Records contradict Ill. nominee's claims

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CHICAGO, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The public record contradicts many statements made by Democratic Illinois lieutenant governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen, The Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

Cohen said Thursday he will not step aside as Gov. Pat Quinn has requested. But the newspaper said revelations that Cohen left out damning details in his vague account about a battery case he was involved in is only one of a long list of examples of records contradicting his assertions of integrity and business success.

Cohen was the surprise winner of last week's Illinois Democratic Party lieutenant governor race. He says he was up front with voters about domestic battery charges, later dismissed, involving a girlfriend.

But an examination of police records showed the ex-girlfriend, a convicted prostitute, had accused him of holding a knife to her throat, which Cohen didn't disclose when questioned earlier last week, The Tribune said.

The newspaper reported Saturday that Cohen has been sued dozens of times for back taxes; has been cited numerous times by the city for building code violations; has failed to pay water bills; and has been accused by his ex-wife of being a serial cheater who shot up illegally obtained steroids and physically abused her.