Prairie State Wire

Chicago businessman Willie Wilson, who has run for public office multiple times and, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, launched a third-party bid to challenge Sen. Dick Durbin for his U.S. Senate seat, is looking into lobbying activities by Durbin’s wife, Loretta, according to a news release by Wilson, published on the Capitol Fax website.

Wilson alleges that the lobbying firm owned by Durbin’s wife has benefited from the senator’s position.

“Durbin [has] voted against legislation to prohibit spousal lobbying,” Wilson wrote. He also lays out what he says is a “pattern of conflicts of interest.”

These include Loretta Durbin serving as a lobbyist between 1998 and 2014, and that Durbin’s wife was paid more than $1 million for lobbying between two clients: the city of Naperville and Eastern Illinois University.

“The Naperville contract stated that Durbin’s wife would represent the city’s interests and act as a liaison with state and federal government officials,” Wilson wrote.  “The city of Naperville received millions of dollars in grants from the federal government while she lobbied for them.”

Wilson also alleges that Eastern Illinois University received millions from Durbin while the university was a client of Loretta Durbin’s firm, and that during the time that Loretta Durbin was a lobbyist for the American Lung Association, Sen. Durbin earmarked $150,000 for the organization.

Three members of Durbin’s family are, or were at one point, registered lobbyists: his son, Paul, nephew Marty Durbin, and his wife Loretta.

“Durbin’s former staffer Amy Ford Souders is married to Patrick Souders, Durbin’s chief of staff and has her own lobbying company. She has been lobbying for 18 years, according to Open Secrets,” Wilson wrote.  “Amy Ford Souders’ client EPIR (a defense contractor) received a total of $9 million in earmarked funds from Sen. Durbin.

Wilson also pointed out that in 2008 and 2010, Durbin’s campaign committee reimbursed the senator for travel expenses of $38,939. 

“Sen. Durbin is part of the elite Washington club that has figured out how to make money off their position in government. He has blatantly pursued policies that benefitted his wife, family members and friends,” Wilson’s news release states. “Durbin’s wife and he are one. They file a joint tax return together. They share the same bank account. The millions of dollars Ms. Durbin made from lobbying are shared by Sen. Durbin. This is the kind of swamp that people abhor. Sen. Durbin broke the law and should be held accountable.”