As previously reported, the Republican Assembly of Lake County (RALC) held a forum last Thursday night addressing the issue of Illinois drivers' licenses for illegal aliens. It is unclear if the event was to be a debate or discussion. What is clear is the fact that the two speakers - Bill Kelly and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran - are not going to be sitting down to enjoy a beer together any time soon.
Following the debate, Kelly received the following message from RALC member Bob Bednar:
Bill,
Please remove the comment you posted on Jan 12th.
Do not post any video that you and your wife secretly recorded at the RALC meeting of January 10, 2012. You do not have permission from the RALC to post any secret recordings you and your wife made at that meeting.
You did not obtain permission from anyone attending the January 10th RALC meeting to secretly record them. You never informed anyone in the RALC or attending the January 10th RALC meeting that you and your wife were secretly recording the meeting.
At no time did the RALC announce or say that the January 10th meeting would be a debate. The Illegal Alien Driving Certificate law was passed by the Democratically- controlled House and Senate in Springfield. The Democrats hold super majority in both of those houses. The bill passed by a super majority in both houses.
You do not have my permission to forward this message (orally or in writing) to anyone else without my express written permission.
Furthermore, you do not have my permission to post, publish, share, promote, or use the secret recording made at the January 10th RALC meeting.
Your failure to comply with my written request will result in a complaint to Law Enforcement that you violated Illinois Surveillance laws. I will prosecute you and your wife to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Bob Bednar
Kelly responded:
The video was not secretly recorded - as it was a public meeting and the video on a tripod was made in full view of everyone at the meeting. No objection was made and thus, your letter is not accurate in any way shape or form.
Bednar's retort:
Not true. Your wife set up the video camera AFTER the meeting started, and she did not do this in plain sight. She was at the back of the room behind everyone's backs. I thought you were just taking pictures of yourself. You made no announcement of your intention to record the meeting.
And finally from Kelly:
Very silly. Everyone saw the camera and very tal[l] tripod. And people asked for a copy during and after the taping. We are on very solid ground.
When asked about the exchange, Kelly told Illinois Review:
Anyone who knows my history knows I will not be bullied. In fact, I will fight even harder. I was the only Republican in Chicago to challenge Rahm's petitions when he ran for Mayor of Chicago. I have no problem fighting bullies especially when it comes to standing up for the people and things I love. ...That's why I will be working to repeal this bad bill to grant driver's licenses to 250,000 illegal aliens the second Gov. Pat Quinn signs in.
