PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – Former Illinois congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in 2019 paid a $40,000 fine for allegedly making misleading statements to federal agents about a loan and failing to disclose it on ethics forms. The Department of Justice disclosed the fine late Wednesday while discussing a California case unconnected to LaHood that concerned illegal political contributions. That case involved Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury, who is prohibited from making political contributions because he isn’t a U.S. citizen. LaHood denied to FBI agents he received a $50,000 loan from Chagoury through an intermediary. Authorities say LaHood was suffering financial difficulties at the time.
