Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino – Almost 5 Years and Still No Accountability

Illinois (ECWd) –

January 21, 2016, we broke the story on the illegal campaign expenditures of Frank Mautino, former State Representative and currently our State’s Auditor General.  (article here)

That article triggered a Federal US Attorney investigation which Mautino’s spokesperson claimed he was cooperating with.

Next came a State Board of Elections complaint against Mautino’s campaign which lead to a multi-year fight and multiple rulings from the Court instructing the State Board of Elections to do their job.  As the complaint went forward with the SBE, Mautino invoked his 5th amendment rights.

In his capacity as our Auditor General, he admitted to violating the Freedom of Information Act in our FOIA lawsuit for his withholding key communications with the Legislature.

While the list of articles on Mautino’s actions continues to shine the light on the State’s supposed top watchdog, the Appellate Court has once again, almost 5 years later, shown how accurate our reporting was from day one.

“By making expenditures for gas and repairs for personal purposes, the Committee made expenditures in excess of the fair market value for what it received in exchange, which was nothing. The Board’s decision to the contrary is clearly erroneous.” – “We reverse the Board’s decision to the extent it ruled Cooke failed to establish violations of section 9-8.10(a)(2) based on the expenditures to Happy’s and remand for the Board to address the matter of fines under section 9-8.10(b).”

“By making expenditures to withdraw cash used for personal purposes, the Committee made expenditures in excess of the fair market value for what it received in exchange, which was nothing. The Board’s decision to the contrary is clearly erroneous.” – “We reverse the Board’s decision to the extent it ruled Cooke failed to establish violations of section 9-8.10(a)(2) based on the expenditures to the Bank for travel expenses and remand for the Board to address the matter of fines under section 9-8.10(b).”

“We remand with directions for the Board to address the matter of fines under section 9-8.10(b).”

The 16-page Opinion is a worthy read to grasp the magnitude of this case as well as to see the failures of the State Board of Elections.

While Mautino has not been criminally charged for any of these improper expenditures, we must assume our system of Justice is either terribly broken or in the alternative, question the possibility that Mautino, a Mike Madigan supporter for many years, may have cut a deal to expose Madigan and others in exchange for immunity in his use of campaign funds for personal use.

When the State Board of elections takes this matter up to address possible fines we will update with a new article.

A copy of the opinion can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.