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Senate President Cullerton refunds $60,000 to disgraced former Sen. Martin Sandoval

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* Former Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), whose Statehouse office was raided by the feds last year, this week reported receiving a large campaign contribution refund from the Senate Democratic Victory Fund, which is chaired by retiring Senate President John Cullerton…

I asked SDVF’s political director if this was part of some deal to convince Sandoval to resign. I was told “No.” The check was written on January 13th.

Why wasn’t the money donated to charity or something? I was told the decision was made by Senate President Cullerton, who has not yet responded.

As we’ve already been discussing today, Sandoval reported paying $90,000 in legal fees last quarter out of his campaign account, so that $60K refund check will come in super-handy.

The SDVF ended the fourth quarter with $840K in the bank and a whopping $625K in debt. That $60K refund could’ve also been used to pay off some of that debt before he left office.

I’ll let you know if Cullerton responds.

…Adding… According to a State Board of Elections website search, Sandoval has contributed $84,200 to SDVF since 2011. So, this refund represented 71 percent of the money Sandoval gave.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:12 pm

Comments

I agree with the move my the Sen President.. Give it back to the donor..

Comment by NotRich Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:18 pm
This is gross. I would rather Cullerton keep the money in the caucus account then give it back to Sandoval who will use it on his lawyers, and find other corrupt ways to funnel it to his friends.

Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:32 pm
JUSTME2: There is no way Marty can play with that money other than to pay his lawyers.. The U S Attorney is involved in EVERY move that CW Sandoval is doing these days..

Comment by NotRich Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:38 pm
I appreciated Cullerton when he was acting like the adult in the room during the Rauner-Madigan feuds, but this is inexcusable.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:40 pm
Pardon my ignorance, but what happens to the victory fund when Cullertion is done?

Comment by BigLou Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:42 pm
President Cullerton may have been a great legislative deal maker, but the choices he has made with money on the political side have not been good for a while now. Turning down the $1 Million offer from JB after the election being the biggest mistake.

Comment by Truthiness Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:47 pm
All President Cullerton can do is what he’s doing here.

They got money. They returned money.

These types of situations, return the money or donate the cash.

We have no idea how the USA is going to look at, or what it might mean.

Had Sandoval been arraigned, then donating to charity might give a better look.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 12:57 pm
Is it all he can do? What about a charity?

Comment by Older and Taller Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 2:13 pm
Compared to the lean-and-means HDems during non-election period, the SDems is a hugely expensive operation - $100k - 150k per month.

Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 2:17 pm
*that charity

Comment by Older and Taller Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 2:23 pm
That’s some scratch.

Comment by Ok Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 2:26 pm
- Older and Taller -

Cullerton doesn’t have it anymore.

Sandoval resigned.

The rest will play itself out. Charity and indictment seem to go better for the press. This seems like a dump and getting ahead of it than worrying about the press of a charity thing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 2:27 pm
Why is the SDVF located in Sringfield? Is that supposed to be cooler than Springfield?

Comment by Marty Meh-lan Friday, Jan 17, 20 @ 3:06 pm