What Exactly Did Giannoulias Know Before He Loaned Millions To A Mob-Linked Pimp?

The National Republican Senatorial Committee reports:

Democrat Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) claimed yesterday that he would not have authorized $15.4 million in loans to Michael “Jaws” Giorango – a crime boss that ran prostitution rings and engaged in illegal gambling – if he had known back then what he knows now.

However, in 2006, Giannoulias said that he knew about Giorango’s criminal past, admitting that he knew the mobster had “some legal problems.”

In fact, Giannoulias admitted that he had a conversation with Giorango about his criminal past, and he traveled to Miami, Florida to inspect property that Broadway Bank had financed for Giorango. Giannoulias admitted that he met with Giorango, but refused to disclose details of his meeting with the mobster.

“Instead of ducking questions about these critical ethical issues, Alexi Giannoulias should finally admit what he knew about Giorango’s ‘legal problems’ before he authorized $15.4 million in loans to the known mob-linked pimp,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand. “Illinois voters have had enough of the culture of corruption surrounding the scandal-ridden Chicago political machine, and Giannoulias should immediately explain everything involving his family bank’s interactions with the mob.”