Federal agents searched the Elgin home and office of State Representative Keith Farnham Friday, and reportedly secured his legislative office in Springfield.
Agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the search of Farnham’s office on Division Street in Elgin. A spokesman for the agency would not elaborate on the search, saying only that it was conducted by special agents with ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit.
“No federal search warrant has been executed at Rep. Farnham’s Springfield office,” the agency said in a statement. “Because the investigation is ongoing, no additional details can be released.”
The Elgin Courier-News reported that computer equipment was seized from Farnham’s office and home.
While ICE lists dual roles in immigration and customs as its primary missions, the agency actually is responsible for many roles inside the Department of Homeland Security. A spokesman pointed to investigative duties ranging from border security and cash smuggling, to cyber crimes, identity fraud and child exploitation.
She refused, however, to elaborate on the nature of this particular investigation.
No one answered the phone at either of Farnham’s offices. A Democrat and legislator since 2009, he serves on numerous House committees ranging from Public Utilities, to Veterans’ Affairs, and Economic Development.
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A personal biography lists his background as a painting contractor, and a former board member of the Chicago Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.
“Among Farnham’s top priorities is to enact meaningful ethics reform laws to increase government accountability and transparency,” his biography states, “and to prevent the George Ryan-Rod Blagojevich era from ever being repeated.”
This year he’s chief sponsor of a bill concerning commercial leases, congratulations to an Elgin Resident; a Laotian veterans plaque in Elgin; and petitioning congress to make 12/7 a federal holiday remembering Pearl Harbor.
