Challenger Calls for Schakowsky’s Resignation After Video Release

Robert Creamer, the husband of Illinois 9th District U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, has stepped back from his work on the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign after a video produced from an undercover conservative operation showed his possible connection to hiring “mentally ill” people to disturb Republican events including the Donald Trump rally that was held in Chicago in March.

The firm for Creamer, who was convicted of bank fraud and tax fraud in 2005, has denied any wrongdoing and claims it was a victim of a scheme they not unlike the Watergate scandal.

The release of the video was cause for Schakowky’s Republican challenger for the Illinois 9th District United States congressional seat to call for her resignation.

Joan McCarthy Lasonde penned the following letter to Schakowsky on Wednesday:

“Dear Ms. Schakowsky:
The most staggering development yet in this election cycle is the release of clear video evidence of incitement to violence to disrupt political activity, including employment of mentally ill people to start fights. You likely participated in those activities and, in any event, must have known about them and could have stopped them. Residents of our Ninth District and millions across America, in both parties, are sickened. It is time you step down from your seat in the United States Congress. The most fundamental duties of our elected representatives include securing our safety, political freedom and democratic process. You and your husband betrayed that duty for political gain. Your personal culpability is as clear as the horrid political relationships you have kept -- the organizations described in the video evidence. The people of our district -- and all Americans -- deserve to be represented by those who will fight for democracy -- and encourage others to fight for it. You, your husband and your surrogates encourage Americans to pick violent fights to undermine it. It’s time to leave.”

In a news release, Lasonde shared a photo of Schakowsky holding a sign sponsored by Americans United for Change, the group connected to Scott Foval, another Democratic strategist that was part of the video released.

The incumbent congresswoman was also criticized for attending a protest and encouraging others to as well in which event attendees were subject to protesters approaching them with words such as "bigot" and "hater."

“Robert Creamer is at the center of the activities shown in the video. Creamer, who was already convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in 2005, is Jan Schakowsky’s husband,” Lasonde wrote in a news release. “Given the scope of her husband’s activity, can anyone doubt that Rep. Schakowsky knew about his work?”

Photo via www.joanforcongress.com