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Feds Seek Files On Elite Nonprofit In Chicago Schools Probe

CHICAGO (AP) — Federal investigators looking into a $20 million no-bid Chicago Public Schools contract have requested records related to a nonprofit group tied to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Bruce Rauner and prominent business leaders.

The Chicago Tribune reports investigators are seeking documents related to the Chicago Public Education Fund.

The elite group's former chairs include Rauner and U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin is on the board. So is Beth Swanson, who formerly was Emanuel's Deputy Chief of Staff for Education.

On Friday, Chicago Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett took a leave of absence amid the investigation over a no-bid contract that the district awarded to a training academy where she once worked as a consultant.

The training academy was launched with seed money from the nonprofit education fund.

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