ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2000 CONTACT: Dave Druker or CONTACT: Randy Nehrt

Jesse White Names Former U.S. Attorney for New Inspector General

CHICAGO –– Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White today named former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, James B. Burns, as his new Inspector General.

As Inspector General, Burns will lead a staff of 16 to investigate allegations of wrongdoing involving personnel in the Secretary of State's Office.

Burns will report directly to White.

"I am proud to announce that Jim Burns will head my Inspector General's Office," White said. "He will have every tool he needs to get the job done. Eliminating any form of corruption within this office has been my number one priority since my election to this job. Today, I am reaffirming this commitment by naming Mr. Burns to head this post."

Burns served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1993 to 1997. He managed an office of 250 staff members including 130 federal prosecutors. He served on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Public Corruption.

According to White, Burns will have total authority for his department and all investigations. As Inspector General, Burns will have authority for the following:

• Total autonomy for all internal investigations

• Re-interview all current members of the Inspector General's Office

• Select his own staff

• Have access to all personnel records

• Review and reorganize the Inspector General's Office, as needed

"I look forward to working closely with Secretary White in taking on this challenge," Burns said. "I am confident that Secretary White and his administration are committed to ridding the office of corruption and I am pleased to be on board."

In a related issue, White announced that his former General Counsel, Donna Leonard, has been re-hired to work at the direction of Burns to assist with the current federal investigation - the position she was previously offered.