As Gov. Pat Quinn signs a new law Wednesday to abolish political scholarships in Illinois, a federal probe takes aim at a state senator's tuition waivers.
The U.S. Attorney's Office opened a criminal investigation alleging Sen. Annazette Collins awarded legislative scholarships to five students who lived outside her district.
A June 1 subpoena obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times requests records of waivers Collins gave out during her political career. The probe alleges the five students listed the senator's former address as their own.
This isn't the first time accusations have flown around Collins' residence. Secretary of State Jesse White expressed public frustration this year over allegations that Collins doesn't actually live in her West Side district. At one point White compared her to former governor Rod Blagojevich.
"Serious questions have been raised about her conduct and as a result I have absolutely no intention of apologizing to her," White said in a February statement. "Her record has been one controversy after another. ... Senator Collins may be offended by comments I have made, but I am highly offended by her conduct in office."
Collins has served the West Side in the state house since 2001.
