The Cook County Republican Party is selling innocence in exchange for political power
Cook County Republican Chair Sean Morrison pretends to protect children but uses his limited Republican power to protect child predators.
When "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak acolyte and lifelong Democrat Sean Morrison was elected to Palos Hills Republican leadership, it shocked Republican insider Chris Robling.
Years later, insiders and outsiders alike are still shocked that, despite massive electoral failures and serious concerns about his background, Morrison was just elected to another term as Cook County Republican Party chair.
A few months ago the eighty Republican committee members of Cook County convened to vote on a chair tasked with overseeing elections and shaping the party’s messaging.
In a display of satisfaction with the status quo, Cook County committee members decided to maintain their current leadership, re-electing Sean Morrison as chair with 82% of the vote.
This decision to re-elect Morrison raises dark concerns about the committee persons priorities and values.
To their credit, 18% did not vote for Morrison, and several committee members who did vote for him have already expressed regret to the author of this article.
However, key figures like Northfield’s TJ Brown and Palatine Township’s Aaron Del Mar—a former adult entertainment proprietor and alleged godfather to one of Sean Morrison’s children—remain strong advocates.
Northfield Township GOP Facebook / Aaron Del Mar (left) TJ Brown (right)
During Morrison’s tenure, the county party has lost every single Republican officeholder—except Morrison himself, who retains a seat on the Cook County Board.
It is often rumored among Illinois republicans that Morrison intentionally avoids running Republican candidates in Cook county as part of a tacit appeasement with Democrats to protect his own seat.
Facebook / Sean Morrison. Democrat Toni Preckwinkle (left)
Most Republican voters in Cook County—such as this writer—are effectively disenfranchised from voting, with only one Democratic candidate appearing on the ballot in most races.
As a result, the Cook County Republican organizations are often forced to endorse the "most Republican Democrat."
Conservatives across Illinois have criticized Morrison for his controversial strategy of the Chicago Republican Party supporting Democrats like Paul Vallas for mayor, Bob Fioretti for Cook County Board, Richard Irvin for Governor, and many others.
Setting electoral issues aside, Morrison’s indisputable shady background and past actions make him unfit to serve as a messenger for the Cook County Republican Party.
Cook County Republicans frame crime as a defining wedge issue, casting themselves as "law and order" champions in opposition to "radical left" Cook County Democrats.
The Cook County Democratic Party’s push to eliminate cash bail is a frequent talking point in Republican messaging.
Yesterday, Morrison took to Twitter to highlight the story of a Chicago teenager who committed eight robberies while out on bail. He appeared to blame what he called “failed, soft-on-crime” policies that prioritized “criminals' rights over the citizens of Cook County.
However, Morrison is fundamentally an unfit messenger to criticize Democrats and is detrimental to the Cook County Republican brand.
Sean Morrison / Facebook
While Cook County GOP Chair Sean Morrison may be hard on young offenders, Morrison has a soft spot toward older offenders—particularly those arrested for child molestation and sexual harassment of a minor.
Sean Morrison / Facebook
Records reveal that Morrison advocated for leniency in a criminal child abuse case involving Anthony Martin, a Senior Vice President at Morrison Security.
The 6'4", 230-pound Martin, then 46, molested a fourteen-year-old at Cook County Republican Chair Sean Morrison’s home during a pool party and later harassed her using a company phone, asking if the teen wanted to "mess around with" him.
Morrison may tell Republican candidates that he "barely knew" Anthony Martin, but he told Cook County Judge John Hynes that Martin was "instrumental in running my business" and an "employee of over 10 years."
Unlike Chicago teenagers who commit theft, Morrison urged the court to allow loose bail restrictions for Martin, describing him as someone he had "trust in."”
Morrison, who allegedly lied about graduating from Morraine Valley Community College, has proven to be an unreliable source.
Chris Robing FOIA request
Most companies likely would not want someone arrested for sexual crimes against a fourteen year old managing their business. However, Morrison Security is a unique company.
The company was registered by James De Palma, infamous mob boss Sam Giancana's lawyer and rumored son-in-law. Morrison Security first rose to national prominence in 1994 when it protected Michael Jackson after Jackson was accused of child abuse.
Considering Morrison’s controversial clientele there may be a case to be made that Martin’s services were invaluable and perfectly in line with Morrison’s companies values.
Nevertheless, much like the young Chicago teen Morrison criticized, Morrison’s trusted employee Anthony Martin was granted leniency by a Cook County Judge John Hynes.
And, much like the young teen who drew Morrison’s ire, Anthony Martin immediately reoffended by attempting to solicit sex from a minor during his Morrison-sponsored trip to Colorado.
Morrison told a prominent Cook County Republican candidate that Martin’s molestation and sexual harassment of a teenager “was not a big deal.”
Which, if true, would call into question the integrity of Morrison’s nonprofit, “Operation Restoring Innocence.”
“Sean co-founded and funded "Operation Restoring Innocence" a 501-C3 organizaton of the efforts by Operation to rescuing and recovering exploited and missing children from gangs and human traffickers”.
Sean Morrison’s bio on www.electmorrison.com
On Sean's Cook County bio, he claims—without attribution—that Operation Restoring Innocence has saved "150 kids." and that hisnon-for profit company has been recognized for its pro bono services in the field of missing and exploited children, specifically in cases of child human trafficking.
Sean Morrison / Facebook
The many contradictions of Sean Morrison make it impossible for Cook County Republicans to effectively argue to voters that Democrats are the ones who are too soft on crime.
To most Republican and Democratic voters alike, sexual crimes against minors are offenses that unequivocally do not deserve leniency.
This undermines Morrison’s ability to advocate for a tough-on-crime stance. Further, he cannot even effectively argue against violence, given his role as a producer of the controversial reality fighting show Ultimate Women’s Challenge. One of the female contestants even described Morrison as a "waste of human skin."
Photoed via combat lifestyle.com
Although it is harsh to call anyone a "waste of human skin," Morrison's glaring problems are a costly hurdle that all Cook County Republican candidates must overcome due to guilt by association.
Considering that the Cook County Republican Chair's job is to support candidates, Morrison's concerning background makes him unfit for the position.
Electing Sean Morrison as chair would be akin to Penn State Football promoting Jerry Sandusky from defensive coordinator to head coach—the main difference being that Penn State at least won some games, unlike the Cook County Republicans.
Facebook/ David Shestokas
It is easy for Republican leaders to campaign on platitudes like “I am against crime” or “soda should be cheaper.” However, as a super-minority party, they lack any real ability to govern. Their consultant-tested phrases are nothing more than empty rhetoric.
Sean Morrison / Facebook
When the issues Republicans campaign on seep into their own lives, that’s when we see their true values and beliefs.
Sean Morrison can tweet all he wants against cashless bail, but the fact remains that he values child predators over the Cook County Republicans he is supposed to represent.
And for the most part, Cook County Republican committee people appear to value nothing at all.