JRW Attorney Calls For Probe Into Whistle-Blower Chris Janes
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An attorney is calling for an inquiry to determine whether the man who launched an investigation into Jackie Robinson West's Little League team improperly obtained information to determine where the parents of the players lived.
Victor Henderson, the attorney retained by JRW after the team was stripped of its national title for violating residency rules, claimed in a letter that whistle-blower Chris Janes and others "may have improperly or illegally accessed public data."
The letter, dated March 3, calls on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez to investigate.
"We are concerned that vehicle registration or license plate information was improperly or even illegally searched to determine where parents or children live and that this information was sent across state lines to Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; other information, including school records, may have also been improperly searched."
Tandra R. Simonton, deputy communications director for Alvarez, said her office has advised Henderson that "the matter should be referred to the [Illinois] State Police for any action or investigation that they may deem appropriate."
Madigan's office is in the process of reviewing the request.
Letter Requesting Probe Into JRW Whistleblower
Evergreen Park Little League vice president Chris Janes has said his suspicions about residency violations were raised when he saw a marquee in Lynwood calling one of the players on Jackie Robinson West their own. Lynwood is outside Jackie Robinson West's boundaries.
Originally, Little League officials found no wrongdoing back in December. But upon further investigation and more talks with members of Jackie Robinson West's home district, Little League found that the team drew players from outside their boundaries.
In addition to the team vacating its wins in the Little League tournament, Jackie Robinson West manager Darold Butler has been suspended from Little League activity and Illinois District 4 Administrator Michael Kelly has been removed from his position.
RELATED: U.S. Code: Prohibition on release and use of certain personal information from State motor vehicle records.
