“A Kiss — and Political Blackmail”: Married Illinois Official Leaks Scandalous Video of Her Kiss With Mayor

A married Illinois politician decided not to wait for her political opponents to use compromising footage against her — and instead released the video herself, showing her kissing a powerful local mayor.

Elise Hoffenberg, 51, who is running as a Democrat for Cook County commissioner, published the footage “in the interest of transparency.” She claims her opponents were attempting to use the video as leverage and threatened to release it unless she dropped out of the race.

The surveillance footage, first published by the Chicago Tribune, shows Hoffenberg and Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, 70, talking before the politician suddenly kisses the mayor on the lips. She then leans back and smiles as the pair continue their conversation before eventually walking out of frame.

Hoffenberg, however, strongly denies that the incident had any romantic implications.

According to Hoffenberg, it was merely a “playful, friendly and non-romantic moment between colleagues.” She said she immediately told Landek after the kiss that his behavior was “inappropriate and unprofessional.” Hoffenberg said the mayor apologized to her.

The married politician, who is married to 51-year-old attorney Jeff Hoffenberg, has meanwhile lashed out at her political rivals, accusing them of attempting to blackmail her.

“My political opponents tried to blackmail me over this video, saying they would stop threatening to release it if I withdrew from the race,” she told the Daily Mail.

Hoffenberg said she would not allow her opponents to intimidate her.

“I am confident that our community will find this old-fashioned political bullying tactic disgusting. I will not be intimidated,” she declared.

Despite the scandal, Hoffenberg said she has no intention of abandoning her campaign.