* Sun-Times…
Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill. is donating $10,000 former House Speaker Dennis Hastert R-Ill. contributed to his 2010 Senate fund to a Waukegan charity. […]
Hastert sent the $10,000 to Kirk through his political action fund, “Keep Our Mission PAC.” Kirk’s Senate campaign fund will send the money to Family First.
The DSCC turned up the heat on Kirk and two other senators who took Hastert contributions, Sen. John Boozeman R-Ar. and Sen. Roy Blunt R-Mo. and were aiming to play hardball over the Hastert donation.
“Mark Kirk should return or donate Denny Hastert’s money immediately,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC National Press Secretary in a statement. “Kirk has taken $10,000 from Denny Hastert who is just the latest Republican Speaker of the House to face serious charges about corruption and misconduct, and until Kirk returns the funds he is giving his tacit approval to these bad actions.”
* That action has prompted the DCCC to demand that GOP Congressman Rodney Davis jettison his Hastert money…
“After refusing to donate money from Aaron Schock’s shady coffers, as well as refusing to cooperate with ongoing ethics investigations, with Hastert’s contributions Congressman Davis now is the recipient of funds from two disgraced former members of the House Republican caucus,” said DCCC spokeswoman Sacha Haworth. “How long will it take for Rodney Davis to come out of the Washington shadows and return these dirty donations?”
Davis received a mere $2,000, but that money could make more problems than it’s worth for him.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
Send it to Hillary!
She’s Teflon coated on those issues!
- Sir Reel - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
I thought it was called Keep Our Secret PAC.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:44 pm:
Dump the cash, be done with it.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
$2,000 will buy enough walk cards to cover Decatur or enough Tootsie Rolls for the State Fair Twilight and Edwardsville Homecoming Parades.
It will also buy enough heartburn to send the candidate and senior staff to the ER.
Dump the cash. Cold call a potential donor who has never given anything. Make your case and try to recoup the cash. Or buy Rootsie Tolls instead.
- A guy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
Send it to Individual A. Since it’s less than $10K, it shouldn’t get flagged.
Hope the DCCC is as vigilant in their own living room.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
Like Harry Truman said, if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.
Speaker Earmark probably had the most friends in DC, ever, at one point.
I understand the anonymously leaked accusations against Hastert are unspeakable, but the formal charges against him are not.
I hate to be “that guy” who goes all truth, justice and the American Way, but is it possible to muster up a wee dram of a presumption of innocence until there is actually any evidence whatsoever to the child abuse rumors — and that’s what they are at this point, rumors, until someone puts their name to them.
If that evidence is ever forthcoming and can be evaluated in some manner, there will be plenty of time to push him into the abyss of history.
- Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:00 pm:
Both parties go tit-for-tat on this stuff, and it’s ridiculous. After every breathless, shrill press release, not a single independent voter cares.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
Word - amen. The press and “advocates” need to stop the immediate judgment against an accused party or group. It is unbecoming of us as a society and is antithetical to our Constitution.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:08 pm:
A news conference about donating the money to charity is worth more than $2,000, that’s not even taking into account the cost of bad publicity (which could get really bad depending on the news that comes out).
- AmericanPie - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
I think the DNCC is making a mistake. Better not to have called Davis out, hope he holds on to the money, make it an issue closer to the election: “he’s had a year to give it back, and he hasn’t”
- Peoria Guy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
Silly grandstanding
- Dan S - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
What happened to innocent until proven guilty is a court of law?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:28 pm:
He could donate it to my PAC: “Stash the Cash for Mrs. Calabash.”
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:38 pm:
@- Dan S - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
“What happened to innocent until proven guilty is a court of law?”
Nothing happened to it. Note it doesn’t say ‘innocent until proven guilty in the court of public opinion’.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
Pie & Dan S - I think this is a case of the dreaded “bored on a Thursday” disorder.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:46 pm:
==- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:38 pm:==
I wonder how many defendants Dan S extends this privilege to in terms of his opinion?
- Deep Yogurt - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
$10,000? On the nose? Are you kidding?
- Qui Tam - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
“Davis received a mere $2,000, but that money could make more problems than it’s worth for him.”
Apparently he’s still wrestling with the idea.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:17 pm:
===$10,000? On the nose? Are you kidding?===
I thought the same thing. I hope he jettisons it in the form of a check or money order…
- zonz - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:40 pm:
Sir,
I think “Wrestling Is Great PAC”
_______________________________
- Sir Reel - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
I thought it was called Keep Our Secret PAC.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:11 pm:
On the topic of federales trouble, it’s being reported that about 20 FBI agents have raided Schock’s former campaign office in Peoria.
Woof, 20? That seems excessive.
Somebody must have dropped a bombshell on the Grand Jury. It’s pretty late in the game for a fishing expedition.
You can bet they’re looking for something in particular. It better be where it’s supposed to be.
I hope no one with access to the office tried to be a hero and had a shredding party or pulled hard drives. Obstruction of justice is a world of hurt.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:51 pm:
Word, I read 12, but that’s more than enough to ruin someone’s afternoon. Looks like they’re interested in more than a few padded travel vouchers.
- Amalia - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 6:42 am:
after the reveals this am, if it is Hastert money, get rid of it. every cent.
- spfldadm - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 8:16 am:
I know Davis, he is so egotistical. He probably won’t give it up.
- State House Hangaround - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 8:29 am:
This isn’t something that the average voter particularly cares about(despite posturing from the GOP and the Democrats), but Congressman Davis should give up the 2 grand just to avoid the headache. Either give it up now and save some face or give it up October of 2016 when a Democratic opponent brings it up. That isn’t a good look.
And spfldadm-I don’t think we know the same Rodney Davis.
- Gordy - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
There are plenty of Kendall and Kane County republicans, who took money form Hastert. Will we see the same from them?
- Gordy - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
And I am not just taking about federal officials or “wannabees”