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*** UPDATED x2 - IRS agents spotted at Sandoval home, Cicero office - FBI confirms “authorized law enforcement activity” *** Possible raid as guards stationed outside Sandoval’s Springfield office suite

Posted in:

* I’ve been hearing multiple credible reports this morning of a raid on Sen. Martin Sandoval’s offices, so I sent a friend over to the Statehouse and she reports that his office suite is blocked off and that a state officer claimed the feds are present.

Sandoval is not responding and neither is his district office. None of the legislative assistants in that suite are picking up their phones.

Stay tuned.

…Adding… From a close pal…

I’m on the phone with a secretary from the Capitol. She says there are ‘lots of suits’ in Marty’s Capitol office.

I’m told all the legislative assistants in that wing are in the elevator area, which would explain why nobody was answering their phones.

* Mary Ann is on it…


Breaking: appears to be coordinated search at ⁦@SenatorSandoval⁩ Cicero and Springfield office underway, witnessed 2 law enforcement officers leaving Cicero office, would not ID themselves, told more agents search his Capitol office (he is in Spkr Madigan’s district) pic.twitter.com/jCNZWPhjcU

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) September 24, 2019

…Adding… Several folks I know are claiming that the G is also at his house. We’ll see…


///BREAKING/// Feds this morning are raiding the Springfield and Cicero offices of longtime Illinois state Sen. Marty Sandoval, per sources. Story to come.

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) September 24, 2019

*** UPDATE 1 *** Welp…


FBI Chicago: "All I can say at this point is we are engaged in an authorized law enforcement activity. Beyond that we've got no further comment."

But you do have people from Chicago in the state Capitol?

"They're present, yes." https://t.co/2n6omUaz8F

— Brian Mackey (@BrianMackey) September 24, 2019

* Tribune

A man who answered the door at Sandoval’s Southwest Side home said the legislator was not home. Sandoval could not immediately be reached.

* This is interesting partly because a lot of members clear out their offices when spring session ends…


Offficials take boxes from Senate office suite pic.twitter.com/HgQHyrFSJ2

— Bernie Schoenburg (@bschoenburg) September 24, 2019

* Uh-oh. They nabbed his ‘puter…


At least eight men carried cardboard boxes, brown bags labeled “evidence” and what appeared to be a desktop computer out of the Senate Democratic office suite and into 2 SUVs outside the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/3bOZk8dEVh

— Jamie Munks (@by_jamiemunks) September 24, 2019

*** UPDATE 2 *** The presence of an IRS agent at his house is definitely not a good sign…


The agent I encountered Earlier identified himself as a part of the IRS criminal division. There were several others dressed in dark suits wearing no obvious ID. They took off with some plainclothes guys an hour ago. Several others remain inside. Those inside say contact the Feds pic.twitter.com/PUkFXoezr2

— Will Lee (@MidnoirCowboy) September 24, 2019

Federal agents exit the home of State Senator Martin Sandoval. Loading trunks into their vehicle. ⁦@fox32newspic.twitter.com/BDqqZvq9i4

— Dane Placko FOX 32 (@dsplacko) September 24, 2019

…Adding… Sun-Times

Agents from IRS Criminal Investigation were seen outside Sandoval’s political office in Cicero as well.

…Adding… They took a computer from his house? Oh, man…


Four agents just left the home carrying boxes and a computer. One told reporters that Sandoval wasn’t at home during the raid. pic.twitter.com/2CVDT2Um37

— Tom Schuba (@TomSchuba) September 24, 2019

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:16 am

Comments

  1. Least shocking news story…ever.

    Comment by DD Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:21 am

  2. They ain’t there for a “Coffee with the Senator” thing.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:24 am

  3. Seems about right.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:28 am

  4. Will they be making any other stops in the Capitol today? /s

    Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:30 am

  5. Perhaps the Feds are simply trying to clear up a misunderstanding about the inappropriate “horse play” at the Sandoval golf tournament by asking a few polite questions.

    Nothing to see here, move along, all is well.

    It’s Cicero, Jake.

    Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:30 am

  6. He is on a bunch of juicy committees. I imagine they just want his potato salad recipe.

    Comment by Al Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:32 am

  7. I have to wonder who suddenly lost all their appetite after hearing that news….

    Comment by Fav human Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:35 am

  8. “What’s in it for me?” warrants investigation? Huh.

    Comment by Bertrum Cates Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:36 am

  9. I wonder how many politicians are currently under investigation in this state. And I also wonder what the record is for investigations at one time

    Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:38 am

  10. OW

    I shouldn’t comment today. It would be trolling.

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:39 am

  11. We should have a secret CapFax pool on who will be next. Rich, care to host it?

    Comment by DD Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:41 am

  12. ===I shouldn’t comment today. It would be trolling.===

    Do you know what this is about?

    I don’t.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:44 am

  13. == We should have a secret CapFax pool on who will be next. ==

    You’re too late. The odds-on favorite just came in.

    Comment by Victor Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:56 am

  14. I wonder if the focus of the raid is the Senator or one of his corresponding Representatives.

    Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:00 pm

  15. This is surprising and shocking news about the Senator, said no one ever.

    Comment by Moi Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:01 pm

  16. Jason Meisner of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that “Feds this morning are raiding the Springfield and Cicero offices of longtime Illinois state Sen. Marty Sandoval.”

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:04 pm

  17. ===“Feds this morning are raiding the Springfield and Cicero offices of longtime Illinois state Sen. Marty Sandoval.”===

    Why?

    I dunno. Do you?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:06 pm

  18. ==so I sent a friend over to the Statehouse==

    Capfax hires a statehouse correspondent, Rich can finally relax a little

    Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:12 pm

  19. ===Why?===

    It could be anything, dude. I mean, it’s Marty.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:14 pm

  20. This could be much ado about nothing. Just going to have to be patient.

    Comment by SSL Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:14 pm

  21. ===Why?===

    It could be a training exercise, but I doubt it.

    Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:16 pm

  22. ===It could be anything, dude. I mean, it’s Marty.===

    That’s where I’m coming from. It’s Marty.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:18 pm

  23. ===This could be much ado about nothing===

    A coordinated raid on two offices is not about nothing.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:20 pm

  24. Figure at this point the Chicago FBI has a replica aldermatic office, state legislator office and cmapgain office set up for agents to train on.

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:23 pm

  25. == I wonder if the focus of the raid is the Senator or one of his corresponding Representatives. ==

    Hard to say, but If the investigation is emanating from the Burke/Solis caper, the phone call recorded by the feds that is detailed in the below link might provide some clues as to how the G got on Marty’s trail. Lots of HDO alumni are seemingly in play.

    https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/2/4/18418228/aldermen-named-in-secretly-recorded-chat-admit-sending-business-to-reyes-firm

    Comment by RTR Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:26 pm

  26. ===has a replica aldermatic office, state legislator office and cmapgain office set up for agents to train on.===

    Like in “Monsters, Inc”? I could see that.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:26 pm

  27. 176 more raids would solve alot of problems.

    Comment by Unpopular Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:27 pm

  28. === I wonder if the focus of the raid is the Senator or one of his corresponding Representatives. ===

    Because I am sure anytime someone gets raided they are looking into stuff about Madigan /snark

    Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:28 pm

  29. ===I wonder if the focus of the raid is the Senator or one of his corresponding Representatives.===
    Madigan tolerates Marty because of politics but I would be shocked if Madigan ever went beyond that line with Marty. Heck we all here know his reputation and Madigan is anything but naive

    Comment by Been There Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:31 pm

  30. do marty’s kids still wirk for com ed? and does his boss, victor reyes, still handle com ed’s administrative hearings??

    Comment by dying hdo Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:31 pm

  31. ===do marty’s kids still wirk for com ed? and does his boss, victor reyes, still handle com ed’s administrative hearings??

    Yes. Matter of fact one of Rahms parting gifts was an appointment to his million dollar L.

    https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3680869&GUID=93D6798C-874B-451F-9FCA-AA64A002153A&Options=&Search=

    Comment by Observant swsider Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:47 pm

  32. Head of Senate transportation gets raided so how soon does the feds start looking into all those contracts at IDOT and Tollway?

    Comment by Outsider Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:49 pm

  33. I think the holiday picture of Marty and JB is quite photogenic . They both look fit in this picture.

    https://twitter.com/SenatorSandoval/status/1076565360780939269/photo/1

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:52 pm

  34. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: you need to return your library books on time.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:58 pm

  35. Sometimes bad things happen to bad people . . . just sayin.

    Comment by In the Know Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:17 pm

  36. - In the Know -

    Marty is a misunderstood idealist.

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:20 pm

  37. So are all of these FBI legislator investigations part of a larger statewide operation to weed out corruption in Illinois?

    If so, can we do a question of the day to guess what the codename for the operation is called?

    My guess: Operation Honest Abe

    Comment by sulla Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:20 pm

  38. ===This could be much ado about nothing. Just going to have to be patient.==

    I’m a reasonably religious guy. I’ve never heard this prayer before though.

    Comment by A guy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:30 pm

  39. “You’re too late. The odds-on favorite just came in.” Well, the big money is calling the long odds anyway, so it’s still an idea.

    Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:40 pm

  40. I remember earlier this year when he came down and lectured officials at SIUE about supporting all the tax increases or there should be no money coming here. Only time I have ever seen the man and I was not impressed. I felt bad for Senators Crowe and Manar who did not seem to know this would be his approach when inviting him down.

    Comment by MetroIndy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:44 pm

  41. Cullerton should remove Sandoval from chairing the transportation committee pending the outcome of the investigation.

    Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:06 pm

  42. Engaged in Unauthorized Law Enforcement Acitivty is the name of my Cheap Trick tribute band

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:12 pm

  43. He needs to resign. I think he chased too many pennies

    Comment by Jesse James Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:13 pm

  44. Rumor is that he loved the ladies too much

    Comment by Mothermary Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:16 pm

  45. He didn’t care about the people he represented. He cared about himself

    Comment by Gunther Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:17 pm

  46. They need to fire him immediately or resign

    Comment by Vegan4life Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:20 pm

  47. ===fire him===

    Can’t fire an elected. Ugh.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:21 pm

  48. It finally caught up with him. Please fire him.

    Comment by Markman Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:28 pm

  49. Why is there so much corruption in Illinois? He always claimed to be for the people. Gives Latino’s a bad name.

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:37 pm

  50. The Senator cannot be fired. The recall law in Illinois is so onerous as to probably never being used but he could lose in an election “Recall”. President Cullerton can “Fire Him” from his chairmanship.

    Comment by Nagidam Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:37 pm

  51. ===Gives Latino’s a bad name.===

    How so?

    Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:44 pm

  52. - JennaM -

    Martin is nothing more than a reflection of Martin. He is responsible for his actions. No one else.

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:53 pm

  53. I disagree with Jenna, “Martin Sandoval” is a perfectly fine Latino name

    Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:10 pm

  54. Martin Sandoval = corruption.

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:15 pm

  55. ===This is===

    It’s not.

    For the love of Pete, Marty Sandoval, this could be about “anything”.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:17 pm

  56. First they came for Sandoval, but I wasn’t a [insert ban-worthy conjecture about possible criminal behavior], so I said nothing.

    Comment by Amber Ale Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:20 pm

  57. Illinois is given another black eye. Too much corruption in Illinois

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:25 pm

  58. Sandoval loves telling the story of how he almost graduated from the seminary before deciding to leave the church and go into politics. Maybe he would have been better off not switching.

    Comment by Truthiness Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:34 pm

  59. What would Cesar Chavez have thought?

    Comment by State Fair Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:35 pm

  60. From alterboy to criminal. How does that happen?

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:41 pm

  61. Gee…I wonder who is next on the FBI’s Must Raid list?

    Comment by M Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:44 pm

  62. who knows what they will find, or if he can refer them up the chain, but that guy has always been a mean arrogant jackass from before he was elected. no tears.

    Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:54 pm

  63. Pretty sure Senator Martin Sandoval is feeling overwhelmed by his new reality. He may want his daughter to replace him in his soon to be vacated senate seat. She is a precious little pumpkin and would do fine.

    Comment by nummy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:20 pm

  64. - M -

    It could be a coincidence but… notice how since Alderman Ed Burke got raided a lot of people with chairmanships got raided? Burke, Carry Austin, Zalewski, Cullerton, and now Sandoval. That’s a lot of raids. That’s a lot of Chairmen . These aren’t small fries on the food chain.

    Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:42 pm

  65. ===It could be a coincidence…===

    With Sandoval, we have no idea. It could be anything under the sun.

    Unless you know…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:45 pm

  66. I wonder where he’s hidding?

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:46 pm

  67. Can someone put together a 10-12 member ILGA parlay on who will be raided? Could be a decent payout.

    Comment by JP Altgeld Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:08 pm

  68. Looks like he picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

    Comment by 17% Solution Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:20 pm

  69. ==SSL - Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:14 pm:

    This could be much ado about nothing. Just going to have to be patient.==

    Most IlDem response ever.

    Comment by Token Conservative Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:36 pm

  70. Always launder your money.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 6:01 pm

  71. Bad Rep, Bad Rep,
    whatcha gonna do?
    Whatcha gonna do
    With my computer too?

    Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 6:16 pm

  72. Agree completely with Amalia as to her description of Martin Sandoval. He is the prototypical hack that the party regulars always seem to prefer to slate. The best and brightest need not apply.

    As a visitor to the Illinois Capitol, it was always sort of shocking to see how many legislators from Chicago and some of its suburbs seem less capable than parking lot attendants. In Chicago, being an alderman is considered more important than serving in the legislature.

    Comment by Don't Let the Door Hit You Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 6:35 pm

  73. Token, I didn’t say it was, I said it could be. When charges are filed, then it’s something.

    And for me to have made the most IlDem response ever would be so ironic.

    Comment by SSL Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 7:18 pm

  74. He’s a typical Illinois political hack. No respect for his constituents.

    Comment by JennaM Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 8:08 pm

  75. At least nobody will have to go looking for him anymore when Republicans ask for verification…because that never gets old when his vote might make or break passage of a bill.

    Comment by Veil of Ignorance Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 8:33 pm

  76. ==who knows what they will find, or if he can refer them up the chain, but that guy has always been a mean arrogant jackass from before he was elected. no tears.==

    Tell us how you really feel. Don’t hold back.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 6:47 am

  77. He’s a what’s in it for me guy. Didn’t care about the people he represented. Why is he hiding?

    Comment by JennaM Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 8:52 am

  78. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy! *sarcasm* This guy for years talked down to people, was pompous, and was a legend in his own mind. Karma.

    Que tal Senador?!

    Comment by Sinister Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 11:16 am

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