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Ex-Wife Accuses Illinois Sen. of Hiding Over $140K in Payments to Live-In Girlfriend/Campaign Aide

May. 29, 2012 9:40pm

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk (R) has been accused by his ex-wife, Kimberly Vertolli, of breaking campaign finance laws for not fully disclosing payments of more than $143,000 to his then-live-in girlfriend and campaign aide, Dodie McCracken.

But wait! It gets weirder. Vertolli herself was hired as a lawyer for the Kirk campaign and paid $40,000.

So — Kirk hired his ex-wife to work alongside his current girlfriend? What could possibly go wrong?

Ex Wife Accuses Illinois Sen. of Hiding Over $140K in Payments to Live In Girlfriend/Campaign AideHappier times: Mark Kirk and Kimberly Vertolli divorced amicably in 2009, but she said that it was the excessive ‘Svengali’-esque rule that PR consultant Dodie McCracken had over him that caused their split (via Daily Mail)

According to the complaint filed with Federal Election Commission, the Illinois Senator never paid McCracken directly but instead used a third party.

“Though it is legal for a candidate to pay a spouse or friend for work on a governmental campaign, Ms Vertolli is now raising questions about the timing of those payments,” the Daily Mail notes.

Why would the timing be odd? Well, you see, Vertolli and McCracken have a history.

The Illinois senator divorced his wife in July 2009 when he was still a Congressman. The divorce was “amicable,” according to reports at the time.

However, in a 2010 interview, Vertolli told the world how she really felt about McCracken.

Ex Wife Accuses Illinois Sen. of Hiding Over $140K in Payments to Live In Girlfriend/Campaign Aide“[W]hen Ms Vertolli was interviewed by Chicago Magazine [she] said that she felt that her ex was too easily influenced by Ms McCracken, who she said was a ‘Svengali figure,’” the Daily reports.

“In the interview, Ms Vertolli said that Ms McCracken, who had Mr Kirk as one of her clients before she and her ex were even married, was ‘a pernicious force on his team who is wielding a disproportionate amount of negative influence,’” the report adds.

But if you think that’s bad, here’s the kicker: Vertolli blames McCracken for the divorce.

“Mark could either stay married to me, or she could find another place. But there wasn’t enough room for the two of us to stay in Mark’s life,” Vertolli said.

“Unfortunately, she never left. When Mark decided to run for the Senate, she shifted most of her attention [from other clients] to trying to control Mark and the direction of Mark’s campaign,” she added.

So why in the world would the Kirk campaign put Vertolli in the same room with McCracken? According to the senator’s ex-wife, it was to get her to shut up about his girlfriend.

Vertolli claims that although her payments were also not listed with her name it was legitimate (unlike the payments to McCracken).

“Ms Vertolli told The Chicago Tribue that $40,000 was deposited into an ‘obscure corporate entity’ after Mr Kirk won the election,” the Daily reports.

Ex Wife Accuses Illinois Sen. of Hiding Over $140K in Payments to Live In Girlfriend/Campaign AideSuspicious: Kimberly Vertolli thinks that she was just hired by her ex’s campaign to stop her from badmouthing his relationship with McCracken (via Daily Mail)

“While technically that may be legal, she now thinks the money was merely a ruse to ‘get me to be quiet about my misgivings about McCracken,’” the report adds.

The campaign staff for Sen. Kirk has criticized the complaint.

“While Sen. Kirk and Ms. Vertolli divorced amicably three years ago and she actively supported Mr. Kirk’s 2010 Senate campaign, Ms. Vertolli has since filed a groundless complaint consisting of bitter personal attacks and is attempting to involve a federal agency in a divorce settled 36 months ago,” the senator’s campaign manager Eric Elk told The Tribune.

“We are saddened that she decided to file this ill-advised complaint and abuse the FEC process to air personal grievances,” he adds.

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Comments (114)

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  • Cosmos102
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:43pm

    Not since Anthony’s weiner have we seen such a little much a doo about something.

    Report this comment

    Cosmos102  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:01am

      I got about half way through before losing track of who was doing what to/for who. I started again and then gave up.

      Report this comment

      nzkiwi  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:35am

      McCrackin………what a great name for an illicit lover……..gotta love it …

      Report this comment

      Detroit paperboy  
    • Lonescrapper
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:44am

      I think we are going to see a LOT of this now, thanks to John Edwards. It goes on ALOT. If you’ve every been around politicians and their campaigns, you can completely accept it happens. This is really the reason you need a ‘clean’ candidate.

      Report this comment

      Lonescrapper  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:31am

      nzkiwi

      bitter ex = wife seeking vengeance ’cause she ain’t gettin what the new woman is… that’s all

      Report this comment

      Stoic one  
    • little big man
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:40am

      Yes I’ll have a McCrackin………and a hash brown please.

      Report this comment

      little big man  
    • term limits for congress
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:17am

      Help us welcome to the stage – the dancin’ feet of Miss Dodie McCrackin!

      Was she ever a Drag Queen in Key West? Probably not.

      Report this comment

      term limits for congress  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:35am

      never trust a politician with good ****

      Report this comment

      soybomb315  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 9:58am

      Don’t Believe It, I Don’t

      This was just a lie created by the Democrat Communists who will try anything because of their tanking polling numbers, even MURDER. Democrat Communist will begin killing GOPers soon if not already. They have failed at every other attempt.

      Report this comment

      teamarcheson  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:52am

      And now we can say…”got his Anthony whacked”!!…..just like Clinton got his “Lewinsiki” on!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
    • Krutch
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:42pm

      @ nzkiwi
      Welcome to Illinois politics!!!!

      Report this comment

      Krutch  
  • donh2
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:32pm

    Popular line from the movie Kingpin ” Sometimes when I wake up Mr. McCracken’s already here.” Kirk’s Ex wife knows the feeling…
    Captain Jerk rode the Tea Party Wave but like most politicians belongs in the gutter with Woody Harrelson….> http://youtu.be/ci6YPGQedr0

    Report this comment

    donh2  
  • crichton
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:28pm

    am I the only one who got a chuckle out of Dodie “Doodie” McCracken

    Report this comment

    crichton  
  • SUNBURST
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:27pm

    If they are guilty of this kind of crap, they need to be ROOTED OUT.
    No matter which party.

    Report this comment

    SUNBURST  
    • fishandpoi
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:47pm

      I agree.

      Report this comment

      fishandpoi  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:49am

      …and instantaniously, this will dissapear as soon as he drops-out or leaves office,the next morning, as if it never happened. Just ask all Republican-candidates whom dropped-out after Dem-sex-lies!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • phrogdriver
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:27pm

    I missed the (R) when I breezed through this the first time, so I decided to check his website. Clicked on “policies”. Still couldn’t tellwhat he was.

    If he get’s squashed by this, I don’t see it as a major loss for anyone outside the ruling classand his imediate family.

    Report this comment

    phrogdriver  
  • possom
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:25pm

    It’s IL wadaya expect?

    Report this comment

    possom  
  • jmcclena
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:54pm

    Another corrupt “family values” conservative… What else is new?

    Report this comment

    jmcclena  
    • jzs
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:05pm

      The word on the street is that he also a wide stance in airport bathrooms. Now that may not be true but it might also be true as well.

      Report this comment

      jzs  
    • Rayblue
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:19pm

      Do you spend a lot of time in airport bathrooms, jzs ?

      Report this comment

      Rayblue  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:18am

      JZS,

      My goodness, aren’t you overly concerned with that toe tapping topic lately.

      Just last week when you were posting in the Larry Flynt story, you were overcome by something that caused you to type the name of Larry Craig instead of Larry Flynt, not just once, but twice in the same paragraph.

      Since you seem to fancy yourself a hobbyist-psychologist, what do you make of that slip up, when taken in context with your post here tonight?

      As Arsenio Hall used to say……………”Things that make you go hmmmmmmm”

      Report this comment

      Therightsofbilly  
  • BlessedONE333
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:52pm

    THIS sounds more like a woman scorned – but if he is guilty – then arrest him, give him a trial and put him in a cell next to john edwards!

    Report this comment

    BlessedONE333  
    • WISEPENNY
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:14pm

      Dang! You took the words right out of my comment. Ha.

      Report this comment

      WISEPENNY  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:41pm

      that was going to be my comment as well, hell hath no furry…

      Report this comment

      HorseCrazy  
    • moussiagilda
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:37am

      You guys are severely unoriginal.

      My proverb again: There has always been a battle in the world. It is between the wonderful and the lame. The lame has been taking a beating since day one.

      Report this comment

      moussiagilda  
    • Fubared
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 10:41am

      Guilda
      Put some ice on it and walk it off.

      Report this comment

      Fubared  
  • smokey888x2
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:41pm

    Resign Kirk …. do the right thing!

    Report this comment

    smokey888x2  
    • DIR
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:33pm

      All he has to do is switch parties (from r to d) and his alleged action(s) will be a resume enhancer. If he uses the Owel Gore defense he can say there was no controlling authority where as the cash is concerned. If he uses the Bill Clinton defense, he can say he was reading the paper while things were going on, and besides it depends on the meaning of the word ‘is.’

      Report this comment

      DIR  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:27pm

    this guy is a rino and was obviously married to a progressive money grubber…fluke em all…he needs to resign, go rest , get well and get out of politics…rinos days are over…

    Report this comment

    cookcountypatriot  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:24pm

    If this is true then I’m beginning to think the state of Illinois needs to be ceeded to Mexico. Democrat or Republican, corruption is your name Illinois. You would fit in nicely with Mexico.

    When Lincoln left Illinois did he take all that was good in Illinois with him?

    Report this comment

    SHOWMESTATEGUY  
  • Atilla
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:24pm

    Sounds like sour grapes to me.

    Report this comment

    Atilla  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:56am

      …Not even good for a decent “whine”…..get-it ….sour-grapes? Wine/whine? ……Oh, well, I tried.

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • Jeanne2010
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:18pm

    No wonder he had a stroke…

    Report this comment

    Jeanne2010  
  • TheReasonableLib
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:09pm

    Stop focusing on this guy’s ex-wife and focus on the four sister wives Romney had killed and the fourth in the hospital!

    TheReasonableLib  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:05pm

    And… all is normal in Illinois… home Graft, Bribes, Gangsters, & Communists!

    Report this comment

    lukerw  
  • rickc34
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:01pm

    If he is guilty send to jail along with Edwards. But if not the ex is working for the other side. Lord let the truth be known this election year nothing hide.

    Report this comment

    rickc34  
    • Chromo200
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:21pm

      I agree .. if he is guilty .. off to jail.

      Report this comment

      Chromo200  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:26pm

      @rickc34
      “If he is guilty send to jail along with Edwards.”]

      Did I miss the news where Edwards was convicted and sentenced to jail already? Just saying…

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
  • misteryuck
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:59pm

    Just the type of people we need in guverment passing more laws and regulations and spending our money…
    I bet the Healtcare will just be to die for too…

    GOOD GRIEF!

    Report this comment

    misteryuck  
  • VanceUppercut
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:55pm

    The party of family values.

    Report this comment

    VanceUppercut  
    • Rayblue
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:47pm

      Like your family of party values ?

      Report this comment

      Rayblue  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:19am

      Like your value of family parties: (cue Pee-Wee Herman voice) -’ OK everybody, strip down to your undies – it’s time to play Twister!’

      Report this comment

      JACKTHETOAD  
  • jocko
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:54pm

    What a surprise! An Illinois Senator… duh! Republican as low as the demorats!

    Report this comment

    jocko  
  • Rweb
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:50pm

    Who would hire the ex-wife to work with new girlfriend. That alone means I would not vote for him. How can we trust him to use good judgement for us when he can not use it in his own life.

    Report this comment

    Rweb  
  • JQCitizen
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:48pm

    Hmmmm…? Wondering what OTHER payments might be found to Ms. Vertolli? Say, from a certain ex-Illinois-Senator? Just asking…

    There are grudges of ALL KINDS in politics, Aye?

    Report this comment

    JQCitizen  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:48pm

    And the filth didn’t even hide 2 states away!

    Report this comment

    JACKTHETOAD  
  • lawrench
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:48pm

    Isn’t that the way politics are done in Illinois?

    Report this comment

    lawrench  
    • EP46
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:23am

      We must remember…Bill Clinton made ‘it’s just about sex’ ok…and hillary ‘stood by her man’…so why does the Left ‘force’ the Right to condem this type behavior ? Time to just say…no, he is not one of us…he is a Clinton progressive.

      Report this comment

      EP46  
  • dwh320
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:47pm

    Ticked off dumped wife never lies….. and Obama is always truthful.

    Report this comment

    dwh320  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:43pm

    there is no scorn like a woman scorn. it does not matter if the accusation is true are not, it is the damage that it can cause, you piss off a woman and pissed on is what you will get.

    Report this comment

    commonsenseguy  
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