A special Illinois House committee convened Thursday to begin an investigation into Democratic state Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, who was indicted last month on federal charges alleging she orchestrated a scheme to divert taxpayer and campaign funds for personal gain.
The roughly 20-minute hearing was lightly attended and did not produce new information about the charges. Ammons, who has pleaded not guilty, and her legal representatives were absent from the session.
The investigation marks another challenge for Illinois Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly but have faced recent controversies. Alongside Ammons’ indictment, sexual harassment allegations against former Democratic state Rep. Harry Benton have raised concerns about the handling of such complaints within House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office. These issues emerge just months before the November general election.
The House committee’s role is not to determine Ammons’ guilt but to assess whether disciplinary action is warranted based on the facts. Such measures could range from no penalty to expulsion. Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, has already removed Ammons from committee assignments and prohibited her from attending House Democratic Caucus meetings.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, speaking at an unrelated event in Urbana on Thursday, reiterated his call for Ammons to resign. “People who have committed fraud against the people of Illinois, people who are taking from taxpayer dollars, shouldn’t be in public service,” he said.
The six-member committee, chaired by Democratic state Rep. Curtis Tarver of Chicago, has subpoena power and voted unanimously to consult with U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore’s office, which is prosecuting Ammons, to ensure the House proceedings do not interfere with the criminal case. No additional hearings are planned until after those consultations.
Tarver emphasized the serious nature of the allegations, which include wire fraud, false statements to the FBI, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, and stressed the importance of restoring public trust in the legislature.
Ammons retains the right to attend hearings with her attorneys and present evidence.
Republican members of the committee underscored the importance of a fair and transparent process free from political influence. Rep. Dan Ugaste of Geneva said the panel’s responsibility is to protect the integrity of the Illinois House while ensuring Ammons receives fair treatment. Rep. Adam Niemerg of Dieterich described the day as difficult and called for thorough investigation and accountability amid repeated corruption scandals in state government.
Ammons, now in her sixth term, faces charges relating to a scheme dating back to 2017. Prosecutors allege she funneled state funds to groups that paid her daughter and received kickbacks from grant recipients and her campaign fund. The indictment states Ammons and her daughter obtained more than $100,000 through these improper transactions. Ammons’ husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, is separately charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and has also pleaded not guilty.
The federal indictment notes that Ammons’ alleged false statements to an FBI agent occurred around May 2024. It does not clarify the full context of the interaction but accuses her of lying about the scheme and conspiring to conceal the misuse of funds.
On Thursday, the committee entered into the record an amended petition focusing on allegations involving state funds rather than campaign-related accusations.
Under House rules, if the special committee recommends charges, a bipartisan 12-member select committee would conduct further proceedings. Any disciplinary action, including expulsion, would require a supermajority vote of the House.
Speaker Welch has prior experience overseeing high-profile legislative investigations, including one in 2020 into former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was later convicted on federal corruption charges related to a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison.