Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that three people in Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration began doing work for him while on the state comptroller's payroll. Emails show that two employees were arranging hiring for the governor's Cabinet agencies just weeks after the Republican was elected.
Rauner spokesman Lance Trover says the practice was appropriate and approved by the comptroller's independent inspector general. A letter released by the comptroller's chief of staff shows that comptroller staffer Nancy Kimme was given permission by the inspector general, but the email doesn't mention the other two employees, Judith McAnarney and Matthew Magalis. Government ethics expert Kent Redfield says Rauner improperly used state time and taxpayer money because the comptroller's duties don't include hiring for the governor's administration.