* Sue Rezin campaign Press release…
Perennial candidate Jim Oberweis was caught red-handed in an illegal scheme breaking federal campaign finance law to illegally funnel “soft” money from his state campaign account to his federal campaign for Congress.
Simply stated, this was a campaign money laundering scheme to violate federal campaign finance laws.
Federal campaigns for Congress and U.S. Senate are much more restricted than Illinois state campaigns in terms of the contributions they may receive and the sources from which they may receive them. Federal law not only prohibits the corporate contributions permitted under Illinois law, but also places limits significantly lower than Illinois’ on contributions from individuals and political committees. Because of these inconsistencies, federal law generally prohibits a candidate’s use of state campaign funds for his or her federal campaign.
Numerous Republican candidates have told Sue Rezin for months that Jim Oberweis called them and asked for a contribution from them to his campaign for Congress in exchange for a contribution from him of greater value (almost always double the amount) to their respective campaign committees. This was Oberweis’ way of using funds in his state campaign account for his federal campaign —and it is illegal. It would still be illegal if he wasn’t offering contributions of “greater value” than those he was soliciting for his campaign for Congress, but the “greater value” offers demonstrate the lengths he is going to illegally convert “soft” state campaign funds into “hard” federal campaign funds.
This has gone on for many months. None of the state and local candidates knew this was illegal and were a bit puzzled as to why Oberweis wanted to do this. But none were willing to go on record about Oberweis’ request. They didn’t want to make waves.
Until, at the beginning of February, Jim Oberweis had an agent of his campaign, Keith Becker, contact LaSalle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly via Facebook message saying: “State Senator Jim Oberweis said he would make a reciprocal donation of greater value for a donation to his campaign.” Becker then followed up with an email to State’s Attorney Donnelly with Jim Oberweis’ personal cell phone number letting her know that Oberweis was expecting her call.
No part of LaSalle County falls within either the 14th Congressional District or Oberweis’ state senate district, but Oberweis’ scheme was spreading to any Republican willing to accept a larger donation from Oberweis’ state campaign in exchange for a smaller contribution to his congressional campaign.
Donnelly proceeded to call Oberweis, who personally reiterated the offer. He then sent Donnelly a contribution check from his state campaign fund, which she still has. She then contacted the Rezin campaign about the incident and signed a sworn affidavit attesting to what exactly had transpired. The Rezin campaign has submitted that affidavit as Exhibit I in its complaint today to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).
Jim Oberweis has been caught red-handed, exposed by an affidavit from the LaSalle County State’s Attorney herself. Yes, Jim Oberweis actually solicited a State’s Attorney in his illegal scheme.
* Evidence from the campaign…
The full FEC complaint and the affidavit are here. Rezin has filed two additional FEC complaints against Oberweis, which you can read more about by clicking here.
I’ve checked in with the Oberweis campaign and I’ll let you know if they respond.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From January 15…
House GOP hopeful Jim Oberweis loaned his campaign $1 million, according to a Federal Election Commission report posted Wednesday
But he paid himself back $500,000 on the same day.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Oberweis campaign (updated with latest draft)…
In a desperate last-minute effort to try to gain some traction on her failing campaign, Sue Rezin’s campaign has resorted to dirty smear tactics in her attacks against Jim Oberweis. These allegations are simply not true.
The truth is Jim Oberweis has donated to Republican candidates for his entire adult life. He has put in over five hundred thousand dollars of his own money to beat Lauren Underwood, and he is the only Republican with the resources to do so. The campaign has followed, and will continue to follow, both the letter and spirit of the Federal Campaign Contribution and Disclosure laws.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:14 am:
Ouch. When milk goes bad.
- Lord of the Fries - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:15 am:
What is with Rezin’s campaign and the tomes they put out for press releases. This is good stuff but tighten it up.
- Steve - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:17 am:
Jim continues his long legacy of not being a good candidate for office .
- Sheila - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:19 am:
Fried ice cream.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:20 am:
Make this into a coherent :30 or :60 second ad, then it has some juice, talking *only* and specifically to the politics.
Legally, we’ll see if the “wheels of justice” will make earned media hay for Rezin.
The release?
Words, words, words… but it’s a great deal to digest and explain and if it can be explained one time, then it’s worth this wordy release.
Politically, will this be the damaging thing that legally it might be?
Too early. We’ll see.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:23 am:
I understand the complaint.
I am not confident that what has been uncovered is illegal.
Rod Blagojevich performed just such a swap out in the wide open when he ran for governor, only in reverse.
As I recall, he traded his federal “hard dollars” to the DCCC for soft money, and I believe the exchange rate was closer to 7-to-1 if I remember correctly.
Perhaps the law has changed in the last 20 years?
- Say What? - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:23 am:
Obi-Wan Oberweis . . . . .the Force is not with you . . ..
- Can - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:26 am:
The Milk Dud solicited a state’s attorney in an illegal scheme? That’s even more Milk Duddy than his usual level of Milk Duddedness.
- MarineKevin - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:29 am:
This just makes Rezin seem desperate and willing to do anything to get rid of Oberweis. Let the complaints speak for themselves - no need for her to get involved. Just let Oberweis sink his own ship, as he has repeatedly done as a “perennial candidate” in her own words.
- Victor Kingston - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:32 am:
Ignoring the press release; this is a significant violation. This isn’t forgetting to put a “paid for” on a mailer or ad. This is an actual scheme. There was a plan to get around campaign finance law and then the execution of that plan.
The unmitigated gall of Oberweis will never cease to amaze.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:36 am:
===I am not confident that what has been uncovered is illegal===
Read the complaint.
Also, stop talking about the overly long press release and focus on the topic, please.
- D - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:37 am:
The Milk Man strikes again. Hopefully this will help sink his campaign. Otherwise the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will have a field day with this.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:43 am:
-Let the complaints speak for themselves - no need for her to get involved.-
The primary is in 12 days. The complaints won’t be resolved until way too late. Her amplifying the complaints is fair game and frankly it would be political malpractice if she didn’t.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:47 am:
=== The complaints won’t be resolved until way too late. Her amplifying the complaints is fair game and frankly it would be political malpractice if she didn’t.===
This is the correct answer.
It’s not just about March 17th.
It’s about March 18th, the legality, the way this will be used politically, and how much strong campaigning can be done fending off a very real legal issue that, at the least will dog Oberweis, but could be a legal issue far more worrisome then losing a seventh… seventh campaign.
- 19th Ward Guy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:56 am:
Yes its illegal and the Oberweiss has drawn a huge number of otherwise decent Republicans into his stupid scam. Campaign finance rules 101 stuff. This is disqualifying and Schneider needs to immediately call for him to drop out. Conspiracy/money laundering etc.
- Shiela - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 9:58 am:
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/03/05/il-14-jim-oberweis-files-pre-primary-report-with-fec/
Oberweis filed his pre-primary FEC report today and it shows he paid himself back $500,000 on January 15th, which is the day he filed his FEC report showing the loan. Not going to have a million dollars. It was all for show.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:02 am:
Can we just be done with Oberweis? Can voters ask him (again) to just go home?
- efudd - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:16 am:
Serious question.
Is this something he did intentionally, or is he, or his campaign that incompetent?
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:23 am:
Why can’t Jim Oberweis just use his own money to fund his campaign for federal office like normal vainglorious rich guys?
What a cheapskate.
- Token Conservative - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:26 am:
==Why can’t Jim Oberweis just use his own money to fund his campaign for federal office like normal vainglorious rich guys?
What a cheapskate.==
Laughed. Upvote.
- Frank talks - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:44 am:
So how many GOP electeds took the deal and didn’t complain? Seems they are probably in a bit of a pickle as well?
- anon - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 10:44 am:
Reading the complaint makes it less compelling of a case. The issue seems to be only whether Oberweis’ campaign had appropriate accounting to show that the disbursed funds were “federally permissible.” The complaint says that Rezin hasn’t seen the accounting, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 11:01 am:
Maybe Illinois should adopt the federal fund raising law
- sewer thoughts - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 11:05 am:
I thought quid pro quo was a GOP go, no?
- SAP - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 11:25 am:
==Is this something he did intentionally, or is he, or his campaign that incompetent?==
Both
- PublicServant - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 11:29 am:
Not the ice cream man. No.
- Shiela - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 11:48 am:
If it was legal Oberweis would have directly turned over funds from his state campaign fund to his federal campaign fund for Congress. Instead Oberweis used a circuitous route of giving twice as much to other candidates from his state campaign fund, in exchange for them giving to his campaign for Congress. Wouldn’t have been necessary to lose half his money if he could have legally used his state funds for this race for Congress. Guilty as charged.
- DuPage - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
Oberweis: Et tu, Donnelly?
- Fav human - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
October surprise, primary version.
And she got it out in enough time to have materially impact the results possibly.
Interestingly enough the gradel aligned committee just sent out a flyer whacking oberweis and rezin. First time he’s included her.
- Techie - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 12:45 pm:
Never been an Oberweis fan, so I’ll shed no tears here. Seems like it was probably illegal - as others have said, why else would he give double what he takes and why else would he not just move the money from one campaign’s account to the other campaign’s account?
Nevertheless, can any legal experts cite the relevant law to prove it’s illegal?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 12:50 pm:
===legal experts cite the relevant law===
Read the complaint.
- 19th Ward Guy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 12:54 pm:
18 USC 371 Conspiracy to defraud US. In this case campaign finance laws
18 USC 1956 & 1957. Money Laundering- disguising source if illicitly obtained funds
That’s the criminal side.
- Anon - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:26 pm:
19th Ward Guy - note that this is only an issue if the campaign laws were violated and those laws were not violated (per the complaint) if “he demonstrated, through a reasonable accounting method, that the funds fell within federal limits and source prohibitions.” The complaint alleges there is no evidence of such accounting - but I’m uncertain why Rezin would know one way or the other.
- 19th Ward Guy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:32 pm:
You don’t engage in the mechanics if your intent is to comply with the FEC laws. You engage in the scheme to evade the laws. A conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to do an unlawful act. Obvious what the intent was here. Read the criminal case on this. Slam dunk
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:59 pm:
To the response: -These allegations are simply not true.-
OK a general denial.
-The truth is Jim Oberweis has donated to Republican candidates for more than a decade.-
May be true but not particularly relevant to the issue at hand.
-He has put in a million dollars of his own money to beat Lauren Underwood,-
Literally half true as demonstrated in this very post.
Any time they want to address the particulars and why they were offering other GOP officials bonuses to donate back that would be great.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:04 pm:
It appears Oberweis is more concerned about the timing then the allegations?
===… states she has heard about the false accusations against the Oberweis campaign for months and yet she waits until 12 days before the election to do anything? This is nothing more than political grandstanding.===
So if the allegations were done weeks ago Oberweis would respond?
Huh?
- LoyalVirus - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:14 pm:
I don’t understand why the LaSalle Co SA took the issue to Rezin’s campaign. Why not an SA for a county that’s part of the 14th district? Seems odd
- Rich Hill - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
Creamed.
- 19th Ward Guy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 3:16 pm:
Because she’s an officer of the court and a sworn member of law enforcement.
- Michael Westen - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 4:40 pm:
“Because she’s an officer of the court and a sworn member of law enforcement.”
…and so that means she HAD to go to the Rezin campaign, as opposed to the FEC or US Attorney?
- flea - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 5:37 pm:
Who did he learn that practice from?
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 6:28 pm:
==I don’t understand why the LaSalle Co SA took the issue to Rezin’s campaign. Why not an SA for a county that’s part of the 14th district? Seems odd ==
Background: Donnelly is a first term States Atty with a track record that is not great; she has filed some high profile cases that were both expensive and unsuccessful. She may see this as a way to improve her reputation while helping a popular local State Senator whose support would be very helpful.
- Jon Zahm - Friday, Mar 6, 20 @ 1:40 am:
I see the quid here. But where’s the quo?
Did Donnelly ever donate to Oberweis?
Has anyone in this race received Federal donations from a state committee and then given that state committee an equal or greater amount of money back? Where are the examples, if any?
I think money laundering is a strong word for this.
The FEC will take months to sort this out so bringing it up this late produces the cloud, but the rain, if any, is a long way away
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 6, 20 @ 7:19 am:
=== Has anyone in this race received Federal donations from a state committee and then given that state committee an equal or greater amount of money back? Where are the examples, if any?===
That’s deflecting from what is being accused is evident here, looking at “others” instead of the accusations. Got it. Thanks.
=== The FEC will take months to sort this out so bringing it up this late produces the cloud, but the rain, if any, is a long way away===
So you’re admitting Oberweis is damaged goods and it will hurt for months and months. How would any party want such a damaged nominee?