From The Chicago Tribune, 7/12/06:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060712tristano,1,2798840.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Former Republican aide sentenced to 1 year in prison

By Jeff Coen and Matt O'Connor
Tribune staff reporters


Michael Tristano, a one-time chief of staff to former Republican House
leader Lee Daniels of Elmhurst, was sentenced Wednesday to a year and
a day in prison for assigning legislative staffers to do campaign work
on state time.

"I failed both ethically and as a leader," Tristano, 58, told U.S.
District Judge Charles Norgle.

Tristano pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in March and admitted that
his work to steer state resources to Republican candidates cost
Illinois up to $200,000.

The sentencing and court documents reviewed by the Tribune provided
new evidence that Daniels has long been a target of the investigation,
though he has never been charged.

Tristano said his aides violated the law because they were following
instructions "out of loyalty to House Republican leadership and
myself."

Asked to clarify whose instructions Tristano was referring to in his
statement, defense lawyer Jeff Steinback said Tristano meant the
instructions came from "above him."

Neither Tristano nor Steinback blamed Daniels by name in their
remarks.

Daniels' lawyer, Thomas Breen, has declined to comment on any federal
investigation involving his client.

He did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.

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Another day another Republican scandal

Harry