Emanuel: No Conspiracy To Tape-Record Reporters Without Their Consent
(CBS)– Mayor Emanuel is all but shrugging off published reports that some people on his staff have secretly been recording their talks with news reporters.
The Chicago Tribune reported Monday that in one instance an Emanuel press aide may have recorded a conference call during which reporters asked questions of Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy last. The reporters did not know they were being recorded, the Tribune said.
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In other instances, a City Hall staffer acknowledged recording a reporter without the writer's consent, according to the Tribune.
WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports Emanuel says the revelations are "much ado about nothing."
He says if mistakes were made, they will be corrected – and he has bigger things to worry about.
"I have a policy on a longer school day, I have a policy making sure our kids are healthy, I have a policy to make sure we're bringing safety to our streets. We're going to have economic growth. We're going to put our troops back to work," the mayor said. "I got to be honest. I don't remember it in my 100-day plan or my four-year plan, a policy that to make sure that you as journalists, that we have a record on that."
Illinois is one of 11 states where all parties must give consent before they can be recorded. Not getting that consent in Illinois is a felony offense.
