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* February 3, 2021 press release…
A grand jury today indicted former Illinois State Senator Sam McCann on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion related to his alleged misuse of campaign money for personal expenses. The indictment alleges that from May 2015 to June 2020, McCann engaged in a scheme to convert more than $200,000 in contributions and donations made to his campaign committees to pay himself and make personal purchases, and that he concealed his fraud from donors, the public, the Illinois State Board of Elections and law enforcement authorities. […]
McCann organized multiple political committees that were registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections: Sam McCann for Senate; Sam McCann for Senate Committee; McCann for Illinois; and, Conservative Party of Illinois. According to the indictment, from April 2011 to November 2018, McCann and his political committees received more than $5 million in campaign donations.
The indictment alleges multiple instances when McCann used campaign funds to purchase personal vehicles, pay personal debts, make mortgage payments, and pay himself, including the following:
• McCann allegedly used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to partially fund the purchases of a 2017 Ford Expedition in April 2017 and a 2018 Ford F-250 truck in July 2018, which he titled in his own name and used for his personal travel. McCann then used campaign funds for loan payments on the F-250 and for fuel and insurance expenses for both vehicles, while at the same time using campaign funds to reimburse mileage expense claims which he did not incur.
• In April 2018, McCann allegedly used $18,000 in campaign funds to purchase a 2018 recreational travel trailer, and in May 2018, used $25,000 in campaign funds to buy a 2006 recreational motor home, both of which McCann titled in his personal name.
McCann established an online account with a recreational vehicle rental business in Ohio and listed the vehicles for rent identifying Sam McCann as the owner. McCann then established a second account with the same rental business and identified himself as William McCann, a potential renter, with a different residential address and email than those he listed as the owner. From approximately May 2018 to June 2018, McCann, while representing himself as the renter, William, rented both the travel trailer and motor home from Sam, the owner, through the RV rental business. McCann caused a total of approximately $62,666 in campaign funds be used to pay the rental cost of the vehicles. The rental business retained approximately $9,838 for commission and paid McCann, as the owner, approximately $52,827 by direct deposit to McCann’s personal checking account. McCann reimbursed the campaign accounts $18,000, resulting in more than $77,000 in campaign funds used to buy and rent from himself.
• On or about Oct. 4, 2016, McCann allegedly used a $20,000 cashier’s check funded by a campaign account and issued to himself to pay off a personal loan, including legal fees, that had originally been issued to him as an equipment loan in 2011 and was in collection by the bank due to non-payment.
• From May 2015 to August 2020, McCann allegedly used campaign funds to pay approximately $64,750 on two separate personal mortgage loans that were secured by his former residence in Carlinville and an adjoining property used as an office for his construction business.
• In November 2018, after an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Illinois, when he was no longer a candidate for office and did not financially support any other candidate, and continuing to June 2020, McCann allegedly caused the Conservative Party of Illinois to issue approximately $187,000 in payments to himself personally and an additional $52,282 in payments for payroll taxes. Using a payroll service, McCann was allegedly able to conceal himself as the payee for the expenditures from the campaign account.
• The indictment also alleges that approximately $50,000 in campaign funds were used for personal expenses including Green Dot credit card payments related to a family vacation in Colorado and other personal expenses, charges from Apple iTunes, Amazon, a skeet and trap club, Cabela’s, Scheels, Best Buy, a gun store, and cash withdrawals.In addition to wire fraud and money laundering, the indictment charges McCann with one count of tax evasion related to his joint return for calendar year 2018. McCann allegedly failed to report income from his 2018 rental payments to himself for the RV trailer and motor home. In addition, in March 2018, McCann used a $10,000 check issued by a campaign account to make a down payment to a Shipman, Ill., business for a motor home. When the purchase was not completed, the business issued a $10,000 refund check payable to William McCann, which he deposited to his personal checking account and failed to report as income received.
* From this past January…
A public defender representing indicted former senator and one-time gubernatorial candidate William “Sam” McCann Jr. has been replaced, after saying their attorney-client relationship was broken.
That split happened not long after it looked like McCann was about to agree to a plea deal.
* Last week…
A judge, not a jury, will determine whether an indicted former senator and one-time gubernatorial candidate misused campaign money, laundered money and evaded taxes.
Attorneys for William “Sam” McCann Jr. said in a filing Monday in U.S. District Court that he “requests the court try all charges against him in this case without a jury.” […]
McCann was granted a court-appointed defender after telling the court he was unemployed with $53,000 in debt and $500 in his checking account.
* Jim Dey…
The nominal Republican defeated veteran Democratic incumbent state Sen. Deanne Demuzio in 2010 and served in the Illinois Senate until 2018.
But his tenure was marked by his high-profile feuding with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Encouraged and funded by Democrat-backing labor groups, McCann ran for governor in 2018 as a conservative whose goal was to boost J.B. Pritzker’s election prospects by drawing votes from Rauner.
Pritzker, who didn’t really need McCann’s help, easily won the race.
Ironically, the millions of dollars in leftover campaign funds donated to McCann is the source of his legal troubles.
* Doesn’t look like we’ll be able to follow along in real time…
Good morning from the federal courthouse in Springfield, where former GOP state Sen. Sam McCann (who ran third party “Conservative Party” for governor in 2018) is on trial for misuse of campaign funds. Last week the judge granted a bench trial but no electronics in the courtroom. pic.twitter.com/L9MUxFwkNg
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) November 27, 2023
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** Bizarre is right…
2/2) Trial is reset for Feb 5-9.
After court just now, McCann told @DeanOlsenIT and me that he needed to represent himself because he’s he only one who would take it seriously. He also said he’s not worried about representing himself because “God’s got this.”
He faces 9 counts. pic.twitter.com/goNnCbrYRg
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) November 27, 2023
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 9:53 am
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The first time Democrats funded a Republican campaign for Governor worked out so well for them they rebooted for Darren Bailey 2.0
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:01 am
Wait, is it bad for state senators to use campaign funds for personal use? Someone email the (former) senators.
Comment by Torco Sign Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:22 am
“God’s got this.”
Umm, unless it’s George Burns in the movie Oh God, rumor has it God doesn’t actually file appearances in court so McCann is truly on his own. And if he thinks nobody will take his arguments seriously, maybe he should come up with some new arguments. Wow.
Comment by New Day Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:34 am
== “God’s got this.”==
Oh boy.
“You know what they say about someone who represents himself: he has a fool for a client.”
Comment by fs Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:38 am
Any lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. Though I have seen appointed public defenders seem lackadaisical, he needs a real lawyer that’s not himself.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:40 am
Attorney devore must be busy
Comment by Very old soil Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:40 am
Sam McCann…non compos mentis.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:44 am
== Any lawyer who represents himself ==
Even worse when your chose representation isn’t even a lawyer. I’m not sure McCann even graduated college. He doesn’t even have a law school on his resume.
Comment by fs Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:44 am
===use campaign funds for personal use?===
That has been banned, with some exceptions, for a very long time.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:45 am
I remember when all the commenters on this thread thought this man was a martyr for standing up against Boss Rauner.
Comment by spoon Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:45 am
New attorney should have a mental evaluation for his new client
Comment by Rabid Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:50 am
“That has been banned, with some exceptions, for a very long time.”
Yes, but some legislators are very, shall we creative, with their interpretation of personal vs. official use.
Comment by New Day Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 10:53 am
Saw a disclosure a few years ago that appeared to show that a Sheriff candidate paid himself for “Walking Doors ” through his Campaign Fund.
Couldn’t believe it - seemed wrong
But indications at time were that it was OK
Still seems wrong
Comment by Red Ketcher Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 11:01 am
==Attorney devore must be busy==
He is building an eggroll factory. I think he realizes his days practicing law are numbered.
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 11:17 am
“Better Call Saul”
Comment by Anotheretiree Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 11:28 am
@LP
Only you could turn this into something related to the Democrats. Different day, same broken record with you.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 11:38 am
Another George Santos.
Comment by Siualum Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 11:47 am
LP, Sam was not a republican candidate for governor
Comment by Rabid Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:11 pm
“God’s got this”. Um, that’s bad news for you, Sammy
Comment by Sayitaintso Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:23 pm
So it sounds like his public defenders are giving him correct advice to take a plea deal because his case is awful, and then he’s either claiming they’re conflicted out (maybe have tried cases ending in pleas against the same prosecutor or in front of the same judge, and he considers that collusion) OR he’s demanding they file something bananapants (like “the federal government has no right to tax me”) and they refuse. Without seeing the filings, that’s my best guess.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:28 pm
Third guess: the plea deals all included an ongoing ban on gun ownership and that was a deal-breaker for him, since he had to transfer 75 (seventy-five) guns to be allowed to remain free until trial.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:34 pm
At this point I’m thinking that Sam McCann is wishing that his problems would have been similar to those that his Springfield namesake Sam Cahnman has endured over the years.
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:47 pm
Rabid Sam Mc Cann was a Republican State Senator running for Governor of Illinois in the newly formed Conservative 3rd party in Illinois, that was funded by a Democrat special interest group.
Keep that in mind when you hear lectures from democrats about the threats to our Democracy
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:47 pm
=Keep that in mind when you hear lectures from democrats about the threats to our Democracy=
So you are telling me that republicans are not in charge of their own party? Duly noted.
Second, remind me about January 6th…who was the name on all of the flags those “tourists” were carrying? Asking for a friend.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 12:59 pm
==Keep that in mind when you hear lectures from democrats about the threats to our Democracy==
Doesn’t surprise me that you would be dishonest about the real threat to democracy that is going on. Here’s a hint: it’s coming from your party. Your dishonest bones however won’t allow you to acknowledge that because you’re too much of a partisan hack to talk honestly about anything.
==So you are telling me that republicans are not in charge of their own party?==
I believe he’s made that clear in all of his incessant whining about the last gubernatorial election when he’s stated multiple times that Republican voters were too stupid and were duped into voting for Darren Bailey.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:05 pm
In addition to Rauner, McCann is another 2018 gubernatorial candidate whom I’m glad was NOT governor in the midst of the pandemic. He and his supporters back then would have sounded like someone who would have been anti-masking, anti-vaccine, anti-mandate, and would have supported premature returns to indoor dining. Similar to what went on in Iowa and Missouri among other places.
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:06 pm
==God’s got this==
You may want to verify that with Him.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:16 pm
==by a Democrat special interest group.==
It’s Democratic, this isn’t Truth Social.
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:22 pm
- Keep that in mind when you hear lectures from democrats about the threats to our Democracy -
Only you would cry about a time when your hero actually won.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:24 pm
Can Sam McCann claim ineffective counsel even though he is representing himself?
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 1:26 pm
I remember people heaping praise on him annd defending him when they thought he tried to “save” the Jacksonville Developmental Center.
And how they thought Pat Quinn was awful.
Total silence from those same people now.
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 2:04 pm
Had no idea God was into RV’s. Good luck Sammy. Might want to figure out what size jump suit fits best.
Comment by Eire17 Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 2:09 pm
Candidates can pay themselves a salary and use their campaign dollars for many different things.
He probably should have just taken that route of giving himself a salary.
Paying yourself a s
Comment by Frida's boss Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 2:50 pm
My Grandma used to say, “His cornbread ain’t done in the middle.”
Comment by Dotnonymous x Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 3:04 pm
“he’s only one who would take it seriously. ”
Does that mean his public defender laughed at his idea of defense?
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 3:08 pm
Sammy promised in 2010 to support pension reform, then got an AFSCME district in 2012 and flipped. Lied about his phony military service and still got elected twice, –Don’t bet against Sammy talking his way out of this one!
Comment by FWITW Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 3:45 pm
===Don’t bet against Sammy talking his way out of this one===
“This one” is a federal courtroom.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 4:02 pm
What a dope. And the judge too for letting him manipulate the system.
Comment by DougChicago Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 4:21 pm
===Had no idea God was into RV’s===
Was that RV a “van down by the river” (Macoupin, that is)
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 4:22 pm
I’ve met many a convict still trying to talk his way out of it…in federal prison…where they are immediately told to shut it up and do their own time…quietly.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 4:27 pm
=Don’t bet against Sammy talking his way out of this one!=
As always, and particularly in thIs courtroom, Sam’s mouth will betray him.
I feel sorry for his future cell mate.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 4:33 pm
==–Don’t bet against Sammy talking his way out of this one!==
That sounds like the strategy being employed by the insurrectionist orange man and his lawyers.
Comment by don the legend Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 5:09 pm
JB rubbing out griffin’s slate is a threat to our democracy
Comment by Rabid Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 7:52 pm
Since Sam is representing himself, he should ask Blago to be co-counsel or to his pr strategist.
Comment by (Sigh) Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 8:26 pm
Is this guy seriously trying to defend himself, or is this just a stall tactic because he thinks Trump will be POTUS again and will instruct his Justice Department to back off?
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Nov 27, 23 @ 9:12 pm
==God’s got this==
I wasn’t aware that he had been admitted to practice in Federal Court.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:52 am