Lawmaker’s scholarship awards raise questions

The Illinois State Board of Education has notified the FBI about college scholarships awarded by a state lawmaker under suspicious circumstances.

Sen. Martin Sandoval gave scholarships to five apparently unrelated students who all claimed to live at the same Chicago address in his district. The home is owned by a Sandoval campaign aide.

The Chicago Sun-Times reportsed that motor vehicle and voter registration records suggest the students actually live elsewhere. State law says legislators can award scholarships only to students from their district.

Sandoval offered no explanation for five students claiming the same address. The Cicero Democrat blamed his staff and said he has fired two people.

The Board of Education said it turned the issue over to the FBI and the Legislature’s inspector general.