We all have heard of rewards being offered for lost items or to find information on the location of individuals- – even information leading to arrests in connection with a crime where the perpetrator may be unknown – but this one is VERY DIFFERENT.

According to CCN here the "The Cook County Republican Party is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an indictment and conviction of Mayor Richard M. Daley. . ." 

Would any prosecutor dare to proceed on information obtained this way?  Can you imagine the cross-examination at a trial on how the information was obtained? So if the jury fails to convict, no payment?

This is a lesson in why politics should stay out of law enforcement.

(esp) 

Addendum – The second part of this story may be around the question of whether the Republicans actually have the money to pay such a reward.  John Kass in a column for The Chicago Tribune quotes them as saying, "We’ll get it." See here.

(esp) (with thanks to Mike Orenstein).

Addendum – The  Marathon Pundit has here a post "Cook County GOP chairman fired from day job (after offering $10,000 bounty for Mayor Daley conviction)"