Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson senior aide under scrutiny for reportedly voting in Texas

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Another top aide for Mayor Brandon Johnson is under scrutiny Monday.

This time, it's a senior advisor, who claimed to be a Chicago resident, as required by law, but reportedly went and voted in another state.

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Now, an alderman is requesting the inspector general investigate.

Jason Lee, who has sometimes been front-and-center explaining the mayor's positions, now has some explaining of his own to do.

At issue is how he could claim being a Chicago resident, as is required of all city employees, while voting in Houston, Texas last month.

"I'm very concerned about election integrity, but I'm also concerned, as an alderman, that we are employing someone who doesn't have the city of Chicago as their primary residence, which is exactly why I asked the inspector general to look into this matter," 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez said. "He made a choice to take a job in the city of Chicago, which requires him to live here. He made a choice to go vote in Texas while claiming to be a Chicago resident, even though their law says he has to be a primary resident there."

Lopez has also asked the Texas attorney general to investigate Lee's actions for possible voter fraud.

"So, somewhere along the line, the laws are being broken, whether it's in Illinois or Texas, and I think it's only fair that we get to the bottom of this," Lopez said.

Lee told the Chicago Tribune he went to Texas to vote for his sister, Erica Lee Carter, who won a special election to fill the remaining congressional term of his late mother, long-time Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died earlier this year from cancer.

Lee has not voted in Illinois for several years.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, Lee's voter registration was marked inactive in August of 2020. And three years later, his voter file was canceled.

Johnson said Monday the matter is being looking into.

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"Decisions and conclusions will be made based upon how this particular matter is not only underscored, but what is uncovered, as a result of it being looked into," Johnson said. "Well, look, it's a matter that is being looked into right now. And, you know, what comes of this is something that we'll have to address, as that information becomes more available."

Burt Odelson is an election law attorney.

"I'm not familiar with every aspect of Texas law, but, in general, you can only vote from the place where you live, which is your permanent abode, your permanent home," Odelson said. "You can't allow an employee to violate the city ordinance. If this was another employee in another department, they'd be terminated, gone."

One good government advocate suggested Lee should have known better.

"He's got an entire law department he could ask the question of, and it's the big law department. They should be able to give him quick answers, so along with the Board of Elections," said Dick Simpson, a UIC professor emeritus. "Well, we're going to have to sort out the legality, but it doesn't look good if you're asking about what are the optics."

The mayor was asked if he has lost confidence in Lee.

"Jason and I go back a little bit, and he has been a tremendous advocate for working people in this city," Johnson said.

For now, it appears Lee will continue in his role as the mayor's senior aide, pending the outcome of the investigation into his residency status. He was unavailable for comment.

Political observers call this a distraction the mayor does not need.