WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Illinois 18th District Rep. Ray LaHood accepted money illegally while serving as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the Department of Justice revealed on Wednesday.
The DOJ said LaHood in June 2012 took a $50,000 check from Toufic Joseph Baaklini marked as a “loan” on the memo line. LaHood never revealed such a transaction on any ethics form, because he did not want to be linked to Baaklini associate Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire prohibited by U.S. law from making campaign contributions, though LaHood understood the loan came from Chagoury’s coffers.
LaHood later admitted he misled investigators when questioned about Chagoury. In December 2019, LaHood signed a non-prosecution agreement, agreeing to cooperate with investigators, and agreeing to pay Baaklini back the $50,000.
The Peoria native was also charged a $40,000 fine.
