Illinois Lawmaker Released Clip of Her Smooching Mayor in the Face of ‘Extortion’ Attempts

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Lyons, Illinois Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg shared a surveillance video that shows her being kissed by Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek — an act she insists was a "lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues."

Hoffenberg is currently running for Cook County Commissioner.

The kiss between the pair has been the subject of what she told the Daily Mail was an "extortion attempt" by "political opponents.

Hoffenberg also told Patch the liplock was "inappropriate and unprofessional."

Elyse is married to Jeff Hoffenberg, "a managing partner at Chicago-based law firm Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC and a commissioner on the Village of La Grange Plan Commission," the Daily Mail reported, adding that "the pair are understood to have multiple children together."

She's accused Republican Liz Gorman of being the culprit behind the video leak, and said that Lyons Township supervisor Chris Getty was part of the plan.
Elyse also told the Mail she was told the pair would "drop their threats to release [the video] if I end my campaign."

She added:

My political opponents attempted to extort me regarding this video, saying they would drop their threats to release it if I end my campaign. I am certain that our community will find this kind of old-school politics of harassment abhorrent, and I won't be bullied. While the video lacks proper context to make it clear what is happening, what it shows is a lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues. I am staying focused on my campaign to bring strong leadership to this community, and I look forward to continuing this work.

Gorman denied the allegations and told the Mail, "I categorically deny that I extorted Elyse Hoffenberg. I have never spoken with Elyse or anyone from her campaign about this matter, and I have never demanded anything from her in exchange for not releasing or doing anything with the video."

Categories: Politics & Corruption

Tags: illinois mayor