A legislative hearing convened to probe a troubled anti-violence program run by Governor Pat Quinn is underway in Chicago.
Federal prosecutors have asked lawmakers to hold off taking testimony, because it may obstruct their criminal investigation.
It all goes back to a program called the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, which debuted in 2010, when Quinn was in the midst of a tight race for governor. A state audit showed it was rife with mismanagement, and Republicans say that's because Quinn was trying to use it to boost his campaign.
Though Democrats were at first wary, earlier this summer they voted with Republicans to subpoena seven former members of the Quinn administration who were involved with it.
But now that the time has come for them to testify, none of them showed. Instead, all but one sent attorneys in their stead.
Republican members of the commission say it's contempt. In an exchange between Sen. Bill Brady, of Bloomington, and the lawyer for Toni Irving, Quinn's former deputy chief of staff. Irving's attorney says she didn't show up because it would be inappropriate in light of federal prosecutors' requests.
