The Illinois Republican Party's latest financial disclosure report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections demands some answers from State Party Chairman Pat Brady and other party officials.
I'm not prepared to call it money laundering -- yet. However, in my legal opinion there are multiple serious issues raised by the money flows detailed below.
For now we'll just lay out the facts. All of the information below comes directly from financial disclosure reports filed with the State Board of Elections. You can review them yourself here.
A couple of quick legal points to keep in mind as you review the summary below. Under Illinois law, an individual's contributions to a "political party committee" like the Illinois Republican Party are limited to $10,000 during an election cycle. (A corporation can contribute a maximum of $20,000 and a political action committee can contribute a maximum of $50,000 in one election cycle to a political party committee.) Also, in all cases the recipient committee must report any receipt of a contribution of $1,000 or more within five business days to the State Board of Elections (called a Schedule A-1 filing). If it's within 30 days prior to an election, the committee must report the receipt within two business days.
Below are the facts. Judge for yourself whether the Illinois Republican Party under Pat Brady is seriously trying to distinguish itself from the Chicago Democrats.
Example 1:
On January 4, 2012, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee.
On January 12, 2012, the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee transfers $15,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "dinner tickets."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $15,000 transfer from the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee until March 12, 2012.
Example 2:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Douglas County Republican Central Committee.
On January 17, 2012, the Douglas County Republican Central Committee transfers $15,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "roundtable luncheon."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $15,000 transfer from the Douglas County Republican Central Committee until March 9, 2012.
Example 3:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Richland County Republican Central Committee.
On January 14, 2012, the Richland County Republican Central Committee transfers $15,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "ticket purchases."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $15,000 transfer from the Richland County Republican Central Committee until March 12, 2012.
Example 4:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Logan County Republican Central Committee.
On January 16, 2012, the Logan County Republican Central Committee transfers $5,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "ticket purchase."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $5,000 transfer from the Logan County Republican Central Committee until March 12, 2012.
Example 5:
On January 4, 2012, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 to the Palatine Township Republican Organization.
On January 23, 2012, the Palatine Township Republican Organization transfers $17,500 "contribution" to the Illinois Republican Party.
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $17,500 transfer from the Palatine Township Republican Organization until March 12, 2012.
Example 6:
On January 6, 2012, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Cook County Republican Party.
On January 24, 2012, the Cook County Republican Party transfers $17,500 to the Illinois Republican Party for "ticket purchase."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $17,500 transfer from the Cook County Republican Party until March 9, 2012.
Example 7:
On December 29, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Fayette County Republican Central Committee.
On January 12, 2012, the Fayette County Republican Central Committee contributes $5,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "fund raising."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $5,000 donation from the Fayette County Republican Central Committee until March 9, 2012.
Example 8:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the 18th Congressional District Republican Central Committee.
On January 11, 2012, the 18th Congressional District Republican Central Committee transfers a $10,000 "contribution" to the Illinois Republican Party.
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $10,000 transfer from the 18th Congressional District Republican Central Committee until March 7, 2012.
Example 9:
On December 30, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the 19th Congressional District Republican PAC.
On January 26, 2012, the 19th Congressional District Republican PAC transfers $5,000 "contribution" to the Illinois Republican Party.
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $5,000 transfer from the 19th Congressional District Republican PAC until March 7, 2012.
Example 10:
On January 4, 2012, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Federation of Illinois Young Republicans.
On January 12, 2012, the Federation of Illinois Young Republicans transfers $15,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "ticket purchase."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $15,000 transfer from the Federation of Illinois Young Republicans until March 12, 2012.
Example 11:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to H Square PAC. H Square PAC's Chairman and Treasurer is Habeeb Habeeb, who is also the Chairman and Treasurer of the Champaign County Republican Central Committee.
On January 24, 2012, H Square PAC transfers $5,000 to the Illinois Republican Party for "Rove luncheon."
The Illinois Republican Party doesn't report the $5,000 transfer from H Square PAC until March 12, 2012.
Example 12:
On December 31, 2011, Anne and Ken Griffin donate $20,000 ($10,000 each) to the Madison County Republican Central Committee.
On February 10, 2012, the Madison County Republican Central Committee transfers $15,000 to the Illinois Republican Party.
The Illinois Republican Party has never reported receiving the $15,000 transfer from the Madison County Republican Central Committee.
Deb Detmers, Chairman of the Madison County Republican Central Committee, is also one of the 19 members of the Illinois Republican Party's Central Committee. Detmers is currently employed on the federal staff of Congressman John Shimkus. Detmers testified during former Governor George Ryan's corruption trial that taxpayers paid for political work she did while on state time. Detmers was finance director for George Ryan's campaign committee in the early to mid-1990s.
Doug Ibendahl is a Chicago Attorney and a former General Counsel of the Illinois Republican Party.
This post was originally published on Republican News Watch.