Illinois auditor general Frank Mautino has confirmed that he’s under investigation by the U.S. attorney.
Confirmation came Thursday afternoon via an email sent by Ryan Keith, a public relations specialist hired by Mautino, after Illinois Times today reported that former campaign workers who had worked for the auditor general while he was a legislator had received federal grand jury subpoenas. Mautino had previously declined comment when asked whether he was under investigation.
“Frank is cooperating with the U.S. attorney’s office in its investigation,” Keith wrote in his email. “Because this is an ongoing matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further until it is resolved.”
Mautino was a state representative from 1991 until late last year, when he resigned to take the post of auditor general. His campaign disclosure reports show that he spent more than $200,000 at Happy’s Super Service, a Spring Valley service station, in the space of 11 years. Much of the money was paid in round figures. The expenses are described as auto repairs and gasoline in campaign disclosure reports. Mautino also reported paying tens of thousands of dollars to Spring Valley City Bank for parking, travel and other expenses that have nothing to do with banking.
In response to a complaint, the Illinois State Board of Elections this week gave Mautino until July 1 to amend campaign disclosure reports and provide further details on spending, including who received money and for what purpose. Mautino has previously declined to provide such details and attempted unsuccessfully to get the complaint dismissed on the grounds that the elections board had no jurisdiction because his campaign fund was no longer active, having been shut down when Mautino became auditor general.
Illinois Times in January reported that Mautino had solicited and received campaign contributions after being named auditor general by the General Assembly but before he was sworn in. The auditor general is not supposed to be involved in political activity. The newspaper and other media broke subsequent stories about questionable campaign spending.
The news reports prompted Republican legislators to demand explanations from Mautino in a series of three letters, the latest of which was sent on May 5 and signed by 20 GOP lawmakers. In response to the first letter, Mautino said that he had hired J. William Roberts, a prominent Springfield attorney and former U.S. attorney who’s considered an expert in criminal defense. But Mautino has refused demands to release documents showing exactly how campaign money was spent.
Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in May 19-25, 2016.
