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* I asked Sen. Link earlier today if he was the unidentifed Senator in the Arroyo complaint and he said he wasn’t. But both the Sun-Times and the Tribune say he is. Tribune…
JUST IN: The Tribune has confirmed that longtime state Sen. Terry Link of Vernon Hills wore a wire on Rep. Luis Arroyo in hopes of leniency for income tax fraud. Link denied it when asked earlier today. “Anybody can tell you anything,” he said.
https://t.co/r1phBgkyEX pic.twitter.com/VXE8gC44Rs— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) October 28, 2019
Link, who is an assistant majority leader in the Senate, is not named in the criminal complaint, but referred to as a cooperating witness or CW-1.
Link started cooperating with the feds in 2016 but was initially closed as a source on Nov. 3, 2016, after he allegedly submitted false income tax returns, the complaint states. Link expects to be charged in relation to his taxes, according to the feds, and is working with them now in hopes of getting a break on any sentence he may receive.
In one secretly recorded conversation, Link asks Arroyo what’s in it for him if he helps sponsor Arroyo’s legislation.
The first Arroyo sitdown was in Highland Park. The Senator said he was in the “twilight” of his career. And it was a gaming issue. Again, he denies it. Keep that in mind.
*** UPDATE *** Strongest denial yet…
Link says he has not dealt with the feds in their corruption probe, didn’t wear a wire, wasn’t offered kickbacks and didn’t have tax problems as the Arroyo complaint alluded to: “The answer is no. Just leave it at that. I really don’t know what to say. I am not witness No. 1.”
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) October 29, 2019
And for good measure, Link wanted to make this point loud and clear after the day he had today in Springfield: “I wouldn’t know why anybody would want to cooperate with any law enforcement if this is the abuse you’re going to take if you are cooperating.”
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) October 29, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 6:47 pm
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Wow. Just wow. sad.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 6:53 pm
Can Sen. Link be the missing link all along?
Whomever it is in the Chamber wearing a wire since 2016… first you have Solis wearing a wire in the Chicago City Council, there’s a state Senator, maybe/possibly/probably(?) Link, wearing a wire in the Illinois Senate… whew.
“They come as your friends when you’re most in trouble… “
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 6:57 pm
Hmmmm
…the missing Link.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:02 pm
Sorry Ow. Missed ya.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:02 pm
Dem Senate/House committee chairs and now the assistant majority leader. Don’t look for much from the veto session.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:03 pm
If it is Link and he lied when confronted by you that would be very bad. Any respect I still had for him (which isn’t much I might add) would be thrown out the window.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:03 pm
- Blue Dog Dem -
No worries. Some things are too obvious.
=== In one secretly recorded conversation, Link asks Arroyo what’s in it for him if he helps sponsor Arroyo’s legislation===
Yep…
“They come as your friends when you’re most in trouble… “
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:07 pm
Link was among the most influential voices on the gaming bill this spring . Like moths to a flame for some members. The wire may be very interesting listening.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:13 pm
“Technically, it wasn’t a wire, it was a Bluetooth mic.”
Comment by Norseman Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:13 pm
Gaming bill
Capital bill
That’s 50% of signature achievements right there…
Comment by Ok Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:20 pm
So whose in line for goodies if the so called fair tax passes?
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:22 pm
=== - Donnie Elgin - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:13 pm:
The wire may be very interesting listening. ===
This. He may have been cooperating with the Feds for just shy of 3 years, in any number of “deals”.
Comment by Cadillac Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:23 pm
===If it is Link and he lied when confronted by you that would be very bad. Any respect I still had for him (which isn’t much I might add) would be thrown out the window.===
If it is Link part of his deal to cooperate might be to not tell anyone he is cooperating, just saying.
Comment by DTAG Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:25 pm
Not that it matters, but this would’ve been my guess. It’s probably a chore to stay clean when you are the gambling point man for so long. Almost feel bad for the guy.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:25 pm
I have no idea if it’s Link and no idea who the papers sources are. If the feds didn’t leak out Links name it might have been someone close to Arroyo who is probably blowing a gasket since his arrest.
Comment by Been There Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:26 pm
Yep. Guess now it’s safe to say that Link was my guess when I first read some of the sting details earlier. He’s a pretty good actor.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:31 pm
Is Link up for re-election in 2020?
Comment by 47th Ward Whig Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:33 pm
The Senate is really in a pickle now. If it is Link, I hope he goes about his business as if nothing has happened. They gonna throw him out of office for cooperating with the Feds?
Comment by Cadillac Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:37 pm
public corruption and mafia investigations about the same. taxes, wires, will they start calling him a rat now like in Chicago?
Comment by 44th Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:38 pm
=== Is Link up for re-election in 2020?===
If you’re wired up, the last thing you’re thinking about once it’s in the open is… “how will I get re-elected”
Mostly, those folks are thinking “Hope my sentence is much lighter”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:40 pm
==I hope he goes about his business as if nothing has happened. They gonna throw him out of office for cooperating with the Feds?==
Well, if it’s him and he was already caught on his taxes and if now he’s outed and of no further use to the Feds I would imagine there will be a denouement for him that does not involve voters.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:57 pm
So does Link now goes hiding after this late evening revelation? (just as then-Alderman Solis did when he was outed he never returned to the Council). Because moving forward his colleagues, heck any GA member, will not trust him..
Not cool lying to Rich..
Comment by Billy Sunday Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:02 pm
Boom goes the dynamite. I wasn’t expecting it to be Link. Whew. OW is right. They always come as friends.
Comment by Glengarry Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:09 pm
I would be very surprised if it is Link. None this sounds like him.
Comment by PC Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:13 pm
This is a huge, potentially wide ranging deal.
Link is Mr. Lake County Democrat. Don’t overlook that Waukegan just got one of the coveted six casino licenses even though there is a fair amount of grass roots community resistance. Terry Link tried to run for mayor of Waukegan a few years back but came in last in the primary.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:27 pm
Thinking that if it wasn’t Link he’d have a statement out by now. It’s fairly obvious that lotsa these guys learned nothing under the GOP cycle of corruption a couple of decades ago. And the GOP learned nothing from the Dems before them. Sad, sick, angry and, frankly, not surprised.
Comment by Bruce Farley’s Report Card Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:40 pm
I actually feel sorry for Pritzker I bet he never realized what goes on. Business may be cut throat but politicians another level
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 9:21 pm
Responsa is correct it is a huge deal, especially for every Senator and Represenative involved in trying to get casinos for their districts. At one point or another they likely talked with Link, even if nothing illegal happened you have to be freaked out that you may be on a recording.
Comment by Rod Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 9:36 pm
Perhaps it’s time to slow down on issuing new casino licenses until there is a better picture of what Senator Link has exposed himself to in this case. The process is certainly tinged by these revelations and open the door to further scrutiny of the latest gambling changes.
Comment by Southsider Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 9:47 pm
If this comes out a year ago about Link it probably changes 3 or 4 lake county races. I know the feds wanted more but disappointed that lake county voters were left in the dark about the corruption.
Comment by Lake Woes Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 10:23 pm
McKinney hasn’t reported that it was Link. He and WBEZ seem to be on top of this story… Could it be that the papers got it wrong?
Comment by Anon312 Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 10:42 pm
>Because moving forward his colleagues, heck any GA member, will not trust him..
I’m not sure why you say this. I would trust him. I wouldn’t be offering him money in return for his help with a bill.
Which legislators do you think wouldn’t trust him?
…
:-)))
Comment by statehoss Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 10:46 pm
Not Link? Than Who?
Comment by IF Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 10:59 pm
This onion has many layers, keep peeling. Gaming and capital bills seem to bring out the worst in folks. The entire system needs an overhaul when ANY contributions come in exchange for any consideration even at the lowest levels…this was higher level inside but still rooted in a system that allows lobbyists to provide money for favor. Real reforms would stop the nonsense of allowing campaign contributions from any bundled, corporate or large individual donations. Never thought I would believe that we need to publicly fund elections in Illinois but maybe it is time. Likely would cost us less than these built in corruption costs.
Comment by Elliott Ness Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:25 am
Responsa - I resent that remark
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:28 am
From the twitterverse;
@davemckinney - Link says he has not dealt with the feds in their corruption probe, didn’t wear a wire, wasn’t offered kickbacks and didn’t have tax problems as the Arroyo complaint alluded to: “The answer is no. Just leave it at that. I really don’t know what to say. I am not witness No. 1.”
And…
@davemcminney - And for good measure, Link wanted to make this point loud and clear after the day he had today in Springfield: “I wouldn’t know why anybody would want to cooperate with any law enforcement if this is the abuse you’re going to take if you are cooperating.”
This is why you wait. The papers believe they have it cold, and they may have it cold, but until it plays out. Also, McKinney is as good as any, including the reporters that got it at the Trib and the Times. I’ll be very interested how these words by Link are first received, and how they fare in the weeks ahead.
I know I don’t know, but the feds say in charges there was one Senator wearing a wire.
We’ll see if Link is truthful.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:50 am
Another unethical public servant receiving taxpayer money while cheating on his own taxes taking down another unethical public servant to reduce payment for their own crime. Illinois politics 101, corruption starts at the top.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:58 am
OK Florida–let’s see your corrupt politicians top this one! I think Illinois has pulled ahead in the “Our politicians are more corrupt than yours” state race!
Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:26 am