“A Republican vying to unseat State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) on Tuesday filed an ethics complaint with the state’s Legislative Inspector General, alleging Skillicorn falsely said he was present in the Capitol during the first half of the House’s last day in spring session in June even though he was walking in a parade in northern Illinois, and driving back down to Springfield.,” according to The Daily Line.

Skillicorn’s State Senator Don Dewitt promoted the attack by the State Representative candidate he is supporting over Skillicorn, McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield, with a morning tweet:

Skillicorn was certainly at the Milk Day Parade June 1, 2019.

This is Schofield’s press release:

An ethics violation and fraud complaint was filed today with the office of the Illinois Legislative Inspector General against State Representative Allen Skillicorn.

The complaint, filed by Skillicorn’s primary opponent Carolyn Schofield, claims Skillicorn created a false attendance and voting record in Springfield on Saturday, June 1, 2019 while simultaneously campaigning for another elected office at an event in Harvard, Illinois, 220 miles north of the State Capitol.

“The current Representative for the 66th District never misses an opportunity to grandstand politically when elected officials violate ethics rules, when he himself had violated the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act on the final day of the spring legislative session,” said Schofield.

“He created a fraudulent House transcript that made it look like he was in Springfield voting, when instead he was walking in the Harvard Milk Days Parade more than three hours away. It was a willful effort to mislead his constituents and represents a clear violation of the Ethics Act.”

Along with the complaint, Schofield submitted a copy of the official House of Representatives Journal for June 1, 2019, which shows that roll was called at 12:11 pm with 114 members taking a digital vote that they were present in the House chamber.

Skillicorn’s voting switch was engaged and a “present” vote was recorded.

At the same time, Skillicorn was photographed and appeared in videos 220 miles away at the Harvard Milk Days Parade.

“The indication of ‘present’ implies that Rep. Skillicorn’s switch was pressed or else the switch would have been turned off in his absence,” continued Schofield.

“Records further indicate that 26 bills were called for a vote prior to a 3:01 pm recess that day.

“Of these 26 votes, Skillicorn was recorded as either a ‘Y’ or ‘N’ on 23 of the bills.

“Obviously, he couldn’t have been in two places at once.”

In addition to the House Journal for the day in question, Schofield submitted supporting documentation from the Harvard Milk Days Facebook page, a Facebook Live video from the parade and photos posted to the Facebook pages for the Algonquin Township Republican Party, on the pages of an individual who watched the parade, photos Skillicorn posted to his own political Facebook page, and photos posted to the McHenry County Blog.

“The fact that he was physically in Harvard, Illinois the afternoon of June 1 participating in a 1:00 parade when he was recorded as ‘present’ during June 1, 2019 roll call at 12:11 pm and recorded as voting on 23 votes prior to 3:01 pm, is a concern for ethics and public integrity,” Schofield added.

“These deceptive actions represent a direct violation of the State Ethics Act. He needs to be held accountable for his decision to engage in political activity while creating a fraudulent record that he was being paid for, appearing to be taking votes in Springfield.”

Meanwhile, yesterday Skillicorn was promoting his appearance at a Jim Oberweis fundraiser:

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When I was in the Illinois House, if one arrived late, one went to the House Clerk to register one’s attendance.

Once, when I was in O’Hare Airport on the way to Washington, someone voted my switch for the override of a Governor Jim Thompson veto via robo-pen of a legislative pay increase from $20,000 to $28,000.

It was hard to complain because I had voted for the bill’s passage earlier in the day.

That was during the hyper-inflation of the 1970’s.

As pennace, I then wore the voting key around my neck.

I was a latch key legislator.