EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser is being accused of defamation in a lawsuit filed Monday by former county administrator Duog Hulme.
Hulme, who was fired after being accused of improper use of computer equipment, claims Slusser lied about him to members of a special Computer Crimes Task Force after he had worn a "wire" during a meeting between the two, in 2018.
The lawsuit claims that accusations made by Slusser to investigators led to Hulme's firing, however, no criminal proceedings were started in connection with allegations of improperly accessing emails of county staff.
In a statement, Slusser told the Record: "This is yet another frivolous lawsuit filed by a disgraced former county official, apparently bent on punishing and intimidating honest people who have come forward to report suspected wrongdoing in county government."
Hulme's suit follows a similar one filed earlier this month by a second former employee, information technology director Rob Dorman, who has accused former Madison County Board member Lisa Ciampoli of making defamatory remarks to the task force. It cost him his job, he claims.
Ciampoli told the Record: "I will not be intimidated by a frivolous lawsuit filed by a fired county employee. I will always stand up to bullies in both parties, whether it’s Mr. Dorman or Mike Madigan."
She is running on the Republican ticket against Democrat incumbent State Rep. Katie Stuart in the 112th House District.
In a statement following the filing of the suit, Hulme said: “The false statements of Chris Slusser and Lisa Ciampoli set off an investigation in which I was exonerated by the Illinois Attorney General.
“Slusser went so far as to wear a wire, also called an overhear device, cornering me in my office unannounced. The public should know that Chris Slusser and Lisa Ciampoli used their elected positions, on county time, to start an investigation to intentionally harm their political opponents."
All four, the plaintiffs and named defendants, are Republicans.
Hulme's claims center on a meeting between Deb Detmers, aide to U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, Hulme and another former county official, Steve Adler.
Hulme's lawsuit says an affidavit summarizing statements Slusser made to investigators include an allegation that Hulme met with Detmers and offered her a job in Madison County government in exchange for her influence in getting former state's attorney and judge Don Weber appointed as a U.S. attorney. The lawsuit says Slusser told investigators he discovered the information from two sources.
"The statement made by the Defendant was false and defamatory," the lawsuit says. "The Plaintiff never offered Deb Detmers a job in exchange for Congressman Shimkus’ nomination of Don Weber as US attorney.
"The criminal investigation precipitated by the defendant’s false and defamatory statement resulted in no arrests and no indictments.
"Nonetheless, the content of Mr. Slusser’s testimony was given to the press and was reported as fact as a result of which the plaintiff lost his job and his professional reputation was irreparably damaged.”
Hulme is repesented by attorney Richard Bullock of the Towne Square Legal Advocates in Collinsville. Bullock is listed on the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission as having a Noblesville, Ind. address.