Alderman Acknowledges Federal Probe, Claims He Is Cooperating
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A spokesman for Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) said the alderman is cooperating with a federal probe into how he ended up with a check for nearly $5,000 from a woman accused of improperly spending a state grant.
The FBI tried to question Ervin about the check, but he refused to answer without an attorney present.
However, spokesman Tom Bowen said the alderman is cooperating with the feds.
"Alderman Ervin was made aware of allegations regarding an improper use of state grant money by Divine Praise, Inc., and he will cooperate fully with authorities to ensure that taxpayer resources were not improperly diverted for anything else than their specific purpose," he said.
The alderman's office is looking into what the check from Divine Praise was used for, but a source noted the timing was close to a back-to-school event Ervin held that year, at a time when donations were being made.