* Um…

Some lobbyists are still cozying up to Luis Arroyo. The state Board of Elections reports five lobbying organizations donated to the former state rep’s political account two days after he was charged with bribery and accused of offering kickbacks to an unnamed state senator in exchange for favorable gaming legislation.

SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana PAC and Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois each gave $1,500 to Arroyo. American Council of Engineering Companies, Sprinkler Fitters Local 281 and Electric Contractors Association each gave $1,000.

The contributions came in before Arroyo ultimately resigned from the General Assembly last Friday, but it should come as no surprises that lobbyists would be undeterred by a federal investigation. It was nearly a year ago that Ald. Ed Burke’s offices were raided by the feds — and just days later hundreds of folks turned out for his annual holiday fundraiser.

Keep in mind that Illinois law requires disclosure after campaign checks are deposited in the bank. So, you cannot discern when the checks were written by looking at the candidates’ disclosure reports.

I reached out to three of the contributors listed above this morning.

* The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois sent me its canceled check. The check was written on September 20th for an event Arroyo held on September 12th which was co-hosted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Speaker Madigan. An ABDI official said the association mailed the check the same day…

As you can see, the check was deposited on October 31 or November 1 (it’s difficult to tell), a couple/tree days after we found out Arroyo had been arrested. This sort of thing happens literally all the time (late deposits, that is, not arrests). Campaign committees often only deposit checks once or twice a month, particularly in the off-season. And some committees (I doubt Arroyo did this) have attorneys vet their checks to make sure they’re not taking money from someone they shouldn’t be.

* The American Council of Engineering Companies said their check was dated September 9th and mailed the same day. An association official said the check was cashed on November 1. Here’s their canceled check…

SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana claims its check was cut on July 29th and mailed on Oct. 9th. Again, Arroyo’s arrest was first reported on October 28th.

Also, a search of the state’s registered lobbyist database came up empty on both the Sprinkler Fitters Local 281 and the Electric Contractors Association.

       

19 Comments - Reality Check - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 10:59 am: The sheer number of simple mistakes in that column daily is a gross disservice to readership. This is too high-profile a forum for its author to learn on the job, but it is not getting better with time, either. - Hermosa - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:07 am: Yeah… read Politico this morning and was blown away by how irresponsible the reporting was. Frankly, this happens almost everyday with this newsletter. How dare she drag organizations through the mud without understanding the process and… the facts. - Yikes - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:11 am: I wonder how many apologies she has to make every day - Say what? - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:14 am: So irresponsible and without any integrity. Everyday I keep expecting they will have to start an afternoon edition to correct all of the errors from the morning. - USPS - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:17 am: This story seems like a cheap shot given that checks were dated and mailed prior to the arrest. - Moe Berg - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:18 am: You get what you pay for with the free Politico. In this case you get glib libel. - Anon1 - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:22 am: I’ve noticed that they tend to report any sort of spin — from a politician, from a think tank or advocate group — with zero critical analysis as if it’s fact. Embarrassing really. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:22 am: Meh. It was the editing. See, if you edit all the pertinent facts and understanding nuance, it leaves no room for innuendo and suspicion. I’m sure all these missing facts were in the story, just got “edited” by someone - JoeMaddon - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:24 am: Shia’s gonna’ Shia. - Nonsense - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:26 am: That newsletter has become a joke but a great place to go if you want to get dirt on your opponent published. - Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:26 am: Another reminder that Shia Kapos understands very little about Springfield. - Bud's Bar Stool - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:36 am: This warrants an unequivocal retraction. A “correction” or weaselly “clarification” just isn’t going to cut it. She clearly is ignorant of Illinois government and its customs and protocols. But the much bigger problem in my view is her repeated failure to challenge her own assumptions and ask the questions necessary to get the story right. She is not a hard news reporter – nor is she evolving into one. - Moe Berg - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:43 am: Perhaps a career as a gossip/society columnist isn’t the best preparation for this type of endeavor. - West Side the Best Side - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:44 am: And further down in today’s Politico, a story mentioning the BGA going through the garbage of the late Cook County Board President George “Dunn.” Guess the author doesn’t golf at George Dunne National. - Nagidam - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:48 am: ===She clearly is ignorant of Illinois government and its customs and protocols.=== She is clearly ignorant of the law…period. If she knew the law as an “investigative” reporter, and I say that loosely, she would have asked the questions as to when these were sent. Checks a $1,000 or higher need to be reported within a certain time frame from deposit, not received. - Who else - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 11:59 am: Why verify or fact check when it’s so much easier to print directly from the sources’ mouth? Maybe that’s the key to keeping gossip coming your way– just print it, no questions asked. - DIstant watcher - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 1:06 pm: Thank you for clarifying this. So few people know how to read D2’s… - R A T - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 1:54 pm: I like these stories sprinkled with a little humor as you need to laugh sometimes. This sort of thing happens literally all the time (late deposits, that is, not arrests). - Just Me - Wednesday, Nov 6, 19 @ 10:36 pm: Irresponsible journalism for sure. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.