(The Center Square) – On the heels of a controversy stemming from an investigation into a former state representative over sexual harassment, a special investigating committee is scheduled to meet this week to inquire about alleged financial misconduct of another state lawmaker.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign, and her husband Aaron Ammons – who serves as Champaign County clerk – were both federally indicted early last month. Both pleaded not guilty and are challenging federal charges.
Carol Ammons faces eight counts of wire fraud and providing a false statement, tied to an alleged kickback scheme involving state grants given to nonprofits in her district, while Aaron Ammons was charged with obstruction of justice. The pair also share a charge for conspiracy to obstruct justice.
A leadership-appointed roster of state representatives, an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, are now set to gather Thursday in Springfield to begin a House investigation into the federal prosecutor’s charges against the representative, and to determine if she broke any House rules.
One lawyer for the Carol Ammons, Mutaquee Akbar, previously told The Center Square the counsel was looking into delaying the scheduled House proceedings.
“We’re looking into that part as well. Of course, we don’t want that proceeding to get in the way of this proceeding,” Akbar said. “Hopefully we can postpone that so we can focus our attention on her due process rights in federal court.”
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, said he doesn’t think the House investigation will interfere with the federal trial.
“At my direction, we took immediate action to uphold the integrity of the House, and the special investigating committee is another process to ensure the House responds appropriately and within our purview-while ensuring nothing we do interferes with the ongoing federal case,” read the statement by Welch.
Akbar told The Center Square on Tuesday they no longer intend to delay the House investigation. The team hadn’t decided if the lawmaker or her counsel would be present at committee hearings – a right of the representative under House rules.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterch, a member of the investigating committee, explained on The States by The Center Square last week how the House investigation will be handled.
“It’s up to us, the folks on the special investigation committee, to determine if these charges warrant another committee for disciplinary action,” Niemerg said. “We’ll be taking a vote on each individual charge. We start those hearings on Aug. 6.”
The first hearing will take place at noon Thursday in the Illinois Capitol.
Both Carol and Aaron Ammons are scheduled to appear before a federal judge for the case’s evidence discovery process Aug. 24, followed by a trial date Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.
