Indicted Ammons won't seek delay of House investigation
[August 05, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – On the heels of a controversy stemming from an
investigation into a former state representative over sexual harassment,
a special investigating committee is scheduled to meet this week to
inquire about alleged financial misconduct of another state lawmaker.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign, and her husband Aaron Ammons – who
serves as Champaign County clerk – were both federally indicted early
last month. Both pleaded not guilty and are challenging federal charges.
Carol Ammons faces eight counts of wire fraud and providing a false
statement, tied to an alleged kickback scheme involving state grants
given to nonprofits in her district, while Aaron Ammons was charged with
obstruction of justice. The pair also share a charge for conspiracy to
obstruct justice.
A leadership-appointed roster of state representatives, an equal number
of Democrats and Republicans, are now set to gather Thursday in
Springfield to begin a House investigation into the federal prosecutor’s
charges against the representative, and to determine if she broke any
House rules.
One lawyer for the Carol Ammons, Mutaquee Akbar, previously told The
Center Square the counsel was looking into delaying the scheduled House
proceedings.
“We’re looking into that part as well. Of course, we don’t want that
proceeding to get in the way of this proceeding,” Akbar said. “Hopefully
we can postpone that so we can focus our attention on her due process
rights in federal court.”
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, said he doesn’t think the House
investigation will interfere with the federal trial.
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Illinois state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, speaks with reporters.
Photo: Greg Bishop / The Center Square
“At my direction, we took immediate action to uphold the integrity
of the House, and the special investigating committee is another
process to ensure the House responds appropriately and within our
purview-while ensuring nothing we do interferes with the ongoing
federal case," read the statement by Welch.
Akbar told The Center Square on Tuesday they no longer intend to
delay the House investigation. The team hadn’t decided if the
lawmaker or her counsel would be present at committee hearings – a
right of the representative under House rules.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterch, a member of the investigating
committee, explained on The States by The Center Square last week
how the House investigation will be handled.
“It’s up to us, the folks on the special investigation committee, to
determine if these charges warrant another committee for
disciplinary action,” Niemerg said. “We’ll be taking a vote on each
individual charge. We start those hearings on Aug. 6.”
The first hearing will take place at noon Thursday in the Illinois
Capitol.
Both Carol and Aaron Ammons are scheduled to appear before a federal
judge for the case's evidence discovery process Aug. 24, followed by
a trial date Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.
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