Illinois auditor general Frank Mautino has retained J. William Roberts, former Sangamon County state’s attorney and former U.S. attorney for central Illinois, to assist him in responding to questions about his campaign spending while a member of the state House of Representatives.
Questions include a probe by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which yesterday held a hearing in Chicago regarding campaign spending by Mautino, who left the state House of Representatives late last year to become auditor general. Mautino’s campaign disclosure reports show that he paid more than $200,000 to a Spring Valley service station in less than 11 years, with many of the payments coming in round figures (“Auditor General Spent Six Figures At Gas Station,” Jan. 22, 2016).
Mautino also reported paying six figures to a Spring Valley bank, saying in disclosure reports that the money was for parking, gasoline, poll watchers and other expenses that had nothing to do with banking (“Money For Nothing,” Jan. 25, 2016). His campaign treasurer during the past two years received nearly $24,000 for “meeting expenses” between 2013 and late 2015, when Mautino left the legislature (“Election Board Probes Mautino,” Feb. 25, 2016).
The hearing Tuesday before a hearings examiner was held to determine whether further inquiry is needed or whether the matter should be closed. It was not open to the public.
Neither Roberts nor Mautino could be reached for immediate comment. Ryan Keith, a public relations specialist Mautino has retained to field questions, said that neither Mautino nor Roberts went to the Tuesday hearing, although an attorney in Roberts’ firm attended.
Roberts’ background is both in politics and criminal law. Besides being a prosecutor, he was also general counsel in the governor’s office under former Gov. Jim Edgar. Roberts also represented Republicans in the House during impeachment proceedings against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009.
Asked if there is a criminal investigation into Mautino’s campaign spending, Keith replied, “Let me check on that. Not that I’m aware of. Let me check.”
Mautino, who was a state representative for 25 years, has not responded to interview requests. A dozen Republicans in the House on Feb. 1 sent a letter to Mautino, asking him to answer questions about his campaign spending that have been raised in stories published by Illinois Times and other media. In a response letter sent last week, Mautino said that he’s not ready to talk.
“Considering the scope of your request, and the seriousness with which we take your request, we have been working expeditiously and will continue to do so during the next few weeks in order to respond to your letter,” Mautino wrote in the letter addressed to Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville. “Please be assured that I am working diligently to respond and to clear up this matter as quickly as possible.”
Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.
