* Sue Rezin campaign Press release…

Perennial candidate Jim Oberweis was caught red-handed in an illegal scheme breaking federal campaign finance law to illegally funnel “soft” money from his state campaign account to his federal campaign for Congress.

Simply stated, this was a campaign money laundering scheme to violate federal campaign finance laws.

Federal campaigns for Congress and U.S. Senate are much more restricted than Illinois state campaigns in terms of the contributions they may receive and the sources from which they may receive them. Federal law not only prohibits the corporate contributions permitted under Illinois law, but also places limits significantly lower than Illinois’ on contributions from individuals and political committees. Because of these inconsistencies, federal law generally prohibits a candidate’s use of state campaign funds for his or her federal campaign.

Numerous Republican candidates have told Sue Rezin for months that Jim Oberweis called them and asked for a contribution from them to his campaign for Congress in exchange for a contribution from him of greater value (almost always double the amount) to their respective campaign committees. This was Oberweis’ way of using funds in his state campaign account for his federal campaign —and it is illegal. It would still be illegal if he wasn’t offering contributions of “greater value” than those he was soliciting for his campaign for Congress, but the “greater value” offers demonstrate the lengths he is going to illegally convert “soft” state campaign funds into “hard” federal campaign funds.

This has gone on for many months. None of the state and local candidates knew this was illegal and were a bit puzzled as to why Oberweis wanted to do this. But none were willing to go on record about Oberweis’ request. They didn’t want to make waves.

Until, at the beginning of February, Jim Oberweis had an agent of his campaign, Keith Becker, contact LaSalle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly via Facebook message saying: “State Senator Jim Oberweis said he would make a reciprocal donation of greater value for a donation to his campaign.” Becker then followed up with an email to State’s Attorney Donnelly with Jim Oberweis’ personal cell phone number letting her know that Oberweis was expecting her call.

No part of LaSalle County falls within either the 14th Congressional District or Oberweis’ state senate district, but Oberweis’ scheme was spreading to any Republican willing to accept a larger donation from Oberweis’ state campaign in exchange for a smaller contribution to his congressional campaign.

Donnelly proceeded to call Oberweis, who personally reiterated the offer. He then sent Donnelly a contribution check from his state campaign fund, which she still has. She then contacted the Rezin campaign about the incident and signed a sworn affidavit attesting to what exactly had transpired. The Rezin campaign has submitted that affidavit as Exhibit I in its complaint today to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Jim Oberweis has been caught red-handed, exposed by an affidavit from the LaSalle County State’s Attorney herself. Yes, Jim Oberweis actually solicited a State’s Attorney in his illegal scheme.