Robert Herguth
Watchdogs reporter
Robert Herguth is an investigative reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times, part of the Watchdogs team. He focuses on an array of subjects, including police corruption, organized crime and government accountability, as well as religion. He also helps oversee some digital and feature projects.
The campaign contributions are legal, but failed mayoral candidate Willie Wilson wants them banned in mayoral races, and 36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas wants them limited.
The payout is in a lawsuit regarding the Rev. Richard McGrath, an Augustinian priest who ran Providence Catholic High School — and took the Fifth when asked about child pornography.
A campaign aide calls it an “oversight” and says $46,500 is being returned, agreeing that the ethics rule is “a sound and necessary policy to ensure a fair government.”
Harmon’s campaign funds have gotten nearly $2 million from a nursing home trade group. He’s supporting legislation that would provide millions in property tax relief for nursing homes in Cook County.
A month after Edward H. Gobbo got out of bankruptcy, Washington Federal Bank for Savings CEO John F. Gembara starting giving him loans of millions, records show. When the bank went bust, Gobbo or his immediate family owed more than $3.8 million on 27 residential loans, some of them years overdue.
His spokesman says it was an “oversight” that Harmon’s campaign funds took the money after the Oak Park Democrat voted to ban contributions from red-light camera operators.
Among those taking campaign contributions after supporting what was portrayed as reform legislation: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park.
Still unknown is whether the Blue Island Democrat will be called to testify at the upcoming trial of his longtime ally, former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
The Chicago artist is doing that in alleys, on Loop towers, on freight trains, usually without permission.