List of Illinois political scandals

History of political scandals in Illinois

The following is a list of political scandals which occurred in the U.S. state of Illinois, organized in reverse chronological order.

## State of Illinois[edit]

* Thomas Cullerton (D) State Senator from Villa Park in the 23rd District, was accused of embezzling money from Labor Union 734 while holding a no-work position there, and then making false statements about it. In February 2022 he abruptly pled guilty and resigned his position in the Illinois Senate. (2019)[1][2]

* Martin A. Sandoval (D) State Senator from the 11th District, was accused of accepting bribes largely from Safe Speed, LLC, a red light camera company, and filing fake tax returns. He was found guilty of accepting bribes of $250,000 and tax evasion. He died of Covid before sentencing. (2020)[3][4]

* Luis Arroyo (politician) (D) State Representative from the 23rd District was accused of offering a fellow lawmaker a bribe to vote in favor of legalizing sweepstakes machines. When an investigative committee was formed, Arroyo abruptly resigned. (2019)[5][6]

* Nick Sauer (R) State Representative from the 51st District, was accused by his ex-girlfriend of posting revenge porn pictures of her online. Top GOP leaders urged him to resign, which he did. (2018)[7]

* Kevin Quinn (D) Aide to State Representative Mike Madigan (D) was accused of sexual harassment and making unwanted advances. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and then fired. (2018)[8]

* Terry Link (D) State Senator from Waukegan in the 36TH District, was convicted of underreporting his income andtax evasion. (2016)[9]

* Ron Sandack (R) State Representative from Downers Grove in the 81st District, was accused of inappropriate online conversations, Sandack admitted he had been caught in an extortion scam, which threatened to release sexually explicit videos. Rather than make more payments, he resigned. (2016)[10]

* Constance A. Howard (D) State Representative from the 34th District, was convicted of mail fraud for stealing $28,000 from a charity event and using it for personal use and funding her campaign. She was sentenced to three months in prison and two years probation. (2013)[11]

* Keith Farnham (D) State Representative from District 43, pled guilty to a federal charge of transporting child pornography on computers. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison. (2014)[12]

* Derrick Smith (politician) (D) State Representative of Chicago in the 10th District, was accused by the FBI of accepting a $7,000 bribe to support a day care center. He was expelled from the House, but since he was on the election ballot at the time and had won, he was immediately re-instated. He was then tried in court again and found guilty of bribery and extortion. He was sentenced to five months in prison with community service and fined. (2011}[13][14]

* Ron Stephens (Illinois politician) (R) State Representative from Greenville in the 102nd District, was arrested for DUI. He was found guilty, and since he had previous arrests for drug abuse, he was given 12 months of supervision, his license was revoked and he was required to take monthly drug tests. He then resigned his seat. (2010)[15]

* Rod Blagojevich (D) Governor was charged in a so-called "Pay to Play" scheme, which included the alleged sale of President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat which he described in a wire tap as "f*****g golden" which he wanted to exchange for a bribe of $1.5 million. He was impeached and removed from office. He was then convicted of corruption and sentenced to fourteen years in prison. (2009)[16][17]

## See also:[edit]

* List of federal political scandals in the United States
* List of federal political sex scandals in the United States

* List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes

## References[edit]

1. ^ Jason Meisner (February 23, 2022). "State Sen. Thomas Cullerton resigns, will plead guilty in federal ghost payroll case". chicagotribune.com.
2. ^ Paris Schutz (August 2, 2019). "Feds Indict Illinois Sen. Tom Cullerton". wttw.com.
3. ^ JASON MEISNER (April 2, 2020). "Guilty plea lays bare ex-state Sen. Martin Sandoval's greed in red-light camera bribery scheme. 'So why don't I get that offer?'". chicagotribune.com.
4. ^ DAVE MCKINNEY (January 28, 2020). "Former Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval Pleads Guilty To Bribery, Tax Evasion". npr.org.
5. ^ JASON MEISNER (October 29, 2019). "Feds allege state Rep. Luis Arroyo caught on undercover recording paying $2,500 bribe. 'This is the jackpot.'". chicagotribune.com.
6. ^ Matt Masterson (May 25, 2022). "Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Gets Nearly 5 Years in Prison For Sweepstakes Bribery Scheme". wttw.com.
7. ^ "Illinois lawmaker Nick Sauer quits amid revenge porn allegations". cbsnews.com. August 2, 2018.
8. ^ "Speaker Madigan Fires Longtime Aide Kevin Quinn Amid Sexual Harassment Claims". chicago.cbslocal.com. February 12, 2018.
9. ^ JASON MEISNER (September 16, 2020). "Former state Sen. Terry Link pleads guilty to tax evasion charge in federal court". chicagotribune.com.
10. ^ "ILLINOIS LAWMAKER RESIGNED AFTER "SEXUALLY GRAPHIC" VIDEO OF HIMSELF SENT TO OTHERS". x95radio.com. September 23, 2016.
11. ^ Norman Parish (December 17, 2015). "Ex-State Rep. Connie Howard Gets 3 Month Prison Sentence". citizennewspapergroup.com.
12. ^ Phil Rogers (December 8, 2014). "Former State Rep. Keith Farnham Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges". nbcchicago.com.
13. ^ "Illinois Representative Derrick Smith convicted of bribery". wandtv.com. June 10, 2014.
14. ^ "Former IL Rep. Derrick Smith sentenced to 5 months in prison for taking $7K bribe". abc7chicago.com. April 23, 2015.
15. ^ KEVIN McDERMOTT (May 12, 2010). "Ron Stephens pleads guilty to dui". stltoday.com.
16. ^ Ray Long (January 30, 2009). "Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office". chicagotribune.com.
17. ^ Northern Illinois District, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice (December 7, 2011). "Former Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Corruption in Office". archives.fbi.gov.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)