Sen. Mark Kirk’s (R-Ill.) campaign launched a new website Tuesday about his Democratic rival Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s upcoming hearing regarding a lawsuit against her that alleges workplace retaliation.
The website, entitled “Tammy’s Troubles,” will provide updates about the legal matter and includes a timeline of events as well as the web ad released on Monday by Kirk’s campaign that previews the Thursday hearing.
Kirk and Duckworth are locked in a tight battle in what is considered to be one of the most competitive Senate races this cycle. The blue-leaning state was won by President Obama in both 2008 and 2012.
Polling has been scarce, but an April survey conducted for the Kirk campaign found the congresswoman leading but within the margin of error.
Kirk’s campaign has jumped on the hearing, where Duckworth will be represented by the Illinois attorney general’s office.
In 2009, two former employees working under Duckworth when she led the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs filed a lawsuit against her. One employee alleged that she was fired after filing complaints against her boss, but her termination was later reversed after meeting with Duckworth.
The other employee claims she received a bad performance review and no raise after complaining about the same boss.She claims Duckworth told her to “do your job and keep your mouth shut” to keep her job.
Duckworth has previously denied that the employees were treated unfairly, and her campaign spokesman, Matt McGrath, on Monday called the digital ad “another dishonest attack from a desperate campaign.”
The GOP senator’s campaign also knocked the congresswoman for planning to attend a fundraiser with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.