What's Next for Carol Ammons?
Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) responds to Gov. Pritzker’s budget address in February. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana), Friday denied wrongdoing after a federal grand jury indicted her on charges wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and lying to the FBI.
“I strongly disagree with the allegations outlined in this indictment. I have complete confidence that the facts will determine my innocence, and I intend to vigorously defend myself through the judicial process,” Ammons said.
The criminal charges against Ammons aren’t the only issues facing the six-term progressive.
Friday, House Republicans initiated a special investigate committee to look into accusations against Ammons and could, potentially, lead to her expulsion from the House.
The committee, made up of three Democrats and three Republicans, will be chaired by Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago), who, like Ammons, is a member of the Black Caucus. House Speaker Chris Welch also appointed Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) and Rep. Lillian Jimenez (D-Chicago) to the committee.
Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) will be the lead Republican on the committee. Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) and Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) will also serve on the panel.
But, when the committee will actually meet is becoming a big question mark in political circles.
Multiple insiders say they don’t know how Democrats will handle the committee. Some believe Democrats will slow-walk the hearings, potentially until after the election, so it doesn’t become a series of bad news cycles for the caucus leading up to November.
Welch’s statement Wednesday removing Ammons from the House Democratic caucus indicated he wants the judicial process to play out before the House acts.
Another top Democrat told The Illinoize Monday they believe the committee may act quickly to “move past” the Ammons issue, whether or not the committee recommends she be expelled from the House.
A special investigative committee was formed in 2020 to investigate then-House Speaker Michael Madigan. Republicans alleged Democrats slow-walked that committee and attempted to “run out the clock” before the General Assembly adjourned sine die in early 2021. That committee was chaired by Madigan’s eventual successor, Welch.
Neither Tarver or House Democrats responded to inquiries Monday.
Ammons is also accused of directing state grants to benefit her and to pay salaries for her daughter.
In his statement last week, Welch said he was ordering a review of grants Ammons had a role in.
“I directed my staff to review the budget to determine whether any funds need to be paused or reconsidered,” Welch’s statement read.
But, it isn’t clear what can be done to budget items that are already set in motion or, potentially, paid out. If the grants haven’t been paid out, the General Assembly could pass legislation to amend the budget, but lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to Springfield until November.
“It’s a good question,” one Democratic lawmaker wondered out loud when we discussed the issue Monday.
Meanwhile, Ammons is unopposed in November in her heavily Democratic district that covers the University of Illinois campus.
