* Background is here if you need it. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…

This morning, 11 members of the Illinois House Republican Caucus filed a petition to initiate a Special Investigating Committee concerning State Representative Carol Ammons.

The petition, submitted pursuant to House Rule 91, seeks to establish a Special Investigating Committee to review allegations of misconduct involving Rep. Ammons. Ammons was indicted earlier this week on multiple counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to the FBI.

The people of Illinois deserve elected officials who respect the public trust, follow the law, and are held accountable when serious allegations arise. When a sitting member of the General Assembly faces federal criminal charges, the institution has a responsibility to ensure a transparent and thorough review.

This Special Investigative Committee process is about accountability and ensuring the Illinois House fully examines the allegations involving an elected official and determine whether further action is warranted. The allegations against Rep. Ammons are serious and require a full and impartial review by the legislative body in which she serves.

The petition was signed by the following House Republican members:

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer
Rep. Amy Elik
Rep. Jason Bunting
Rep. Regan Deering
Rep. Bradley Fritts
Rep. Brad Halbrook
Rep. Nicole La Ha
Rep. Chris Miller
Rep. Kyle Moore
Rep. Tom Weber
Rep. Blaine Wilhour

The people of Illinois should never have to question whether those entrusted with public office are putting their own interests ahead of the taxpayers they serve. The Special Investigating Committee process represents an important step toward accountability and ensuring the Illinois House takes these allegations seriously.

House Republicans will continue advocating for transparency, accountability, and reforms that ensure elected officials are held responsible for their actions and that Illinois taxpayers can trust their government.

Today’s petition filing now initiates the formation of a committee with three members appointed by both Speaker Welch and Leader McCombie.

* Three signatures automatically trigger the special investigating committee. From House Rule 91…

91. Special Investigating Committee.

(a) Disciplinary proceedings may be commenced by filing with the Speaker and the Minority 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.

(b) Upon filing the petition, a special investigating committee consisting of 6 members shall be created. The Speaker shall appoint 3 members from the majority caucus and the Minority Leader shall appoint 3 members from the minority caucus. The Speaker shall appoint the Chairperson from among the 6 members. Members signing the petition may not be appointed to the special investigating committee. The contents of a petition for a special investigating committee shall be confidential until the appointment of all members except as to the member named, the members signing it, the Speaker, the Minority Leader, and the members of a special investigating committee.

And from there, the case can be sent to a Select Committee on Discipline. A resolution to expel Ammons would need an “affirmative vote of 79 members elected.”

[Isabel Miller contributed to this post.]

…Adding… Illinois Freedom Caucus…

Illinois Freedom Caucus members State Representatives Chris Miller, Blaine Wilhour, and Brad Halbrook have signed a petition pursuant to House Rule 91 to establish a Special Investigating Committee following the recent federal indictment of House Democrat Representative Carol Ammons.

House Rule 91 provides a mechanism for the Illinois House to investigate matters involving the conduct of its members. The Freedom Caucus believes the seriousness of the allegations warrants a thorough and transparent review by the House.

“The people of Illinois deserve accountability. They deserve transparency. The federal charges against Democrat Representative Carol Ammons are serious, and should be addressed openly and appropriately,” the members said. “A Special Investigating Committee is the proper venue to ensure the House fulfills its responsibility to protect the public trust. It is our hope Speaker Welch will agree, and move quickly to allow this committee to move forward and get the answers our constituents deserve.”

The petition has been signed by 11 House Republicans.

…Adding… News-Gazette…

“Public service is built on trust, and I do not take that responsibility lightly,” Carol Ammons said in a statement Friday morning. “I want to be clear: I have done nothing wrong, and I strongly disagree with the allegations outlined in this indictment. I have complete confidence that the facts will demonstrate my innocence, and I intend to vigorously defend myself through the judicial process.”

About 45 minutes after his wife released her statement, Aaron Ammons provided similar comments.

“I want to state emphatically that I am not guilty of any such offenses,” he said. “I will work with my retained attorney to mount a robust defense against the charges levied against me and I am confident that the facts will prove my innocence.”