Former East St. Louis precinct captain charged with perjury

A former Democratic precinct captain was arrested at her home Monday on charges of making false statements under oath at an electoral board hearing.

Lillie J. Butler, 69, was taken to the St. Clair County Jail and booked. The charged was issued by St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly’s office.

Butler was charged with perjury in an election cycle, according to the arrest warrant. There are no details on the warrant about what statement she allegedly made that led to the charge or what questions she was asked at the hearing.

She declined comment to a reporter.

The arrest warrant says Butler “allegedly made a false statement in a sworn declaration required by a provision of the election code” at an Electoral Board hearing.

Kelly’s office also recently charged James O’Neal with forgery in connection with an election. O’Neal, of East St. Louis, who for many years has had very close ties to Democratic politics in East St. Louis, is accused of filing a false withdrawal of candidacy form in an alleged attempt to get his nephew, Nathaniel McCloud, off the ballot.

McCloud beat longtime Democratic politician Edith Moore in Precinct 20. O’Neal told prosecutors he filed the withdrawal form because he was promised a job. He did not say by whom.

Kelly has declined to comment on the cases.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Former East St. Louis precinct captain charged with perjury."