GOP aide is ousted amid FBI probe

2 Illinois candidates cut ties with treasurer

By Andrew Zajac and Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune
WASHINGTON BUREAU Tribune reporter Jim Tankersley contributed to this report

Illinois Republican congressional nominees Aaron Schock and Tim Baldermann recently replaced their campaign treasurer after learning that he may be tied to an FBI investigation into a forged audit of the GOP's national congressional campaign committee books.

The dismissed treasurer, Christopher Ward, provided bookkeeping and fundraising services to dozens of Republican lawmakers and candidates in House and Senate races in recent years and had worked as treasurer of the Republican National Congressional Committee and as a contract vendor for the group.

So far there is no indication that money is missing, according to GOP officials.

The FBI is investigating because of the possibility that a federal crime was committed if any irregularities included making false statements to banks, according to Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, an accountant and chairman of the NRCC audit committee who uncovered the problem. The FBI declined to comment.

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