running a stop sign and a ticket for no turn signal.
The Tribune site adds that Garritt has been pulled over eight times since July 2001 including speeding 115 mph, following too closely and another DUI.
Garritt was hired by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to analyze legislation in a clout hire a third CBS 2 reports says.
John Cullerton’s spokeswoman, Rikeesha Phelon issued a statement Sunday saying, “”A Senate vehicle assigned to the Senate President for official legislative business was used by his son without his authorization. The Senate President is disappointed that this incident occurred and takes this matter very seriously. He will work to ensure that this does not occur in the future.”
President Cullerton said “I can’t talk about Garritt’s case at all. There’s a case pending. The lawyer advised not to talk to the public about that. I can’t do that. I’m sorry,” according to CBS 2.
According to the Chicago Tribune, each of the four party leaders of the Statehouse receive vehicles under provisions of a 1984 bill that eliminated “controversial” legislative commissions. “One panel that was eliminated had a dozen vehicles, and the four legislative leaders divvied them up.”
The Senate still has six vehicles and the House has eight vehicles. The newest vehicle being a 2010 hybrid.
Gov. Pat Quinn was quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying it is “absolutely wrong” for state-owned vehicles to be used by family members or anyone not working for the state.
