By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – One of Springfield’s staunchest critics of embattled Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino has ridiculed the State House speaker for defending Mautino, a longtime friend, and former fellow General Assembly member.
“Pure political spin” is how State Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, summed up House Speaker Michael Madigan’s, D-Chicago, Aug. 15 interview with Peoria Public Radio (PPR), during which Madigan voiced continued support for Mautino. Mautino is under state and federal investigation for allegedly spending $200,000 in campaign donations on car repairs, gas and bank payments during his 24 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Madigan told PPR he thought it was “appropriate that there would be an inquiry, which is happening. Certain issues have been raised. Frank Mautino has been responding to those issues. He will continue to respond to those issues…My expectation is that at the end of the day, after there’s been a full inquiry, and a full level of knowledge as to what happened, that Frank will be vindicated, and he’ll continue to serve as the auditor general.”
Wehrli, one of the several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle calling for Mautino to step away from his position during the investigation, faulted Madigan’s radio comments on a number of levels.
“There’s no inquiry going on,” Wehrli said. “It’s not the Federal Bureau of Inquiry; it’s the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They investigate criminal activity.”
Considering Madigan and Mautino’s relationship over the years, “it is no surprise to me that he stepped up to defend his once-top lieutenant, his chief budget negotiator,” Wehrli said.
Meanwhile, Wehrli, who voted against Mautino’s appointment to the auditor general post when it came to the House floor, has been taken aback by the lack of cooperation he feels Mautino has demonstrated toward investigators.
“He has responded in one of three ways,” Wehrli said. “First and foremost, he asked for more time. His second response was to say ‘no comment’ and defer all questions to his public relations people. His third response was to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights to not self-incriminate.”
When he adds everything up, Wehrli said it’s even more evident now that Mautino “is not qualified” to serve.
“I have stated in the past, and I stand by my statement, that I place a high level of scrutiny on any work product that is coming out of the office of the Illinois auditor general,” Wehrli said. “Somebody needs to audit those audits.”
