It has been two years since members of the Chicago City Council learned former Ald. Danny Solis wore a wire to record conversations with his friends and associates. Their reaction? How dare he! What a weasel, cooperating with the federal government to uncover corruption that is part of doing business around here!
Solis swiftly disappeared into the ether once his cooperation became known. Since then, he has become the “Where’s Waldo?” children’s book character. Any sightings? Is he in a witness protection program? Relaxing on a Florida beach? Hiding in the suburbs until he is needed to testify?
Solis hasn’t been heard from, but his cooperation with the federal government continues to bear fruit. The U.S. attorney’s office this week indicted political operative Roberto Caldero in an alleged contract fraud scheme with Chicago Public Schools. Caldero was linked to Solis in previous court records; Caldero allegedly provided Viagra — the “blue medicine,” as Solis described it — and massage parlor appointments to the former alderman while lobbying him on behalf of various clients.
Caldero was charged in an eight-count indictment Wednesday. Hours later the feds announced more charges in a separate case, this one involving a former state representative and two of his sons.
All of this occurred just a day after President Joe Biden’s Justice Department agreed to keep U.S. Attorney John Lausch in place while the multifaceted investigations he is leading unfold. Add a few more targets to those fast-moving investigations.
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Editorials reflect the views of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. The board operates independently of the newsroom.
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Former Rep. Eddie Acevedo, Democrat of Chicago, isn’t a household name, but he was charged Wednesday along with two sons, all accused in tax evasion cases. Prosecutors accuse Acevedo of underreporting his income, failing to pay what he owed and failing to file returns in certain years. His sons, Alex and Michael, are accused of underestimating income and/or failing to file and pay taxes in certain years.
The elder Acevedo, for what it’s worth, was a reliable tax hike vote in the General Assembly and was among House members who raised state income tax rates on Illinoisans in 2011 by 67%. If the federal case holds up, Acevedo — allegedly — was eager to raise taxes on the law-abiding while trying to avoid his own tax burden by lying about his actual income. How rich.
But taxes likely are not the focus of the feds’ investigation.
Acevedo, after leaving the House, worked as a consultant for two Commonwealth Edison-connected lobbyists — John Bradley and Shaw Decremer. Last year, ComEd paid a $200 million penalty after admitting to a bribery scheme that involved no-work contracts with associates of House Speaker Michael Madigan to buy favorable treatment of ComEd’s legislative agenda in Springfield.
It’s a lot to unwind, but it boils down to this: The U.S. attorney’s office continues to do what other law enforcement agencies in Illinois will not — hold public officials accountable. Just this week, Chicago landed on an unflattering list as “the most corrupt city” in the country, with Illinois ranking as third most-corrupt state. This, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Voters, don’t go numb to the headlines. The only thing worse than being on that list and the parade of self-serving, corrupt elected officials robbing the citizens of Illinois of honest services would be citizens not caring.
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