CHICAGO–The Free Speech for Bill Hogan Committee, Chicago community leaders from business, labor, government, entertainment and sports, released a letter on Thursday asking Attorney General Eric Holder to authorize a Justice Department investigation of the controversial Independent Review Board (IRB), which “has clearly abused its mandate by trampling on union members’ right to free speech, free assembly and due process.”   The IRB is an embedded “watchdog,” set up under Justice Department consent decree 20 years ago as a limited and temporary emergency measure to remove mob elements from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, but at least three major studies cited by the Detroit News say that mob influence was broken more than a decade ago and critics say that to preserve its role and substantial budget, the IRB targets officials for trivial or baseless charges.

In a campaign promise last year, President Obama promised to review the controversial consent decree which enables a largely unsupervised unit enormous power over the lives of Teamster members with power to abruptly remove officials for life and impose lifetime bans on speaking with friends in the Teamster union.  Thus far the Obama administration has not acted on this issue

At a Committee press conference which included twenty community leaders, former Illinois State Senator William Marovitz, former Chicago Bear Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent and others expressed shock at a press conference today that respected former Teamster leader Bill Hogan, who has never been accused or convicted of a crime, could face six months in prison when he is tried in New York federal court on contempt charges because he spoke socially to his best friend of fifty five years and three others. Hogan’s friends were then targeted by the IRB and expelled for life from their positions with the union.

“How did this happen in America in 2009, when our constitution guarantees the right of free speech?” Marovitz asked

“Teamster members are banned from speaking even socially with their former friends.  Like Bill Hogan, they cannot attend weddings, our social outings together.  Their wives cannot call each other on the phone because the irb reads their phone records. Bill’s wife Ginni has advanced stage lung cancer, but Bill and Ginni’s friends can’t even call or come by to visit because of the IRB restrictions.  This is an outrage.

In a detailed four page letter to the IRB and key members of Congress, the Committee observed:

“In contrast to the harsh punishment meted out to friends of Bill Hogan, who merely spoke to him socially, Teamster representative Carlo Scalf was caught embezzling $69,000 dollars in union funds, but this merits only a slap-on-the-wrist 60 day suspension.  Las Vegas Teamster official Gary Mauger is given a mere 75-day suspension for financial impropriety in signing sham contracts, but Bill Hogan, who was accused (preposterously) of intending to negotiate a “substandard labor agreement,” was expelled for life and banned from speaking to his lifelong friends in the Teamsters union.  This despite the fact that no contract was ever signed and negotiations were at an early stage!”

As the head of Local 714 and as President of Council 25, Mr. Hogan has been honored and widely praised for instituting work rules which made Chicago a major center for trade shows and film productions.  Jerry Roper, President of the  Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce  called Hogan “a labor leader who not only served his members, but the broader interests of the our community. Former Illinois Film Office Director Lucy Salenger, a committee member states that “Without Bill Hogan, there wouldn’t be a film industry in Chicago.”

Actor James Belushi, a long time friend, who worked closely with William Hogan on four film production sets, released a statement from Los Angeles saying he knew Hogan to be a ” fair, honest and terrific community leader. He was born and bred to be a teamster. He [Hogan] has the heart and passion for the working man and for bettering his community.”

Committee members who attended the press conference included:

William Marovitz, former Illinois State Senator, Richard Dent, former Chicago Bear super bowl player, Mike Breslin, former official of the Operating Engineers Local 150, Ed Kelly, former Chicago Parks Superintendent, Arny Granat, CEO of Jam Productions, Ralph Caparelli, former Illinois State Representative, Jose Caez, official of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, John Coletti, partner Gibsons Restaurant, Steve Lombardo, partner Gibson’s restaurant,  Father John Smyth, former Director Maryville Academy, Robert Costello, labor attorney, Rita Mullins, former Mayor of Palatine, Peter O’Brien, proprietor O’Brien’s Restaurant, Bob Riley former Director of Organizing Teamster Local 714, Grant DePorter, manager of Harry Caray’s restaurant, Frank Libby, head of the Regional Council of the Carpenters Union

Chicago Bear Super bowl MVP Richard Dent of the Free Speech for Bill Hogan Committee tells press conference “free speech is everyone’s business.”  Pictured from left, State Senator William Marovitz, Bill Hogan former Teamster leader, Jose Caez of the International Brotherhood of Electrical workers, former Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins.

While former Illinois State Senator William Marovitz speaks, former Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins comforts Hogan, who came  to the press conference from hospital where his wife is battling late stage lung cancer. Because Hogan has been banned from speaking to Teamsters, he cannot receive phone calls from from the many friends well wishers in the union were he served for over forty years.

Mike Breslin, former top official of the Operating Engineers, calls Bill Hogan a strong and dedicated union official who always looked out for his members and the community.

Bill Hogan tells his supporters from labor, business and government, “If you became Teamsters tomorrow, I would not be allowed to speak to you again.”