Andy Martin hires independent Special Legal Counsel for Illinois investigation

NEWS FROM:
ANDY MARTIN
“He works for
the People of Illinois”
Republican for U. S. Senator
Suite 4406
30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
(312) 440-4124

U. S. SENATE CANDIDATE ANDY MARTIN CHARGES MCKENNA AND SAUERBERG WITH FEDERAL AND STATE CAMPAIGN LAW VIOLATIONS, RELEASES DOCUMENTS TO CONFIRM ACCUSATIONS

MARTIN HIRES INDEPENDENT SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE MCKENNA/SAUERBERG CAMPAIGN LAW VIOLATIONS

(OAK BROOK, IL)(November 17, 2007) Republican U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin told a news conference Saturday, November 17th at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott that Illinois GOP State Chairman Andy McKenna and insurance company witness Steve Sauerberg were breaking federal and state campaign laws in running a campaign to defeat Martin. Martin released documents to confirm his allegations.

"The record reflects that in prior correspondence in May and again in October, I have treated State Chairman Andy McKenna with the utmost deference," Martin said. "I also warned McKenna not to commingle his public role as a de facto state official as state chairman, with his personal role as a private citizen. That was George Ryan's downfall. I am saddened to announce that McKenna and his acolyte Sauerberg have become the two latest recruits to the George Ryan School of Illinois Politics: breaking the law.

"I am now distributing documents which confirm my accusations that McKenna and Sauerberg have violated federal and state campaign laws. [The documents are available after the news conference on written request.]

"The documents reflect that McKenna is using the facilities and resources of the Illinois Republican Party to conduct his own personal political business. The State Central Committee has not endorsed any candidate and so far as I am aware the committee has not authorized McKenna to use State Committee Property as his own. McKenna has used the assets and resources of the State GOP to conduct his personal political activity on behalf of Sauerberg. Violation Number One.

"McKenna has also issued e-mails which fraudulently claim that they were not authorized by Sauerberg, when they were not only authorized by 'Berg they were coordinated with his campaign. Violation Number Two.

"There has been a steady stream of illegal documents and abuse of state Committee resources. My documents are illustrative and not exhaustive.

"I realize that because I am engaged in a primary election, some people might think I am making 'political' accusations that have no basis in law. To avoid any appearance of impropriety on my part, and to ensure that this controversy is prosecuted by an independent special counsel, although one paid by me, I have retained a Special Legal Counsel to conduct his own independent investigation of my allegations and to prosecute the claims as he sees fit. While I am paying the Special Counsel I obviously do not control the attorney and I have given his complete independence.

"I would point out that because Illinois Republicans currently have more adherents in federal prison than they have in statewide office, they ought to be scrupulously clean and above board in how they conduct the party's affairs. McKenna and Sauerberg have abysmally failed that test. Sleazy politics has no place in a campaign for federal office.

"McKenna is also endangering other Republicans. The State Party's General Counsel is personally engaged in a primary. As an attorney, he either has to ratify or condemn McKenna's illegal actions. That puts the party's counsel on the hot seat. I will be contacting counsel to put him on record.

"By default, the mantle of leadership as the conscience of the Republican Party, and the leadership of reform efforts to oust the "Republicrat Combine" from control of the party's apparatus, has fallen to me. I will work diligently to see that Republicans have a party and U. S. Senate candidate of which they can be proud, and that election law violations are promptly brought to the attention of legal authorities," Martin stated.

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© Copyright by Andy Martin 2007. Chicago-based Martin holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. Comments? E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com. Media contact: (312) 440-4124. Web site: AndyforUSSenator.com.