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Cross hit with formal contribution cap complaint

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* Mike Frerichs’ campaign, through a surrogate, has filed a formal complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections alleging that Tom Cross’ state treasurer’s campaign has avoided state contribution caps by using multiple campaign committees. The violation is alleged to be at least $180,000.

For background on the allegations, click here to see a post I did late last month. To read the complaint itself, click here.

…Adding… From a press release…

Tom Cross was charged today with gross violations of Illinois campaign finance laws as detailed in a sworn complaint filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBoE). The complaint documents repeated violations of Illinois campaign finance laws by Tom Cross. The complaint alleges Cross filed false financial disclosure reports with the Illinois State Board of Elections, accepted contributions in excess of the statutory maximums, and used multiple political committees to circumvent campaign finance laws. Specifically, the complaint alleges that:

· Cross failed to report nearly 200 contributions totaling $180,000 as required by law that were made to his campaign for State Treasurer as in-kind expenditures;
· Tom Cross personally headed the political action committee, Cross for Treasurer, that filed false financial reports with state regulators;
· Tom Cross accepted over $180,000 in contributions that grossly exceeded the cap of $52,600 by a political action committee;
· Tom Cross controlled, either directly or indirectly, seven different political funds that were used to evade the $5,300 cap on individual contributions on at least two occasions.

The complaint asks SBoE to fine Cross for: accepting contributions in excess of statutory maximums; failing to disclose these contributions in quarterly reports; and failing to report each contribution over $1000 out of the $180,000. The Frerichs campaign estimates that Tom Cross failed to report approximately 40 individual contributions in excess of $1000.

In addition, the complaint asks SBoE to conduct a full audit of each of the seven committees under Tom Cross’s control. The complaint was filed today in SBoE’s Chicago office after serving official notice on Tom Cross and on his campaign. SBoE will likely hear the matter at its next board meeting, October 21st.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:31 am

Comments

I like Cross.

Was ready to blow this off as bad accounting and reporting. They’ll submit amended forms, if they haven’t already, and pay an administrative fine.

But wait? Doesn’t accurate accounting and reporting have something to do with the Treasurer’s job?

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:49 am
After reading this over briefly it looks legitimate, and seems like a valid argument.

I wonder if the Frerichs campaign finally woke up in October and said: “Time to get to work.”

I wonder how this plays out or if there is any past precedents with the election less than an month away. Can anybody help with this?

Comment by Almost the Weekend Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 10:51 am
@almost weekend: the state board will consider the complaint at their next meeting on 10/21. These surly are some serious allegations of misconduct, not just accounting errors. Appears Cross was using two different committees to pay for his expenses to run for treasurer in order to get around donation limits. It’ll be interesting to see how Cross justifies paying his campaign manager from his Cross for State Rep account. Not sure how they thought they’d get away with that.

Comment by Law Dude Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 11:02 am
Looks really bad for Cross. Not having a good home stretch so far…looks like Frerichs saved his ammunition for when it actually matters and let Cross have his day when no one cared…typical Cross taking pot shots instead of running an actual campaign. Will be glad when he loses and he’s finally done.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 11:07 am
Rich: Boy, the trouble you cause with reporting the truth!

This might get serious. Could it slop over into causing problems for current House campaign funds?

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 11:25 am
This might end Cross now that I look at this closer…this is really not good.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 11:27 am
Really strange that Cross would stumble here. He isn’t a first time office seeker.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 11:29 am
Frerichs has had a good week it seems. Now let’s see if his campaign can close the deal and really capitalize on this with some effective TV ads. Time to spend that war chest.

Comment by Down Here Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 12:53 pm
Oh Tom, did 20 years of being a Springfield insider make you think you were above the law like your self-described friend Rod Blagojevich?

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:16 pm
Down Here, you’d spend a war chest on *this*? Really? Even if BOE validates the complaint, is Frerich going to be the one who suddenly figure out how to make campaign finance reform a sexy headliner? Nah…

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:32 pm
Anon:

Campaign finance violations may resonate a wee bit different when the office you are seeking is Treasurer.

Your point is well taken though. It ain’t as easy as it sounds at first blush.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:58 pm