Former Illinois House Speaker Lee Daniels is now
IN THE SPOTLIGHT for using campaign funds to pay legal bills.
Former Republican House leader Lee Daniels paid $112,000 from his campaign funds to defense lawyers amid a federal corruption probe that has snared his former top aide, campaign finance records show.
The campaign finance reports, filed late Tuesday, reported the expenditures by Daniels' political fund and his once potent House Republican Campaign Committee. Under Illinois law, politicians can use their campaign funds for legal expenses, including criminal investigations.
Daniels is currently being investigated for allegedly having state workers campaign in "Hot Spots", while on the state payroll. He stepped down as House Leader when the charges surfaced.
Daniels has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but federal investigators have been looking at whether state employees did political work for the former House leader while on the state payroll, as well as the awarding of so-called pork grants to suburbs and various organizations. Daniels has denied doing anything improper.
Michael Tristano, who was Daniels' chief of staff, was indicted last year in the probe and is cooperating in the federal investigation....