* Press release…
Illinois State Rep. LUIS ARROYO has been charged in federal court with offering a bribe to a fellow state lawmaker in an effort to influence and reward the lawmaker for supporting legislation that would benefit Arroyo’s private lobbying client.
Arroyo, 65, of Chicago, is charged with one count of federal program bribery, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Arroyo made an initial court appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez and was ordered released on a personal recognizance bond. The next court date was not immediately set.
The complaint was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Stetler and James Durkin.
Arroyo has represented the 3rd District in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2006. He has also managed Spartacus 3 LLC, a private lobbying firm in Chicago.
According to the complaint, on Aug. 2, 2019, Arroyo offered to pay $2,500 per month to an Illinois state senator in return for the senator’s support of sweepstakes-related legislation that would benefit one of Arroyo’s lobbying clients. On Aug. 22, 2019, Arroyo met with the senator at a restaurant in Skokie and provided him a check for $2,500 as an initial payment, with the expectation that additional payments would be made for the next six to 12 months, the complaint states. The check was made payable to a nominee of the senator for the purpose of concealing the illicit payment, the complaint states.
Federal program bribery is punishable by up to ten years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
* More…
*** UPDATE 1 *** Read the full complaint by clicking here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** House Republican Leader Jim Durkin just called on Rep. Arroyo to resign by the end of the day or he would be filing paperwork to invoke House Rule 91, which reads in part…
Disciplinary proceedings may be commenced by filing with the Speaker and theMinority Leader a petition, signed by 3 or more members of the House, for a special investigating committee. The petition shall contain the alleged charge or charges that, if true, may subject the member named in the petition to disciplinary action by the House and may include any other factual information that supports the charge or charges.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the governor…
These are extremely troubling charges. Corruption, deception and self-dealing have no place in our government, and public officials who betray the public trust have forfeited the privilege of serving. While this investigation and court case continue, Rep. Luis Arroyo must immediately step down from his committee chairmanship, or be removed.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Crain’s…
City records maintained by the Board of Ethics show Arroyo lobbied aldermen on “sweepstakes” legislation on behalf of a firm, V.S.S. Inc. Arroyo and his wife, Maribel, operate Spartacus 3.
Aldermen twice considered legislation to change the city code to ban “free play option” or “sweepstakes” machines that might look like poker, bingo, craps, keno, eight-liner or other similar gaming machines, but don’t require money to play. The City Council changes came amid increased scrutiny of the machines from WBEZ, but neither measure managed to pass.
The complaint suggests Arroyo was planning to pursue legislation in this veto session regarding sweepstakes gaming.
Tribune…
State Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, has been hit with a federal charge alleging he agreed to pay a state senator $2,500 a month in bribes in exchange for the senator’s support on legislation involving video gambling sweepstakes games that would benefit one of Arroyo’s lobbying clients.
The 13-page criminal complaint, made public Monday when Arroyo appeared in U.S. District Court, revealed that the undisclosed state senator whom Arroyo allegedly agreed to pay has been cooperating with the FBI since 2016 when he was confronted with evidence that he had filed false income tax returns.
Arroyo delivered the first of the promised $2,500 checks to the senator at a restaurant in Skokie on Aug. 22 as the state senator secretly recorded the conversation, according to the complaint.
“This is, this is the jackpot,” the complaint quoted Arroyo as telling the senator.
Sun-Times…
The feds secretly also recorded some of Arroyo’s conversations over the phone as well as conversations with the state senator, according to court records.
In one secretly recorded conversation, the state senator asks Arroyo what’s in it for him if he helps sponsor Arroyo’s legislation.
Arroyo allegedly responded: “I’m a paid consultant, okay? . . . If you put a price on it, I mean, if you want to get paid, you want somebody else to get a check monthly, a monthly stipend, we could put them on a contract. You tell me what it is. Tell me what you need.”
Center Square…
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin said if Arroyo doesn’t step down by the end of the day, Durkin will file a motion via House rules to begin a special investigation that could lead to Arroyo’s removal.
Durkin said the motion would have to be approved by House Democrats, but he couldn’t say how long the process would take. Durkin said he’s been told nothing by Democratic leadership about Arroyo’s arrest.
“It’s as fast as the Democratic leadership wants it to go,” Durkin said. “I will ask that we move expeditiously and we’ll move accordingly. We can do this in the nest few months. It has to go through the rules committee and has to be approved by the Speaker.”
*** UPDATE 5 *** Stay tuned…
…Adding… Heh…
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:19 pm:
===The government is represented by…James Durkin.===
Well that explains a lot. Lol.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:19 pm:
$2,500. Funny how that figure lines up with some recent contributions…
- Blue Dog Dem - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:21 pm:
This sounds like a slam dunk case of squid pro crow.
- Steve - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:24 pm:
CW-1 is one interesting individual who got busted.
- Perrid - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
So there’s at least one more Senator waiting to be charged. Oy.
- Cadillac - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
=== - Perrid - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
So there’s at least one more Senator waiting to be charged. Oy. ====
And an informant since 2016.
Yikes.
- Ok - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:28 pm:
I will follow rules related to speculation… but I am thinking the location of the meeting gives a lot away.
- My Two Cents - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
So the feds had a State Senator dead to rights on a tax charge and let him stay in office so he could cooperate in reeling in other fish? Not sure how I feel about that…
Shouldn’t that State Senator’s name be made public and be forced to resign now?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
Wow… another senator waiting to be charged, and cooperating…
It’s… wow.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
I wonder if Arroyo was ever a real target. It sounds like he may just be an idiot who happened to try to bribe a cooperating state senator.
- Just Observing - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
No quid pro quo! Perfect meeting! /s
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
wow. another Senator. on a personal note, what is the Skokie restaurant? want to travel….
- Fav human - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
“what is the restaurant?”
You may not wish to. It seems to have lots of bugs…😆😆
- Smalls - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
I think OK was on to something with his post above. Obviously no speculation. Just 2 interesting snippets from the complaint.
“Im lookin’ for something, you know? I’m in the twilight, you know.”
And the location of the meeting - at an unnamed restaurant in Highland Park.
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:52 pm:
ooh, and a restaurant in Highland Park.
- Kermit - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
What sweepstakes? The state lottery?
- Downstate - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:55 pm:
Do the House Democrats have enough members to fill the Chairperson positions that are going to be vacated by indicted Democrats? /s/
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:56 pm:
Welp, Durkin needed something to do, I guess.
:)
- Evanstonian - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
How insane is it that we have this year of indictments after Rauner left office. His run against the GA shtick would have been fascinating in this climate.
- Token Conservative - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
==Welp, Durkin needed something to do, I guess.==
Not like any Democrats are going to grow a spine and call on him to resign.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
“What sweepstakes?”
the recent gambling expansion bill had language
about sweepstakes machines. See below from Pro -Publica
Also in the mix are an untold number of sweepstakes machines, devices similar to video slot and poker machines that have been proliferating in Chicago. The sweepstakes devices were essentially legalized in 2013, when some of the same lawmakers who shepherded the state’s latest bet on gambling expansion pushed legislation through the General Assembly to decriminalize them.
https://tinyurl.com/yxwsfyx9
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:08 pm:
=== Not like any Democrats are going to grow a spine and call on him to resign.===
So it’s partisan, not about the honor of the office or responsibility of office holders.
Thanks, lol
- The Captain - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:16 pm:
I hope that whoever CW-1 is his office was not on the ballot in 2018. If they had evidence of a crime committed by this State Senator in 2016 and kept that hidden through the 2018 election I would not be comfortable with that.
- Glengarry - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:18 pm:
Offering a bribe to a stoolie. That’s definitely got to burn.
- Labour - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
== Not like any Democrats are going to grow a spine and call on him to resign.==
Really? I’d wager that word has gone out, especially to Dem targets, and their staff to get the press releases going.
The good government types won’t even need that much.
- YourMove - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
Wow, that’s the Gov’s response. meatball.
- Just Me - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
The complaint is pretty damaging. They have audio of Arroyo discussing the bribe! OMG!
Here’s where I get confused: They used an undercover person to wash the bribe through who is mentioned as a nominee of the cooperating Senator. What appointments do rank-and-file Senators make?
- fs - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
I’m sorry but that’s an extremely weak and canned response from the Governor. He needs to resign…from his committee? No, he needs to resign from his office.
- Birdseed - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:34 pm:
The governor should just keep that Microsoft Word Template open.
- mcdouble - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
Any guesses on who the state senator is?
- Stoolie - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
The conversations were consensually recorded? Huh? Am I understanding that correctly?
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
Just Me - I think they mean nominee in the generic sense, aka a person selected by the Senator to receive the payments.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:42 pm:
Stoolie - With the consent of the Senator.
- Back to the Future - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:44 pm:
Respectfully, not sure it is a good idea to be guessing on who’s next on the list or who the witnesses are in a federal investigation.
- Birds on the Bat - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:49 pm:
Corruption, deception and self-dealing have no place in our government, and public officials who betray the public trust have forfeited the privilege of serving.
Cough, cough…toilets… cough, cough.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
Not wild about the Governor’s response here either. So if Rep Arroyo was not a committee chair, would the Governor be calling on him to just keep on keeping on until the case is disposed of?
- Wylie Coyote - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:58 pm:
For Gov. Meatball it all goes back to the toilets.
- Just Me - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 1:59 pm:
Ron Burgundy - yeah, you’re surely right. Thanks.
- Tim - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
Chicago. What a great place to be a federal prosecutor if you want a rewarding career with a high conviction rate.
- Stoolie - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
Thanks, @Ron Burgundy.
- Tim - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:12 pm:
Love to hear that Dem caucus.
Come on you’ze guys, knock it off.
- Token Conservative - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:23 pm:
==So it’s partisan, not about the honor of the office or responsibility of office holders.
Thanks, lol==
Still saying that after Gov. Pritzker’s weak arse statement?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:25 pm:
=== Still saying that…===
No, I’m saying that to your own words.
I don’t work for the Governor, he and his crew will go about it as they seem to need to, even if it “is what it is”
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:42 pm:
===Chicago. What a great place to be a federal prosecutor if you want a rewarding career with a high conviction rate.===
And lots of job security.
- Henry Francis - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:42 pm:
Cropped out of the photo (standing on Sandoval’s right) must be the omnipresent CW1. Need to keep him confidential until he delivers a few more to the feds.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:45 pm:
I wonder what Lou Lang’s thoughts are on all of this.
- CubsFan16 - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
Somewhere in Italy, a glass of wine in hand, Bruce Rauner smiles to himself.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:11 pm:
=== Somewhere in Italy, a glass of wine in hand, Bruce Rauner smiles to himself.===
After being humiliated with the largest loss of a sitting Republican Governor in 100 years, and wasting $130 million doing so?
I’d like to think Rauner, David Letterman beard and hobbled foot yelling in a cell phone his address is probably glad to save the cash and watches… sadly happy
- Smalls - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:02 pm:
It is interesting to me that many of the articles (as well as comments here) refer to the state senator as “He”. I just re-read the complaint, and saw no references to the gender of the state senator. Given that roughly one third of all state senators are female, and that the complaint only references CW-1, that is intriguing. If anyone else saw a reference to “he” in the complaint, I would be interested to know where. Maybe I just missed it.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:12 pm:
Smalls - Page 4 footnote 1 refers to “his” false income tax returns when describing CW-1.
- process of elimination - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:32 pm:
There’s only one Democratic state senator in the north suburbs who could reasonably be considered to be in his “twilight” and he just happens to have sponsored this year’s gambling expansion.
- Smalls - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:33 pm:
Thanks Ron Burgundy. Interesting. It appears they missed that one reference to “his”. They go to great lengths throughout to only refer to the state senator as CW-1. Even within that same footnote when “his” would be appropriate. Or maybe it is intentional, to drop one “his” only. Who knows.