CHICAGO – The Illinois Republican Party met Saturday and picked Richard Porter as Republican National Committeeman for the state of Illinois. Porter will immediately begin serving out the term of Rich Williamson, who passed away last month.
Porter said, “I am honored to be elected as National Committeeman, especially at such a critical time for our state and our country. I promise to help grow our party and win elections, and I look forward to joining the Illinois Republican leadership team.”
In December, Illinois Review provided background on Porter, who indicated his interest in succeeding Rich Williamson early on in the process.
While in private practice, Porter was targeted by the Clinton machine in the 1990's as being part of what Hillary Clinton famously described as a "vast right wing conspiracy". The Clinton attacks culminated In their efforts to suggest Porter's relationship with both the lawyers representing Paula Jones in her law suit against Bill Clinton and with his former law partner Ken Starr was a defense against Clinton's lying under oath. However, the House brushed aside these allegations and voted to impeach Bill Clinton for committing perjury in his grand jury testimony and for obstruction of justice. Similarly, Clinton was fined $90,000 by the court in the Jones case and was subsequently disbarred for his intentionally false statements to the court.
“Rich Porter will be an integral part in the Illinois Republican Party’s resurgence on the national, state, and local level, and we’re thrilled to welcome him in this new leadership role,” said Jack Dorgan, Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. “We had five outstanding candidates, and each of them will continue to be critical to our work in restoring the two-party system in Illinois and expanding the base of the Republican Party.”
