Civics, Rahm & Uber: In lawsuit settlement, Emanuel admits using personal email for public business

Bill Ruthhart, Hal Dardick and Jeff Coen:

Political strategist David Plouffe also knew to use one of Emanuel’s personal accounts when he lobbied the mayor on behalf of Uber in November 2015. A deal was in place for Uber to operate at Chicago airports, but Plouffe emailed about an extra fee to be imposed by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and about signage that needed to be placed on Uber vehicles doing pickups at O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport.

“Sure this comes as much of a surprise to you as us, since there was an agreement in place,” wrote Plouffe, campaign manager in 2008 for President Barack Obama, for whom Emanuel worked for as chief of staff.

Emanuel directed Plouffe, Uber’s vice president of policy and strategy, to email two staffers, since he was out of the country. “Impossible for me to address from China.”

The messages also showed Emanuel communicating with a wide array of power brokers both in business and politics.