HYDE PARK — A likely forged letter is claiming LaShonda Curry’s campaign is being investigated for forgery.
A scruffy man walked into the National Nurses United office and then LaShonda Curry’s 7th Ward campaign office at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and delivered an unsigned letter claiming both organizations are under investigation for forgery.
“He looked like someone maybe who was homeless,” said Carolyn Mehta, Curry’s campaign manager, said of the man who signed in as Wayman Walker. “We were pretty sure the letter was bogus immediately.”
The letter was delivered in a blank FedEx envelope, is unsigned and on no agency’s letterhead and claims the investigating agency’s identity must be withheld.
The letter claims the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Secretary of State Police and Illinois State Board of Elections are investigating Curry and the union backing her as co-conspirators in a plot to forge names on Curry’s nominating petitions to get on the February ballot.
“I think it’s an attempt to intimidate us,” Mehta said. “Any challenge would have happened a long time ago.”
Jim Allen of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said objections to petitions would come through his office and Curry’s petitions have not been challenged and no agency has contacted them about an investigation.
Representatives from the agencies referenced were not immediately available to comment.
The letter says an investigation has already been made and also is ongoing and that someone may be contacting the campaign and union for sworn testimony.
“We’re on high alert right now,” Mehta said. “We’re definitely going to stay on guard.”
Mehta said she did not know if the letter originated from another campaign or an individual, but that the Illinois Attorney General’s office had assured her that there was no investigation and that the letter may be illegal if it attempts to impersonate a government agency.
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