Uber exec broke ethics rule when lobbying about rights at Chicago airports

Enlarge / David Plouffe (credit: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Chicago's Board of Ethics is handing a former Uber executive a $90,000 fine for illegally lobbying the city's mayor over ride-sharing privileges at the city's two airports.

On Thursday, the ethics panel voted 5-0 to levy the fine on David Plouffe, who was Barack Obama's former campaign manager. The fine came because Plouffe was not registered with the city as a lobbyist when he e-mailed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's personal account. Plouffe received an immediate reply to his e-mail from Emanuel, even though the mayor was overseas at the time.

Lobbyists must disclose their activities. But the lobbying by Plouffe came to light in December as part of open-records lawsuits. In response to those suits, the mayor released hundreds of personal e-mails connected to his public position.

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