Convicted Ex-State Senator, Democrat Chair Admits Wearing Wire For FBI

CHICAGO — The former state senator and chair of the Lake County Democratic Party testifying in the corruption trial of the son-in-law of the former chief of the Cook County Democratic Party admitted that he for years lied to reporters about wearing a wire during the investigation.

Terry Link, an Indian Creek Democrat and former assistant majority leader in the Illinois Senate, resigned in 2020 after pleading guilty to tax fraud.

Part of his plea deal included an agreement that prosecutors would recommend a lessor sentence if he agreed to cooperate with the government.

Link, 76, took the stand last week in the trial of James Weiss, who is married to the daughter of former Cook County Assessor and Democratic Party Chair Joe Berrios.

Weiss is accused of bribing Link and then-State Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicag0), who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to five years in prison last year.

Under direct examination from prosecutors, Link testified that he began working with the feds after FBI agents presented him with evidence of his tax fraud.

For several years prior to 2017, Link illegally spent campaign money on personal expenses, admitting on Wednesday that he used some of it for gambling.

Link said he wore a wire during a meeting with Arroyo at a Wendy's in Highland Park in August 2019 where Arroyo discussed sweepstakes gambling machines.

Weiss is accused of arranging bribery payments to Arroyo and Link to legalize the devices, which function like unregulated slot machines, but his defense attorneys argue the monthly payments were legitimate consulting fees.

Link is scheduled to continue his testimony as Weiss's trial resumes Monday.

Read more:
Felonious Former State Rep Fingers Convicted Ex-Senator As Liar
State Senator Resigns, Pleads Guilty To Years Of Tax Fraud
Sen. Terry Link Charged With Federal Income Tax Fraud
Illinois State Senator Wears Wire In Bribery Probe Of State Rep