The Necropolitan Sentinel

Here's the Sun-Times' account, and here's Capitol Fax's extra info:

OK, if you go back to the end of 2008, Stroger reported $526,747.08 in investments and $465,227.33 in outstanding debt, including $350,000 to himself, which he incurred in 2006.

On April 11, 2009, Stroger appears to have cashed in those investments and deposited the money into his campaign account. On June 30th of that year, he reported no investments on hand and $640K in the bank. He also reported just $115,227.33 in debt, having paid off his loan to himself.

On August 21st, 2009, Stroger put $500,000 into a couple of CDs.

Stroger entered the 2010 campaign with $152,554.92 in cash on hand, then raised another $294,685.00 during the first half of the year. He spent $341,107.73 and was left with $106,132.19 plus his $500K in investments.

But then he filed an odd amended return for the first six months of 2010. The only expenditures listed in the amended return were for a $500,000 deposit into an Amalgamated Bank of Chicago investment fund on June 30th. But he also shows a receipt of $621,632.19 from Amalgamated Bank of Chicago on the same day.

And that’s pretty much where I gave up. The investments, as noted above, eventually “disappeared” without explanation. They appear to have existed at one time, but it’s gonna take somebody with more time than I have to figure this one out.

So up to 2010, those investments were around. Supposedly $500K in expenditures just "happened" at some point in the past couple years.

But that "accounting error" may be related to this decision to "spend time with his family":

Stroger added that after initial consideration, he’s decided not to run for the congressional seat Jesse Jackson Jr. just vacated.

“I’ve been away from my family for the last 18 years, and I’d like to spend some time with my children [ages 9 and 12] before they get old and move out of the house.”

Also, he may not like to see his own finances too deeply dug into, in a special election replacing a guy who questionably spent campaign funds.

NOW WITH EXTRA UNEXPECTEDNESS: Mel Reynolds, the pol who JJJ had replaced after his own "minor" run-in with the law, is planning to run to retake the seat.

 

In 1995, Reynolds lost his congressional seat after a conviction of sexual assault and child pornography charges. He was later pardoned by then-President Bill Clinton.

Sounds to me like he's perfectly qualified for this district.

ALSO UNEXPECTED: Did JJJ get a tip off?

 

Federal authorities believe Jesse Jackson Jr. was tipped off to the federal investigation that ultimately contributed to the demise of his once-promising career.

Sources with knowledge of the probe told the Chicago Sun-Times that investigators believe Jackson had learned of the federal scrutiny of his financial activity prior to his June 10 leave from Congress.

 

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