WASHINGTON _ Two women involved in a lawsuit with Democratic Illinois Senate candidate Rep. Tammy Duckworth have rejected a settlement reached last month.
The lawsuit involving allegations of ethics violations dates back to when Duckworth was head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
In June, a settlement worth $26,000 was announced and Duckworth's campaign called it a "frivolous workplace case."
One of the plaintiffs, Christine Butler, told the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper, that it was that attitude that led them to say they wanted to proceed.
The news allows Duckworth's opponent, incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, to reopen the case as a line of attack. His campaign has repeatedly tried to use the suit against her.
"If Rep. Duckworth believes she is innocent, then she should testify," said Kirk campaign manager Kevin Artl . "But I doubt that she will."
The plaintiffs told the Daily Herald that they were not pressured into rejecting the offer. The Kirk campaign confirmed this to Roll Call.
The Illinois race is one of the races Democrats have had their eyes on. Duckworth is a rising star in the party who was endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and was endorsed by President Barack Obama in the race for the seat he previously held.
The RollCall/Rothenberg & Gonzales Report rates the race as Leans Democratic.
