BGA investigates claims former IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike violated Ethics Act

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, a gradual, reassuring determine alongside Gov. JB Pritzker throughout pandemic information conferences, stepped down from her $178,000 per yr state publish in March. In April, she accepted a suggestion to guide Sinai Well being System, one of many state’s prime medical nonprofits.

The Illinois Ethics Act requires division heads like Ezike to attend a yr earlier than accepting positions with firms that maintain contracts overseen by their departments, or with firms their departments license or regulate. And whereas in workplace they can not interact in job negotiations with firms that foyer their companies.

The Illinois Workplace of the Govt Inspector Basic opened an ethics investigation of Ezike amid inquiries by the Higher Authorities Affiliation.

Ezike declined to remark to the BGA, her legal professional issued an announcement.

“I don’t imagine Dr. Ezike violated the revolving door,” mentioned Heather Wier Vaught. “From a authorized perspective, it is not clear lower. That is a part of the issue with Illinois’ regulation. The revolving door regulation just isn’t clear lower. It’s totally grey.”

The BGA investigation examined authorities emails and contract paperwork that elevate questions on Ezike’s swift transfer to an organization intricately concerned along with her company.