Springfield, IL (ECWd) –
The position of Illinois State Auditor General, currently held by Frank Mautino, is a Constitutional Office filled by a vote of the General Assembly. It is that same group that can remove him. In short, the General Assembly is his boss.
Most people in the private sector understand that when your employer asks you questions, you provide answers. Fail to do that and you get your walking papers.
We obtained a copy of a letter Mautino’s attorney sent State Representative Grant Wehrli after what appears to be yet another attempt by Wehrli to get answers to questions regarding Mautino’s campaign spending and reporting. Although we have not been able to make contact with Representative Wehrli for comment, we did receive the letter from numerous sources confirming its authenticity.
It is clear, Mautino has no intention of answering his employer’s questions, contrary to his previous responses to them assuring them he would. I think that alone would indicate Mautino’s word can’t be trusted.
“we ask that your request for information be stayed pending the resolution of the federal investigation.”
So there is no confusion on this, Mautino’s position is that because of his own actions that have now placed him in the crosshairs of the US Attorney’s office in a criminal investigation he believes he is entitled to not answer questions from his employer’s yet still receive his paycheck?
What is troubling with this response is the reference to civil action and a criminal investigation as being grounds for a stay in the State Board of Elections case somehow should be applied to his need to answer questions of his employers.
We contend that legal posturing falls well short of his obligations as Auditor General. His employers asking questions and demanding answers is neither a civil action nor a federal criminal investigation. A refusal to answer questions presented by his employers is more than sufficient grounds for him to be removed by the General Assembly.
In addition, Mautino’s attorney is taking the position that it is parallel investigations with the State Board of Elections and the US Attorney that created Mautino’s Fifth Amendment dilemma. We believe it is Mautino’s own actions that have created his Fifth Amendment dilemma, as without his apparent criminal actions there would be no investigations. His attorney presents it as the egg comes before the chicken. Either way, the egg will break!
We urge our State Representatives to take immediate action to have Frank Mautino removed from office for refusing to answer questions by those he answers to.
You can review the numerous articles written exposing Mautino’s corrupt actions at this link:
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mautino-Attorney-Letter-to-State-Rep.pdf”]
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3 Comments
Chris Robling
Posted at 17:01h, 28 JunePathetic. Re-double. Grant Wehrli is the hero here, for pushing whilst others stall, thinking if they go easy on Mautino, then Madigan will go easy on them. That “thinking” is bereft. Go, Grant Go !! Charge !!
NiteCat
Posted at 14:13h, 28 JuneBoy this story is ripe for the picking by anyone running in opposition to business as usual in this state. He is Tax Hike Mike’s hand picked do nothing/see nothing political hack.
Opposition to the status quo should do everything and anything they can to associate Mautino to everyone and everything wrong with this state every chance they get during their campaign.
Danni Smith
Posted at 15:58h, 28 JuneWho should we commandeer?