Alderman Desmon Yancy (5th) is being sued by his former chief of staff who alleges retaliation after she was terminated for reporting alleged ethics violations to the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Ernestine Key alleges she was excluded from work meetings, text message groups, and eventually terminated after she reported receiving an envelope containing $6,000 in cash from one of Yancy’s political donors.
Represented by the Disparti Law Group, Key seeks damages, claiming she was unlawfully retaliated against after reporting alleged violations under the Illinois Whistleblower Act.
“Illinois law protects employees who report suspected misconduct in good faith, especially when they are fulfilling their legal and ethical obligations,” said Cass T. Casper, an attorney for Key.
“Our client followed the procedures she was instructed to follow, and instead of receiving the protections guaranteed by law, we allege she was retaliated against for doing exactly what City policy required.”
The City of Chicago is also named as a defendant.
According to the lawsuit, Key began serving as Yancy’s chief of staff in April 2025. During her employment, Key oversaw the day-to-day operations of the aldermanic office, hiring staff, overseeing communications, establishing budgets, and improving office accountability.
The lawsuit alleges that during her employment, Key became involved in circumstances surrounding a political campaign contribution that ultimately prompted her to...
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