Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs took office last month and asked Attorney General Lisa Madigan's advice on releasing an investigation about sexual harassment allegations against his predecessor.
Madigan's public access counselor declared that ex-Treasurer Dan Rutherford had properly denied disclosure of the taxpayer-funded report because it was produced in preparation for legal action.
But Madigan's office is the state's defense attorney in that case - a federal lawsuit by the former state employee who made the accusations against Rutherford.
Experts say it raises questions about the public access counselor's impartiality. Steven Beckett of the University of Illinois law school says that, as defense attorney, Madigan wants to keep the report secret.
Madigan spokeswoman Natalie Bauer Luce says the public access counselor is completely independent of the boss.
