CHICAGO – The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios – who also was chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party while assessor – is under investigation by the feds, adding to the list of Democrats under investigation statewide.
The Sun-Times reports on a federal grand jury subpoena for records associated with the following:
The subpoena seeks documents related to Berrios’ 31st Ward Democratic Organization, his Friends of Berrios campaign fund and the Mexican American Political Action Committee.
The subpoena asks for information about contributions to Berrios’ retirement party and his access to private planes and boats, among other things.
It also seeks any items “related to any official action taken in exchange for a benefit” and specifies the type of actions — including “assessor recommendations, certificates of correction, certificates of error, property valuations and re-reviews.”
And not only is Berrios being asked questions, so are former and current assessor's office employees, the report says.
The grand jury subpoena obtained by the Sun-Times, dated earlier this month, seeks communications and correspondence — including emails — related to the three political committees and their officers, employees and representatives.
It also asks for documentation “related to any benefit discussed, provided, agreed to be provided, or arranged to be provided to any public official or employee, or family member, friend, or nominee of any such person.”
The Sun-Times story is HERE
